Nothing short of nightmarish: Xiaomi's Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G has some of the worst software Ive ever used but its display, cameras, and battery life are undeniably impressive

Date:
Thu, 21 May 2026 11:31:56 +0000

Description:
Stir together a decent display, bountiful battery life, commendable cameras, and shockingly bad software, and youll get the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro should you buy it?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G: two-minute review The Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is a budget to mid-range phone that offers a very impressive set of specs. A 200MP main camera, a huge 6,580mAh battery, a 6.83-inch AMOLED display, and a lightweight feel all sound great especially when you consider the devices modest starting price of 349 / AU$699 (about $470).

And luckily, the Note 15 Pro offers more than a nice-looking specs sheet. Its a very capable phone, which impressed me in a number of ways. But its not without its flaws. First of all, it has a great display for the price. Its 2772 x 1280 resolution, punchy colors, and support for formats like HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision is a real treat, and even though it doesnt supply the
highest peak brightness compared to the best phones out there, its perfectly capable of working in bright outdoor environments. Latest Videos From

Similarly, the performance of this device is really solid. The MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra provided a smooth experience whether I was scrolling the net, gaming, or streaming video content, and delays were very rare during my time with the phone. I could also continue to enjoy whatever I was doing without needing to constantly check the remaining battery life. The high-capacity battery paired with admirable 45W wired charging keeps the device going all day long.

There are even more positives to note, especially in terms of the phones cameras. Sure, the lack of a telephoto lens means that youre not getting the most effective zoom around, and the main camera is barely going to produce flagship quality. But in this price bracket, it gives very good results. I
was impressed with the main cameras attention to detail, its ability to naturally replicate rich colors, and the selfie camera was talented at
picking up finer intricacies like hair strands and facial details too.

But there are some drawbacks worth noting. The main thing is the phones software, which, frankly, is pretty bad. Where to begin? Built-in apps are flooded with ads, the device is overflowing with bloatware, and the OS is insistent on spamming you with worthless notifications about apps you never asked for. You do get four years of OS updates and six years of security patches, which is commendable, but everything else about the software experience is poor.

Im also not a big lover of the Note 15 Pros design. Its central camera module is bulky and slightly unsightly, its unappealing color options arent amazing, and it also looks a little bit cheap to boot. The IP68 dust and waterproof rating is very nice to see though, and buttons are well placed. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

All in all, then, the Redmi Note 15 Pro leaves me feeling pretty conflicted. Despite its impressive display and performance, the poor software and
middling design mean that its not quite a top-tier option. My top recommendation in this price-range would be the Nothing Phone (4a) , but you can read more about my favored alternatives in the Also consider section. Today's best Nothing Phone (4a) and Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G deals Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G 349 279 View See all prices Nothing Phone (4a) 349 View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: price and availability 8GB + 256GB for 349 / AU$699 (about $470) 12GB + 512GB is 399 (about $540) Not sold directly in the US, but could conceivably be imported The Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G launched in January 2026, just over a year after the global launch of its predecessor.

Its available with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space for 349 in the UK
and AU$699 in Australia. However, some markets, including the UK, can instead choose a model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which comes in at 399 (about $540 / AU$740). That represents a price increase over the previous model, which was available from 299 (about $400 / AU$560).

Although this phone isnt directly sold in the United States, it could conceivably be imported, and I did spot a few online listings when producing this review. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions

6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches / 163.6 x 78.1 x 8mm

Weight

7.41 oz / 210g

Screen

6.83-inch AMOLED

Resolution

2772 x 1280

Refresh rate

120Hz

Chipset

MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra

RAM

8GB / 12GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB

OS

Xiaomi HyperOS 2 (Android 15) at launch

Rear cameras

200MP f/1.7 wide; 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide

Front camera

20MP f/2.2

Battery

6,580mAh

Charging

45W wired, no wireless charging (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: design Well built, but central camera module not my favorite Three color options and theyre not the prettiest IP68 dust and waterproof rating To be honest, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G isnt exactly the prettiest
phone Ive seen. It's fairly slim, and the screen is well-sized, but the central camera module on the reverse side lacks style it almost reminds me
of my kitchen stove at home. The metallic finish also has a slightly cheap look to it I usually prefer budget phones to have more of a glossy, understated finish.

