Xiaomi 15 is a perfect travel companion
Traveling through the historic streets of Barcelona, the ancient wonders of Rome, and the romantic avenues of Paris requires a camera that can capture the essence of these magnificent cities. During my recent European adventure, I had the perfect companion in my pocket – the Xiaomi 15. This flagship smartphone, launched in the Philippines in March 2025, proved to be an exceptional travel photography tool that delivered professional-quality images across various scenarios.
The Perfect Travel Companion
My journey through Europe’s most iconic landmarks demanded a versatile camera system that could adapt to different lighting conditions, architectural styles, and moments. The Xiaomi 15’s compact form factor made it easy to carry while attending mass at the Crypt of Sagrada de Familia or marveling the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower, yet its camera capabilities rivaled professional equipment.
What impressed me most was how the phone’s Leica-engineered camera system captured the intricate details of Gaudí’s masterpieces in Barcelona, the timeless grandeur of Rome’s ancient structures, and the elegant symmetry of Parisian landmarks – all with stunning clarity and authentic colors.
Xiaomi 15 Specs: Power Meets Elegance
Before diving into my photographic journey, let’s look at what makes the Xiaomi 15 such a powerful device. The phone features a 6.36-inch AMOLED display with 3200 nits peak brightness, providing exceptional visibility even under the bright Mediterranean sun. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with 12GB of RAM, the phone handled everything from rapid photo processing to AI-enhanced imaging without a hint of lag.
The Xiaomi 15’s 5240mAh battery with 90W fast charging ensured I never missed a shot due to power concerns, even during long days of exploration from sunrise at the Sagrada Familia to sunset at the Eiffel Tower. The phone’s aluminum alloy frame with IP68 dust and water resistance proved invaluable during unexpected rain showers in Paris and while capturing fountain displays at the Trevi Fountain.
With storage of 512GB, I never worried about running out of space for my travel photos and videos, even when shooting in RAW format or capturing 8K videos of street performers in Trastevere.
Xiaomi 15 Camera and Leica: A Match Made in Photography Heaven
The heart of the Xiaomi 15’s photography superiority lies in its triple 50MP camera system developed in collaboration with legendary camera manufacturer Leica. This partnership, ongoing since 2022, combines cutting-edge mobile technology with Leica’s century-old optical expertise.
The camera system includes:
- 50MP Leica main camera (23mm): With a Leica Summilux lens (f/1.62), this camera became my go-to for most situations. The variable focal lengths (23mm/28mm/35mm) allowed me to frame shots perfectly without moving, which was particularly useful in crowded areas like the Vatican Museums.
- 50MP Leica floating telephoto (60mm): This lens was perfect for portrait shots at the Eiffel Tower and capturing architectural details high above at Casa Batló and Mila. The ability to focus from just 10cm away allowed me to capture the grandiose of the Colosseum with stunning detail.
- 50MP Leica ultra-wide angle (14mm): This lens proved invaluable for capturing the expansive interiors of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pantheon, as well as the sweeping vistas from the top of Arc de Triomphe.
The Light Fusion 900 sensor, with its 1/1.31″ size and 13.5 EV high dynamic range, captured the dramatic contrast between light and shadow inside the Sagrada Familia, preserving both the colorful stained glass and the detailed stone carvings in a single shot.
Leica Colors: Authentic Moments, Vibrant Memories
One of the most distinctive features of the Xiaomi 15’s camera system is the choice between two Leica color profiles: “Leica Authentic Look” and “Leica Vibrant Look”. This flexibility allowed me to adapt to different scenes and moods throughout my journey.
For the historic monuments of Rome, I often chose the Authentic Look, which produced warm colors and fine contrasts that respected the timeless quality of the Colosseum and St.Peter’s Basilica. The natural rendering of the weathered stones and subtle textures felt respectful to these ancient wonders.
When capturing the vibrant energy of Barcelona’s street life and the colorful facades of Casa Batló, I switched to the Vibrant Look, which enhanced the already bold Gaudí color palette without making it appear artificial. The dazzling depth of color perfectly matched the city’s energetic atmosphere.
