Redmi Note 15 Brings Reliable Performance With Design Niceties

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 11:12 IST

Redmi Note 15 is one of the new phones that have launched in 2026 so far but can Xiaomi re-do its popular lineup in the market?

Redmi Note 15 has launched in India earlier this month

Xiaomi is starting the new year with its popular Redmi Note lineup in the Indian market and the 2026 edition is called Redmi Note 15. We are seeing the regular model launch first this year with a slew of improvements in focus. The design of the Redmi Note series has evolved in recent years as the company looked to justify the steep hike in the prices owing to market trends. 

Now, it is looking to continue on that trajectory with the Redmi Note 15 as the industry looks to grapple under the cost pressure forced by memory chip shortage. The Redmi Note 15 starting at Rs 22,000 gets a sleeker design, and change in the hardware among others. But does it revert back to its usual reliable self and get lost amidst a sea of options. We tried to find out over the last few weeks and here’s the answer. 

Sleek And Premium Looking 

The new Redmi Note 15 is a lot thinner (7.35mm compared to 8mm on the Redmi Note 14) and even lighter at 178 grams (190 grams on the RN 14). The overall build quality is made of plastic, including the frame but the finishing and the grip of the phone gives it a premium touch thanks to the curved nature of the front panel.

These designs have worked for years and now we are seeing them made available for a lower price segment, and Redmi Note 15 is one of them. Xiaomi has even added IP66 rating with the new model along with MIL-STD durability which wasn’t there on its predecessor. 

Crisp And Punchy Display 

The 6.77-inch AMOLED display is more or less the same on the Redmi Note 15 but you notice the definite colour saturation level and crispness thanks to the better panel. It still comes with a 120Hz refresh rate which adapts but not like an LTPO panel. The overall display is curved which gives it the differentiating factor. 

The screen protection loses the Gorilla Glass 5 layer instead you get scratch resistant glass. The visibility level of the screen in daylight conditions is quite good and you won’t face issues using it under sunlight. The panel is also decent for multimedia consumption. 

Reliable Performer? 

Redmi Note 15 switches to a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This is more or less a sideways upgrade from the 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra SoC but a definite improvement when you really use the phone.

The benchmark scores also clearly tell you that regular and daily tasks will be handled with ease but don’t go expecting high-level gaming performance. At best, it can support the popular titles in the lower graphics settings. Having said that, the fluidity of the device makes the experience much better this year. 

The HyperOS Chain 

Xiaomi says Redmi Note 15 will get 4 OS upgrades but it starts the device with the Android 15-based HyperOS 2 version. You also are being promised 6 years of security patches which is good. The brand needs to fulfill these terms and improve the rollout speed which has been lagging far behind in the market for a while.

The software is pretty basic and just an evolutionary version of MIUI with some heavy animation touches gone. It does not feel very jarring or clunky and that helps you with a smooth overall experience. 

The Main Camera Focus 

The main 108MP rear sensor on the Redmi Note 15 is mostly the one to look at. It does well when the light is good and captures ample details and even the colours look fairly balanced. There is a slight change to the sensor output which helps with better quality images but there is still some work left which can be improved on with a few more updates to the camera.

The low light shots are not very pleasing and look mostly basic with some level of noise creeping through. The main challenge lies with the sensor unable to handle the glare in the visual in the right manner which can be tweaked in the software. The ultrawide lens also performs well in daylight but the details are not clear all the time. 

The Workday Horse 

Xiaomi isn’t joining the battery race (yet) with the Redmi Note 15 but you do have a 5,520mAh unit which scored 20 hours+ on the PCMark Battery tests. This means the phone can easily run for a whole day on nominal use with 5G, Wi-Fi, music, video streaming and web surfing involved.

Gaming is not exactly the best way to gauge its endurance but the drain is faster than you would like. The 45W charging support isn’t lightning fast but reliably quick for most users. 

Redmi Note 15 shows the old charm is still there but the price factor is no longer in their hands (or anyone). The phone has a sleek design, the display is sharp and bright, the main camera just works and the battery life is reliable. The performance is not segment-leading and the software cycle needs a better push this year. Another solid Redmi Note offering but buyers have more options.

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