#tdi_2 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/sample-IMG_20260115_100742-80×60.jpg) 0 0 no repeat; } #tdi_2 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url(https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/sample-IMG_20260115_102421-80×60.jpg) 0 0 no repeat; } #tdi_2 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { background:url(https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/sample-IMG_20260115_110436-80×60.jpg) 0 0 no repeat; } #tdi_2 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 { background: url(https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/sample-IMG_20260115_114151-80×60.jpg) 0 0 no repeat; }
XIAOMI CORP. Xiaomi launched its latest mid-range smartphones, the REDMI Note 15 series, in the Philippines last week, consisting of five devices with a Pro and base model and both 4G and 5G versions, offering a variety of options to meet different budgets and needs.
The brand provided BusinessWorld with a unit of the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB), one of the three Pro models in the series, for this review. The suggested retail price of the device starts at P19,999. Discounts and freebies are available to customers until February 8th.
Apart from the phone and the usual documentation, the box includes 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 supplied charger and cable, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G's 6,580mAh silicon-carbon battery took a little over an hour to get from 20% to 100%.
For me the battery is one of the best features of this phone. For a three-day media trip to Cebu with Xiaomi for the launch of the Redmi Note 15 series, I only needed to recharge the phone once – and that was for heavy use of its cameras during a city tour as well as general social media browsing. With normal use, I'd say you can get one to two days out of a single full charge.
A bonus: The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G also supports wired reverse charging at up to 22.5W via USB-C. Xiaomi also says that this battery is designed with technology that can last for six years.
Another feature that shines is the screen. The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G features a 6.83-inch 1.5K CrystalRes AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz that supports up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness. This made it much easier to use the phone during the day, especially in direct sunlight – no need to shield the screen just to see what's on it. Visuals are also clear and crisp, and color rendition is vivid. The screen is also very responsive, and its flat design is a plus for me.
When watching videos or listening to music, the audio quality from the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G's dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support is superb, providing an immersive experience. Even when using 400% volume boost, there is only minimal distortion.
The overall design and form factor of the phone also offers a good user experience. The flat side edges with rounded corners make it easy to hold for long periods of time, even for a relatively large phone, as the device is thin and light. It also looks premium.
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra chipset, the phone delivers a good performance for normal use cases like social media browsing, watching videos 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 also offers a number of AI features including image editing tools. It comes with some preloaded apps and bloatware, but these are easy to uninstall if you find them unnecessary.
The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G features a dual-camera setup on the rear consisting of a new 200-megapixel (MP) Ultimate-Clarity main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens with optical image stabilization. Even without the telephoto lens, the phone captures clear photos with great details and colours. It performs very well when used outside during the day. During nighttime or challenging lit indoor conditions, as well as when using Ultra HD mode, image processing may be slightly slower than normal.
There are also several shooting modes that can meet the needs of both casual and more advanced users. I particularly liked tinkering with the Pro mode (which allows you to use or save parameter presets), especially for night shots.
Now for one of the main selling points of the REDMI Note 15 series – its titanic durability – the phone has an IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance rating, 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 simple drop and water tests, and not surprisingly the review unit survived these. A drop test on a hard tiled floor resulted in small dents in the phone's rear camera panel, but had no impact on its performance.
Of course, only time will tell how much this phone can be beaten (intentionally and accidentally), but its “Titan Tough” build could give users peace of mind – especially at a time when smartphones are about to get more expensive due to increased memory chip costs due to increasing demand for AI. Customers also get four years of battery replacement warranty, two years of liquid damage coverage and front and back cover replacement, and two years of overall warranty.
With its durability and long battery life, the REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G is a very capable daily driver for those who want a smartphone that can deliver great performance at a competitive price. — Bettina V. Rock