The Xiaomi 15 Ultra Is a Camera King
MWC doesn’t see many flagship phone releases anymore, but the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are worthy of fanfare and likely best in show this year. Both Android phones are polished, with excellent screens, strong battery life, fast charging, and silky performance. Xiaomi’s HyperOS is also maturing, and version 2 is liberally seasoned with—you guessed it—AI features. They are available in the UK and Europe but won’t land in the US. (The brand hosted WIRED at its media event at MWC and paid for a portion of our reporter’s travel expenses.)
My in-depth review goes into the deep inner workings of these phones, what I like and don’t like. But neither comes cheap—the Xiaomi 15 starts at £849 (999 euros) and the Ultra will set you back £1,299 (1,499 euros). The Ultra Photography Kit, which is a module that connects to one end of the phone, adding dedicated camera controls and an additional battery, costs an extra £179 (199 euros).
Alongside the new handsets, Xiaomi showed off a slew of other devices. We got two new Android tablets, the Xiaomi Pad 7 and 7 Pro, both with 11.2-inch screens and large batteries—the Pro adds a faster processor and better camera. Then there was the Harman-tuned Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro with active noise canceling, 8-hour battery life, and support for AI transcription and translation. Rounding off the hardware announcements were the Xiaomi Watch S4—a slightly improved version of last year’s customizable Watch S3—and the rectangular, fitness and health-focused Smart Band 9 Pro. —Simon Hill
Nothing’s Two New Budget Phones Are Dazzling
Nothing has two new stylish smartphones—the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. They’re identical in nearly every way except the cameras. The Pro model has a different 50-megapixel main camera that can capture more light thanks to larger pixels, plus it has a 3X optical periscope lens, whereas the Phone (3a) has a 2X optical camera. These phones are $379 and $459, respectively, and it’s an achievement in itself to have a versatile triple-camera setup on a sub-$500 phone.
Conclusion
MWC 2025 may not have been as exciting as previous years, but Xiaomi and Nothing still managed to impress with their innovative and feature-packed devices. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a camera king, while Nothing’s budget phones offer impressive performance at an affordable price. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, these devices are definitely worth considering.
FAQs
Q: Are the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra available in the US?
A: No, they are not available in the US.
Q: What is the price of the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra?
A: The Xiaomi 15 starts at £849 (999 euros), and the Ultra will set you back £1,299 (1,499 euros).
Q: What is the price of the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro?
A: The Phone (3a) is $379, and the Phone (3a) Pro is $459.
Q: What is the difference between the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro?
A: The Phone (3a) Pro has a different 50-megapixel main camera and a 3X optical periscope lens, whereas the Phone (3a) has a 2X optical camera.
