For those following the smartphone industry， it’s noticeable that since Redmi separated the Turbo series from the Note line， the two product lines have diverged significantly. While both are positioned in the budget segment， the Turbo models focus on performance， whereas the Note series emphasizes durability and resilience. The newly released Redmi Note 15 series， launched tonight， further amplifies this commitment to “durability.”
Before the official announcement， Redmi generated buzz by collaborating with renowned survivalist “De Ye” (the German adventurer known for “De Ye’s Wilderness Survival”) to deliver a package using the Note 15， demonstrating its robust build quality.
However， beyond the marketing stunts， pricing remains a key concern for consumers. The Redmi Note 15 starts at 999 yuan (6GB+128GB)， the Note 15 Pro at 1499 yuan (8GB+256GB)， and the Note 15 Pro+ at 1999 yuan (12GB+256GB). Both the Pro and Pro+ models offer a 100 yuan discount during their initial sales period， keeping prices consistent with the previous generation.
Having received the Note 15 Pro+ for an extended period to test， I found it to be quite an interesting device. To summarize， compared to its predecessor， the Note 15 Pro+ sees upgrades in drop resistance， water resistance， display quality， and signal strength. Moreover， its peripheral specifications are competitive within the budget segment of offline mobile devices.
Let’s start with the design. Perhaps due to the criticism of the dual-curved display on the Note 14 Pro+， the Note 15 Pro+ now features an “equal-depth quad-micro-curve” design. This not only enhances visual appeal but also makes applying screen protectors significantly easier.
The display itself is not merely for aesthetics. According to Wang Teng during the launch event， the Note 15 Pro+ utilizes flagship-grade luminescent materials， placing its picture quality and eye-protection features at the forefront of its class. The adoption of the equal-depth quad-micro-curve design， a feature trickling down from flagship models， further improves the front display’s aesthetics and eases the process of applying screen protectors compared to the previous dual-curved panels.
Turning the phone over to the back， the camera module has received minor enhancements from the previous generation. Notably， the transition areas have been smoothed into a “volcanic crater” design， which at first glance， is reminiscent of the design language found in Honor’s Magic series.
Moving beyond the exterior， let’s delve into the performance of the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. In recent years， Qualcomm’s processor naming conventions have become somewhat obscure， making it difficult to immediately ascertain performance levels. To provide a clearer picture， we ran a benchmark test. As shown， the Note 15 Pro+ achieved an approximately 12% increase in benchmark scores compared to the Note 14 Pro+ which used the Snapdragon 7s Gen 1， indicating a moderate improvement.
While these scores may not be sufficient for demanding games like Genshin Impact， they are more than adequate for casual gaming titles such as Honor of Kings. Our testing with Perfdog revealed that in Honor of Kings， running at the highest graphics settings and ultra-high frame rate for 30 minutes， the frame rate remained consistently around 90 FPS (the current maximum supported by the device)， with minimal fluctuations. The peak temperature of the device during this period was a manageable 42.3 degrees Celsius.
In terms of battery， the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is equipped with a substantial 7000mAh battery. Our 3-hour battery drain test showed a remaining charge of 78%. While this is a respectable performance， it is considered mid-to-high tier given the increasing battery capacities across the industry.
Redmi has introduced some novel features concerning battery performance， particularly at low temperatures and in terms of longevity. Specifically， optimizations have been made to improve discharge capabilities in cold conditions and extend battery lifespan. Regarding battery lifespan， advancements in battery technology， such as the increased silicon content， have led to larger capacities， but also to a faster degradation of battery life. To address this， Redmi has optimized the battery for the Note 15 series. According to Redmi， after 1600 charge cycles， the battery capacity is expected to remain above 80%， theoretically allowing for over five years of use.
In terms of charging， the Note 15 Pro+ continues to feature the familiar 90W fast charging. However， Redmi has integrated the highly praised 22.5W wired reverse charging， previously seen on the Turbo 4 Pro. This feature is particularly useful for emergency top-ups of accessories like wireless earbuds.
With the groundwork laid， let’s focus on the key upgrades for the Redmi Note 15 Pro+: enhanced drop resistance and water resistance. The Note 15 Pro+ now features Dragon Crystal Glass and a fiberglass back cover. Redmi claims this combination results in a tenfold increase in drop resistance compared to the previous generation. We’ll have to wait for a hands-on demonstration to truly verify this claim.
Further enhancing its ruggedness， the Note 15 Pro+ boasts an impressive IP66+IP68+IP69+IP69K water and dust resistance rating. This essentially represents the highest echelon of protection against ingress， making it more than capable of handling everyday scenarios involving water exposure. The table below provides a comparison of what each IP rating signifies for water resistance.
Peripheral features such as infrared remote control， X-axis linear motor， and NFC are now standard offerings from Redmi， consistently included by default.
The audio experience has also seen upgrades. The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ features symmetrical stereo dual speakers (1115 specification) with a maximum volume support of up to 400%. In our testing， playing music at maximum volume， a decibel meter placed approximately 5 centimeters from the speaker registered a peak of 96.2dB. For context， typical home audio systems usually reach around 100dB at their maximum output.
Beyond these notable features， the Note 15 Pro+ incorporates the latest Surge T1S signal chip and offers kilometer-level off-network communication capabilities.
An interesting point is that while the Note 15 Pro+ retains the under-display optical fingerprint sensor， it now includes a low-light fingerprint unlocking feature. For users who frequently use their phones in bed at night， the glare from the screen during fingerprint unlocking can be bothersome. This new feature addresses that issue， much to the delight of night owls. (However， it is always recommended to use lighting when using your phone to protect your eyes).
Finally， let’s briefly touch upon the imaging capabilities. For budget smartphones in this price range， camera performance is typically focused on basic functions like scanning QR codes and capturing everyday moments. The image hardware on the Note 15 Pro+ remains largely unchanged from its predecessor， still featuring the OmniVision OV50E (codenamed Light Hunter 800) main sensor， a 2.5x telephoto lens， and a rather utilitarian 8MP ultrawide lens. The sample photos below should provide a good indication of its performance without further elaboration.
Overall， the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ represents a standard iterative upgrade. For budget-conscious consumers focused on raw performance， its improvements are modest， it still features a plastic frame， and its camera capabilities are basic. From this perspective， it might not immediately impress those seeking cutting-edge features at a low price point.
However， for its intended audience—elderly users， students， and outdoor workers—the emphasis on drop resistance， water resistance， long battery life， and stable signal connectivity directly addresses their primary usage needs. The upgrades made to the Note 15 Pro+ are precisely what this demographic values.
This strategic shift indicates that Redmi is evolving beyond simply chasing extreme cost-effectiveness. By prioritizing user needs and focusing on practical durability， Redmi may not appeal to the same hardcore enthusiast base as before， but it is likely to forge a more sustainable and long-term path forward.
