Redmi Note 15 Pro+ Review: Rugged build, balanced performance in place of future-ready specs

The ₹35,000-₹40,000 segment is one of the trickiest to navigate in India as gadget brands strive to deliver flagship-killer performance at a reasonable price. The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ falls comfortably in this segment, starting at ₹37,999. Redmi has also launched the Redmi Note 15 and Redmi Note 15 Pro recently, priced at under ₹30,000. But it is the Pro+ that aims to push the boundaries with better durability, camera clarity and battery innovation. In this review, I explore what makes this phone a true Pro+ and how it fares against rivals like the OnePlus Nord 5, Vivo V60 and Realme 16 Pro+.

Design

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ immediately feels premium. The dual-tone finish, especially in the Mocha Brown variant paired with a faux leather back, adds sophistication. The aluminium frame enhances rigidity, and the floating volcanic camera deco balances the rear visually. It does not look like a typical mid-range device.

That said, the phone is big. Measuring 163.34mm x 78.31mm and weighing around 208g, it feels slightly heavy in hand. One-handed usage can be uncomfortable at times. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the front, and Redmi’s Titan Structure reinforces the internals for better drop resistance.

Port placement remains standard. Power and volume buttons sit on the right. The bottom houses the USB-C port, SIM tray and speaker grille. The in-screen fingerprint sensor is fast, and AI face unlock works reliably. What truly stands out is the IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K certification. Very few devices in this price range offer this level of dust and water resistance.

Display

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ features a 6.83-inch 1.5K CrystalRes AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772×1280 pixels. It supports up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 12-bit colour depth, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Peak brightness goes up to 3,200 nits. In daily use, the panel looks sharp and vibrant. Outdoor visibility is excellent, and the 3,840 Hz PWM dimming ensures comfortable viewing during long sessions.

Compared to the Vivo V60’s Full HD+ AMOLED panel, Redmi’s 1.5K resolution offers better sharpness. While the Realme 16 Pro+ boasts higher claimed brightness, Redmi strikes a balance between clarity and colour accuracy. The 480 Hz touch sampling rate with 2,560 Hz instantaneous response makes scrolling and gaming responsive. For content consumption and everyday interaction, the display stands confidently in this segment.

OS and AI

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ runs on Xiaomi HyperOS based on Android 15. The interface feels cleaner than older MIUI builds. Animations are fluid, multitasking is stable and system optimisation is evident. HyperOS integrates well with Xiaomi hardware, ensuring smooth transitions and consistent performance.

Xiaomi HyperAI adds features like AI Writing, AI Speech Recognition, AI Interpreter, AI Search and AI Dynamic Wallpapers. Google Gemini and Circle to Search are also integrated. These tools focus more on productivity than gimmicks. AI Creativity Assistant refines images without aggressively altering them.

However, this is where the Realme 16 Pro+ gains an edge. It ships with Android 16 out of the box. Android 16 introduces more granular privacy controls, improved permission management and enhanced background activity handling. From a long-term perspective, starting on Android 16 means one extra major update cycle compared to Redmi’s Android 15 base. For users who prioritise software longevity and future-proofing, this becomes a meaningful consideration.

Performance

Powering the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 built on a 4nm process. The review unit with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage handled multitasking smoothly. Compared to the regular Redmi Note 15, the Pro+ offers better sustained performance and improved cooling through Xiaomi IceLoop technology.

In benchmarks, the phone scored 1237 in Geekbench single-core and 3167 in multi-core tests. GPU score stood at 3515, while AnTuTu reached 1,057,569. These numbers reflect solid upper mid-range performance. However, both the Realme 16 Pro+ and OnePlus Nord 5 deliver higher benchmark scores. The OnePlus Nord 5 clearly leads in raw power, while Realme combines stronger numbers with Android 16’s improved memory and background optimisation.

In real-world use, the Redmi performs reliably. Apps open quickly, and background management is stable. Games like Call of Duty Mobile, Pokémon GO, Asphalt and BGMI ran smoothly at high settings. There were occasional minor frame dips and slight delays in loading heavy textures, but nothing disruptive. It is not the most powerful device in the segment, but it remains consistent for daily usage and moderate gaming.

Camera

I personally liked the camera performance of the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. It features a 200 MP main sensor with OIS and a large 1/1.4-inch sensor. The phone supports 2x and 4x in-sensor zoom for optical-level detail, backed by a 200 MP AI Engine for clarity across lighting conditions.

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Daylight shots come out detailed and sharp. Colours appear natural, and the AI focuses on refinement rather than exaggeration. The lens supports multiple focal lengths from 23mm to 92mm, maintaining tonal consistency. Compared to the Vivo V60’s telephoto setup, Redmi compensates with a strong in-sensor zoom that performs surprisingly well in most scenarios.

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Night photography is impressive. Highlights remain controlled, and shadows retain detail without excessive brightening. OIS helps maintain stability, and the large sensor captures sufficient light. Compared to the Realme 16 Pro+, Redmi’s image processing feels slightly more neutral and realistic.

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan

Portrait shots show good subject separation and reliable edge detection. The 32 MP front camera captures detailed selfies with balanced skin tones. It avoids over-softening, which many users will appreciate. Under its price range, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ does justice to its camera ambition.

Battery

The phone houses a 6,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 10% SiC content. It comfortably lasts more than a day with moderate to heavy use. Streaming, gaming and multitasking did not drain it quickly. While the Realme 16 Pro+ offers a slightly larger battery, Redmi’s endurance remains competitive.

Charging is handled by 100W HyperCharge, with the device reaching full charge in about 40 minutes with the boost mode. It also supports 22.5W reverse charging. Xiaomi’s Surge battery management system is designed to retain battery health over long-term usage, which adds reliability.

Verdict

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ brings durability, camera clarity and battery innovation to the forefront. The faux leather design, Titan Structure build and IP69K rating make it stand out. The 200 MP sensor delivers detailed and realistic images, while the 6,500 mAh battery ensures long endurance.

However, competition in this segment is intense. The OnePlus Nord 5 offers stronger raw performance. The Realme 16 Pro+ not only delivers competitive hardware, but also ships with Android 16, giving it an advantage in long-term software support and privacy enhancements. The Vivo V60 offers telephoto versatility and refined photography tuning.

So, does the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ justify its “+” tag? In terms of camera detail, durability and battery reliability, yes. But from a performance leadership and next-generation software perspective, it faces strong competition. If you value a rugged build, balanced performance and natural camera output, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ makes sense. If future-ready software and peak benchmark numbers matter more, alternatives like the Realme 16 Pro+ or OnePlus Nord 5 may appear more compelling.