Redmi 15C 5G first impressions

Do you remember the word “phablet”? We stopped using it years ago, but holding the Redmi 15C 5G brings those memories flooding back. It has been floating around the global market since September, but it’s now finally available in India and we’ve managed to get our hands on it.

The first thing to notice is that it is absolutely massive. We are talking about a 6.9-inch screen, which is noticeably larger than the 6.5-inchers we’ve gotten used to of late. Yet, despite that, it doesn’t feel like a brick in the hand. It weighs 211 grams, yet the weight distribution makes it feel surprisingly light. You probably won’t get tired holding this thing while doom-scrolling.

Redmi 15C 5G: Design and display

The unit we’re testing comes in a colourway called Moonlight Blue that is honestly stunning. It features these swirly, shiny sparkle patterns on the back. The best way to describe it is like sand at a beach, but if the sand were blue and glowing. It looks cool. As for the frame, even though the frame and back are plastic, it doesn’t feel cheap or hollow.

Redmi also included a proper headphone jack and a dedicated microSD slot, which are rare sights these days. Plus, it has an IP64 rating, so it can handle dust and a few water splashes without dying.

Here is where things get a little mixed. The IPS LCD panel is plenty bright and the colours pop nicely. It also runs at a smooth 120Hz. However, the resolution is stuck at 720×1600. On a panel this huge, we can definitely see the lack of sharpness if we look closely.

Redmi 15C 5G: Performance and battery

Under the hood, it is running a MediaTek Dimensity 6300. It handles Android 15 and HyperOS 2 well enough. Strangely, the UI feels smooth partly because a lot of the visual effects and animations are disabled. That seems like an odd choice because the chip is definitely powerful enough to handle them.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra get HyperOS 3; here’s what’s new

For a phone starting for Rs 12,999, the cameras are surprisingly decent – at least for the limited time we’ve used them for. The 50MP main sensor does a good job. What actually shocked us was the digital zoom. We zoomed in 2x and couldn’t really spot a noticeable drop in quality, at least in daylight. Usually, digital zoom is a mess at this price point, so that is a win.

Then there is the battery. It is a massive 6000 mAh cell. We spent a couple of hours watching YouTube – which is great on a screen this big, by the way – and the battery dropped less than 15%. It supports 33W wired charging, so it won’t take all day to top up.

Then there is the battery. It is a massive 6000 mAh cell. We spent a couple of hours watching YouTube – which is great on a screen this big, by the way – and the battery dropped less than 15%. It supports 33W wired charging, so it won’t take all day to top up.

Conclusion

If you want a screen noticeably larger than your hands and battery life that goes on forever, this seems like a fun budget pick. But wait up, we’ll be doing a full review of the Redmi 15C, so stay tuned while we put the phone through its paces nicely and properly.