Redmi Note 15 Pro+, Redmi Note 15 Pro First Impressions
Redmi has expanded its Redmi Note lineup with two new smartphones: Redmi Note 15 Pro+ and Redmi Note 15 Pro. The latest handsets from the company come equipped with an interesting set of features and a premium design language. The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is the hero product here with a more premium appeal, while the Note 15 Pro appeals to the mid-range segment.
The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ price in India starts at Rs. 37,999 for the base 8GB + 128GB model, while the 12GB + 256GB option is priced at Rs. 39,999. Lastly, the top-end option with 12GB + 512GB is available at Rs. 43,999. Moving on, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G price in India starts at Rs. 29,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 256GB variant is priced at Rs. 31,999.
Let's start with the design language of both smartphones. To start with, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ brings all the premium elements to the table. The handset is Carbon Black, Coffee Mocha, and Mirage Blue. Although the Black and Blue colour option comes with a glass finish, the Coffee Mocha variant offers a faux leather finish. I got the Mocha variant for the review, and it sure looks premium in hand. The rear panel is prominently placed in the middle, with Redmi branding at the bottom.
The frame is minutely curved along the edges, making it easier to hold. Unlike the Redmi Note 15 Pro, the front panel is curved for a more seamless experience. The volume controls and power on/off button are on the right, while the speaker, USB Type-C port, and SIM slot are at the bottom.
The Redmi Note 15 Pro, on the other hand, comes with a flat-frame design. The back panel offers a glossy finish under the sunlight, while the front panel is flat. The controls and port placement are similar to those of the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. That said, the Redmi Note 15 Pro is slightly slimmer at 7.96mm, compared to the Plus variant, which measures 8.47mm. Both devices feel well-balanced when you hold them in your hand, which is a good thing.
Coming to the display, both the models feature a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772 x 1280 pixels. Both phones offer a 120Hz screen refresh rate, up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness, 12-bit colour depth, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The display looks good during the initial testing, and the Victus 2 protection surely adds some peace of mind for scratches or accidental drops.
Performance is where you will notice a significant difference. The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, while the Redmi Note 15 Pro is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra.
The Redmi Note 15 Pro comes with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, while the Pro Plus variant comes with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Both models run Android 15 with HyperOS 2 on top. The company is claiming three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches with both phones. We are yet to check for the performance, so stay tuned with us.
Both models feature a dual-camera setup. The handsets come with a 200-megapixel primary Samsung HPE sensor with f/1.7 aperture and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle Sony IMX355 sensor. On the front, the Note 15 Pro packs a 20-megapixel shooter, while the Pro+ offers a 32-megapixel selfie shooter.
In terms of battery, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ features a 6,580mAh battery with 100W fast charging support. The Redmi Note 15 Pro packs a 6,500mAh battery, and it supports 45W fast charging. That being said, both models sure look interesting, though the competition is also tough in this segment. In order to know in-depth about both the devices, stay tuned with us for a detailed review of both the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ and the Redmi Note 15 Pro.
The Redmi Note series has always been the hero product for Redmi, offering the right mix of premium features and a value-for-money proposition. And with the Redmi Note 15 5G, the company isn't chasing gimmicks or radical innovation; it wants to refine what users actually care about. The latest smartphone from the company comes equipped with a sleek and premium design, a curved AMOLED display, long-term software support, and more.
The Redmi Note 15 5G starts at Rs. 22,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, while the 8GB RAM + 256GB model costs Rs. 24,999. That said, does it make sense to go for this smartphone given the strong competition in this segment? Let's find out in this review.
The Redmi Note 15 follows the legacy of Redmi devices when it comes to design. We have talked in-depth about its design in the first impressions, which you can check here. To summarise, the handset offers a sleek, lightweight design that looks premium. The device also features an IP65 + IP66 rating, making it water- and dust-resistant, which is decent considering the price tag.
Redmi Note 15 Display: Vibrant and Colourful
- Display - 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display
- Refresh Rate - 120Hz adaptive screen refresh rate
- Other Features - 240Hz touch sampling rate, 12-bit colour depth, 3,200nits peak brightness
The Redmi Note 15 is loaded with a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 12-bit display. You also get 120Hz of adaptive screen refresh rate, 100 percent P3 colour gamut, Wet Touch 2.0 support, TUV Eye Protection 2.0, 3,200nits of peak brightness, and more.
