XIAOMI Corp. last week launched within the Philippines its latest mid-range smartphones, the REDMI Note 15 Series, consisting of 5 devices with Pro and base models and each 4G and 5G versions, offering quite a lot of decisions to suit different budgets and wishes.
The brand lent BusinessWorld a unit of considered one of the three Pro models of the series, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB), for this review. The device’s suggested retail price starts at P19,999. Discounts and freebies for patrons can be found until Feb. 8.
Besides the phone and the same old documentation, included within the box are a 45-watt (W) two-round-pin charging adapter, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a protective case for the device.
Using the provided charger and cable, it took slightly over an hour to get the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G’s 6,580mAh silicon-carbon battery 100% from 20%.
The battery is considered one of the standout features of this phone for me. For a three-day media trip with Xiaomi to Cebu for the launch of the REDMI Note 15 Series, I only needed to recharge the phone once — and that was with heavy use of its cameras during a city tour and likewise for typical social media browsing. With typical use, I’d say you may get one to 2 days out of a full charge.
A bonus: the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G also supports as much as 22.5W wired reverse charging via USB-C. Xiaomi also says this battery is designed with technology that could make its life last as long as six years.
One other feature that shines is the screen. The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G has a 6.83-inch 1.5K CrystalRes AMOLED display that has a refresh rate of as much as 120Hz, which supports a peak brightness of as much as 3,200 nits. This made the phone very easy to make use of throughout the daytime, especially under direct sunlight — no have to shield the screen simply to see what’s on it. Visuals are also clear and crisp, and color reproduction is vivid. The screen can also be very responsive, and its flat design is a plus for me.
When watching videos or listening to music, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G’s dual speakers, which have Dolby Atmos support, have great audio quality, making for an immersive experience. Even when using 400% volume boost, there is just minimal distortion.
The phone’s overall design and form factor also makes for a great user experience. The flat side edges with rounded corners make it easy to grip for prolonged periods of time, even for a comparatively large phone, because the device is thin and lightweight. It also looks and feels premium.
Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra chipset, the phone delivers a smooth performance for typical use cases like social media browsing, watching videos, and even light gaming, making it an awesome mid-range each day driver.
Software-wise, the phone runs on HyperOS 2.0 and has an easy and clean interface, and it also offers several AI features, including image editing tools. It does include some preloaded apps and bloatware, but all of those are easy to uninstall if you happen to find them unnecessary.
The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G includes a dual-camera setup on the rear with a brand new 200-megapixel (MP) ultimate-clarity foremost sensor with optical image stabilization and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Even and not using a telephoto lens, the phone captures sharp images with great details and colours. It performs thoroughly when used outdoors within the daytime. Through the night or indoor conditions with difficult lighting, in addition to when using Ultra HD mode, image processing can get a tad slower than usual.
There are also several shooting modes that may cater to each casual and more advanced users. I especially liked tinkering with Pro Mode (which permits you to use or save parameter presets), especially for night shots.
Now for an additional of the REDMI Note 15 Series’ foremost selling points — its Titan Durability — the phone has IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance rankings, in addition to drop resistance certification. Its display can also be made with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
I subjected the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G to easy drop and water tests, and unsurprisingly, the review unit survived these. One drop test on floors made from hard tiles did lead to small dents within the phone’s rear camera panel but didn’t affect its performance.
After all, only time will tell just how much (intentional and accidental) beating this phone can take, but its “Titan Tough” construct may give users peace of mind — especially at a time when smartphones are set to develop into costlier attributable to the surge in memory chip costs fueled by growing AI demand. Customers also get a four-year battery alternative warranty, two-year liquid damage coverage and back and front cover alternative, and a comprehensive two-year overall warranty.
With its durability and long battery life, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G is a really capable each day driver for many who desire a smartphone that may deliver great performance at a competitive price. — Bettina V. Roc