Xiaomi 15T Professional Evaluation: Inching Nearer To Flagship

Xiaomi’s smartphone lineup is usually a little complicated at occasions, and this yr, it is extra complicated than ever. For instance, the corporate launched the Xiaomi 15T this September after which instantly took the wraps off of the Xiaomi 17 sequence. Much more complicated is the truth that whereas “T” sequence telephones are sometimes positioned as barely lower-cost than its non-T variants, the Xiaomi 15T Professional has some options that weren’t out there on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

In fact, the units can be found in several markets, which clears up a number of the confusion. At its so-called “sub-flagship” price-point, is the Xiaomi 15T Professional value shopping for? Or do you have to go for one thing else? I put the cellphone to the check to seek out out.

The Xiaomi 15T Professional is one more flat-edged smartphone that takes numerous inspiration from the iPhone. That is not a foul factor. The cellphone seems to be refined and modern, with color-matched supplies on the body and again. It would not have a unibody design, however it virtually seems to be prefer it. The cellphone is offered in a number of completely different colours, together with Mocha Gold, Black, and Gray. I’ve the Mocha Gold choice and I actually just like the look of it. It has a matte aluminum body with a matte fiberglass again, and it seems to be and feels premium.

On the again you may discover a big sq. digicam module within the prime left-hand nook which homes the three digicam sensors. Every little thing else concerning the cellphone is kind of commonplace. There is a quantity rocker and energy button on the proper edge and a USB-C port on the underside. There’s an optical fingerprint sensor constructed into the display, and whereas it is maybe not as high-tech because the ultrasonic sensors constructed into a few of Xiaomi’s different telephones, it nonetheless labored rapidly and precisely.

The cellphone within reason sturdy, too. The entrance glass is Gorilla Glass 7i, and the machine has an IP68 score, which implies that it ought to survive unintended submersion in water. As an entire, the Xiaomi 15T Professional seems to be premium and gives a pleasant really feel. It is comfy to carry, too, because of the marginally rounded edges. And it has a great-feeling, exact haptic suggestions system, which is all the time good to see.

On the entrance of the cellphone, you may discover a 6.83-inch AMOLED display, with a 144Hz refresh charge and a 3,200-nit peak brightness. It gives a fairly excessive decision, sitting in at 1,280 x 2,772, leading to a pixel density of 447 pixels per inch. As an entire, the display seems to be glorious. It might not be as shiny because the shows in a few of Xiaomi’s different latest telephones, however it nonetheless seems to be very shiny and I discovered it simple to see content material each indoors and open air, even in direct daylight.

The one draw back to this display is the truth that it is not an LTPO panel, which suggests it could possibly’t fairly regulate its refresh charge as dynamically as another units. It could possibly nonetheless change refresh charge primarily based on the content material on the display, however as a substitute of having the ability to ramp up or down wherever between 1Hz and 144Hz, it could possibly swap between 30Hz, 60Hz, and 120Hz modes. None of this impacts how the display seems to be, fortunately, however it does affect how a lot power the display makes use of. Nonetheless, relaxation assured, you are getting a great-looking display on the Xiaomi 15T Professional. It is shiny and vibrant and feels good and clean.

Below the hood, the Xiaomi 15T Professional is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus coupled with 12GB of RAM. It is not MediaTek’s strongest chip. For now, that title goes to the Dimensity 9500, however it’s nonetheless a fantastic performing processor that may deal with all the pieces you may throw at it in 2025.

The cellphone additionally has Xiaomi’s so-called 3D Ice Loop cooling system, which is a vapor chamber system that is bigger on this cellphone in comparison with previous-generation ones. That ought to assist it carry out higher for longer. I nonetheless discovered that it might warmth up throughout prolonged gaming classes, however that is largely to be anticipated. And to be truthful, I used to be actually making an attempt to push the cellphone to its limits. It nonetheless dealt with these gaming classes completely effectively, and it by no means skipped or froze throughout multitasking both.

To be clear, the cellphone will not carry out fairly in addition to a tool with the Dimensity 9500, nor one with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. It additionally lags behind smartphones with the newest era Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. By way of uncooked efficiency, it beats the Pixel 10 sequence, although, so count on it to carry out someplace in between the Pixel 10 and the Galaxy S25. Whilst you might not likely really feel any lags in efficiency proper now, because the cellphone ages, it’s possible you’ll discover that it begins to decelerate before an excellent better-performing cellphone would.