Of course, my dislike of the design is subjective, and some may appreciate aspects like the central camera module. But something else I personally wasnt a huge fan of was the phones color options. Theres a basic Black, but also
the Glacier Blue I reviewed here and a slightly murky looking Titanium alternative. All in all, I much prefer the design of Samsung s recent budget releases, or rivals like the Nothing Phone (4a) .

Still, there are some positives worth noting, such as the Note 15 Pros excellent IP68 rating. This means that the device is fully dustproof, and can survive being dunked under a meter and a half of water for as long as 30 minutes. As a result, youll never have to worry about a spot of rain or accidentally dropping it in the sink its a durable lil thing.

Otherwise, the basics are done well. All of the buttons are well-made and responsive, and positioning them all on the same side means youre less likely to press something accidentally while gaming or viewing a movie. Design
score: 3/5 (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: display 6.83-inch AMOLED display 120Hz refresh rate Respectable 3,200 nits peak brightness Although I wasnt bowled over by the Note 15 Pros design, its display actually exceeded my expectations.

You get a 6.83-inch AMOLED display, which is plenty large enough to enjoy all sorts of content on the go be that movies, mobile games, or social media video.

The 2772 x 1280 resolution also means that youll be able to view HD content, and when watching videos on YouTube and streaming apps like Netflix, I was highly satisfied with the quality. Colors are punchy and vivid, faces and buildings maintain plenty of detail, and support for both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision only enhances the sharpness of movies and shows.

This model has a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, which is a slight bump over its predecessor. Although this figure isnt quite class-leading, youre still getting enough brightness to enjoy online articles or games in outdoor environments, even on brighter days.

Like a lot of modern handsets, the display has a 120Hz refresh rate, which means that keen mobile gamers will be able to play select titles at 120fps. More generally, things like scrolling on the web or social media feel silky smooth too.

Sure, youre not going to get the phenomenal sharpness that top-class phones like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra , but for the price, I have very few complaints about this models display. Display score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: software Runs Xiaomi HyperOS 2 (based on Android 15) out of the box Four years of OS updates, six years of security patches Horrific bloatware and spam-like notifications Out of the box, the Note 15 Pro runs Xiaomi HyperOS 2, which is based on Android 15. However, the phone will get four years of OS updates, alongside six years of security patches. For a budget device, that is very solid indeed, and gives the handset a respectable level of longevity.

However, thats just about the only positive I have to say on the software
side of things, as the Note 15 Pro provided one of the least user-friendly experiences Ive had with a phone. A lot of the frustrations are the same ones we had with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G which we rated very poorly in the software department.

The devices UI is laid out simply enough, and any Android users will have no issue with navigation Im sure. But there are some pretty frustrating quirks thrown in the mix. First of all, when swiping up, I was met with a bunch of tabloid and AI-generated articles and ads. This command is all too easy to accidentally trigger, and I cant see why anyone would want to read 90% of the content pushed here.

In addition, many of the systems baked-in apps are loaded with ads. I tried using the Mi Browser, and was instantly hit with an ad for Temu. I was subsequently bombarded with similar pop-ups on other apps, including the File Manager. This isnt something youll have to deal with from a lot of budget competitors first-party applications, and it put me off using any of them.

We also have to mention the bloatware on this phone, which is nothing short
of nightmarish. As soon as I set the Note 15 Pro up, I could see a ton of
apps I never asked for, including the aforementioned (and dreaded) Temu, low-quality mobile games, AliExpress, and some kind of AI chatbot .

I can understand pre-downloading some first-party software and perhaps a few Google tools and the like, but theres far too much bloat installed from the get-go, and youll likely have to take a decent chunk out of your day uninstalling it.

