iPhone Air
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
🏆 Verdict
Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the better pick overall by 22.1 points, leading in Camera, Battery and Charging. The gap is large; iPhone Air only makes sense for a lower price or one specific feature.
iPhone Air offers more for the money ($999 vs $1,619 at launch).
By category
Performance
Xiaomi 15 Ultra is faster with the Snapdragon 8 Elite (performance index 100 vs 99). You notice it in heavy games and video editing, less in daily use. Xiaomi 15 Ultra has more RAM (16 GB vs 12 GB), which helps multitasking.
Camera
Xiaomi 15 Ultra's main camera is 50 MP vs 48 MP. More pixels help cropping and digital zoom, but final quality depends on sensor size and processing. Only Xiaomi 15 Ultra has an optical 4.3× telephoto; the other relies on digital zoom. Only Xiaomi 15 Ultra has an ultrawide lens. Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the higher-resolution selfie camera (32 MP vs 18 MP).
Battery
Xiaomi 15 Ultra's battery is 2,261 mAh larger (5,410 vs 3,149 mAh), about 72% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Xiaomi 15 Ultra charges faster over cable (90W vs 20W). Wireless charging is faster on Xiaomi 15 Ultra (80W vs 20W).
Display
Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the larger screen (6.73" vs 6.5"). Xiaomi 15 Ultra's screen is sharper (521 vs 463 ppi).
Build & durability
iPhone Air has a titanium frame. iPhone Air is 61 g lighter.
Updates
iPhone Air should get OS updates for longer (6 vs 4 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| iPhone Air | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple A19 Pro | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| 12 GB | RAM | 16 GB |
| 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | Storage | 512 GB / 1 TB |
| 6.5" LTPO OLED | Display | 6.73" LTPO AMOLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 2736×1260 (463 ppi) | Resolution | 3200×1440 (521 ppi) |
| 3,000 nits | Peak brightness | 3,200 nits |
| 48 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| None | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| None | Telephoto | 200 MP · 4.3× |
| 18 MP | Front camera | 32 MP |
| 3,149 mAh | Battery | 5,410 mAh |
| 20 W | Wired charging | 90 W |
| 20 W | Wireless charging | 80 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| titanium | Frame | aluminium |
| 165 g | Weight | 226 g |
| 6 years | OS updates (estimated) | 4 years |
| $999 | Launch price | EUR 1,499 (≈ $1,619) |
| 2025-09 | Released | 2025-02 |
Official source: iPhone Air · Official source: Xiaomi 15 Ultra
iPhone Air
Pros
- Titanium frame
- Light at 165 g
- 6 years of updates
- Lower price ($999)
Cons
- No optical telephoto
- No ultrawide lens
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging (20W)
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Pros
- 16 GB RAM
- 4.3× optical zoom
- 5,410 mAh battery
- 90W charging
Cons
- Heavier (226 g)
- Shorter update window
- Pricier ($1,619)
How is the score calculated?
Each phone gets 0–100 points in seven categories (performance, camera, battery, charging, display, build, updates), computed only from its published specs, then combined with fixed, published weights. A gap under 2.5 points counts as a tie. The performance index is an estimate based on benchmark results published at launch.
Figures come from the manufacturers’ official pages. Some specs vary by market. We do not sell devices or earn commissions.