Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G review

The competition

Back when it originally launched, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G (not to be confused with the 5G version) had a price of €349/£249 for the 8/256GB trim. However, the only widely available units appeared to be 12GB/512GB with price tags of around €400. Currently, as of the time of publishing, you can find the 8GB/256GB for as low as €230.

Now, on the surface, that seems like a pretty good deal. However, it is hard to ignore that you can actually get a lot of phone for that money nowadays. Granted, there will definitely have to be some compromises, but 5G doesn't really have to be one of them, and the lack of modern connectivity is probably the biggest criticism prospective buyers have towards the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G in the first place.

So, why not consider, say, the Redmi Note 15 5G? It costs almost exactly as much. Beyond 5G, it also gets a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, which is notably better than the Helio G200 Ultra powering the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G. And it's not only about raw computational power either, but the Snapdragon has a decidedly better ISP - one that allows for 4K video capture instead of 1080p. Other than that, you get a very similar display, though one complete with HDR10+ certification on the Redmi Note 15 5G. You do have to live with a smaller 5,520 mAh battery, though.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 • Samsung Galaxy A36 • Motorola Edge 60 Fusion

Over at camp Samsung, you can easily get a base Galaxy A27 for bout as much as the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G. Though unless you really need the SD card slot, you'd be better off with the Galaxy A36 while its stocks last. And don't get us wrong, it's not like the A27 is bad, but with the A36, you get proper IP67 ingress protection, stereo speakers, a brighter display, and noticeably faster charging.

If you shop smart and don't insist on Motorola's newest Edge 70 family, you can get an Edge 70 Fusion that gets you most of the way there anyway. Compared to the Redmi, some highlights include an IP68/IP69 ingress protection rating, a much nicer and brighter HDR10+ certified display, a more powerful chipset, not limited to 1080p video capture and faster charging.

Our verdict

Just like when it launched, now, several months later, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G remains a phone that's hard to recommend. On its own merits, it is a perfectly competent budget-friendly phone. It offers a bright and pleasant AMOLED display, excellent battery life from its large 6,500mAh Si/C battery, dependable cameras, solid build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, stereo speakers, expandable storage and Xiaomi's familiar HyperOS experience backed by a respectable software support commitment.

The problem is not what the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G does well, but rather what Xiaomi chose to leave out. The Helio G200 Ultra already felt dated when it launched, and now holds the entire package back. Performance is merely adequate, gaming potential is limited, and perhaps more importantly, the chipset still cannot record 4K video. Add the complete lack of 5G connectivity, slower-than-expected charging despite the 45W rating, and the phone starts feeling like yesterday's hardware wrapped in a modern shell.

At around €230, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G isn't outrageously priced, but the competition has become exceptionally fierce. Several similarly priced rivals offer substantially faster chipsets, 5G connectivity, HDR-capable displays, stronger ingress protection or much better charging without asking you to make compromises that feel increasingly unnecessary in 2026.

If expandable storage and exceptional battery endurance rank above everything else on your priority list, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G remains a sensible purchase. For everyone else, however, there are simply too many alternatives that deliver a more complete experience for about the same amount of money.

Pros

• Excellent battery life.
• Bright 120Hz AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
• Good main camera with OIS and dependable overall photo quality.
• microSD expansion, stereo speakers and IR blaster.
• Solid software support policy.

Cons

• No 5G connectivity.
• Underpowered Helio G200 Ultra chipset.
• Limited to 1080p video recording.
• Charging is slower than expected despite the 45W rating.
• Soft rear-camera portraits and underwhelming selfies.