Pair this with frequent and unwanted notifications from GetApps, which surfaces constant reminders about software like Temu and Amazon Music which are already loaded in by default and the Note 15 Pros software score isnt looking too pretty. Software score: 2/5 (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: cameras 200MP main camera performs pretty well Neat 20MP selfie camera is also decent No telephoto lens, so zoom has its limitations I was actually quite impressed with the quality of the Note 15 Pros main 200MP camera, which captured photos with admirable levels of detail and surprisingly true-to-life color.

Some budget phones use AI processing that creates artificial looking images with unnatural looking details and oversaturated colors, but this model takes a more simple approach. When snapping a picture of a local church shrouded in trees, I was satisfied with the rich greens of trees and foliage, as well as the deep blue sky.

Of course, youre not going to get the true-to-life colors and exceptional attention to detail that premium phones like the iPhone 17 Pro Max or Google Pixel 10 Plus can provide, but for a handset in the budget-to-mid-range bracket, the results are very decent.

The main camera is definitely best-suited to well lit conditions, and some low-light images could look a little obscured, but at night time, my environment would be brightened accordingly, and elements like streetlights didnt exhibit exaggerated blooming or similar.

As you may expect, there are some limitations to the camera capabilities on-board, though. The main thing is that theres no telephoto lens, so the effectiveness of zoom can vary. In 2x or even 4x mode, pictures still emerged with commendable clarity. When snapping a swan in the distance, details on
its head and wings were easy to make out with 4x zoom, which cant be said of all budget phones. However, when straying beyond that mark, photos could
often look grainy and unrefined something worth bearing in mind if youre a photo enthusiast.

Theres also a 20MP front camera, which is neat for social media use or grabbing a quick selfie on the go. I found it captured intricacies like individual hair strands and lines on my face with relative ease, and it will certainly be up to the task of delivering clear video calls.

Finally, the Note 15 Pros video capabilities remain in-line with the bulk of the competition. You get 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps, and during testing I found captured content to be smooth, stable, and to look clean. Camera score: 4/5 Image 1 of 4 A church hidden among trees, taken in natural light outdoors (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) A street in Bath, UK, taken in natural light outdoors (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) A swan captured using 4x zoom (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) A pigeon figure captured in
low-lit conditions inside (Image credit: Future / Harry Padoan) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: performance Relatively smooth user experience 8GB or 12GB versions available LDAC, aptX, and Dolby Atmos support As a phone in the budget to mid-range zone, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G performs about as well as youd expect.

Its MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra processor supplies a relatively smooth user experience, and I experienced no delays when scrolling social media, web pages, or playing more basic mobile games even with multiple applications open at once.

When playing more demanding games like Genshin Impact , I spotted the occasional frame drop, but again, the game still ran plenty well enough, and the phones Turbo mode kept things stable, even during busier segments. I was using the version of the Redmi Note 15 Pro with 12GB of RAM, so your experiences may differ slightly on the 8GB alternative, but that should
handle day-to-day use, video streaming, and general productivity tools
without a hitch.

The phones stereo speakers arent the highest quality ever I experienced the odd bit of tinny audio, especially when listening at higher volumes, but they sounded pretty solid for the price you pay.

This phone also supports higher-resolution Bluetooth codecs like LDAC and
aptX Adaptive, so youll be able to get the most out of your wireless headphones or earbuds that support such standards. Theres also Dolby Atmos support if youre watching movies or listening to music in that format. Performance score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: battery life 6,580mAh capacity battery 45W wired charging No wireless charging Like many budget devices, the Note 15 Pro prides itself on battery life and youre getting a big upgrade over its predecessor's 5,110mAh
capacity battery.

This model has a 6,580mAh battery, and I found it lasted plenty long enough during everyday use. Even if you dip into more intensive apps for video calls or mobile games, you should be able to make it through the day without having to juice up your device, which is great to see.

When you do need to charge your phone, though, youll be able to do so relatively quickly. The Note 15 Pro supports 45W turbo charging, so you wont have to wait around for hours on end to hit 100%. Its not the fastest about, and some rivals, like the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, offer 68W wired charging. But its definitely rapid enough.

