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XIAOMI Corp. last week launched in the Philippines its latest mid-range smartphones, the REDMI Note 15 Series, which includes five devices with Pro and basic models and both 4G and 5G versions, offering a variety of choices to fit different budgets and needs.
The brand lent BusinessWorld a unit of the three Pro models of the series, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB), for this review. The suggested retail price of the device starts at P19,999. Customer discounts and freebies are available through Feb. 8.
Besides the phone and the usual documents, included in the box are a two-pin 45-watt (W) charging adapter, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a protective case for the device.
Using the supplied charger and cable, it took just over an hour to get the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G’s 6,580mAh silicon-carbon battery from 100% to 20%.
The battery is one of the standout features of this phone for me. During the three-day press trip with Xiaomi to Cebu for the launch of the REDMI Note 15 Series, I needed to recharge the phone once – and that was mainly using its cameras during city tours and general social media browsing. With normal use, I would say you can get one to two days out of a full charge.
Bonus: REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G also supports wired charging up to 22.5W via USB-C. Xiaomi also says that this battery is designed with technology that can make its life last for six years.
Another bright feature is the screen. The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G has a 6.83-inch 1.5K CrystalRes AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which supports a maximum brightness of up to 3,200 nits. This made the phone easier to use during the day, especially under direct sunlight — no need to shield the screen just to see what’s on it. Visuals are also crisp and clear, and color reproduction is vivid. The screen is also very responsive, and its flat design pleases me.
When watching videos or listening to music, the two speakers of the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G, with Dolby Atmos support, have good sound quality, which creates a deep feeling. Even if you use 400% volume boost, there is only slight distortion.
The phone’s overall design and form factor also make for a great user experience. Flat side edges with rounded corners make it easy to hold for a long time, even with a relatively large phone, as the device is small and light. It also looks and feels premium.
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra chipset, the phone delivers smooth performance for common usage scenarios such as social media browsing, video watching, and even light gaming, making it a great mid-range daily driver.
Software-wise, the phone runs on HyperOS 2.0 and has a simple and clean interface, and offers several AI features, including photo editing tools. It comes with some preloaded apps and bloatware, but all of this is easy to remove if you find it unnecessary.
The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G features a dual-camera setup on the back with a new 200-megapixel (MP) high-definition sensor with image stabilization and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Even without the telephoto lens, the phone captures sharp images with good detail and color. It works best when used outside during the day. At night or in indoor conditions with challenging lighting, as well as when using Ultra HD mode, image processing can get slower than usual.
There are also several shooting modes that can be addressed by both casual and advanced users. I especially liked playing with Pro Mode (which allows you to use or save parameter presets), especially for night shots.
Now one of the main selling points of the REDMI Note 15 Series’ – its Titan durability – the phone has IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance ratings, as well as drop resistance certification. Its display is also made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
I subjected the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G to a simple drop and water test, and surprisingly, the review unit survived this. A single drop test done on hard tiles resulted in minor scratches on the phone’s rear camera panel but did not affect its performance.
Of course, only time will tell how much (intentional and accidental) damage this phone can take, but its “Titan Tough” construction can give users peace of mind – especially at a time when smartphones are set to become more expensive due to the increase in memory chip costs caused by the growing demand for AI. Customers also get a four-year battery replacement warranty, two-year liquid damage coverage and front and back cover replacement, and a two-year full warranty.
With durability and long battery life, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G is a capable daily driver for those looking for a smartphone that can deliver great performance at a competitive price. – Bettina V. Roc
