Xiaomi 17 Ultra (& Leica edition) vs (Vivo) IQOO 15
Verdict
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (& Leica edition) scores higher on the OH Rank (75 vs 74), winning 3 of 10 categories including Main Camera and Selfie. Xiaomi 17 Ultra (& Leica edition) is 0.8mm wider than (Vivo) IQOO 15. Xiaomi 17 Ultra (& Leica edition) is the more recent release, from Dec 27, 2025.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
75
74
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (& Leica edition)
77.6mm (3.06in) · Dec 27, 2025 · Rank #35
13+11+11+12+15+4+4+0+5+0 = 75
* TOP Photography
EDITORIAL: Ten months since last Xiaomi’s Ultra comes a phone with the first-ever physical zoom ring. 17 Ultra Leica edition features a physical zoom ring, ribbed frame for better grip, encryption chip and dual satellite communication chops that plain 17 Ultra lacks. Both models loose one of the two telephoto lenses 15 Ultra had and their screens drop below 500ppi. The phones gained in width and battery size but their photography skills are better then ever. SUPERPOWER: this is the TOP 5 photo phone in the world
PROs
very fast SD 8 Elite Gen 5 with UFS 4.1 performance, >30hr endurance from a 6000mAh (6800mAh in China) Si-C diode battery with sub-60min 90W (50W wireless) charging, excellent >1100nits bright 416ppi LTPO OLED screen with >2000 PWM dimming and Dolby Vision, IP69 (down to 6m for up to 30min), superb photography from a 50MP 1″ 23mm OIS main + 200MP 75-100mm OIS periscope telephoto + 50MP 14mm ultra wide (all PDAF) Leica back camera, good 50MP selfie (no AF), very good video recording, up to 4 years of very stable HyperOS
CONs
1.6mm taller and 2.3mm wider, no expandable memory slot, minor software glitches and no desktop replacement functionality
(Vivo) IQOO 15
76.8mm (3.02in) · Oct 20, 2025 · Rank #45
13+14+15+12+9+3+3+0+5+0 = 74
* TOP Battery Endurance* TOP Screen* TOP Software* TOP Gaming
EDITORIAL: This year Vivo meaningfully improved the battery (from 6000mAh to 7000) and upgraded last year's 2x zoom camera to a proper 3x periscope telephoto. Vivo is adding other improvments too making it's IQOO line a true flagship killer. The screen is now as good as any phone's screen with proper Dolby and HDR10+ certification and off-the-chart brightness, added SuperComputing Q3 chip assists the top-of-the-line Qualcomm processor in intensive tasks, OS update promise is now 5 years, a LED ring around the camera island signals notification and battery status, gaming is made even better... This phone is a great option if great imaging is not on your must-have list
PROs
flagship hardware, top SD 8 Elite Gen 5 with UFS 4.1 and Q3-chip-to-assist performance, excellent 2day endurance from a 7000mAh Si-C battery with sub-60min 100W charging (40W wireless). >130nits (going up to 3000nits) bright 510ppi 144Hz LTPO OLED with high frequency dimming and Dolby Vision, IP69 protection, great 50MP 24mm OIS PDAF main + very good (up to 6x zooml 50MP 85mm PDAF periscope tele + average-at-best 50MP 15mm AF ultrawide, 5 years of OS updates, fast USB-C 3.2 port with OTG functionality and great gaming chops
CONs
color changing back panel may not be everyone's cup of tea, unimpressive 32MP non-AF selfie, average (or worse) video recording, no expandable memory, no desktop replacement functionality or even Video Out, limited market availability
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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