Unfortunately, though, theres no support for wireless charging, and as
someone who uses this daily on my Samsung phone, this was a little disappointing. Its quite common for cheaper and mid-range handsets to skip on this feature, but it wouldve been a very nice addition. Battery life score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G?
Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Not the prettiest, and color options arent amazing, but well-built and IP68 rated.

3/5

Display

Impressive display with punchy colors and commendable detail not quite as bright as some competitors.

4/5

Software

Solid software and security updates, but bloat, ads, and annoying notifications ruin the user experience.

2/5

Cameras

Very solid main camera, neat selfie camera too but lack of telephoto lens means zoom is restricted.

4/5

Performance

Stable performance, speakers are decent but not the highest quality, although strong codec support is on-board.

4/5

Battery life

Much larger battery with solid 45W wired charging, but no wireless charging.

4/5 Buy it if You want a budget phone that doesnt sacrifice on performance Considering its modest price, the Note 15 Pro is a very steady performer. I experienced very little in the way of delays, even when keeping multiple tabs open while gaming, streaming video, and scrolling through social media. Youre looking for a phone with great battery life The Note 15 Pros
6,580mAh-capacity battery means that it can easily last for an entire day without needing to be charged. Its speedy 45W charging also means that you
can revive it in no time as well. Dont buy it if You want a bloat-free OS The Note 15 Pros biggest flaw is its software. The phone is loaded with
bloatware, ads, pop-ups, and annoyances that get in the way of a smooth user experience. If you want a more straightforward, streamlined alternative, Id recommend the two devices listed in the Also consider section. You need wireless charging Like a lot but not all of budget and mid-range devices, the Note 15 Pro skips on wireless charging. If youre using that regularly at your work station or on the go, then that omission could be frustrating. Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review: also consider Swipe to scroll
horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G

Nothing Phone (4a)

Google Pixel 10a

Price

From 349 / AU$699 (about $470)

From 349 / AU$649 (about $470)

From $499 / 499 / AU$849

Dimensions

6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 inches / 163.6 x 78.1 x 8mm

6.46 x 3.06 x 0.34 inches / 164 x 77.6 x 8.6mm

6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 inches / 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm

Weight

7.41 oz / 210g

7.21 oz / 204.5g

6.56 oz / 185.9g

Cameras

200MP main; 8MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope

48MP main; 13MP ultrawide

Battery

6,580mAh

5,080mAh

5,100mAh Nothing Phone (4a) I tested the Nothing Phone (4a) earlier this
year, and had a fantastic time with it. The simple, relatively bloat-free software is a far cry from this messy Xiaomi alternative, and the design is absolutely gorgeous. There are some drawbacks, including underwhelming camera quality and a smaller battery than the Note 15 Pro, but its a considerably better device overall. Read our full Nothing Phone (4a) review Google Pixel 10a Were big fans of the Google Pixel 10a here at TechRadar. It hits the
right notes in crucial areas, with an eye-catching design, excellent display, and impressive cameras. It offered a limited upgrade over its predecessor,
and its a little pricier than the Redmi Note 15 but again, Id much sooner recommend Googles budget device. Read our full Google Pixel 10a review How I tested the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G Tested intensively across multiple
days Used for gaming, working, and general productivity Made full use of various features and camera settings I spent a number of days testing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G, during which time I used just about every
feature it had to offer, took a whole lot of photos, and tried out a bit of mobile gaming.

In addition, I made sure to compare the phone against the similarly priced Nothing Phone (4a) on aspects such as camera quality, display, and general performance.

During photography, I made sure to snap a range of objects and environments
in a wide array of conditions, including natural, artificial, and low-light settings. Most photos were taken using the main camera in 16:9 at the highest quality, but I also made use of the selfie camera and tried out the cameras zoom capabilities.

More generally, Ive tested a ton of phones here at TechRadar, including budget-friendly models like the Motorola Moto G06 Power and pricier alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE . Read more about how we test First reviewed: May 2026 Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G: Price Comparison 349
279 View 285 View 399 329 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/xiaomi-redmi-note-15-pro-5g-review


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)