The curved display offers a premium look and feel. The frame design is such that you don't feel it stabbing your hand, which is a good thing. The display is sharp and vivid. The colours came out to be punchy, and the black appears deep. The peak brightness of 3,200nits feels enough for outdoor usage, although you still see some glare where the screen curves.
Next, the 120Hz screen refresh rate makes the whole experience buttery smooth. The scrolls and swipes feel responsive. However, the only downside of this otherwise good display is that it does not support HDR playback. So, if you are planning to watch some HDR content on Netflix or YouTube, then you will feel a bit disappointed. It also has a fingerprint sensor built into the screen that works quickly and reliably.
Redmi Note 15 Software: Minimalistic and Customisable
- Software - Hyper OS 2
- Version - Android 15
- Updates Promised - 4 Years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches
The Redmi Note 15 runs HyperOS 2, which is based on Android 15. The company claims you will get four years of OS upgrades and six years of security patches with the latest smartphone, which is a good offer for this price segment.
The latest HyperOS 2 comes with a plethora of options to customise the device to your needs. The user interface feels lighter and more intuitive compared to previous versions. You can easily customise the lock screen, animations, icons, transitions, and more with this. And not to forget, the wallpaper options are plenty with its Theme stores.
The company has been modest with the AI features, though. You get basic features like Circle to Search, Gemini, and AI Beauty in the Gallery for AI features. Addition of some of the features like AI summarise, or more, could make it even more interesting.
That said, you get lots of bloatware instead. The smartphone comes with plenty of pre-installed applications like Block Blast, Bubble Shooter, TileFun, Scanner, PhonePe, and more. Moreover, the company has replaced its own app store with Indus App Store, which is basically an Indian alternative to Google Play. While it is good to give users options to choose the marketplace, adding so many pre-installed applications can be borderline irritating.
Redmi Note 15 Performance: Not a Powerhouse, But Still Gets the Job Done
- Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3
- Memory - 8GB LPDDR4X
- Storage - Up to 256GB UFS 2.2, expandable up to 1TB
Redmi Note 15 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. You also get 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card slot. I have compiled some synthetic benchmarks comparing the new Redmi device with similarly-priced smartphones, which you can check here:
In terms of gaming, the smartphone can handle most of the casual games well. I also played Call of Duty: Mobile first at Very High and Max frame rates, and noticed some lag during long gaming sessions. However, by dialling down the graphics and frame rate settings, you will get much better output. Moreover, the handset manages the thermals well, as it does not get alarmingly hot during long gaming sessions.
Redmi Note 15 Cameras: Mixed Bag
- Rear - 108-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.7 aperture + 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens
- Front - 20-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture
The Redmi Note 15 features a dual-camera setup on the rear panel. The company has added a 108-megapixel primary sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. The performance of the cameras is decent when it comes to daylight.
When it comes to selfies, the 20-megapixel camera captures decent photos in both daylight and low-light conditions. The smartphone was able to capture the right skin tone, and the edge detection was good in both conditions.
Redmi Note 15 Battery: Decent
- Battery Capacity - 5,520mAh
- Wired Charging - 45W fast charging
- Charger - 45W (Included in Box)
The Redmi Note 15 5G comes with a 5,520mAh battery. The phone is able to deliver more than a day's worth of battery life with moderate to normal usage. If you are a power user, then you can easily get one full day of battery backup.
The phone lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes in the PC Mark Work 3.0 Battery Life test, which is decent considering the price range. The handset also comes with 45W fast charging support, and you also get a charging brick, which is a bonus. I got 0 to 54 percent in 30 minutes, while it took 1 hour and 8 minutes to charge to 100 percent.
Redmi Note 15 Verdict
The Redmi Note 15 is a great device for the category and can nail everyday use rather than looking like a flashy upgrade. The smartphone offers a premium design and is one of the sleekest smartphones available in this price segment. The display looks great, and you will not have much trouble with brightness either. The performance is decent for everyday usage, but it's not a gaming machine.
The cameras were a mixed bag, and hopefully, with future updates, Redmi might improve them. The battery life is decent, and you can easily get a day's worth of backup on a single charge with moderate usage.
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