The new Xiaomi 15T smartphone has arrived in South Africa – and we got hands-on with this device ahead of its launch.
This smartphone is positioned within the hugely popular Xiaomi 15 range and is targeted at users who want many of the same premium features of the Xiaomi 15 at an accessible price point.
After putting this smartphone through its paces, our feelings are simple: Xiaomi has absolutely crushed it with this device.
Everything about it screams “flagship” – except the price tag.
From impressive photography powered by the world-class Leica brand, to a classy design, to powerful and generous hardware choices – we expect the Xiaomi 15T to be an absolute hit in the local market.
We unpack our experience with the Xiaomi 15T in more detail in this video, or read on for more information.
Design
From the moment we unboxed this smartphone, one thing was clear – this device looks amazing.
Ours came in a stylish silver colour, and the camera bump is subtle and elegant. Many smartphones are opting for hefty camera bumps in 2025, but we appreciate (and prefer) this understated design.
Equally impressive is the display, which was flooded with vibrant colours when we turned the smartphone on.
This is a 6.83-inch, 120Hz eye-care display that delivers sharp visuals thanks to its 2.8K resolution.
We found colours to be vibrant, yet realistic, while the eye-care optimisations made it easy to view the screen for long periods – such as when watching movies or playing games.
We also learned that the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which provides outstanding durability against drops and scratches.
Camera
Once we had gone through the setup process, we jumped straight into the camera app to test out the impressive set of sensors, which includes:
- Primary: 50MP Light Fusion 900 sensor with f/1.62 aperture and OIS
- Telephoto: 50MP with 2x zoom, f/1.9 aperture
- Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture
This camera system uses the high-end Leica Summilux branding – a testament to the quality of these sensors.
In the camera app, we were immediately greeted with the choice between Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic photo modes.
This is a nifty feature that lets photographers choose between two preset options.
Leica Authentic ensures natural, true-to-life tones, while Leica Vibrant enhances colours to make images more eye-catching.
Leica Authentic, for example, would be ideal for portraiture, where you want to capture the subject in a natural setting.
By contrast, Leica Vibrant would be great if you want to get more “artistic” with your photography, such as when snapping pictures of colourful buildings or murals.
We tested a wide range of other features that have been integrated into this camera system.
Fastshot is a great street photography feature that makes it easy to take lots of photos in a short period of time, while the Pro mode gives you the ability to treat your smartphone more like a DSLR camera – manually adjusting factors like ISO, white balance, and shutter speed.
Whether you are a casual photographer or a true professional, we are confident that you will find it easy to take spectacular snaps with this smartphone.
Impressive performance
This smartphone is more than just a photography marvel. It features premium hardware and features at every turn.
In terms of hardware, the Xiaomi 15T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra chip, which delivers outstanding octa-core performance.
It is supported by a generous 12GB RAM and 512GB storage – making it ideal for every task you throw at it.
The 5,500mAh battery is larger than that available in many true flagship devices, while support for 67W HyperCharge means topping up this battery will be lightning-fast.
Such impressive hardware makes it easy to take advantage of the many features of HyperOS 2.0 – Xiaomi’s adaptation of Android 15.
HyperOS is notable for its HyperAI suite, which combines the cutting-edge Google Gemini AI assistant with several other powerful AI features for the ultimate modern smartphone experience.
Key highlights of this AI suite include:
- AI Gallery Editor – For easy AI-powered photo editing
- AI Dynamic Wallpapers – Turn existing photos into short video wallpapers.
- AI Translate Conversation and Interpreter – Making cross-language conversations and interactions easy.
- AI Speech Recognition – For amazing accessibility functionality
Between these intuitive features and the hardware that powers them, using the Xiaomi 15T was an absolute pleasure.
Final thoughts
The Xiaomi 15T is an excellent balance between premium quality and accessibility.
From a Leica-powered camera system, to the excellent display, to powerful hardware that supports cutting-edge AI tools – Xiaomi has got a winner in the Xiaomi 15T smartphone.
