The Xiaomi 15S Pro arrives not just as a hardware refresh, but as a statement piece—a device that dares to define Xiaomi’s new frontier. Sleek with its carbon fiber back and armed with Xiaomi’s first in-house chipset, this phone is clearly meant to disrupt. During a late night out with my girlfriend Tia, it already felt like more than just a smartphone—it was a moment-capturing machine that invited attention.
From the get-go, it handled nightlife photos better than its predecessor, with sharper zoom, deeper shadows, and steadier focus, even under erratic club lighting. It wasn’t just the optics; the display glowed like a premium AMOLED should, and the 4K video captured the mood with near cinematic precision.
But it’s not all wins—the new X-Ring 01 chip stumbled under stress testing, and long gaming sessions quickly gave way to thermal throttling. Still, there’s no denying this phone is special. It’s powerful, it’s beautiful, and it’s Xiaomi’s boldest attempt at going toe-to-toe with the iPhones and Galaxies of the world.
Performance & Chipset:
Under the hood lies Xiaomi’s biggest leap in ambition: the X-Ring 01 chipset. Built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, this silicon marvel showcases Xiaomi’s shift toward silicon independence. With 16GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, benchmark scores are solid—approaching 2.66 million on AnTuTu, making it comparable to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite in everyday responsiveness.
App launching is instant, multitasking fluid, and the custom ISP enhances image processing speed. But then came the stress tests—3DMark refused to finish, citing heat issues. Clearly, while the chip shows promise in light-to-moderate tasks, its thermal envelope may be narrower than expected. Day-to-day performance is top-tier, but the chip isn’t quite the beast Xiaomi hoped for when pushed to its edge.
Gaming Experience:
On paper, gaming should be this phone’s playground: a 16-core Immortalis G925 GPU, 6-core NPU, ultra-fast memory, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and Wi-Fi 7. But in reality, extended gaming reveals its Achilles’ heel—heat. The first 30 minutes are buttery smooth, with high frame rates in Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile.
But Tia’s extended testing uncovered a troubling pattern: heat buildup begins fast, leading to frame drops and reduced responsiveness. Throttling becomes severe after an hour, with performance tapering off dramatically. Casual gaming is a non-issue, but if you’re a mobile gaming enthusiast or content creator needing extended stable sessions, the 15S Pro may struggle to keep up, even if it starts strong.
Display & Visual Quality:
Xiaomi pulled no punches with the 15S Pro’s display. The 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED stuns with vibrant colors, 3200 nits peak brightness, and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Color reproduction is deep and vivid, with 68 billion hues dancing across the panel. It’s immersive, framed by ultra-slim bezels that seem to vanish into the hand.
Scrolling and swiping is fluid, thanks to 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rates. With 1,920Hz PWM dimming and TÜV Rheinland flicker-free certification, it’s easy on the eyes too. Plus, Xiaomi’s second-gen shatterproof glass adds a subtle layer of peace of mind. This screen isn’t just good—it’s flagship class.
Speaker & Audio Output:
Stereo speakers are tuned with decent warmth and clarity, delivering a satisfying soundstage for personal listening. Vocals and highs are clear, bass is average, and stereo separation is fine.
However, volume output doesn’t quite reach flagship levels. In noisy environments—say, near traffic or inside a busy café—the phone struggles to hold its own. It’s good, but not outstanding. Audiophiles or frequent outdoor media users might crave more punch or richer depth, though most users will find it acceptable.
Battery & Charging:
Here’s where the Xiaomi 15S Pro redeems itself. The 6,100 mAh silicon-carbon battery punches above its weight. Daily use—including camera sessions, GPS, social media, and Bluetooth streaming—pushed the screen-on-time past 8 hours on several occasions. When it’s time to charge, 90W wired charging gets the phone from 0 to 100 in under 35 minutes.
Wireless charging at 50W also keeps pace for those using Xiaomi’s proprietary stand. Heat is well managed during charging, and the system’s smart trickle reduces battery degradation. It’s consistent, efficient, and one of the few phones that truly supports power users on the go.
Camera Comparison:
Main Sensor
The 50MP main sensor is the same one as the Xiaomi 15 Pro on paper—but something’s changed. Focus is faster, dynamic range is wider, and image processing feels more polished. Whether capturing portraits or night scenes, photos are richly detailed and contrasty without going overboard.
Low Light & Zoom
In club conditions and low-lit streets, it held its own against the iPhone 16 Pro. Shadows remained defined, noise was minimal, and exposure was smartly balanced. The 5x zoom lens—often overlooked—shined here, producing sharper shots than expected, even when handheld.
Portraits & Beautification
Portrait mode excelled at subject-background separation, but Xiaomi’s skin smoothing reared its head. Even with filters disabled, skin textures are overly softened. For Western audiences, this might feel unnatural. It’s clearly tuned for Asian markets where beauty filters are the norm.
Video Quality
4K at 60fps delivers solid detail, dynamic range, and stable exposure. Footage is clean, with accurate color grading and reliable motion tracking. Still, it slightly lags behind the iPhone 16 Pro in fine detail and dynamic highlight handling, particularly in complex lighting.
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Biometrics, UI & OS Experience:
The 15S Pro unlocks swiftly via ultrasonic fingerprint and face unlock, both snappy and secure. Running HyperOS 2 atop Android 15, the phone delivers a surprisingly refined software experience. The interface is fluid and minimalistic with less bloat than previous MIUI builds.
Haptic feedback is precise and subtle, enhancing each tap with just the right amount of resistance. Widevine L1 is on board for HD streaming, and Xiaomi’s ecosystem integration is seamless, especially when paired with other HyperOS devices. Updates are promised for 4 years, giving this flagship some futureproofing.
Conclusion:
The Xiaomi 15S Pro isn’t perfect, but it’s easily the most exciting Xiaomi flagship in years. A pioneering in-house chip, stunning display, super-fast charging, and elevated photography all combine for a well-rounded premium phone.
It stumbles slightly in extended gaming and audio volume, but nails everyday performance, visual punch, and camera quality. For users seeking something fresh yet familiar, bold yet refined, the 15S Pro is a confident contender in 2025’s flagship arena.
Pros
- Stunning AMOLED display with Dolby Vision and 3200 nits brightness
- Impressive camera system, especially 5x zoom and low-light photography
- Rapid 90W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Premium build with carbon fiber aesthetics
- Ultrasonic fingerprint and HyperOS 2 feel fluid and intuitive
- Xiaomi’s new chipset delivers strong day-to-day performance
Cons
- Overheating during intensive gaming and stress tests
- Volume output could be louder
- Skin smoothing in portraits can’t be turned off completely
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the Xiaomi 15S Pro better than the Xiaomi 15 Pro?
- Yes and no. While the design and camera sensors are similar, the 15S Pro includes Xiaomi’s in-house X-Ring 01 chip, faster charging, and slightly better zoom and night photography. However, its gaming performance suffers due to heat.
Does the Xiaomi 15S Pro overheat during gaming?
- Yes, extended gaming sessions cause thermal throttling, reducing performance after around 30 minutes. It’s playable but not ideal for hardcore gamers.
Is the camera better than the iPhone 16 Pro?
- In certain low-light and zoom scenarios, yes. But overall, the iPhone still handles highlight detail and motion more naturally.
How long does the Xiaomi 15S Pro battery last?
- With a 6,100 mAh battery, it typically delivers 7–9 hours of screen-on time. Charging is fast with 90W wired and 50W wireless speeds.
Can you disable beautification in selfies and portraits?
- Not entirely. Even with all filters off, Xiaomi applies slight smoothing to skin textures, which may not be to everyone’s taste.
