Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra First Impressions

Xiaomi has pulled the curtains from its all-new 15 series ahead of MWC 2025, which kicks off in Barcelona on Monday. The latest 15 series comprises the compact Xiaomi 15, the successor to the 14 and the big boy, 15 Ultra - the company's 'pinnacle' camera smartphone. As expected, both the phones come with Leica-tuned cameras. The partnership between Xiaomi and Leica for imagery technology has entered its fourth year, and we hope to see more camera-focused premium smartphones in the future. So far, companies have developed 21 products jointly covering five regions and 100 countries.

We do not know the India pricing yet and will have to wait until March 11, when Xiaomi reveals prices for the 15 series. In Europe, the Xiaomi 15 starts at EUR 999 (roughly Rs. 91,000), and the 15 Ultra price is set at EUR 1,499 (roughly Rs. 1,36,000). Considering these are successors to the 14 series, we expect both these phones to be available in more or less the same ballpark figure.

Xiaomi 15: Brings Snapdragon Elite SoC to a compact form factor

Xiaomi 15 brings back the familiar compact form factor from its predecessor, Xiaomi 14. And, mind you, that's one of the biggest highlights of the 15. The form factor is such that you can hold it easily in just one hand, and it's incredibly light, as it weighs under 200 grams and measures 8.08mm thick. It sports an aerospace-grade aluminium frame that wraps around the Xiaomi 15. The smooth edges sit well in your palms, giving an incredible hand feel, and a unibody design adds to the overall character of the compact device. The camera deco is again something that will remind you of the 14. The weight distribution is also balanced, but more on that as I spend more time with the device.

Xiaomi 15 features a 6.36-inch AMOLED display with 3200nits peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate

 

It gets the proper suite of features you expect from a modern-day flagship, including an IP68 rating. The 15 comes in three subtle colours this year - Black, Green, and White. I got the White one which looks elegant. The 6.36-inch screen with ultra-thin bezels offers more screen space, and it looked bright enough in the limited time I spent with the 15. The Xiaomi 15 finally gets the Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which seemed snappy in my initial use. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite powers it, so we can expect it to offer flagship-grade performance credentials. However, I will reserve any verdict regarding display and performance for the review.

Xiaomi 15 main camera samples (tap to expand)

The camera is one of the highlights of the Xiaomi 15, and it sports a triple camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel Light Fusion 900 image sensor with f/1.62 aperture and OIS, a 50-megapixel 60mm floating telephoto sensor, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera with 115-degree field of view. The camera app is the same as last year, with updates like an all-new Sunset Portrait mode added this year, which looked interesting during the keynote announcement. The initial camera test gave me some amazing-looking shots.

At the front, there's the 32-megapixel selfie sensor. The battery department probably has the biggest update as it packs a bigger battery than its predecessor, 14. The 15 packs a 5240mAh battery with 90W HyperCharge support. A more in-depth take on the camera and battery in our review.

It packs a 5240mAh battery

Of course, we are in 2025 and won't have a product launch event without AI. Xiaomi 15 packs a suite of AI features, which I will break down in my review. The best news is that Google Gemini comes integrated with Xiaomi 15, which expands the horizon for users. There's Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 onboard.

Overall, the Xiaomi 15 looks like a great upgrade over the Xiaomi 14, but we will reserve our verdict for the review, so stay tuned.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Camera Beast

Now, jumping to the beast of a device - Xiaomi 15 Ultra, a smartphone built for professional photographers. Yes, consider this one going up against the likes of Vivo X200 Pro. The 14 Ultra was the first Ultra device from Xiaomi that went global, and now, the 15 Ultra is its successor this year. The company's intentions are clear: not to miss the ultra-premium audience.

It comes in a single 16GB and 512GB storage model

Starting with the design, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's colour and design are inspired by the traditional professional camera and use materials like aerospace-grade glass fibre. It has small elements like an Ultra watermark just above the camera housing. The camera deco has been integrated into the back of the device, giving it a more seamless look and feel.

Compared to the 14 Ultra, the 15 Ultra rear camera housing is bigger, and the phone comes in Silver Chrome, White, and Black colours. I got the Silver Chrome, which feels like the best colour variant this year. The phone gets an IP68 rating.

