Redmi Note 15 Pro Review: Not Bad, Just Hard to Recommend

The Note series is arguably the most recognizable lineup of smartphones under the Redmi brand name. And the Redmi Note 15 Pro is the latest entry, featuring a sharp display, a bigger battery, improved dust and water protection along with other changes at Rs 29,999 . It all sounds great on paper, but does it deliver? I've been using the phone for over a week now, and I'd like to share my experience in this Redmi Note 15 Pro review.

Unboxing 

Let's take a quick look at the box of the Redmi Note 15 Pro before starting with the review.  Here's everything included inside: 

Design and Build 

In terms of design, the Redmi Note 15 Pro looks identical to last year's model, with a similar camera bump in the centre, plastic build, and button placement. The major difference comes from the flat display this time. So we get flat sides instead of the curved ones like in the Redmi Note 14 Pro. 

While flat designs are clearly the trend right now, they don’t always translate to better ergonomics. Given the phone’s large footprint, the sharp, flat sides made it uncomfortable to hold, as the phone started digging into my palms. It is the same struggle I had with the Nothing Phone (3a). This is why I resorted to putting on the case for the rest of the Redmi Note 15 Pro review period. 

On the bright side, the phone doesn’t feel overly heavy, thanks to the plastic frame and back. The build quality is also where the phone truly impresses. You get an IP68/IP69K rating and a drop resistance of up to 2.5 meters. While I didn’t test these limits myself, this level of protection is rare in the segment and definitely adds a layer of peace of mind you don’t often get at this price point.

Display and Audio Quality 

As mentioned before, the Redmi Note 15 Pro features a large flat display this time around, ditching the curved AMOLED from last year. The screen has to be one of the biggest highlights of the phone, as it outputs spectacular picture quality, which looks clean, crisp, and immaculate. 

In my Redmi Note 15 Pro review period, I watched Pluribus on Apple TV, and it was the perfect display to enjoy it on. The neutral colours looked as they should, without coming off as too oversaturated. It also offers ample brightness in direct sunlight and feels smooth to the touch, thanks to the high refresh rate. 

Xiaomi has mastered making phones with amazing displays, and this is another example of it. It also offers HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision support in apps like Netflix. That said, the stereo speakers are not that flattering. They can be boosted to 400% volume, but it feels like a gimmick as the quality degrades, and there is no depth or immersion in the sound itself. 

Performance Tested 

The Redmi Note 15 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset. We have seen this processor in other similarly priced phones like the Realme P4. Despite the "Ultra" branding, it doesn't offer any performance improvement over the base Dimensity 7400, as you can see in the benchmarks.

In everyday use, it strikes a good balance between performance and battery life. The phone ran pretty smoothly for the most part during my Redmi Note 15 Pro review period. 

You can also enjoy casual gaming on the Redmi Note 15 Pro, as the chipset is capable enough to run games like BGMI at 60 FPS and Call of Duty: Mobile at 90 FPS on the lowest graphics. However, don't go expecting to play high-end titles like Genshin Impact, as it struggles at 30FPS on the lowest settings. 

There were frame drops in intense battles, so I recommend you stick with the more optimised titles. The good thing was that, even after an hour of gameplay, the phone did not get extremely hot to the touch. But it is far from the best gaming mobile phone in its category. 

Software and Updates 

The Redmi Note 15 Pro comes with HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 out of the box. But I would have liked it if the phone came with Android 16 right away. HyperOS offers a slick experience, with bouncy animations and haptic feedback accompanying every touch. UI feels more responsive, and it was a breeze to multitask through different apps.

It was certainly much better to use than my last encounter with the OS during my POCO M8 review. There are some good customisations for the lockscreen that I quite enjoy. Along with a decent array of AI features, too. It also supports Xiaomi's interconnectivity features, so you can seamlessly pair the Redmi Note 15 Pro with other Xiaomi devices, like their tablet. 

However, the phone comes bundled with tons of unwanted apps and services. These botch the experience quite a lot. Moreover, the phone does occasionally stutter, especially when using the camera app. If you can ignore the bloatware problem, the overall experience is decent in this price segment. 

Camera Reviewed 

The Redmi Note 15 Pro sticks with the same 200MP primary sensor we saw on last year’s model. This is the camera you’ll end up using the most, as it delivers reliable results across different lighting conditions. Daylight photos come out sharp and detailed, with colours that look close to natural. The dynamic range is good enough for most scenarios, and you can switch to the Ultra HD mode for even crisper shots. 

At 2x-5x zoom, the sensor retains decent clarity. Even at night, you can get some good photos out of it, and unlike the CMF Phone 2 Pro or the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, it does not blow out the exposure. But if you try to look for finer details in the photos, they will definitely come out softer and grainier.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera is clearly a secondary option. It’s usable in daylight and works fine for wide landscapes, but the lack of autofocus and the lower resolution mean it’s not meant for anything beyond casual shots. At least the colours between the main and ultra-wide cameras are consistent. 

The 20MP selfie camera gets you some decent-looking portraits. It does soften some blemishes, but it is nowhere as aggressive as to white-wash your entire face. I was also impressed with its portrait mode quality, offering a soft bokeh effect while correctly outlining the edges. 

It is also worth noting that I did face hiccups and stutters while using the camera app during my Redmi Note 15 Pro review period. So, it is definitely not the best camera phone under Rs 30,000, but it can capture serviceable photos from its main lens. 

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is another key highlight, as the company has bumped up the capacity to 6580 mAh. This, coupled with the efficiency of Dimensity 7400 Ultra and the HyperOS software, delivers stunning results. During my Redmi Note 15 Pro review period, I got almost 8 hours of screen time on average. Even with heavy use on some days, I had 30% left before hitting the bed. 

The provided 45W charger can top up the phone from 0–100% in about 1.5 hours. I wish they provided a faster 100W adapter like the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. But, I am quite satisfied with its battery life, and can easily call it one of the best battery mobile phones. 

Redmi Note 15 Pro Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The Redmi Note 15 Pro is surely a divisive smartphone for its price. On one hand, it offers an amazing display that holds nothing back in terms of picture quality. It has a durable build, that can withstand several water drops, and a long battery life to last you a couple of days. However, its performance, cameras, and software experience hold it back. 

At Rs 29,999, you can get the Redmi Note 15 Pro if you want a solid multimedia-oriented phone for watching movies, YouTube videos, scrolling Instagram, or more. But if you are looking for anything past that, then I would recommend you consider other options like the POCO X7 Pro, OnePlus Nord CE5, or the Nothing Phone (3a).