On the again of the Xiaomi 15T Professional, you may discover a triple digicam system made up of a 50-megapixel most important digicam, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto digicam with 5x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam with a 120-degree subject of view. Typically talking, the photographs captured by the machine seemed beautiful. In well-lit environments, photographs had been shiny and vibrant whereas remaining comparatively correct. Xiaomi remains to be working with Leica for the colour science of its pictures, and you may select between a number of completely different profiles. I principally caught to the default Leica Genuine profile.

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With its 5x optical zoom, I discovered that the telephoto digicam produced glorious outcomes too. Typically, telephoto cameras that zoom this far can lead to a spot between the primary digicam and telephoto digicam the place you may see how digital zoom is used at 4x or so. Fortunately, photographs zoomed at 4x nonetheless seemed fairly good, regardless that they in fact did use digital zoom. I did discover that the digicam was slightly inconsistent when it got here to colours — photographs taken with the telephoto digicam seemed slightly completely different than these taken with the primary digicam.

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The cellphone permits you to zoom at as much as 100x and makes use of generative AI so as to add extra element to pictures taken previous 20x. I discovered that it did a reasonably good job at delivering a remaining picture that stayed true to what was within the precise scene. Although, in fact, on the most 100x zoom, issues do look slightly funky.

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The ultrawide digicam is fairly good, too, although maybe not fairly as spectacular as the primary and telephoto cameras. I am nonetheless capable of seize fairly vibrant pictures more often than not, and I used to be nonetheless capable of seize as a lot element in low mild. That, in fact, is a reasonably area of interest scenario, and the primary and telephoto cameras nonetheless did a very good job when it got here to low-light pictures. As an entire, the digicam system constructed into the cellphone is superb.

The Xiaomi 15T Professional is powered by a 5,500mAh battery, and I discovered that it was capable of get me by way of a full day of even heavier use. However for those who’re anticipating a multi-day battery, it’s possible you’ll be disenchanted. Once more, the battery is completely positive, and for those who bear in mind to cost up both in a single day or sooner or later through the day, you in all probability will not have any points with it. It is simply not as lengthy lasting as a number of the telephones with bigger batteries.

The machine helps 90W wired charging, which may be very quick, and that implies that you must be capable to absolutely cost in round 36 minutes. It additionally helps 50W wi-fi charging with a Xiaomi HyperCharge wi-fi charger, however it could possibly additionally work with a Qi wi-fi charger.

As traditional, one of many greatest issues holding the cellphone again is its software program expertise, however it’s not horrible. The cellphone runs Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2, operating on Android 15. Like different Xiaomi telephones, you may get issues like a separate management heart and notifications shade, and you may select between having an app drawer or all of your apps on residence screens. It is clearly a stylized look, and you will have to determine for your self for those who prefer it or not.

What you in all probability will not like is the quantity of bloatware on the machine. You will get a variety of extra apps pre-installed out of the field, together with issues like AliExpress, Amazon Music, TikTok, and LinkedIn. There are additionally duplicate apps, like Google’s Information app and Xiaomi’s File Supervisor. A few of these may be deleted — like LinkedIn -– however others can solely be hidden from your property display. Nonetheless, the software program usually seems to be and feels completely positive. There’s rather a lot happening, however it nonetheless felt comparatively responsive, which is all the time useful.

The Xiaomi 15T Professional has rather a lot going for it. With a modern design, a fantastic digicam, and stable efficiency, there’s actually nothing dangerous about it. Certain, it would not fairly compete with dearer units -– however it additionally should not should. At round 800 euros, there are different alternate options, however relaxation assured the Xiaomi 15T Professional is a wonderful cellphone total.

The competitors

The competitors to the Xiaomi 15T Professional largely varies relying in your area. This cellphone is generally constructed for Europe, and in Europe, it competes with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, which I’d argue has higher software program. It is also value contemplating the Realme GT7 Professional, which can carry out higher than the Xiaomi 15T Professional. That stated, for those who’re searching for a fantastic digicam, stable efficiency, and modern design, the Xiaomi 15T Professional often is the cellphone for you.

Ought to I purchase the Xiaomi 15T Professional?

Sure. It is a fantastic cellphone at a very good worth.