It features a 6.73-inch WQHD AMOLED display with 3200nits peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate and 522PPI pixel density

Xiaomi 15 Ultra has four-sided symmetrical curved glass for a more comfortable in-hand feel. At 229 grams, the phone is on the heavier side. It features a 6.73-inch WQHD+ AMOLED display with 3200nits peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. In my limited time with the device, this is among the best displays I have ever seen on any Xiaomi phone. But I will reserve that submission until I can test the phone more. The hand feel of the smartphone is solid, and I was more comfortable using it without snapping a case on top. The 15 Ultra will come in a single 16GB and 512GB storage variant in India. With Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC under the hood, the 15 Ultra joins the elite club of flagship phones for performance credentials. In my initial time, the phone handled almost everything smoothly and quickly opened apps. The multitasking worked like a breeze. For the battery department, Xiaomi has fitted in a 5410mAh battery and supports 90W HyperCharge wired and 80W wireless HyperCharge. Again, I will reserve my verdict for our review.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra main camera samples (tap to expand)

Now, the fun part comes - cameras! It has a four-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 200-megapixel telephoto sensor, a 50-megapixel floating telephoto sensor, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Of course, the 15 Ultra has a regular suite of Leica styles that enhance the overall experience. This one also gets the 1-inch sensor and f/1.63 aperture. There's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. In my limited time with the device, the 15 Ultra looks like a fantastic successor to the 14 Ultra in terms of camera upgrades. But I will be able to break it down more in my review.

It also runs on HyperOS 2, based on Android 15. It has a suite of AI features onboard, which I will test and detail in my review, so stay tuned.

Disclosure: Xiaomi India sponsored the correspondent's flights and hotel for the event in Barcelona.

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Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in May Following Emergence of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has announced that it is shutting down Skype — its legacy video-conferencing platform — starting May 5, 2025. Debuted in 2003, it was known for its Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-based video telephony, video-conferencing and voice calling capabilities which led to its acquisition by the Redmond-based technology company in 2011. Although Microsoft in 2023 revealed that the platform still had 36 million users, its market share has decreased over time, with Microsoft's own Teams app offering similar core features in addition to more functionality.

Skype Shutdown

As per Microsoft, it aims to streamline its free consumer communications offerings by making Teams the “modern communications and collaboration hub.” Aside from its one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing features, it offers more extensive functionality over Skype, including the ability to host meetings, manage calendars, and build and join communities for free. Microsoft reports that its video conferencing platform has grown nearly fourfold in the past two years, a surge initially driven by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as users sought to stay connected for work, school, and personal use.

Skype Credit, subscriptions, and other paid features will no longer be offered to users, the tech giant says. Current Skype subscription users can continue to use their Skype Credits and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period, while Skype Credits can be used till exhaustion. Starting May 5, Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams.

With Skype's planned phasing out, Microsoft says they will be able to login to the free version of Teams using their existing Skype credentials on any supported device. Chats as well as contacts will automatically be migrated to the new platform. To move from Skype to Microsoft Teams, users need to:

1. Download Teams on their device from the official Microsoft Teams website. 
2. Log in with Skype credentials. 
3. Start using Teams with all the Skype chats and contacts available from the offset.

Further, the tech giant is making sure users do not lose their connectivity during this transition period by allowing cross-platform calling. Microsoft Teams users will be able to call those with Skype accounts and vice versa.

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Xiaomi 15 Series Gets Google Gemini Integration; HyperOS 2.0 Global Rollout Timeline Revealed

Xiaomi announced a collaboration with Google on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025) in Barcelona. With this collaboration, the Mountain View-based tech giant will allow its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to be integrated within first-party Xiaomi apps in the Xiaomi 15 series. With this, Gemini can find information and take action across several apps of the Chinese consumer tech brand. Alongside, the company also launched the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 in global markets. 

