What smartphone are people most excited about this October? Probably the Xiaomi 15. It may sound far away, but it's actually just around the corner. With Qualcomm announcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite (formerly known as Snapdragon 8 Gen4) on October 21st, the Xiaomi 15 could arrive as early as late October or early November.

However, the design, specifications, and pricing of this phone are still unclear. Could it be possible that we can already guess the appearance, some of the selling points, and the price of the Xiaomi 15?

In terms of appearance and texture, the Xiaomi 15 won't see significant changes. Based on current leaks, it will continue to feature a square-shaped camera module in the top left corner, albeit with slight differences in camera arrangement. Since Xiaomi 13 adopted this design, it seems to have become a signature element of Xiaomi's digital series. Considering the strong sales of Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14, it's not surprising that Xiaomi 15 will retain a similar design.

In terms of materials, the Xiaomi 15 will continue to use a glass back cover combined with an aluminum alloy frame, maintaining a premium feel similar to devices priced around 4000 yuan. Handling the phone will undoubtedly feel far from cheap.

Moreover, due to its compact size, the Xiaomi 15 exudes a more refined elegance and offers a better grip compared to most flagship phones.

It's worth noting that Qualcomm will unveil the new Snapdragon 8 Gen4 at the end of this month, and Xiaomi 15 will once again be the first to adopt this chipset.

As for its core configuration, the Xiaomi 15 will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen4 platform, which features Qualcomm's in-house Nuvia CPU architecture with a 2+6 CPU design based on TSMC's second-generation 3nm process technology. The rear camera setup will include a 50MP Leica triple-camera system, making it Xiaomi's most powerful flagship yet.

Regarding battery life and charging, many upcoming flagship phones in the second half of this year are expected to upgrade to battery capacities of around 6000mAh. There are also reports that Xiaomi is testing various battery and charging combinations for its new digital flagship series.

Specifically, the standard version of Xiaomi 15 is expected to come with a 5500mAh battery, while the Xiaomi 15 Pro may adopt a 6000mAh battery solution. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, set to arrive next year, is rumored to have an even larger battery capacity.

In terms of charging capabilities, the Xiaomi 15 series is expected to offer a choice between 100W and 120W charging speeds.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that leaks suggest that the Xiaomi 15 Pro's telephoto lens has been upgraded to a 120mm Sony IMX858 (5X zoom), while the previous generation Xiaomi 14 Pro featured a 3X zoom lens with a 10cm macro capability.

Ming-Chi Kuo has noted that the Sony IMX858 sensor, which measures 1/2.51 inches, was first introduced in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. This sensor incorporates a full-pixel phase detection autofocus system. Lei Jun, Xiaomi's CEO, has stated that to ensure consistency across the system, Xiaomi used three IMX858 sensors in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, allowing all secondary cameras to have the same imaging capabilities.

In other aspects, the information aligns with previous leaks. The new Xiaomi 15 series will initially launch in two versions: Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro. The Xiaomi 15 will sport a 6.36-inch 1.5K centered punch-hole straight display with bezels measuring 1.3-1.5mm, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1400 nits. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 Pro will feature a centered punch-hole curved display measuring 6.73 inches with black borders of 1.7-1.8mm and a peak brightness of 1400 nits as well. Both models will be covered with Dragontrail glass, come standard with ultrasonic fingerprint recognition, and offer IP68 dust and water resistance.

Regarding the pricing of the Xiaomi 15, which is of great interest to many, Lei Jun announced during the Xiaomi 14 launch event that it would be the last Xiaomi digital flagship to start at 3999 yuan. Xiaomi aims to create even better phones and will no longer offer models in this price range going forward.

Why the price increase? Lei Jun has done his best, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 chipset is more expensive than its predecessor, and other components have also seen price hikes to varying degrees.

According to leaks, the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC is priced at approximately $155, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor costs around $190. Due to the costs associated with TSMC's 3nm manufacturing process, the upcoming processors are expected to be about 20% more expensive than their predecessors.

This leaked pricing information aligns with a previous report by Ming-Chi Kuo, who stated that flagship processors next year could be 20% to 30% more expensive than current ones. He even suggested a price tag of $190 to $200.

Lastly, the Xiaomi 15 has officially obtained network access certification under the model name "24129PN74C." Manufactured by Lens Technology (Xiangtan) Co., Ltd., this device supports up to 90W fast charging. The Xiaomi 15 Pro, under the model name "2410DPN6CC," is produced by Beijing Changshu Technology Co., Ltd. and also supports up to 90W fast charging.

In conclusion, it appears that Xiaomi is actively preparing for the launch of the Xiaomi 15 series. The company is likely to officially announce the release date of this flagship series after the National Day holiday.

If you have any thoughts or opinions on the latest Xiaomi 15 leaks, feel free to share them in the comments section below and join the discussion with Ming-Mei Unlimited!