Xiaomi 15 Ultra Unveiled – Featuring 4K/120, 10-bit Log Recording & a Glimpse into the Future

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Unveiled – Featuring 4K/120 10-bit Log Recording & a Glimpse into the Future

The Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has unveiled its latest flagship camera phone, the 15 Ultra, introducing notable improvements over last year’s Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Designed with filmmakers in mind, this device offers 8K/30, 4K/120p, and 10-bit Log recording, further strengthening Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica. With these enhancements, the 15 Ultra blurs the line between a smartphone and a professional camera—let’s take a closer look!

Until now, Apple’s iPhone 15/16 Pro has faced little competition in terms of video features tailored for serious content creators. While resolution and frame rate are crucial, they only tell part of the story when it comes to professional-grade videography.

Enter Xiaomi: with Leica’s expertise, the 15 Ultra presents a compelling alternative. As an iPhone user myself, this is the first non-Apple device that has truly piqued my interest and made me reconsider my options.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra – video capabilities

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers 4K video recording at 120fps using both its main and periscope telephoto cameras. To ensure stable and high-quality footage, the device integrates Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). It also supports Dolby Vision recording at 4K 60fps and offers 10-bit Log video recording across all focal lengths.

Notably, Xiaomi claims that the 15 Ultra is Android’s first ACES Product Partner, providing industry-grade color accuracy for professional videography. Additionally, the device features a 4-microphone array, enabling immersive audio capture with multiple directional recording modes.

Much like its predecessor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a quad-camera system housed in a large, circular module that defines its design. Equipped with Leica Summilux lenses, the camera setup offers versatile focal lengths ranging from 14mm to 100mm zoom.

While the overall camera system remains similar to last year’s Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a key upgrade comes in the form of the 100mm telephoto lens, now featuring a powerful 200MP sensor. The 15 Ultra’s four-camera setup includes:

• 14mm ultra-wide – 50MP sensor, f/2.2 aperture
• 23mm main camera – 50MP Sony LYT-900 1-inch sensor, f/1.63 aperture
• 70mm “floating telephoto” – 50MP sensor, f/1.8 aperture
• 100mm ultra-telephoto – 200MP sensor (1/1.4″ size), f/2.6 aperture

10-bit Log video recording is available across all focal lengths, alongside 4K capture at 24/30/60fps. Additionally, 4K/120fps recording is supported on both the 23mm main camera and the 100mm periscope telephoto. The phone also features 4-axis OIS in the main camera, complemented by EIS for enhanced stabilization. According to Xiaomi, Dolby Vision can be activated at any focal length, ensuring a wider dynamic range for video recording.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Unveiled – Featuring 4K/120 10-bit Log Recording & a Glimpse into the Future

On the audio front, the 4-Mic Array offers multiple recording modes, including directional audio, omnidirectional audio, and audio zoom for more immersive sound capture.

However, despite featuring a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra does not appear to support external video recording to an SSD, which may be a limitation for professional videographers looking for extended storage options.

The Photography kit

Here’s where things get even more interesting. Similar to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the Photography Kit (which connects via USB-C) enhances the 15 Ultra’s functionality by adding a multifunctional camera grip. This grip not only provides extra protection but also doubles as a power bank, allowing users to charge their smartphone without removing it.

The kit includes several key features for a more DSLR-like shooting experience:

• Zoom lever for smooth focal length adjustments
• Dedicated video recording button for quick capture
• Instant access to aspect ratio, exposure settings, and more

Additionally, the kit comes with a decorative metal ring, and after attaching the 67mm filter adapter ring, users can mount 67mm ND, Variable ND, or other camera filters for enhanced creative control.

Last but not least, when the photography grip is attached, the device achieves an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, adding an extra layer of durability to the setup.

It’s up to you to decide whether the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is worth upgrading from the 14 Ultra, but there’s no denying that this device exemplifies the remarkable evolution of smartphone technology. As manufacturers increasingly recognize that advanced video recording capabilities are just as crucial as photography, we may see more brands expanding their video features. However, the big question remains—will this come at the expense of traditional mirrorless cameras? Only time will tell.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will retail for approximately $1,600 (€1,500). For more details, visit Xiaomi’s official website.

The Future of Mobile Photography with Xiaomi

Xiaomi has showcased an intriguing innovation with their “Modular Optical System,” which demonstrates their vision for the future of smartphone photography. The system integrates an f1.4 35mm lens with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, attached magnetically to the phone. This setup enables the wireless transfer of data to the device, opening up new possibilities for enhancing image quality. While it’s clear that this concept could potentially be applied to video as well, there’s no official word yet on whether it will become a commercial product. Regardless, it’s evident that companies like Xiaomi and RealMe are pushing the boundaries, and traditional camera manufacturers may struggle to keep up given their limited R&D budgets.

Would you consider switching from your Apple iPhone 15/16 Pro to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra? If so, what would make you make the change? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.