A video-based camera review of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, examining its 1-inch main sensor, Leica profiles, 70mm macro lens, 200MP periscope and LOG video tools.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra approaches mobile photography with an unusually broad set of tools: a large main sensor, two telephoto options, Leica color profiles and video controls that resemble those of dedicated cameras. In the linked video, a photographer who says he has used the phone for two months takes it from tropical streets to low-light scenes and wildlife encounters. His strongest praise goes to the versatility of the lenses and the speed of the camera interface.
There is an important disclosure. The reviewer opens by stating that the video is sponsored by Xiaomi. Its examples are useful demonstrations of how one photographer works with the phone, but they should not be mistaken for an independent comparison or a neutral laboratory test. This Belliste analysis is based on that sponsored video; Belliste did not conduct its own hands-on testing.
The main camera uses a 1-inch-type sensor, a defining piece of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's hardware. The reviewer explains that a large sensor and wide aperture help gather light, which can allow faster shutter speeds without making an image excessively dark. That matters not only after sunset but also when photographing people or moving subjects in daylight.
In his street photographs, the main camera produces detailed images with a broad range of light and shadow. He particularly likes the way the camera handles scenes with bright skies and darker foregrounds. The footage presents selected examples rather than a controlled test, so it cannot establish how consistently the phone performs against competing flagships.
The 70mm telephoto is the reviewer's preferred focal length for portraits. It brings people closer in the frame without forcing the photographer to stand directly in front of them, and he finds the perspective flattering. He also demonstrates that this camera can focus close enough for macro work, describing a minimum focusing distance of about 10cm.
The other long-range option is a 200MP super-telephoto periscope camera. Its high-resolution sensor gives him flexibility to crop into distant scenes and examine small details. The video includes street scenes, wildlife and distant subjects to show why this extra reach matters.
The 70mm lens is better suited to portraits and close-ups; the 200MP periscope extends the reach for distant subjects and later cropping. In the video, each has a distinct purpose.
The camera app offers Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant rendering profiles. The reviewer chooses Vibrant when he wants stronger color and contrast, and Authentic when he prefers more restrained tones with pronounced depth. Neither profile is presented as universally correct; the decision depends on the scene and the photographer's taste.
He appreciates that switching between them does not require searching through deep menus. The HDR control is similarly accessible. For backlit subjects, he generally leaves HDR on automatic because he likes the balance between shadow detail and a natural-looking scene, switching it off only if the processing produces a result he dislikes.
The quick controls are particularly useful when a street scene changes before there is time to search through menus.
Swiping upward in the camera interface reveals creative and manual modes, including Fastshot. The reviewer uses this mode to move quickly from seeing a scene to framing and taking the picture. He demonstrates one-handed adjustments and sometimes dials in slightly negative exposure compensation to keep daytime scenes moodier.
Fastshot also provides framing guidance that shows extra context around the intended shot. For street photography, where subjects and lighting can change before a photographer finishes navigating menus, this workflow is a tangible advantage. It is one of the clearest examples in the video of software design improving the shooting experience rather than merely adding another feature.
Portrait photography is a recurring theme in the demonstration. The reviewer favors the 70mm camera for people, but he also uses the main camera's larger sensor to create natural optical background separation. He distinguishes that physical blur from software-generated portrait effects, which can sometimes create visible cutout errors around a subject.
One example involves a strongly backlit scene with bright highlights and deep shadows. He is pleased with the color and tonal balance, particularly the way the subject remains distinct without making the entire image look artificially bright. His enthusiasm is clear, though the video does not include a standardized comparison of edge detection, skin tones or dynamic range against rival phones.
The 70mm camera's macro capability becomes especially useful when photographing insects. Instead of bringing an ultrawide lens almost against the subject, the reviewer keeps some distance and still fills the frame with fine details. He shows an insect on a leaf and compares the perspective with a wider-angle close-up.
Working distance can be just as valuable as magnification. It helps avoid disturbing small wildlife and produces a different perspective from the exaggerated look of a very close ultrawide shot. The reviewer considers this one of his favorite features, and the demonstration gives that preference a clear practical basis.
The high-resolution periscope camera lets the reviewer inspect and crop distant details, while the main sensor is used extensively after dark. He also demonstrates a 2x view derived from a crop of the main camera and a longer telephoto framing around 4.3x. In the selected footage, he is pleased with the detail and relatively low noise.
A large sensor can help in dim conditions, but the examples do not prove that quality remains unchanged at every crop level or zoom setting. The reviewer's claim is narrower: for the scenes he photographed, the camera delivered enough detail to give him useful framing and cropping flexibility.
One memorable example comes from a walk through a forest. He hears a woodpecker high in a tree, cannot make it out clearly with his eyes, then uses the phone's long-range camera to locate and photograph it. That illustrates a real use for telephoto reach beyond test charts and distant buildings.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra's video interface is one of the more technically interesting parts of the review. In Pro video mode, the photographer demonstrates LOG recording with an on-screen LUT preview. He also shows exposure metering options, manual adjustments to ISO and shutter speed, and tools for checking audio levels and exposure.
His sample is recorded at 4K 30fps. He uses center-weighted metering in a backlit scene and adjusts exposure to preserve the look he wants. A LUT preview makes a flat LOG image easier to judge while recording, which is useful when footage will later be color graded.
These controls will appeal most to people who already understand exposure and editing. They do not automatically make every clip cinematic, and the video does not provide a controlled assessment of codec performance, rolling shutter or stabilization across modes. It does show that the phone gives an experienced shooter more direct control than a basic point-and-shoot interface.
The reviewer addresses a common concern about Android image quality after posting to social platforms. He says that stories and posts uploaded from his Xiaomi 15 Ultra looked good to him, with no obvious degradation in his examples. That observation is useful but limited: upload quality can depend on the app version, compression, connection and media settings.
The video therefore supports a modest conclusion. He was satisfied with the content he posted from this device; it does not establish that every Instagram upload from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will match an iPhone or retain the original file quality.
Although the reviewer says he has used the phone for two months, this sponsored video concentrates on photography. It does not provide a systematic battery-life test, thermal-performance analysis, gaming benchmark or broad comparison of the operating system. It also showcases selected photographic results rather than the full set of unsuccessful shots.
The footage is most useful for understanding how an experienced photographer works with the lenses and controls, not for estimating the success rate of every shot.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands out for how its cameras work together. The 70mm lens handles portraits and close-up subjects, while the 200MP periscope reaches distant details that the main camera cannot capture as effectively. Fastshot and the Leica color profiles make those options accessible without slowing down the photographer.
The sponsored video demonstrates this flexibility across street scenes, wildlife, macro photography and manually exposed 4K footage. It also leaves important questions unanswered, particularly how consistently the cameras perform against competing flagships under identical conditions.
For photographers who enjoy controlling exposure, composition and color, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers a capable and unusually versatile camera system. Buyers looking for the best automatic point-and-shoot results should compare independent camera samples before committing.
Yes. The reviewer states at the beginning that the video is sponsored by Xiaomi.
The video describes a 1-inch-type main camera sensor that helps gather light for daylight action and low-light scenes.
Yes. The video demonstrates a 200MP periscope super-telephoto camera for distant subjects and cropping.
Yes. The reviewer demonstrates close-up photography using the 70mm telephoto lens while keeping distance from small subjects.
The reviewer demonstrates LOG recording with LUT preview, exposure controls and a 4K 30fps sample.