Xiaomi Brings Gemini AI Capabilities to the Xiaomi 15 Series

In a blog post, the tech giant announced that it has partnered with Google to bring its AI services to the Xiaomi 15 series. With this collaboration, the Gemini AI chatbot is now being integrated with several Xiaomi apps including Xiaomi Notes, Xiaomi Calendar, and Xiaomi Clock. This is the first time the Chinese brand is letting a third-party AI service provider access its first-party apps.

While Xiaomi did not reveal a lot about how this integration will function, it highlighted that Gemini will now be able to access information from within these apps as well as complete several tasks in them. These tasks likely include actions such as creating a new note, calendar event, or setting an alarm. However, it is unclear whether users will also be able to use Gemini to edit or delete a note, event, or alarm.

In the footnote, Xiaomi stated that the availability of the feature might vary by device, country, and language, and that Internet connection will be required. Users of Xiaomi 15 series will likely have to use the Gemini AI assistant to access these features. These are server-based features, and an Internet connection will be required.

With this integration, Xiaomi is also expanding its AI features, which are so far limited to its camera features and the China-exclusive AI-powered Super Xiao AI assistant. The Xiaomi 15 series also gets Google's Circle to Search, which is an AI-powered visual lookup feature.

Xiaomi Reveals HyperOS 2 Rollout Timeline

Meanwhile, in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the official handle of Xiaomi announced that the HyperOS 2 operating system will now be globally available out-of-the-box with the Xiaomi 15 series and give users early access to the Hyper AI suite of features. The company, however, did not delve too much into the AI features that users will get to try out. The announcement also hints at the Chinese brand's ambition to rival Samsung's Galaxy AI features and Oppo's suite of in-house AI tools.

As per the post, the HyperOS 2 with HyperAI is now available in the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra models in global markets. The company's recently released Pad 7 and Pad 7 Pro will also get the update out-of-the-box alongside the Xiaomi Watch S4 and Redmi Watch 5. However, the Watch S4 and Watch 5 will not be getting AI features.

HyperAI will also be rolled out to the Xiaomi 14 lineup, Xiaomi Mix Flip, Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, and Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro starting April.

Coming to HyperOS 2 rollout schedule, the company stated that the Xiaomi 13T Pro, Redmi Note 13 series, and Smart Band 9 Pro will get the update by the end of March.

The remaining Xiaomi 13 series, the entire Xiaomi 12 series, Mi 11 and Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, Redmi 13 series, Redmi Note 12 series, Redmi 12 5G, and Redmi 12 will get the update by May. In the same period, HyperOS 2 update will be released for the Xiaomi Pad 6, Redmi Pad Pro 5G, Redmi Pad Pro, Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G, Redmi Pad SE 8.7, and Redmi Pad SE.

Additionally, the Redmi Note 14 series, Redmi A3 Pro, and Redmi 14C will get the update between March and June.

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HMD Barca Fusion, HMD Barca 3210 Launched at MWC 2025; Teen-Focused HMD Fusion X1 Tags Along

HMD Barca Fusion and HMD Barca 3210 were unveiled on Sunday as part of the Finnish company's collaboration with Spanish football club FC Barcelona at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025). The former is a collector's edition smartphone that features exclusive themed content, while the HMD Barca 3210 resembles the company's classic feature phone, while offering 4G connectivity. The company also unveiled the HMD Fusion X1, a smartphone that is designed to keep younger users safe as they use the internet.

The company has yet to announce pricing for the new HMD Barca Fusion, HMD Barca 3210, and HMD Fusion X1 models. These smartphones are expected to go on sale in global markets in the coming months. The HMD Barca 3210 is available in Blau and Grana colourways.

HMD Fusion X1 Features

HMD has reportedly equipped the Fusion X1 with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, along with up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of built-in storage. The smartphone sports a 6.56-inch HD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 90Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is equipped with a 108-megapixel primary camera, paired with an unspecified 2-megapixel sensor. The handset has a 50-megapixel selfie camera.

HMD Fusion X1 will offer parental control features
Photo Credit: HMD

 

The HMD Fusion X1 is also equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 33W. The company has also shown off various "outfits", which are accessories that are compatible with the phone, just like the original HMD Fusion that arrived last year.

