iPhone 15 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: The Definitive Flagship Comparison

Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Xiaomi’s 14 Pro represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering, but approach the challenge from different philosophies. The iPhone prioritizes a tightly integrated ecosystem and raw processing power, while Xiaomi focuses on bleeding-edge charging technology and a more open Android experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right premium device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a seamless user experience, the iPhone 15 Pro emerges as the winner. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s significantly faster charging – reaching 100% in just 18 minutes – and competitive performance make it a compelling alternative for power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 15 Pro Xiaomi 14 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A31021, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A31021, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, September 122023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 22Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5)Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mm (5.77 x 2.78 x 0.33 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight187 g (6.60 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield glassShatterproof glass
Resolution1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetApple A17 Pro (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (6-core graphics)Adreno 750
OSiOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec.8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, Dolby Vision HDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3274 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural TitaniumBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsA2848, A3101, A3102, A3104, iPhone16,123116PN5BC
Price$ 489.68 / C$ 849.99 / £ 559.99 / € 648.47About 650 EUR
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.98 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)-

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

  • Exceptional single-core performance with the A17 Pro chip
  • Industry-leading video recording capabilities
  • Long-term software support and ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 14 Pro
  • Less customizable operating system (iOS)

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
  • More open and customizable Android operating system
  • Potentially more competitive pricing

  • Software update longevity may be shorter than iPhone
  • Image processing may not appeal to all users

Display Comparison

The iPhone 15 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1786 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While Xiaomi doesn’t provide a measured peak brightness, their displays typically excel in color accuracy. Both likely utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life. The iPhone’s tighter integration with its display panel allows for precise color calibration, crucial for professional photo and video editing. The absence of detailed Xiaomi display specs makes a direct comparison challenging, but the iPhone’s measured brightness gives it a clear advantage in outdoor usability.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver exceptional camera performance, but their approaches differ. Apple traditionally focuses on computational photography and natural-looking images, while Xiaomi often leans towards vibrant, saturated colors. Without detailed sensor specifications for the Xiaomi 14 Pro, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the iPhone 15 Pro’s advanced image processing pipeline and ProRes video recording capabilities cater to professional content creators. The focus here is on the overall system, not just megapixel count. The iPhone’s video capabilities are a significant differentiator.

Performance

The core of the debate lies in the chipsets: Apple’s 3nm A17 Pro versus Qualcomm’s 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The A17 Pro’s hexa-core configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) is optimized for single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth scrolling. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s octa-core setup (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) prioritizes multi-core performance, potentially benefiting demanding tasks like video encoding and heavy multitasking. While the A17 Pro’s architecture is more efficient, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm process offers improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions. Both devices will likely offer flagship-level performance, but the A17 Pro holds an edge in single-core tasks.

Battery Life

The iPhone 15 Pro achieves an impressive 12:58h active use score and an endurance rating of 86h, indicating excellent battery optimization. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, however, compensates for potentially lower battery capacity with its blazing-fast 120W wired charging (100% in 18 minutes) and 50W wireless charging (100% in 40 minutes). The iPhone’s charging is comparatively slower at 50% in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0, 15W MagSafe, and 15W Qi2 (requiring iOS 17.2). The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The 4.5W reverse wired charging on the iPhone is a niche feature, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro offers 10W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro if you need a phone with guaranteed software updates for years to come, a mature app ecosystem, and prioritize video recording quality. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you prefer a more customizable Android experience, demand the absolute fastest charging speeds available, and value a potentially lower price point for comparable performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. While some throttling is inevitable during extended, graphically intensive gaming, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to manage heat effectively, potentially better than older Snapdragon-powered devices. Xiaomi often incorporates advanced cooling solutions in their Pro models.
❓ How does the iPhone 15 Pro’s MagSafe charging compare to the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Qi2 wireless charging?
Both MagSafe and Qi2 offer wireless charging, but MagSafe provides a stronger magnetic connection for more efficient and reliable charging. Qi2, however, is a more universal standard. The iPhone 15 Pro requires iOS 17.2 for full Qi2 compatibility. Both are capped at 15W and 50W respectively, making the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s wireless charging significantly faster.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on either phone useful for more than just emergencies?
The reverse wireless charging feature on both phones is primarily intended for emergencies or topping up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. The iPhone 15 Pro’s 4.5W output is very slow, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 10W is slightly more practical, but still not a replacement for a dedicated charger.