SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 has previously been classified as an sdM9.5 subdwarf. However, its very blue $J-K$ colour ($-0.15 pm 0.17$) suggests a much lower metallicity compared to normal sdM9.5 subdwarfs. Here, we re-classify this object as a usdL1.5 subdwarf based on a new optical and near-infrared spectrum obtained with X-shooter on the Very Large Telescope. Spectral fitting with BT-Settl models leads to $T_{rm eff}$ = 2450 $pm$ 150 K, [Fe/H] = $-$2.4 $pm$ 0.2 and log $g$ = 5.5 $pm$ 0.25. We estimate a mass for SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 of 0.086 $pm$ 0.0015 M$_{odot}$ which is just below the hydrogen-burning minimum mass at [Fe/H] = $-$2.4 ($sim$0.088 M$_{odot}$) according to evolutionary models. Our analysis thus shows SDSS J0104+15 to be the most metal-poor and highest mass substellar object known to-date. We found that SDSS J010448.46+153501.8 is joined by another five known L subdwarfs (2MASS J05325346+8246465, 2MASS J06164006$-$6407194, SDSS J125637.16$-$022452.2, ULAS J151913.03$-$000030.0 and 2MASS J16262034+3925190) in a halo brown dwarf transition zone in the $T_{rm eff}-$[Fe/H] plane, which represents a narrow mass range in which unsteady nuclear fusion occurs. This halo brown dwarf transition zone forms a substellar subdwarf gap for mid L to early T types.
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