[Review] The Phone Behind the Korea-China Leaders' Iconic Selfie... Xi Jinping's Gift, 'Xiaomi 15 Ultra'

Xiaomi Flagship with Leica Camera
Delivers Near-Professional Results in Everyday Photography

President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, along with President Xi Jinping and his wife, are taking a commemorative photo with a Xiaomi phone after the state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on January 5th. This Xiaomi phone was a gift from President Xi to President Lee during the Gyeongju summit. 2026.1.5 [Joint coverage provided. Resale and database prohibited] Yonhap News Agency

During his recent visit to China, President Lee Jae-myung once again drew attention on the diplomatic stage by taking a 'selfie' with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On January 5th, the smartphone in President Lee's hand was the 'Xiaomi 15 Ultra,' a device personally gifted to him by President Xi.

President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, along with President Xi Jinping and his wife, are taking a commemorative photo with a Xiaomi phone after the state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on the 5th. President Lee Jae-myung's social media.

This device first attracted attention during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju last year, when the leaders exchanged gifts. At that time, when President Lee asked, "Is the communication security all right?" President Xi joked, "Check if there's a backdoor," a moment that was widely reported by both domestic and international media. This latest selfie, as an extension of that diplomatic episode, once again brought the smartphone into the international spotlight.

The actual 'Xiaomi 15 Ultra' smartphone, made famous as the gift given by Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Lee Jae-myung along with a calligraphy set last year. Photo by Park Yujin

At the time, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra was not the most recent flagship smartphone from Xiaomi. Nevertheless, President Xi's choice to present this device as a diplomatic gift was seen as carrying a clear message. Industry observers noted that the device incorporates key components from Korean companies, such as a Korean-made display. By gifting a smartphone that combines a Chinese brand with Korean parts, President Xi appeared to be emphasizing the potential for cooperation even amid the ongoing technological rivalry between the two countries.

While the symbolism and diplomatic backstory received much attention at the time, there were few opportunities to closely examine the actual performance of this smartphone. After personally using the device, the reporter found technical clues explaining why it was chosen for such a significant occasion. The device, which appeared alongside the humorous exchange between the two leaders during the diplomatic schedule, serves not only as a simple gift but also as a benchmark for assessing the current technological level of flagship smartphones.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is equipped with a quad-camera system developed in collaboration with German optics brand Leica, earning it the reputation of being "closer to a compact camera than a smartphone." On the back, it features a 1-inch main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 200MP periscope telephoto sensor, allowing it to handle a wide range of shooting scenarios.

This camera setup stands out for its ability to compete with other flagship models in terms of image and video capture. In particular, its zoom capability is impressive, supporting up to 120x digital zoom. This allows users to clearly capture distant subjects, delivering detailed images even from afar. The zoom is so powerful that you could look inside another building through its windows, which can feel almost intimidating.

This is the result of a reporter directly filming the Lotte Tower New Year's fireworks from a distance using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra on the 1st. Photo by Park Yujin

When the reporter used the device to photograph the Lotte Tower New Year's fireworks on January 1st, the resulting resolution and clarity were impressive enough to rival a professional compact camera. Even against the dark night sky, the phone accurately captured the vivid trails of the fireworks, and its dynamic range-balancing bright fireworks with the dark background-exceeded typical flagship smartphone expectations. This level of image quality demonstrates the device's potential to go beyond simple documentation and expand into the realm of photographic expression.

The display and core performance also live up to flagship standards. The 6.73-inch WQHD+ LTPO OLED panel supports a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, ensuring clear visibility even outdoors. Equipped with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the phone delivers stable, lag-free performance in demanding environments such as daily tasks, high-resolution photography, and video editing.

However, there are still a few limitations that prevent it from being a perfect flagship. Xiaomi's latest HyperOS 2-based AI features offer solid convenience for photo editing, translation, and image search. Functions such as scene recognition-based auto-enhancement and real-time translation are practical for everyday use. However, some users feel that these AI features do not provide a distinct "wow factor" compared to competitors like Samsung Electronics or Apple.

The weight and size of the camera module can lead to fatigue during extended shooting sessions, and there are some opinions that the user interface (UI) and operating system optimization fall short compared to rival models. Additionally, the price-around 1.5 million won-means it must compete directly with the top-tier Galaxy and iPhone models. While the price may be justified for users focused on photography, those seeking a general-purpose smartphone may have to weigh their options carefully.