Xiaomi 15 Challengers: OnePlus 13, iPhone 16e, More
Xiaomi 15 Alternatives: iQoo 13, Vivo X200, and more smartphones to choose from.
Xiaomi 15 Challengers: Xiaomi has released its Xiaomi 15 series in India, with the Xiaomi 15 and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. While the more expensive 15 Ultra has obviously made more headlines, the Xiaomi 15 is quite quietly impressive too, bringing flagship-level specs to the table at a more affordable Rs 64,999. In the age of big and bigger phones, the Xiaomi 15 comes as a breath of fresh air, as it is quite compact, just like its predecessor.
Like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the biggest highlight of the Xiaomi 15 too is on its back–its camera unit. The Xiaomi 15 comes with a triple 50-megapixel camera setup: a main sensor, a telephoto with 3x zoom and an ultrawide - all made in collaboration with the legendary Leica, and with special shooting modes.
A 32-megapixel sensor on the front handles selfies. The phone sports a brilliant 6.36-inch AMOLED display with 2670 x 1200 resolution, 3200 nits peak brightness and 120 Hz refresh rate. This is paired with stereo speakers, making the device a multi-media master. The Xiaomi 15 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the same that is seen on the 15 Ultra and even the much more expensive Galaxy S25 Ultra, and comes with plenty of fast RAM and storage, so it can easily handle any chore you throw at it.
And it packs in a large battery in spite of its relatively small size - the phone has a 5,400 mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. It runs on Android 15 with Xiaomi's HyperOS interface on top.
Pretty impressive for Rs 64,999, huh? Well, it still faces plenty of competition. So, if you are in the market for a flagship with a budget in the region of Rs 65,000 - Rs.70,000, here are five phones you can check out:
OnePlus 13: The Primary Rival
Price: Rs 69,999 onwards
The OnePlus 13 is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Xiaomi 15. The phone has a big 6.82-inch AMOLED display with Quad HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and is also powered by the processor top dog, the Qualcomm 8 Elite processor. The camera arrangement on the device is equally impressive - a triple 50-megapixel camera setup with a main sensor with OIS, a telephoto with 3x zoom and OIS, and an ultrawide sensor.
And like the Xiaomi 15, the cameras on the OnePlus 13 also come with an iconic brand name attached to it, Hasselblad, as well as special shooting modes. A 32-megapixel sensor on the front handles selfies and video calls here as well, and the phone comes with a huge 6,000 mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, with a charger in the box.
Rounding the spec sheet off is OxygenOS 15 on top of Android 15, making the OnePlus 13 a complete, flagship package. It has a bigger price tag, but it is a bigger phone too.
iQoo 13: Flagship Specs, Flagship-Killing Price
Price: Rs 54,999 onwards
Having premium specs is the first criterion of being a flagship phone but if a phone pairs those high-end specs with a very competitive price, then you get a device that is a real pain in the neck for all the flagships, including the Xiaomi 15.
The iQoo 13 is just that, combining a surprising price with some really top-notch specs. The phone brings a 6.82-inch AMOLED display with 3168 x 1440 resolution, a high 144 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of a whopping 4,500 nits. It also runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and comes with ample amounts of RAM and storage.
A massive 6,000 mAh battery with support for ultrafast 120W charging keeps the phone going, and there's a charger in the box, too. The phone runs on Android 15 topped with Vivo’s FunTouchOS, and comes with IP68 certification and stereo speakers. And like the Xiaomi 15, the iQoo 13 also features a 50-megapixel triple camera arrangement on the back – one main, one telephoto with 2X optical zoom and one ultrawide.
And yes, it also has a 32-megapixel sensor on the front. Those specs are impressive, and the price puts the iQoo 13 in a league of its own, making it a proper flagship killer.
iPhone 16e: The Most Affordable New iPhone
Price: Rs 59,900 onwards
The newest member of the iPhone 16 family comes with a relatively pocket-friendly price tag. The iPhone 16e will set you back by Rs. 59,900 onwards and brings some solid specs to the table. The phone runs on the latest Apple A18 processor, similar to the one on its siblings in the iPhone 16 series.
The super compact phone has a 6.1 inch Super Retina XDR display and comes with only one camera on the front and back each: a 48-megapixel fusion main sensor, and a 12-megapixel selfie sensor. That said, it has a longer battery life than the iPhone 16 at 26 hours and brings iOS 18 out of the box with an IP68 rating as well. It does miss out on the Dynamic Island (it has the old-fashioned notch), MagSafe charging support, and Camera Control button but it has wireless charging, stereo speakers and the new Action button.
What's more, that processor allows it to bring Apple Intelligence support to the mix.
Vivo X200: Zeiss Camera Magic
Price: Rs 65,999
Another flagship phone with a big camera name tie-up is the Vivo X200. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 flagship chip and comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2800 x 1260 and 120 Hz refresh rate, with stereo speakers.
It has three 50-megapixel sensors on the back: a main sensor with OIS, a telephoto with 3x optical zoom and OIS and an ultrawide, all made in collaboration with the famous Zeiss, which takes it right up there with the likes of OnePlus and Xiaomi when it comes to camera capabilities and add on features. On the selfie front, it comes with a 32-megapixel camera.
The Vivo X200 also comes with an IP68 rating and is backed by a large 5800 mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging but there is no support for wireless charging. The phone comes with Android 15 out of the box with the feature-rich albeit cluttered FunTouchOS on top. Another one for the photo fans.
iPhone 15: The Oldie Still Has What It Takes
Price: Rs 61,499 onwards
The iPhone 15 may be old, but it remains a contender, especially for those looking for a compact flagship. It comes with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, and runs on Apple’s A16 Bionic processor, which rules it out of Apple Intelligence contention, but remains a very good performer.
Unlike the newer iPhone 16e, the iPhone 15 sports a Dynamic Island, supports MagSafe connectivity and even has a dual camera set-up that features a 48-megapixel main sensor along with a 12-megapixel ultrawide one, with another 12-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies. And while you will not get Apple Intelligence, the phone will still serve up the steady and secure iOS, and will play nice with Apple's ecosystem. All of this makes this oldie goldie a Xiaomi 15 challenger.
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