Choosing a smartphone that excels at mobile gaming without compromising on everyday performance can be challenging, especially in the mid-range category. The Xiaomi 15T Pro positions itself as a strong contender for users who want a reliable all-around device that also handles gaming reasonably well. Xiaomi has built a reputation for balancing value and performance, and this year’s model continues that trend, though with some interesting shifts in focus.

While the 15T Pro brings a noticeable upgrade to its camera system, it still carries enough power under the hood to keep gamers satisfied. It may not be marketed as a dedicated gaming phone—something Xiaomi typically reserves for its POCO lineup—but it remains surprisingly capable during long play sessions. In this in-depth review, we break down the device’s design, display, performance, battery life, and overall gaming suitability to determine whether it’s worth your money.

Design and Build: Premium Look, Subtle Gaming Appeal

At first glance, the Xiaomi 15T Pro doesn’t resemble a gaming-focused device. It follows the established design language of the T Pro lineup, with a flat frame, clean edges, and a slim profile. Although it can feel a bit delicate, Xiaomi has compensated with practical durability improvements such as Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for better drop protection and an IP68 rating, which helps shield the device from dust, splashes, and accidental water exposure.

The camera module sits in a neat, symmetrical square on the upper-left corner, giving the phone a balanced and premium aesthetic. With a matte finish and three color options—Black, Grey, and Mocha Gold—the phone leans heavily into a polished, elegant style rather than a flashy gamer look.

However, the device’s thin and sharp edges do impact comfort. Compared with POCO’s F7 Ultra, the 15T Pro feels slightly less ergonomic when held for long gaming sessions. A protective case can fix this issue, but doing so somewhat reduces the sleek, high-end feel Xiaomi aimed for. The camera bump also feels exposed, making users hesitant to place the phone flat on a surface without protection.

Display: Bright, Smooth, and Accurate

One of the phone’s standout features is its gorgeous 6.83-inch AMOLED display. The panel comes with a resolution of 1280 × 2722 pixels, slim bezels, and support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and an impressive 144Hz refresh rate. This creates a vibrant and fluid viewing experience whether you’re browsing, streaming, or gaming.

Xiaomi has included a 480Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring fast and responsive controls—something essential for action-heavy or competitive games.

That said, the device’s peak brightness drops to 3,200 nits, down from the 4,000 nits available on the previous Xiaomi 14T Pro. In everyday use, the reduction isn’t very noticeable. The display still handles outdoor visibility well and retains rich, accurate colors thanks to its support for an extremely wide color gamut—up to 68 billion colors.

As for refresh rate, apps and games typically cap at 120Hz, even though the device supports 144Hz. The higher refresh mode feels a bit excessive for everyday operation since few applications take full advantage of it. Nevertheless, it’s a great marketing point and can be enjoyable for users who appreciate ultra-smooth animations.

Gaming and Performance: Surprisingly Strong Capability

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15T Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, paired with an octa-core CPU and an Immortalis-G925 GPU. This combination is robust enough to handle everyday tasks—streaming, editing photos, browsing social media—with zero lag or slowdowns.

During gaming tests, the phone performed far better than expected for a device that is not primarily marketed towards gamers. Over a two-week period, we tested several demanding titles:

Genshin Impact
Zenless Zone Zero
Sonic Rumble
Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Across the board, the Xiaomi 15T Pro maintained smooth performance. Any frame drops we encountered were consistent with known software issues within the games themselves, not the phone’s hardware. For example, Zenless Zone Zero has ongoing optimisation challenges, especially in specific battle sequences. These same issues appeared on the 15T Pro, supporting the idea that the game—not the device—is at fault.

GameTurbo Mode: Boosted Performance at a Cost

Xiaomi’s GameTurbo interface remains a helpful tool for squeezing more performance from the device. Accessing it is easy—just swipe in from the side during gameplay or launch it through the dedicated app. With GameTurbo enabled, the phone:

Allocates more CPU/GPU power
Enhances touch response
Provides tools like screen recording and voice effects

The performance boost was most noticeable in games like Zenless Zone Zero. Camera movement became smoother and combat sequences ran with fewer hiccups. However, these improvements come with two significant drawbacks:

1. Battery Drain

Playing Zenless Zone Zero at full brightness with GameTurbo enabled resulted in 40–50% battery loss in only 90 minutes. The game itself is known to consume a lot of power, but the added demand from GameTurbo exacerbates drain considerably.

2. Heat Buildup

The phone becomes noticeably hot during long, intensive sessions—warm enough that heat can be felt even through a case. This raises concerns about prolonged gaming sessions and the device’s thermal efficiency.

Battery and Charging: Great Daily Life Performance, Weak for Long Gaming Sessions

With a 5,500mAh battery, the Xiaomi 15T Pro lasts a full day with regular use, including web browsing, video streaming, messaging, and photography. It easily reaches 10–12 hours of mixed usage.

However, gaming shifts the battery dynamic significantly. While casual or short gaming sessions are fine, the device struggles with extended high-performance gameplay.

Thankfully, charging is fast:

90W HyperCharge (wired)
50W wireless charging

Both methods refill the battery quickly, reducing downtime—but frequent charging may shorten the battery’s overall lifespan for heavy gamers.

Price and Verdict: Should You Buy the Xiaomi 15T Pro for Gaming?

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is a very capable gaming device—especially considering that gaming isn’t its main selling point. It runs most titles smoothly at 60fps and can push beyond with GameTurbo enabled. Its main weaknesses lie in heat management and battery drain during extended play.

For users who want a camera-focused phone that also handles gaming well, this device makes a compelling argument. For pure gaming, though, alternatives like the POCO F7 Ultra provide similar performance for a noticeably lower cost.

Price Comparison

Xiaomi 15T Pro (12GB + 256GB): RM 2,699 (~US$652)
POCO F7 Ultra (12GB + 256GB): RM 2,199 (~US$531)

Although the Xiaomi 15T Pro is pricier, it offers a better display, superior camera system, and a premium design. When viewed as an all-round flagship alternative at a mid-range price, it delivers solid value.

Final Verdict

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is worth buying if you want a balanced phone that excels in photography, offers a stunning display, and is capable of running modern mobile games smoothly. It is not a dedicated gaming phone, but it performs well enough for most gamers—just be prepared for heat buildup and heavy battery drain during long sessions.