What impressed me most was how the Xiaomi 15’s HDR processing maintained excellent detail in both shadows and highlights, even when shooting directly into the setting sun behind the Eiffel Tower. The 14-bit color depth captured subtle gradations in the sky that many smartphone cameras would have lost.
Portrait Features: Capturing the Human Element
Travel isn’t just about places—it’s about people and moments. The Xiaomi 15’s portrait capabilities added a human dimension to my European adventure.
The Master Portrait mode, which works across focal lengths from 23mm to 75mm, allowed me to capture street performers in Trastevere with beautiful, natural bokeh effects that rivaled dedicated cameras. The phone’s AI-powered PortraitLM 2.0 technology intelligently separated subjects from complex backgrounds, such as the busy interior of the Louvre, while maintaining accurate skin tones even under the challenging museum lighting.
The 60mm Leica floating telephoto lens proved perfect for portrait photography, offering the classic focal length that portrait photographers favor. This lens captured the emotion and detail in the faces of local artisans in Poble España and our very own night portrait shot with the Eiffel Tower as our background.
Landscape Features: Capturing the Grandeur
Europe’s iconic landmarks demand a camera that can capture their scale and grandeur. The Xiaomi 15’s 14mm ultra-wide lens with its 50MP resolution was my secret weapon for architectural photography.
At Versailles, the ultra-wide lens captured the symmetrical gardens and palace facade in one breathtaking frame. The ColorLM 2.0 technology maintained accurate colors across the entire image, from the golden details of the palace to the deep greens of the manicured lawns.
The phone’s ability to zoom optically from 14mm to 120mm without significant quality loss meant I could capture both wide vistas of the Versailles Garden and detailed shots of the Eiffel Tower without changing position. This versatility was particularly valuable when composing shots from fixed viewpoints.
Night Photography: When Darkness Falls
European cities transform after sunset, and the Xiaomi 15’s night photography capabilities ensured I captured these magical moments. The main camera’s large f/1.62 aperture and the Light Fusion 900 sensor’s light-gathering abilities produced remarkably bright, detailed images of the Eiffel Tower’s light show and the illuminated facades of Rome’s ancient monuments.
The ToneLM 2.0 technology created cinematic night scenes with realistic lighting, avoiding the over-processed look that plagues many smartphone night modes. When photographing Notre Dame’s reconstruction site at dusk, the FusionLM 2.0 technology performed pixel-level multi-frame fusion in RAW format, preserving both the details in the cathedral’s structure and the dramatic sunset sky behind it.
In most instances where subjects are dimly lit – like churches, the Xiaomi 15 captured detailed images of stained glass windows and ceiling frescoes without excessive noise or blur. The phone’s computational photography capabilities broke through optical limitations to deliver images that appeared to have been taken with much larger sensors.
Compact Size, Big in Camera Features
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Xiaomi 15 is how it packs such impressive camera technology into a device that weighs just 191 grams and measures 152.3 x 71.2 x 8.08 mm. This compact form factor made it the ideal travel companion, always accessible in my pocket without weighing me down during long days of exploration.
The phone’s AI Creativity Assistant features came in handy throughout the trip. The AI Reflection Removal tool eliminated unwanted glare when photographing artwork behind glass at the Louvre, while the AI Image Enhancement improved clarity in shots taken from a distance, such as crowded views of the Trevi Fountain.
For creating travel memories, the AI Film feature automatically generated highlight videos from my photos and clips of each city, complete with appropriate music and transitions—a perfect way to share my journey with friends back home without spending hours editing.
The Xiaomi 15 proved that you don’t need to carry bulky camera equipment to capture professional-quality travel photography. Its combination of Leica optics, computational photography, and versatile focal lengths delivered exceptional results across every scenario I encountered, from bright Spanish plazas to dimly lit French cathedrals.
At ₱45,999 for the 12GB+256GB model, the Xiaomi 15 represents an excellent value proposition for travelers and photography enthusiasts who want flagship camera capabilities without compromising on portability or performance. My European adventure was beautifully documented thanks to this remarkable device that truly deserves its place among the top camera phones of 2025
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
