Xiaomi just pulled the wraps off the new Xiaomi 15T Series locally, alongside a lineup of fresh AIoT products, under the theme “Masterpieces Far Closer.” The star of the show is undoubtedly the Xiaomi 15T Pro—and after a week of daily use, I can say this phone is shaping up to be one of Xiaomi’s strongest series yet. What’s more, the local pricing lands almost exactly where last year’s 14T Pro launched, giving buyers more for the same peso.
Unboxing: A Welcome Surprise
Cracking open the 15T Pro’s box felt familiar—until I spotted something I didn’t expect: the wall charger is back! Xiaomi skipped it last year with the 14T, so seeing a 90W HyperCharge brick included feels like a bonus. Alongside the charger, you get the essentials: the phone itself, a gray protective case (serviceable but plain), a USB-C cable, SIM eject tool, documentation, and a pre-installed screen protector. That last detail means you’re ready to go from the second you peel off the stickers—no detour to the accessory aisle required.
It’s a small thing, but for anyone upgrading from the 14T Pro, the return of the charger feels like an extra freebie.
Design and Build: Flagship Feel, Familiar Comfort
In hand, the Xiaomi 15T Pro feels solid yet refined. The 6M13 aluminum alloy frame paired with Gorilla Glass 7i and a glass-fiber back makes it both elegant and durable. At 210 grams, it has reassuring heft without tipping into unwieldy territory. The IP68 rating (up to three meters underwater) adds peace of mind for everyday accidents, whether it’s a coffee spill or a poolside mishap.
Color options include Black, Gray, and the striking Mocha Gold from Xiaomi’s Gold Collection. My review unit is Gray, understated but classy, while Mocha Gold is clearly the one meant to turn heads.
Display: Big, Bright, and Creator-Ready
Front and center is a 6.83-inch AMOLED display, the largest yet in the T Series. Resolution clocks in at 1.5K (2772 × 1280, 447 ppi), with a silky 144Hz refresh rate and 2560Hz touch sampling for gamers and fast scrollers alike. Content creators will love the extras: 12-bit color depth, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and P3 wide color gamut.
Factory calibration is pro-level accurate (ΔE ≈ 0.37, JNCD ≈ 0.25), and peak brightness hits 3200 nits with 1800 nits sustained—more than enough for harsh Manila sunlight. TÜV Rheinland certifications cover eye comfort with low blue light, DC dimming, and flicker-free operation. Add in stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos and a three-mic array, and you’ve got a screen-and-sound combo that feels built for bingeing, vlogging, or editing on the fly.
Cameras: Masterpieces Up Close
If there’s one reason the Xiaomi 15T Pro steals the spotlight, it’s the cameras. Xiaomi isn’t just flexing megapixels here—their collaboration with Leica is taking a big step forward with this new series , whether you’re zooming into a concert stage or framing a candid shot on the street.
The hero lens is, without question, the 50MP Leica 5x periscope telephoto camera. Built on Samsung’s JN5 sensor with optical image stabilization, it doesn’t just zoom—it zooms with confidence. At 115mm equivalent, you get crisp 5x optical zoom that doesn’t fall apart when you crop in. Push it to 10x lossless zoom and you’re still looking at usable, detailed shots—a rare feat even for pricier flagships. And for those who like to experiment, UltraZoom 2.0 extends reach all the way to 100x with AI sharpening.
But what really makes this lens special is its versatility. With a 30 cm minimum focusing distance, it doubles as a tele-macro lens. Think creamy close-ups of latte art, fabric textures, or plated food—shots that would normally require a dedicated macro camera.
Backing it up is the 50MP Light Fusion 900 main sensor with a Leica Summilux f/1.62 aperture. This is the workhorse for tricky lighting. Shooting during sunset, under neon lights, or in dim indoor settings, it delivers balanced exposures with natural colors. Shadows stay detailed, highlights stay in check, and skin tones don’t get washed out—a common issue on non-Leica phones.
Completing the trio is a 12MP ultra-wide (15mm equivalent). While not the sharpest of the three, it’s reliable for dramatic perspectives—landscapes, group portraits, or architecture—where field of view matters more than pixel count.
Portrait photography is where Leica’s DNA is most visible. You can shoot at five classic focal lengths—23mm, 35mm, 46mm, 75mm, and 115mm—each with its own character. Want environmental context? Go wide. Need a dramatic close-up? Switch to 115mm. Add Leica-style bokeh like Swirly, Soft Focus, or Bubbles, and your shots look less like “phone portraits” and more like frames from a Leica camera.
For video, the 15T Pro turns into a pocket filmmaker. It shoots 8K at 30fps, 4K at up to 120fps for buttery slow motion, and 10-bit Log with LUT support for those who edit seriously. HDR10+ ensures playback looks vivid on any screen, while a three-microphone array cleans up audio even in noisy environments. And yes—the 32MP front camera supports 4K HDR video, so vloggers and streamers get parity with the rear setup.
All of this is tied together by AISP 2.0, Xiaomi’s next-gen image processing. It quietly manages separation, tones, and HDR so most photos come out polished straight from the shutter. In fact, many of the shots I’ve taken needed little to no editing—the kind of consistency that makes a phone feel truly reliable as a creative tool.
Power and Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ (3nm) paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage keeps everything fluid, from gaming to 4K editing. The 3D IceLoop cooling system ensures it stays comfortable to hold even during long shoots or heavy multitasking.
Battery life comes from a 5,500mAh cell, the largest yet in the T Series. With 90W wired charging, 50W wireless, and Xiaomi’s Surge protection chips, it promises long-term reliability—80% health after 1,600 cycles. In practice, it charges from zero to full in well under an hour, and yes, the brick is in the box.
Pricing and Early Deals
Here’s the kicker: pricing is almost identical to last year’s 14T Pro, but you’re getting more power, better cameras, and smarter connectivity.
- Xiaomi 15T Pro (12+512GB / 12+256GB): ₱37,999–₱39,999
- Lazada early buyers: ₱35,999–₱38,999 + free Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro until Oct 10
- Offline pre-orders: ₱38,999 (12+512GB) with just ₱1,000 downpayment until Oct 9
- Xiaomi 15T (12+512GB / 12+256GB): ₱26,999–₱28,999
- Shopee early buyers: as low as ₱24,999 + free Smart Band 9 Pro until Oct 10
- Offline pre-orders: ₱27,999 (12+512GB) with ₱1,000 downpayment
Home Credit 0% installment plans bring it down to ₱82/day for the Pro, ₱58/day for the 15T, and select wearables from just ₱19/day.
First Impressions
The Leica 5x periscope lens alone makes the Xiaomi 15T Pro worth a serious look, but it doesn’t stop there. You’re also getting a sleek, premium design, a flagship-grade processor, and a 5,500mAh battery paired with 90W HyperCharge for stamina and speed. Add the massive, ultra-bright display into the mix—and the fact that pricing has stayed practically unchanged from last year’s model—and Xiaomi has landed right in the sweet spot. With the official Philippine price now out, it feels less like an upgrade and more like a steal.
I’ll be digging deeper into zoom performance, low-light portraits, and video stability in my full review this Saturday—but my first impressions? The Xiaomi 15T Pro feels like the best midrange flagship available in the market today.
