While the iPhone 17 is widely praised as the phone to buy this year, this acclaim often overlooks its incremental upgrades against generations of mediocre base models. In practice, a superior alternative exists: the newly launched Xiaomi 15T Pro. This flagship from the Chinese manufacturer delivers a more compelling package that, in several key areas, outperforms Apple’s latest offering, making it a device that genuinely impresses in daily use.
A Refined and Premium Design
The Xiaomi 15T Pro immediately stands out with its elegant and robust construction. Adhering to a design philosophy similar to its predecessor, it features a beautiful aluminum back panel and matching edges that give it a premium, cohesive feel. The camera module has been refined with rounded corners and a contoured cut, allowing it to sit more flush with the body for a sleeker look. Available in colors like mocha gold, its aesthetic rivals that of the Pro iPhones. Furthermore, it doesn’t compromise on durability, boasting an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring it can confidently withstand tougher conditions.
Dominant Display and Raw Power
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15T Pro is powered by the formidable Dimensity 9400+ chipset, which provides more than enough power for virtually any task, from multitasking to intensive gaming. This is complemented by 12GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. The device’s true showpiece is its 6.83-inch OLED display. With a high resolution, a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, the screen is both larger and technically superior to the iPhone 17’s 6.3-inch panel. The 144Hz refresh rate ensures all scrolling and animations are exceptionally smooth, a feature that highlights Apple’s continued reluctance to push the boundaries of its base model displays.
A Camera System That Beats Apple
The collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica has proven to be more than just marketing hype, resulting in a camera system that comfortably outperforms the iPhone 17. The 15T Pro features a versatile triple-camera array led by a custom 50-megapixel main sensor, which captures rich detail and excels in low-light conditions. It is joined by a 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens with excellent stabilization for crisp, distant shots and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera for sweeping perspectives. The system delivers a consistent balance of versatility, detail, and natural color accuracy across various shooting conditions, making it a clear winner for mobile photography enthusiasts.
Unmatched Battery Life and Charging
For many users, battery performance is a dealbreaker, and this is where the Xiaomi 15T Pro delivers a knockout blow. It packs a substantial 5,500mAh battery that easily lasts more than a day on a single charge, consistently achieving over eight hours of screen-on time. More impressively, it supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. This allows the phone to reach a 30% charge in just 10 minutes and a full charge in approximately 36 minutes—dwarfing the charging capabilities of even the most expensive iPhone Pro models.
Priced starting at €800, the Xiaomi 15T Pro presents itself as a top-tier alternative that challenges the iPhone 17’s value proposition. However, before making a choice, buyers should carefully consider their commitment to either the Android or iOS ecosystem, as switching platforms after purchase can be a significant inconvenience.