According to the company, the HMD Fusion X1 is its first smartphone designed to help younger users, including teenagers, to explore the internet safely. Parents will be able to access location safety features, approve contacts, block access to certain apps (or set a schedule), and view their kid's real time location. These features will be available as part of HMD's Xplora parental controls service, which

HMD Barca Fusion, HMD Barca 3210 Features

The new HMD Barca Fusion handset is equipped with a 108-megapixel primary camera, and while the company has yet to reveal the specifications of this handset, it appears to be a rebranded, themed version of the HMD Fusion X1. It will also support accessories, like the company's other Fusion smartphones.

HMD's FC Barcelona-themed handsets
Photo Credit: HMD

 

Customers will get access to exclusive themed content on the HMD Barca Fusion, which includes the FC Barcelona app, sounds, wallpapers, and greetings from the club's current team. The Barca Fusion also ships with a case that features signatures of the company's players. These signatures are said to glow under UV light.

Similarly, the HMD Barca 3210 is a themed version of the Nokia 3210. It's a feature phone that doesn't offer support for apps. It does let you play a FC Barecelona-themed version of the classic Snake game, which is preloaded on the smartphone.

The HMD Barca 3210 offers support for 4G connectivity, and the company touts the phone's ability to deliver long battery life on a single charge. The Barca 3210 is shown to feature a single rear camera, along with an LED flash, and this could be the same 2-megapixel sensor on the Nokia 3210.

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Xiaomi 15 Ultra With Leica-Tuned Cameras Goes Global at MWC 2025 Alongside Xiaomi 15: Price, Specifications

Xiaomi 15 Ultra was launched in global markets by the Chinese smartphone maker on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025) in Barcelona. The company's flagship smartphone was unveiled in China on February 27, while the standard and Pro models were first introduced in October 2024. The Xiaomi 15 series features a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip paired with up to 16GB of RAM. The handsets are equipped with LTPO AMOLED displays, and pack silicon carbon batteries with support for 90W fast charging.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Price and Availability

Xiaomi 15 Ultra pricing starts at EUR 1,499 (roughly Rs. 1,36,100) for the base model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The standard Xiaomi 15 is priced at EUR 999 (roughly Rs. 90,700) for the 12GB+256GB model. Xiaomi is expected to announce details related to availability in regions, including India, at a later date.

Xiaomi also says it will provider one out-of-warranty repair without labour cost, within the first year of purchasing the smartphone. The company will also offer a free screen replacement within the first six months.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a dual SIM (Nano+Nano) smartphone that runs on Android 15, with Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 skin running on top. It is scheduled to receive four OS upgrades. The handset is powered by a 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from Qualcomm, which is paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra sports a 6.73-inch WQHD+ (1,440x3,200 pixels) quad curved LTPO AMOLED display, with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,200nits peak brightness.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Photo Credit: Xiaomi

 

The company has equipped the Xiaomi 15 Ultra with four Leica-tuned cameras. It has a 50-megapixel primary rear camera with a 1-inch type LYT-900 sensor and optical image stabilisation (OIS). It also has a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 telephoto camera sensor with OIS and 3x optical zoom, and a 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP9 periscope telephoto camera with OIS and 4.3x optical zoom. There's a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

You get up to 512GB of storage UFS 4.1 storage on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The handset offers 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, GPS, NFC, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, and an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra packs a 5,410mAh silicon carbon battery with support for 90W fast charging and 80W wireless charging. The handset's chassis is built using aerospace-grade glass fibre, and it has an IP68 rating for dust and splash resistance.

Xiaomi 15 Specifications

The Xiaomi 15 is equipped with the same chip as the flagship Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and the handset features up to 16GB of RAM. The standard model sports a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,200nits peak brightness.

Xiaomi 15 (left) and the Xiaomi 15 Pro — the latter is only available in China
Photo Credit: Xiaomi

 

Like the Ultra model, the Xiaomi 15 is equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera. It also has a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with OIS and 3x optical zoom. It features the same 32-megapixel selfie camera seen on the Ultra model.

The Xiaomi 15 arrives with up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Connectivity options are nearly the same as the Ultra model, except for Bluetooth 5.4 (the flagship model offers Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity). The Xiaomi 15 packs a 5,240mAh battery, which can be charged at 90W (wired) and 50W (wireless), according to the company.

