Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G Review: Built For Physical Longevity

Every January, Xiaomi kicks off the tech calendar with the global debut of its latest Redmi Note lineup.

This year is no exception, as the new Redmi Note 15 series arrives to entice value-conscious buyers in the mid-range market. The series leans heavily into its ‘Titan Tough’ philosophy, pairing a reinforced build with upgraded battery life.

Having spent two full weeks with the series’ flagship model, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G, I’ve had the chance to see firsthand whether Xiaomi’s shift away from the ‘spec-sheet racing’ of previous years toward a more practical, durability-first approach truly pays off in daily use.

Design and build

As previously mentioned, the ‘Titan’ structure serves as the flagship feature of this year’s Redmi Note. For the most part, this branding is more than just marketing fluff; it encompasses a comprehensive overhaul of the phone’s structural integrity.

At the heart of this overhaul is a redesigned aluminum-alloy internal structure, engineered to act as a shock-absorbing skeleton for the device. Together with the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, this combination is what allows the phone to reportedly survive controlled drops from 2.5 meters onto granite surfaces, a feat that has earned the device the SGS Five-Star Gold Label for drop resistance.

While this hardware synergy isn't immediately obvious when you take the phone out of the box, it is an insurance policy of sorts you’ll appreciate the first time the phone slips from your hand. Finally, you have a mid-range device that can actually survive the occasional drop onto the pavement without ending in a shattered display.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G can also withstand high-pressure hot water jets and total submersion, with a quad-certification of IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K. Essentially, this is a device built to survive everything from a rain shower to an accidental encounter with a pressure washer.

Despite this impressive ‘weather-proofing’, however, it is always wise to stay on the safe side. Chemical exposure from pool chlorine or saltwater can still degrade the gaskets over time, so you’ll still want to avoid using it as a dedicated underwater camera.

The Mocha Brown variant of the phone features a nice vegan leather finish that greatly elevates the aesthetic. I appreciate the premium look it lends to the device and the secure, grippy texture it provides in the hand, though I do harbour some long-term reservations. Vegan leather can be prone to cracking and peeling after extended use, and it remains to be seen if Xiaomi’s specific implementation can withstand the natural oils and friction of daily wear over a multi-year lifecycle.

Display

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G features a 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with a 1.5K resolution (2772 x 1280 pixels). Personally, I find the display impressive, as it delivers crisp images characterized by vibrant colors and punchy highlights. It also can get plenty bright at up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness, giving the panel good headroom for HDR content and outdoor legibility.

My favourite display feature, however, is Wet Touch 2.0. This technology allows the panel to distinguish between a water droplet and an actual finger press. I put this to the test by using the phone while both the device and my hands were wet from washing; remarkably, I could still type out messages and navigate the interface without the ‘ghost touches’ or unresponsiveness that typically plague wet displays.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, which is a fairly capable chipset. While it won’t break any records in benchmark tests, you can expect a relatively efficient experience out of it—one that prioritises battery longevity.

In daily use, the 7s Gen 4 feels snappy. Opening apps, switching between multiple tabs, and scrolling are all responsive—a performance likely bolstered by the 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM. I rarely encountered crashes or slowdowns, even with more than ten tabs and apps running in the background.

Meanwhile, in gaming scenarios, the chipset holds its own remarkably well—provided you keep in mind that this isn't a flagship-tier processor. In my tests, Mobile Legends ran smoothly at up to 90 frames per second on its highest settings, while more demanding titles like Genshin Impact can maintain a stable 40–50 frames per second, granted you dial the graphics settings down a bit.

One thing I noticed while gaming was that the device never reached "burning" levels of heat. This is thanks to the new IceLoop cooling system, a solution Xiaomi claims is three times more efficient than standard vapour chambers. In practice, this means that even after extended gaming sessions, internal temperatures remain significantly lower than on other similarly specced phones, helping to preserve both your frame rates and your battery health.

Camera System

At first glance, you might think the device has quad-setup, but it only actually has two lenses. The other two circular cutouts in the camera island are occupied by the LED flags and the laser autofocus sensor.

The main attraction is the 200MP HPE lens And since the global model doesn’t have a dedicated telephoto lens, Xiaomi uses in-sensor crop technology to provide what they call ‘optical-level’ zoom.

In terms of performance, the main lens delivers stunning photos with sharp detail and excellent colour reproduction in broad daylight. This image quality remains consistent across both 1x and 2x zoom levels. At 4x zoom, however, the AI engine’s processing becomes more apparent through a slight loss of fine texture, particularly in intricate materials like fabric. In nighttime shots, the lens is largely satisfactory. It uses pixel-binning technology to produce relatively clean images, though highlights can sometimes appear blown out.

As for the 8MP ultra-wide lens, performance is about par for the course. Expectedly, it cannot keep pace with the 200MP main sensor, even with its improved colour science. While it is great for capturing landscapes in bright light or under direct sun, it struggles to match its counterpart’s performance in more challenging shooting scenarios.

On the video front, the rear camera supports up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. The lack of a 4K/60fps option is a notable omission for a ‘Pro+’ device in 2026, and I believe this could be a dealbreaker for creators who plan to use the device for vlogs and video content.

Battery and Charging

The battery life of the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is another major highlight, alongside its focus on durability. Featuring a massive 6,500mAh cell, you can easily get up to two days of usage out of this device. In my tests, I was able to consistently finish days with more than 30% remaining, even with heavy browsing, social media use, and a fair bit of gaming.

When you do need to charge, you can do so quickly, as the device supports 100W HyperCharge. A full charge from 0% usually takes between 40 to 45 minutes when using Boost Mode, which is impressive, considering the size of the battery.

Software and Connectivity

Out of the box, the device runs HyperOS 2.0 (based on Android 15). If you’ve used a Xiaomi phone in the last year or so, the layout will feel familiar. What I like most about the software is how it integrates Google’s Gemini and Xiaomi’s own HyperAI features directly into the system, providing you access to useful features like Speech Recognition and Circle to Search.

But overall, I think HyperOS remains an acquired taste. While the interface is clean and functional, it feels slightly less refined as other Android skins. Furthermore, the global version of the device, - the one I used for my review - comes with a fair amount of pre-installed apps and games. You can of course easily uninstall them, but they remain a lingering reminder of Redmi’s roots in the budget segment. The software also serves ads often enough to become quite annoying.

Ultimately, I think the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is a device built for those after reliability and physical longevity over raw performance power. With its ‘Titan Tough’ durability and massive 6,500mAh battery, it is one of the better options for those who spend their days on the move and need a phone that can survive the occasional accidental drop.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is available in Singapore with an official retail price starting from S$549.