iPhone Air
A19 Pro · 6.5″ OLED · 5.64 mm thin
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite · Leica · 1-inch sensor
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, iPhone Air lands at 92 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra at 92. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick iPhone Air if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip in a 5.64 mm chassis
- ✓165 g — light in hand
- ✓Up to 27 hours of video playback
Pick Xiaomi 15 Ultra if…
- ✓1-inch LYT-900 main sensor
- ✓Leica tuning on every camera
- ✓90W + 80W wireless charging
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 86).
Battery life
Xiaomi 15 UltraScreen-on time and charging
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on battery (92 vs 76).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
Xiaomi 15 UltraPanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on display (94 vs 92).
Value for money
iPhone AirSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
iPhone Air more score per dollar ($999 vs $1,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone Air | Xiaomi 15 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.5″ OLED, 2736×1260 | ▲ 6.73″ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 3200×1440 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro chip (6-core CPU) | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256 GB – 1 TB |
| Battery (video) | Up to 27 hours | — |
| Charging | 50% in 30 min with 20W adapter; MagSafe up to 20W | ▲ 90W wired, 80W wireless |
| OS | iOS 26 | HyperOS 2 / Android 15 |
| Weight | 165 g | — |
| Thickness | 5.64 mm | — |
| IP rating | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | — |
| RAM | — | 12/16 GB |
| Rear camera | — | 50 MP 1″ + 50 MP 3× + 50 MP 4.3× periscope + 50 MP UW |
| Battery | — | 6000 mAh |
iPhone Air
- +A19 Pro chip in a 5.64 mm chassis
- +165 g — light in hand
- +Up to 27 hours of video playback
- −Single rear camera
- −No telephoto
- −Wired charging tops out around the 20W-adapter class
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
FAQ: iPhone Air vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Which is better, iPhone Air or Xiaomi 15 Ultra? +
Both score 92 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is iPhone Air worth the price? +
At $999, iPhone Air delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in design.
Is Xiaomi 15 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,499, Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in camera.
Does iPhone Air or Xiaomi 15 Ultra 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, iPhone Air or Xiaomi 15 Ultra? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on camera (98 vs 86). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, iPhone Air or Xiaomi 15 Ultra? +
Xiaomi 15 Ultra — leads on battery (92 vs 76). Screen-on time and charging.