Xiaomi 15T Pro GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15t-pro/
Last week, Xiaomi held a September launch event where it showcased its latest products from smart home appliances to, of course, smartphones. Stealing the show in the latter segment is the Xiaomi 15T Pro, the latest flagship model in the company’s budget-friendly T line of smartphones. We’ll put it to the test in this review.
Xiaomi 15T Pro contents and specs
The Xiaomi 15T Pro starts at £649/EUR 799 and comes with the following items:
- Xiaomi 15T Pro
- USB Type-C Cable
- SIM Eject Tool
- Protective Case
- User Manuals
It’s almost expected that, with Xiaomi phones, they come with a pre-installed screen protector and a protective case. The Xiaomi 15T Pro indeed comes with these items; unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a charging brick. This is unfortunate as the phone is touted to support Xiaomi’s 90W HyperCharge.
Such a feature does make a significant difference, but being absent in this package means that you will have to purchase a charging brick separately. Having one included would make for a more value-for-money package, but it seems like Xiaomi has been shying away from bundling this accessory with its smartphones since its latest release.
Specs of the Xiaomi 15T Pro can be found below:
Specs details courtesy of Xiaomi
A mid-range phone series with a premium build
When I first saw the Xiaomi 15T Pro, I was drawn to its elegant look. If I didn’t know better, I would have looped it in with Xiaomi’s flagship 15 series. It is framed in high-strength aluminium alloy that not only endows the unibody with a sleek, elegant look but also provides added drop protection. The rear panel is made of plastic, which doesn’t feel cheap at all, and the rear camera island is off-centre.
Xiaomi has kept it practical with IP68 splash, water and dust resistance, and Gorilla Glass 7i up front for extra scratch protection. These provide added peace of mind when using this phone as a daily driver. The inclusion of the screen protector and bumper further helps in this regard.
As a 6.83” device, it is ergonomic and comfortable to use. The display is worth commending. It features ultra-narrow 1.5mm bezels on all four sides, making it one of the most immersive smartphone screens I’ve ever seen. It really enhances the gaming and video streaming experience, but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Following the trend of other flagships, the 15T Pro does not feature a headphone jack, and it also lacks expandable storage. While there is a range of storage options to choose from, up to 1TB, having microSD support is always beneficial as it allows, for example, carrying your retro games library more easily.
Speaking of games, let’s see how this new smartphone performs.
Gaming on the Xiaomi 15T Pro
Under the hood of the 15T Pro is the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip. This ranks the phone’s performance among the upper tier based on Geekbench 6 scores. While it is not a POCO phone, the gaming-focused branch of Xiaomi, the 15T Pro is very capable as an Android gaming device, considering its specs.
You can expect to play modern Android games with no issues on it. From Zenless Zone Zero on the highest graphics settings and 60fps to Dead Cells and Evoland 2, the Xiaomi 15T Pro has no issues running these games smoothly.
It also performed very well at emulating a range of consoles. At 3x resolution, Gamecube games Twilight Princess and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes ran at 30fps and 60fps, respectively. PS2 emulation at 3x resolution would result in Shadow of the Colossus at 50-60 fps and Ratchet & Clank at 60 fps.
Wii title The Last Story would stutter at 3x resolution, but lowering that to 2x would result in steady 30fps.
As for Switch games, Cuphead’s performance varied between 40-60fps, while Cult of the Lamb played more steadily at 30fps. Untitled Goose Game would run at around 60fps, but it did suffer from notable graphical glitches. This might be due to the WIP nature of the emulator, and performance could improve over time with emulator updates. That said, I think for emulating indie and less demanding Switch games, the Xiaomi 15T Pro is a decent fit.
I cannot emphasise enough the wow factor of the extremely thin bezels while gaming on this phone. Coupled with the 6.83-inch AMOLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate, the visual experience is a treat. The 5500mAh battery also supports extended gaming sessions, and the 90W HyperCharge support, in theory, takes away extended charging concerns, but you will need to purchase a charger separately.
The Xiaomi 3D IceLoop System, or the company’s naming convention for the cooling system on the 15T Series, does a good job at dissipating heat from the device. I haven’t found it to be uncomfortably hot during my gaming sessions.
With these practical features and the impressive performance across Android games and emulators, the Xiaomi 15T Pro works as an unexpected gaming powerhouse. Of course, it’s usable as a daily driver, and we’ll take a look at that front next.
Using the Xiaomi 15T Pro as a daily driver
The Xiaomi 15T Pro is an easy contender for a daily driver. Its specs allow for swift control and operating multiple apps, while the excellent display makes for great entertainment. With a peak brightness of up to 3,200 nits, it is very usable outdoors while delivering crisp visuals.
The headline act of this device, though, is its camera system. It packs a triple array at the rear of the device (23mm main, 115mm super telephoto and 15mm ultra-wide) co-produced with Leica. This allows capturing pictures and videos from a range of angles and zoom, including true 5x optical zoom. The technology is based on the company’s high-end Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which shows with the shots taken with the 15T Pro.
True 5x optical zoom on this device is impressive
The results are simply stunning. This phone allows you to capture professional-looking photographs in a simple point-and-click fashion without any advanced photography skills. Details are sharp, and scenes maintain an authentic vibrancy; results that are rare within this price bracket. I’m amazed by the quality of shots from this “mid-ranger”, a term which seems ill-suited in this regard.
Same shot, different zoom
With the Xiaomi 15T Series, the company has also debuted its Xiaomi Offline Communication feature. It’s not unlike a walkie-talkie, as it allows direct voice communication between Xiaomi 15T Series (up to 1.9km for Xiaomi 15T Pro, and 1.3km for Xiaomi 15T), even without cellular or Wi-Fi signals. It’s a welcome feature that can come in handy in areas with low cellular service.
Xiaomi 15T Pro: an optics-first powerhouse without the flagship tax
If the Xiaomi 15T Pro is aimed at expanding access to a flagship experience at a more affordable price point, I think it has hit the bull’s eye. The display is excellent, and the gaming performance exceeded my expectations. The stunning shots that it captures are comparable to those of higher-end devices. It rarely feels like a mid-range device in both performance and experience.
That said, these views are reflective of the higher-end 15T Pro model, which is the most expensive of the bunch. Even at its pricer point, it doesn’t include a charger, doesn’t support expandable storage, and the HyperOS experience can be divisive.
All things considered, if you prioritise imaging and want a phone that doesn’t compromise on gaming, the Xiaomi 15T Pro is one of the most attractive propositions right now.
Verdict
- Excellent Leica camera
- Impressive screen real estate
- Great performance across Android games and a range of console emulation
- Handy offline communication feature
- No charging brick included
- No expandable storage support
