Redmi 15 5G review

If you thought the era of phablets was over, think again. The Redmi 15 5G is here to remind you that sometimes, size really does matter. With a massive 6.9-inch display, this phone feels less like a typical smartphone and more like a compact tablet.

It’s unapologetically large; the kind of device that will make you rethink your jeans pocket and maybe even your wrist endurance. It instantly brings to mind the 2010s when screen size was a status symbol, and phones were edging closer to tablet territory. So, let’s see how it fares in our detailed Redmi 15 5G review.

Redmi 15 5G: Build and design

For a phone priced under Rs 15,000, the Redmi 15 looks surprisingly refined. The Frosted White variant we tested has a marble-like back texture that plays beautifully with light, while the metal camera frame adds a subtle premium touch. It’s also available in Midnight Black and Sandy Purple, both with matte finishes that resist fingerprints.

Despite its size, Redmi has done well to ensure the phone doesn’t feel cheap. It’s solidly built, and at 7,000mAh of battery capacity, it’s surprisingly well-balanced in hand. The IP64 rating gives it a layer of protection against dust and splashes, though competitors like the Realme 14x one-up it with IP69 certification.

You also get the practical touches that Xiaomi users have come to expect such as an IR blaster (because who doesn’t want to control their TV with their phone?) and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that’s both quick and reliable.

Redmi 15 5G: Display

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The Redmi 15’s 6.9-inch LCD display dominates the design, and you’ll either love it or loathe it. It’s a Full HD+ panel that supports up to 144Hz refresh rate, giving it a smooth, fluid feel whether you’re scrolling through social feeds or gaming. Brightness peaks at 850 nits outdoors, which is enough for daily use, but a tad insufficient under direct sunlight.

Sure, the bezels are a bit chunky, and it doesn’t quite deliver OLED-level contrast, but this screen wasn’t made for pixel-peepers. It was made for Netflix marathons, YouTube deep dives, and the kind of all-night streams that leave your eyes half-closed but your heart full. Prop it up on a stand and the Redmi 15 transforms into a mini entertainment hub.

That experience is further enhanced by the sheer loudness of its single bottom speaker. Redmi’s “200 per cent volume” mode genuinely gets loud enough to fill a small room. But there’s a trade-off, the sound is unidirectional and can easily get muffled if you cover the bottom edge. A stereo setup would’ve made this a binge-watcher’s dream.

Redmi 15 5G: Performance and cameras

The Redmi 15 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset, a 6nm processor that’s not exactly a powerhouse but delivers steady, dependable performance. It’s a mid-tier chip that won’t blow away benchmarks (it scored around 4.63 lakh on AnTuTu compared to the Vivo T4x’s 6.85 lakh), but Xiaomi has tuned it well for daily use.

The phone handles multitasking, streaming, and light gaming with ease, though you’ll notice minor stutters if you push it with graphics-heavy titles like BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile.

The upside? Excellent thermal management. Even after half an hour of gaming, the phone barely gets warm. So, while it’s not built for hardcore gamers, it’s ideal for casual users who want consistency over raw speed.

As for software, it runs HyperOS 2 based on Android 15. You do get a bit of bloatware (66 preloaded apps, 19 of which are third-party) which is excessive, but thankfully most can be uninstalled. Xiaomi has promised two years of OS updates and four years of security patches, which is decent for the price.

You also get access to AI tools like Circle to Search and Gemini Live, which make quick queries and voice interactions feel futuristic.

As for the cameras, the September Mumbai rains didn’t exactly make field testing easy, but we still got a fair sense of what the setup offers. The Redmi 15 packs a 50MP AI dual-camera system and an 8MP front camera. From what we could test, daylight shots are decent but lack some punch and detail. Portraits, however, fare better with respectable edge detection and clarity, even if the skin tones veer slightly off.

ALSO READ: Redmi 15 5G launched with a massive display and a gargantuan battery

Selfies are quite natural-looking. Low light is where things dip, photos often come out noisy or overexposed, and while Night Mode helps, it tends to over-brighten scenes. It’s not a bad setup for casual snaps, but if photography is your priority, you’ll find better options in this segment.

Redmi 15 5G: Battery life

The Redmi 15’s 7,000mAh battery is its crown jewel. It’s the kind of number that looks impressive on paper and actually delivers in real life. On moderate use, think calls, WhatsApp, a few Reels, some YouTube, and light gaming, the phone easily lasts two full days. In the PCMark battery test, it clocked nearly 15 hours, which outpaces many phones in its price range.

Even charging doesn’t test your patience. The 33W charger included in the box fills it up from 20 to 100 per cent in about 80 minutes. Redmi also deserves points for including 18W reverse charging, so you can use the phone as a makeshift power bank for your earbuds or smartwatch.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy the Redmi 15 5G?

The Redmi 15 5G isn’t for everyone, and that’s what makes it interesting. It’s massive, unapologetic, and built around the kind of battery endurance that’ll outlast your day (and possibly your next). It won’t win any awards for speed or camera prowess, but it nails the fundamentals: display, battery life, and overall reliability.

If you watch a lot of content, want a phone that barely needs charging, and don’t mind stretching your grip a little, the Redmi 15 might just be the best phablet-style device under Rs 15,000 today. That’s why it scores a solid 3.5/5.

What are your thoughts about the Redmi 15 5G? Let us know, and stay tuned for more insightful reviews and comparisons.