Xiaomi has recently taken a strong position in the high-end smartphone market by introducing its flagship model Xiaomi 15 Ultra. So, how does Apple’s newest model perform against the iPhone 16 Pro Max? We are making a detailed review of which one is superior by comparing the two devices in terms of design, display, camera, performance, battery and software.

iPhone 16 Pro Max and Xiaomi 15 Ultra face off

While Apple continues to use a titanium frame on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra draws attention with its aluminum and ceramic body. While both models offer a premium feel, Xiaomi’s choice of materials creates a more original design.

On the screen side, the iPhone 16 Pro Max uses a 6.7-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers a maximum brightness of 3000 nits, providing better visibility than Apple’s 2000 nits.

Apple’s new iPhone 16 series comes with a new “Capture Button” located on the right side of the device and offering multiple functions. This button, which has a capacitive structure, makes operations such as taking photos and videos more practical, while also providing quick access to Apple Intelligence. On the other hand, both phones have IP68 certification, so they are resistant to water and dust.

On the camera side, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with a powerful hardware with four sensors. It draws attention with its 50 MP 1-inch main sensor, 50 MP ultra-wide angle, 50 MP 3x telephoto and 200 MP 4.3x periscope telephoto lens. Thanks to Leica-supported lenses and software optimizations, it provides a great advantage especially in night shots.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with a 48 MP main sensor, 48 MP ultra-wide angle and 12 MP 5x telephoto lens. It offers a structure that appeals to content producers with sensor-shift OIS, Photonic Engine and advanced HDR technologies. While Apple stands out with Dolby Vision and ProRes support on the video shooting side, Xiaomi 15 Ultra draws attention with its ability to shoot 8K 30 fps.

In terms of performance, Apple uses the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, while Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Since both chips are developed with a 3 nm production process, they are quite powerful in terms of efficiency. While A18 Pro is the leader in single-core performance, Snapdragon 8 Elite can provide superiority in multi-core performance. In terms of RAM capacity, Xiaomi 15 Ultra seems more advantageous with 12 GB and 16 GB LPDDR5X memory options, while iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with only 8 GB RAM.

In terms of battery and charging speed, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers a value above the 4500 mAh level of the iPhone 16 Pro Max with its 5500 mAh battery capacity. Xiaomi provides a great advantage in charging time with its 120W fast charging and 80W wireless charging support, while Apple supports 30W wired and 15W MagSafe wireless charging.

In terms of software, the iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with iOS 18, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra uses Android 15-based HyperOS. While iOS 18 stands out with its integration into the Apple ecosystem and long-term update support, HyperOS offers more customization and extensive application support. It can be said that Apple has the advantage in terms of update time.

In terms of price, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a starting price of approximately 79,999 TL, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at 99,999 TL. Considering the price difference, Xiaomi becomes an attractive option for users by offering more features in terms of hardware. Having advantages such as a larger battery, faster charging, higher resolution cameras and a brighter screen puts Xiaomi ahead in terms of price-performance. However, Apple’s iOS ecosystem and long-term software support continue to be an important factor, especially for Apple users.

In conclusion, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Xiaomi 15 Ultra are two flagship models that appeal to different user needs. For those who are committed to the Apple ecosystem and care about long-term update support, the iPhone 16 Pro Max may be a good option. On the other hand, for those looking for a larger battery, faster charging, higher resolution cameras and an affordable price, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands out as a more attractive alternative.