Xiaomi 15 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Xiaomi 15 is Xiaomi's 2024 compact flagship: a 6.36-inch OLED, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a triple 50 MP Leica camera, and a 5,400 mAh battery in a 191 g body. It sold new for about $945, and used units now trade between roughly $449 and $540 depending on storage — compact-flagship ergonomics with top-tier silicon at a mid-range price.

Display and design

The 6.36-inch OLED runs at 120 Hz with a 1,500-nit peak, scoring 70/100 on our screen-quality axis. The compactness score of 85/100 with a battery this size is the design achievement — 191 g and flat sides make it one of the most comfortable flagships to hold, and IP68 protection is standard.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Elite places the Xiaomi 15 in the Android top tier: our gaming score of 79/100 reflects sustained 3D performance at the front of the field, remarkable in a body this size. About two of the four support years remain.

Camera

The Leica-tuned triple 50 MP system — stabilised main, ultrawide, and floating telephoto — captures video to 8K at 30 fps. Our camera score of 60/100 tops the catalog, and the compact body sacrifices none of the modular zoom versatility.

Battery and charging

The 5,400 mAh battery scores 48/100 on our battery-life axis — all-day endurance with room to spare — and 90 W wired charging earns 71/100, with full charges in roughly 45 minutes.

Verdict

The Xiaomi 15 at around $449–540 used is the compact enthusiast's flagship: flagship chip, Leica cameras, and big-battery endurance in a genuinely small body. Import-channel support and the shorter update runway are the trade-offs against a Pixel or Samsung compact. The bigger, brighter Xiaomi 15 Pro adds battery and screen for those who can stretch.