Xiaomi 15T Pro review: How my indifference turned into love

Sometimes I’ll use a phone where I don’t expect much from it, but then discover a wonderfully balanced and highly capable device once I get started and live with it. The Xiaomi 15T Pro is one of those phones. It’s not the most exciting smartphone, but it has proven to be so dependable that it turned into a phone I’ve enjoyed using a lot. Here’s my in-depth look at how it managed to turn my indifference into love.

Specs, price, and availability

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is not available to buy in the U.S., but it is out in the U.K. and Europe. It comes in three different specs, a 12GB/256GB model for £649 (about $866) and a 12GB/512GB version for £699 (about $933), plus a top 12GB/1TB version for £799 (about $1,067). Alternatives include the Google Pixel 10, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, the OnePlus 13R, and the Nothing Phone 3. There’s also a non-Pro Xiaomi 15T available, with slight changes to the spec, and it starts at £549 (about $733).

The other alternative to think about is the Xiaomi 17 series, which, by the company’s own admission, is coming very soon. So, the release of a 15T-series comes at a slightly odd time, as there’s little reason not to wait for its announcement to see what it offers before buying.

Strong, understated design

Pretty yet durable

The Xiaomi 15T Pro isn’t going to out-flagship the top phones available; instead, it maintains a stylish yet understated design, and is all the better for it. The aluminum frame is paired with a glass fiber rear panel, which is just as cool to the touch as glass, thanks to its neatly curved corners that make it comfortable and pleasant to hold.

It’s just under 8mm thick and 210 grams, with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. I’ve carried it around in my pocket without a problem, and it has never felt ungainly or annoying. The 6.83-inch AMOLED screen has a uniform 1.5mm bezel around it, and the camera module doesn’t protrude much from the back of the device, while the chamfered edge minimizes its size and feel.

All this adds up to a phone that feels smaller than you expect, given the on-paper specification. I’ve used it without a case and there’s plenty of grip, so I never felt like it was going to slip out of my hand. I love the Mocha Gold color too, which gives it a subtle class, but there’s also a black or gray model if you want something really understated.

Leica camera goodness

Surprisingly versatile

Xiaomi has worked with camera partner Leica on the 15T Pro. It has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 50MP telephoto camera for a 5x optical zoom, all with Leica’s Vario-Summilux lenses. I used the 15T Pro as my main camera during a short break away from home.

In expected fashion, the 15T Pro’s camera amps up the greens and blues, often a little beyond what I’d call acceptable, and it can make some scenes look a little too bright and colorful. The wide-angle camera is the worst culprit, which also delivers poor performance from the low megapixel count, and there isn’t much consistency between it and the other cameras.

The 5x optical zoom does have some issues with exposure, which can introduce noise and blur where detail should be. However, as the palette lends itself to social media sharing, few will be overly concerned about it. It may also sound like I didn’t really like the camera, but this isn’t the case at all. It’s fun and captures really vibrant images. The combination of a usable 2x zoom and the 5x optical zoom makes it easy to get the shot you want.

I’ll accept that not every photo will come out precisely as I want, but some light editing can fix what I don’t like. Additionally, since the base images are of good quality to begin with, it never feels like a waste of time. Most importantly, I never felt the need for a different camera to best capture my adventures.

What about Leica’s involvement? There are multiple Leica filters, including an excellent black and white filter, plus the choice between Leica Natural and Leica Vibrant color profiles. I really recommend using them, as they have real character, and don’t simply change the look of your photos for the sake of it. Leica’s partnership with Xiaomi continues to impress, and it’s great to see these features on a middle-range device like the 15T Pro.

Software and performance

Everything you need for the day-to-day

A MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor with 12GB of RAM, and Xiaomi’s own Android 15-based HyperOS software powers the 15T Pro. I’ve used the phone each day for general app use, social media, GPS, video, and a few games.

Games like Flying Tank play smoothly with no slowdown, videos look great on the screen, and I found it easy to see the screen, which has a 3200 nit peak brightness, in bright sunlight. Xiaomi’s 3D IceLoop cooling system does its job well, and I haven’t noticed any heat buildup, plus the phone has been reliable.

Special mention should go to the 15T Pro’s connectivity. Through its antenna array and Xiaomi’s Surge T1 Tuner, I’ve found the phone pulls in a strong signal and holds on to it even when it’s weak. My trip included areas of low-to-no connectivity, but the Xiaomi 15T Pro very rarely let me down. The Wi-Fi connection is also very strong, and for example, Google Play downloads are noticeably faster than other mid-range phones.

It’s unfortunate the software is Android 15 out of the box, and there are a lot of pre-installed apps which take time to delete and reorganize. That said, I’ve mostly enjoyed using HyperOS. Once you’ve done some housekeeping, it’s clean and logical, there’s a lot of personalization, and everything from the always-on screen to the interactive notifications work well.

Sometimes it’s irritating though, such as the annoying way you set wallpaper, and the many system notifications cluttering up the notification shade. It’s why careful set up is essential, and if you don’t spend time getting it right, you won’t connect with it properly. The lack of Android 16 is the biggest downside, especially when most of its big-name competition has it installed already. Xiaomi indicates Hyper OS 3 based on Android 16 will arrive for the 15T Pro from the end of October, but don’t expect it to reach all phones in all regions at exactly the same time.

Battery and charging

No need to worry

The 5,500mAh battery and the Dimensity 9400+ processor are an efficient pairing, even when you use the phone for more intensive tasks. During general use and a couple of hours screen time, the phone can end the day with 70% battery remaining, a 30-minute 1080p YouTube video at full brightness takes just 3% of the battery, and the 20-minute 3DMark gaming benchmark test took 10%.

On a full day with nearly four hours of screen time with half of that using Google Maps and GPS in an environment when connectivity was spotty, the battery ended the day with 48% remaining. This means the Xiaomi 15T Pro’s battery should last for two days, even with some serious use during this time.

You don’t get a charger in the box, but the phone does support Xiaomi’s proprietary 90W HyperCharge wired charging and 50W wireless HyperCharge charging. Xiaomi claims it takes 36 minutes to fully charge the battery using a wire, and 56 minutes using wireless. I used a 140W Anker Prime wall charger which averaged out at 35W, and it took 21 minutes to reach 50% charge, and a full charge around 10-to-15 minutes longer than Xiaomi’s estimates. Still fast, but if you want the fastest speeds, you’re going to have to buy Xiaomi’s own charger.

Unfussy smartphone joy

Gimmick-free?

When a phone does most things better than you expect, and doesn’t cost more than $1,000, it’s hard not to recommend it. The camera takes good photos and has a range of fun features. The battery lasts for several days, and the performance and software are more than capable enough for general use. That’s the kind of flagship experience I like, at a price that’s more reasonable.

For many, it’s arguably a better purchase because it’s not labeled as a flagship and therefore cheaper, plus it’s free from gimmicks and an over reliance on AI to “sell” the device as a flagship. I’ve come from the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and cannot say I’ve felt it’s any less high performing, less capable, or any less enjoyable to own.

It makes the Xiaomi 15T Pro an easy recommendation if you live in an area where the phone is available to buy. However, Xiaomi has unfortunately set the 15T Pro up for early failure due to the Xiaomi 17 series, which we’ll learn about soon after the 15T Pro goes on sale. If the 17 series is considerably more interesting, comes with Android 16, and is going to be available in a matter of months, if you’re set on owning a Xiaomi phone, it’ll likely be prudent to wait.

If you’re not overly concerned about owning the latest and greatest model and are willing to wait for Xiaomi to update Android 15 to Android 16, you won’t be disappointed with the 15T Pro.