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Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 First Impressions

Samsung Galaxy A-series has always been a special series from the brand. The series not only bridges the gap between its flagship S-series and other affordable series like the Galaxy M or F, but it is also one of the most selling series from the South Korean brand. We have seen multiple Galaxy A models offering customers a good value-for-money proposition. Now, the brand is all set to take a step ahead with the latest Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A26. I have some time to explore the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, and here's what you need to know. 

The Samsung Galaxy A56 and Samsung Galaxy A36 offer a glass back at the rear.

 

Starting with the design, Samsung has ensured that the new Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 remain among the classiest phones from the brand in this price segment. The latest smartphones have a refreshed design language, a glass back, and a slimmer profile compared to the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35. The rear panel has a new liner floating island that houses the camera modules. This surely gives the phone a distinct look, but it also makes it wobble when placed on a flat surface. 

The company has also introduced interesting colour options for both devices. The Galaxy A56 is available in Awesome Lightgray, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Olive and Awesome Pink. The Galaxy A36 5G is available in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, Awesome White and Awesome Lime. I got the Awesome Olive and Awesome Lavender colour options for the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, respectively. Though the Galaxy A56's Olive colour looks subtle, the Galaxy A36 stands out more with its Radiance-like design at the rear panel with the Lavender colour option. 

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is available in Awesome Lightgray, Awesome Graphite, and Awesome Olive colourways.

 

The Samsung Galaxy A56 comes with a metal frame, which looks premium and sturdy when you hold it. A slight bump on the right side of the frame houses the volume controls and power on/off buttons. That said, the Galaxy A36 also follows a similar design language, though the frame is not metal. The base of both devices features a SIM tray, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille. 

Coming to the display, both the handsets are loaded with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display. The screen comes with up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness and up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Moreover, you also get Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both the front and rear panels, which provides some durability. During the initial testing, the display looked good, vibrant and colourful, which has always been the strong point of Samsung mobiles. We will talk more about it in our upcoming review. 

Both the handsets feature a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display.

 

Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 offer some interesting hardware. The Galaxy A56 is powered by the Exynos 1580 processor, while the Galaxy A36 packs a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset. The Galaxy A56 is available with 8GB RAM/12GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, while the Galaxy A36 features 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. 

The devices are loaded with OneUI 7.0, which runs on the Android 15 operating system. Samsung has also ensured that the devices receive longer software updates and has promised six years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches with the new Galaxy devices. 

The Samsung Galaxy A36 is available in three colour options: Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, and Awesome White.

 

That said, what makes them different from their predecessors is the inclusion of Galaxy AI features. The Samsung Galaxy A56 gets the most AI features out of the lot. The company has promised to get features like Circle of Search, Object Eraser, Edit Suggestion, Auto Trim, Best Face, AI Select, Rear Aloud, Instant slo-mo, My Filter, and more. These are some of the interesting AI features in this list that are also present in the current Galaxy S25 series. 

The Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 also feature an improved camera system. Both devices have a triple-camera setup on the rear panel. Interestingly, both feature a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS support and an f/1.8 aperture. The Galaxy A56 has a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, while the Galaxy A36 has an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor. Lastly, the handsets feature a 5-megapixel macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture.

Both handsets on the front feature a 12-megapixel selfie camera that supports 10-bit HDR, which is interesting in this price segment. We haven't used the cameras of both devices in different conditions, so stay tuned with us for a detailed camera review. 

The Samsung Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36 are also loaded with a 5,000mAh battery. Both the devices are packed with 45W fast charging support, which is an upgrade. Moreover, the company claims that the new devices can provide up to 29 hours of video playback, which will be an interesting claim to test during our battery HD loop test. 

Both devices are loaded with a 5,000mAh battery and support 45W fast charging.

 

To conclude, the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Samsung Galaxy A36 do bring some interesting features to the table. Whether be it new design language or dependable cameras coupled with six years of OS and security updates, both devices have a lot to offer in this price segment. However, can they survive this tough competition? We will be able to answer this in our upcoming review. So, stay tuned.

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