When Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 15 in India last month, the brand promised a “flagship experience without compromise.” After testing the device for two weeks, I can confidently say it lives up to that claim but there’s a catch.
Speed That Leaves Competitors in the Dust
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the Xiaomi 15 handles multitasking like a pro. Switching between apps, editing 4K videos, and gaming at 120fps felt effortless. In benchmark tests, it scored 2.1 million on AnTuTu, outperforming the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (1.98 million) and the OnePlus 12 (2.05 million).
What impressed me most was its thermal management. After an hour of Genshin Impact on max settings, the phone warmed up but never throttled—a rare feat for Android flagships.
A Display That Demands Attention
The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate is a visual treat. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and the brightness peaks at 3,000 nits—ideal for outdoor use. Watching RRR on Netflix felt cinematic, thanks to Dolby Vision support.
Camera: Good, But Not Class-Leading
The 50MP primary camera captures sharp, vibrant photos in daylight, and the 12MP ultra-wide lens minimizes distortion. Low-light performance, however, lags behind the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Xiaomi’s AI-powered portrait mode occasionally over-smooths skin tones, a common gripe I’ve noticed in previous models.
The Elephant in the Room: Availability
Here’s where Xiaomi stumbles. Despite launching the Xiaomi 15 at ₹69,999, the phone is only available via Amazon India and select Mi Stores. Stocks sell out within minutes of restocking, leaving buyers frustrated. A Mumbai-based entrepreneur I spoke to tried purchasing it three times without success. “Why advertise a phone you can’t sell?” he asked.
Xiaomi’s India team claims supply chain issues are to blame, but rivals like Nothing and OnePlus have avoided similar pitfalls. This inconsistency risks alienating loyal Mi fans.
Should You Buy the Xiaomi 15?
Pros:
- Blazing performance for gaming and productivity
- Best-in-class display
- Competitive pricing (₹10,000 cheaper than Galaxy S24 Ultra)
Cons:
- Limited availability
- Average low-light camera performance
- No IP68 rating (unlike most flagships)
If you prioritize raw power and can snag one during a flash sale, the Xiaomi 15 is a steal. But until Xiaomi fixes its supply issues, mainstream adoption will remain a challenge.
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