Xiaomi 15vsApple iPhone 16 Plus
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 15 wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 15 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 15 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. At USD 899, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Xiaomi 15 takes Performance — led by performance score (2,500,000 pts).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Battery — led by charging speed (90 W).
- Too close to call between Xiaomi 15 and Apple iPhone 16 Plus.
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,500,000 pts vs 1,350,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,200 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a better camera — 147 pts vs 138 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want longer battery life — 5,400 mAh vs 4,674 mAh.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want faster charging — 90 W vs 25 W.
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want a bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.36 in.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 95 pts.
At a glance
- Xiaomi 15
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus
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Best price now
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Xiaomi 15
Choose Xiaomi 15 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 899, the lowest price in this group.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if price matters most. It costs USD 899.
Pros & cons
Xiaomi 15
- Elite chipset
- 90 W charging
- Compact flagship
- HyperOS bloatware
- Limited availability
- No charger in box
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
- A18 chip
- Great battery life
- Large display
- 60 Hz display
- No telephoto
- Slow charging