Xiaomi has officially announced the Xiaomi 15T and Xiaomi 15T Pro smartphones, and while you can expect the usual periodical updates in the camera and processors, there’s a unique feature built into this phone that can convert it into a walkie-talkie – not the kind that relies on Wi-Fi or cellular data via a third-party app, of course.
Xiaomi 15T Series
Let’s start with the basics first. The Xiaomi 15T Pro inherits the predecessor’s triple camera system with one key change: the telephoto lens now features 5x optical zoom (2.6x in 14T Pro), while the non-Pro model retains the 2x zoom. The 50MP main camera featues Leica’s Summilux optical lens, and the Pro model also comes with the Light Fusion 900 sensor offering a 13.5 EV dynamic range. Both models include a 32MP front camera, now with wider field-of-view.
Xiaomi also introduces an all-new feature to the smartphones called Xiaomi Astral Communication, which includes an offline communication mode that effectively turns the phone into a walkie-talkie, no cellular or Wi-Fi networks required. It’s claimed to work at up to 1.9km of range with a clear line-of-sight (1.3km for the non-Pro), though the other end must use the 15T or 15T Pro for this to work, and the range can obviously be impacted by obstructions too.
The way this works is by using its proprietary Surge T1S tuner to transmit super strong Bluetooth signals than most phones, which is a pretty clever workaround without having to utilize a different radio frequency channel. The reason behind this approach is simple – regulators around the world impose restrictions on which frequencies can be commercially utilized, so it’s easier to just work with what’s available. (Fun fact: the working frequencies built into real walkie-talkies differ depending on regions, so you can’t legally operate them outside their intended region).
Display-wise, both models include a 6.83-inch display with 1.5K resolution and a peak brightness of 3200 nits, with 15T Pro featuring 144Hz refresh rate while the 15T gets a slightly slower 120Hz. Powering the devices are 5500mAh batteries (rather small going by Chinese smartphones’ standards), with the Pro supporting 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, and the non-Pro supporting 67W wired charging only. The 15T Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset, while the 15T uses the Dimensity 8400 Ultra, both of which are cooled through Xiaomi’s 3D IceLoop cooling system.
The devices feature a unified glass fiber back and flat frame design – a common theme in 2025 smartphones – with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for improved scratch resistance; both models carry IP68 certification for water and dust resistance up to 3 meters. The Pro is built with 6M13 aluminum alloy for added durability and is available in Mocha Gold, Gray, and Black, while the Xiaomi 15T is available in Rose Gold, Gray, and Black.
Pre-orders are open until October 2, 2025, through mi.com, Shopee, and Lazada, with sales beginning October 3 across all Xiaomi stores and online platforms. The Xiaomi 15T Pro is priced at RM3,499 for the 12GB+1TB model, RM2,999 for the 12GB+512GB model, and RM2,699 for the 12GB+256GB model; the Xiaomi 15T is priced at RM2,199 for the 12GB+512GB variant and RM1,899 for the 12GB+256GB variant.
Pokdepinion: Offline communication mode might not be a feature that many will use, but it certainly will be handy when the situation requires it.
