Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite · Leica · 1-inch sensor
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)
A18 Pro · iOS · 256GB · Japan
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Xiaomi 15 Ultra lands at 92 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Xiaomi 15 Ultra if…
- ✓1-inch LYT-900 main sensor
- ✓Leica tuning on every camera
- ✓90W + 80W wireless charging
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
Xiaomi 15 UltraStills and video quality across lenses
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on camera (98 vs 95).
Battery life
Xiaomi 15 UltraScreen-on time and charging
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on battery (92 vs 90).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) more score per dollar ($1,299 vs $1,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.73″ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 3200×1440 | — |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 GB – 1 TB | 256GB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP 1″ + 50 MP 3× + 50 MP 4.3× periscope + 50 MP UW | — |
| Battery | 6000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 90W wired, 80W wireless | — |
| OS | HyperOS 2 / Android 15 | iOS 18 |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- +1-inch LYT-900 main sensor
- +Leica tuning on every camera
- +90W + 80W wireless charging
- −Limited US availability
- −HyperOS still maturing
- −Large and heavy
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)
Which is better, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Xiaomi 15 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,499, Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in camera.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for photography, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on camera (98 vs 95). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Xiaomi 15 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (Japan)? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on battery (92 vs 90). Screen-on time and charging.