Nothing Phone (1) vs Xiaomi 15
The Verdict
Xiaomi 15 significantly outperforms Nothing Phone (1) across nearly every dimension, justifying its $200 price premium. The display advantage is substantial: Xiaomi's 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED screen reaches 3200 nits versus Nothing's 1200 nits, with sharper 2670x1200 resolution and variable refresh rates. Processing power heavily favors Xiaomi's Snapdragon 8 Elite with Adreno 830 GPU, substantially faster than the Snapdragon 778G+. Camera capability gaps are notable, particularly the addition of a dedicated 50MP telephoto lens with 2.6x optical zoom and 8K video recording at 24fps on Xiaomi versus Nothing's limited to 4K at 30fps. Battery capacity reaches 5400 mAh with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, dwarfing Nothing's 4500 mAh with 33W wired and 15W wireless. Nothing Phone (1) excels primarily in design philosophy with its transparent back and Glyph LED notification system, offering distinctive aesthetics. For most users prioritizing performance, camera quality, and charging speed, Xiaomi 15 delivers superior value despite higher cost. Nothing Phone (1) suits budget-conscious buyers seeking unique design and solid Android experience without flagship capabilities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Phone (1) if…
- →Unique transparent Glyph Interface LED design stands out
- →Clean Nothing OS closely mirrors stock Android
- →Dual 50 MP cameras perform well for the price
Buy the Xiaomi 15 if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- →Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- →Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Nothing Phone (1)
Pros
- Unique transparent Glyph Interface LED design stands out
- Clean Nothing OS closely mirrors stock Android
- Dual 50 MP cameras perform well for the price
- Wireless charging included at mid-range pricing
- Solid 120Hz OLED display
Cons
- Snapdragon 778G+ is mid-tier and shows limits
- Glyph notifications are a novelty more than practical
- Only IP53 splash protection
- 33W charging is modest for 2022
- USB-C 2.0 limits transfer speeds
Xiaomi 15
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- Triple 50MP camera system with Leica optics at a competitive price
- Compact 6.36-inch size with flagship specs — rare in 2025
- Blazing 90W wired charging fills the 5400 mAh battery in under 30 minutes
- 3200-nit peak brightness is excellent for outdoor visibility
Cons
- HyperOS still carries some bloatware and ad placements
- 2.6x telephoto lacks the reach of 5x periscope competitors
- Limited global availability compared to Samsung and Apple
- No headphone jack
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Phone (1) | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 (Nothing OS 1.0) | Android 15 (HyperOS 2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 193.5 g | 191 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, transparent glass back with Glyph LED strips | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP53 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm | 152.3 x 71.2 x 8.08 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS (Sony IMX766) | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS (Light Fusion 900 sensor) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree (Samsung JN1) | 50 MP, f/2.2, 115-degree |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/2.0, 2.6x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5400 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.55 inches | 6.36 inches |
| Type | OLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2670 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 3200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Nothing products or all Xiaomi products. View full details for the Nothing Phone (1) or the Xiaomi 15.