Redmi 15 4G Review: The phone with insane battery life (and surprising trade-offs)

This review of the Redmi 15 4G gives you an insight of what I experience when I was testing the smartphone over the past week.

The phone, released last August, is considered very affordable as it comes with premium specifications and a long battery life.

Click the links below to jump to specific reviews I’ve done to the phone.

Main highlights

The Redmi 15 4G is hailed for its power endurance with the device being able to stay on standby mode with just 1% of power left in its 5,000mAh battery.

It comes with 33W fast charge, and an immersive 6.9″ FHD+ display which offers up to 144Hz AdaptiveSync.

The phone also comes with a powerful Snapdragon 685, has a quad-curved design for comfort holding and a 50MP AI dual camera system.

Design, body and durability

When I first pull the Redmi 15 4G out of the box, the immediate impression is one of premium polish, despite its affordable positioning.

Xiaomi has done a fantastic job styling the plastic frame and back with a “Frosted White” finish that actually looks quite elegant, even featuring a marble-like texture and a metal camera frame.

It genuinely feels more expensive than it is and the Sandy Purple colour I got, was also really easy on the eye. (The phone also comes in titan grey and midnight black).

However, the design is defined by its sheer size. Housing that massive 7,000mAh battery means the phone is unavoidably big, measuring 6.9 inches diagonally. This makes it challenging for true one-handed use and is something I certainly noticed after a few days.

Nonetheless, thanks to its quad-curved design, holding the phone is comfortable.

In terms of durability, the phone carries an IP64 rating, which offers solid protection against dust ingress and water splashes – a good benchmark for this price point.

The build feels sturdy, but some elements reveal its budget constraints like the screen bezels which are noticeably thick and contribute to the dated feel. The accompanying dark grey silicone case however hides these bezels nicely.

Screen & Display

The 6.9-inch display on the Redmi 15 4G is clearly focused on media consumption. The AMOLED screen make videos and games look instantly immersive.

The 144Hz adaptive refresh rate is a huge draw, delivering wonderfully smooth scrolling and snappy animations that feel genuinely flagship-level, making the daily software experience a joy.

However, the screen is also the source of some of the phone’s most significant compromises, with its thick bezels – especially the chin.

These bezels make the phone look somewhat dated and bulkier though the 144Hz rate screen refresh rate which is technically present, can feel inconsistant, often throttling down in less demanding apps, which can break the illusion of smoothness. – During gaming, like EAFC, it performed well nonetheless.

My main criticism, however, centers on peak brightness which is at 850 nits. Outdoors on a sunny day, the display struggles significantly.

While adequate indoors, the lack of punch when battling direct sunlight means I’d be hunting for shade to read messages, a definite drawback for a device this size intended for constant use.

That said, it’s a great screen on paper, but only truly shines under ideal conditions.

Audio System

After a few days of heavy use, the audio experience on the Redmi 15 4G is proving to be a true mixed bag – exactly what you expect from a budget champion.

The mono speakers system, though powered by Dolby Atmos® is not as good as stereo sound, but it can get plenty loud, thanks to its 200% volume feature.

However, it is treble-heavy and “thin” and there’s practically zero depth or bass making music and movie scores lack immersion.

While this single, loud speaker is great for notifications, I didn’t favour the sound directional which also can easily be blocked during video calls if I hold the phone wrong.

Call quality for the Redmi 15 4G is dependable and my voice is picked up clearly without major distortion.

The earpiece volume is adequate for most environments and I think there’s good consistently for communication.

Processor, RAM and Storage

After spending several days pushing the Redmi 15 4G through my daily routine, it’s clear that the Redmi 15 4G is a daily phone and, not a flagship contender.

This is due to the fact that at the heart of the phone is the reliable Snapdragon 685 processor.

This 6nm chip isn’t a powerhouse, but it’s a master of efficiency. For average users, the stability is a major win; navigation is smooth, and social apps run without a hitch.

However, I feel that serious gamers will find the performance relatively low, which means demanding titles would require significant settings adjustments. – I tried playing EAFC and I could play the game without much issue although I loading does take a few seconds more than flagship phones.

The generous 8GB RAM configurations are a definite highlight in this price bracket, helping HyperOS 2.0 manage multitasking comfortably. The RAM can be bumped up to 12GB if there is a need.

When it comes to storage, 256GB options paired with a dedicated microSD slot provide adequate capacity although bigger storage space would definately be much better.

In addition, the slower UFS 2.2 storage type may translate to noticeably longer install times and app loading sequences compared to speedier rivals.

Software

The HyperOS 2.0 software, layered over Android 15, has always been a joy to work with as it creates a cohesive environment, that’s constantly updated, clean and has responsive animations.

The UI is highly customizable, and the integration of new AI features (like enhanced lock screen effects and search tools) is a modern touch.

Drawbacks however come in “bloatware” which are unwanted pre-installed third-party apps which do take up storage space. They aren’t that many pre-installed by Xiaomi here, but there are still there.

Camera

The phone’s camera setup is highly practical, perfectly matching its budget price point.

The phone sports a 50MP primary wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, coupled with an auxiliary sensor.

There’s dedicated modes for shooting portraits and in Ultra HD, but there isn’t much room for other customisation.

In good daylight, the main sensor truly shines, capturing crisp, well-exposed photos, and I’ve enjoyed playing with the integrated AI tools like the Auto Night Mode.

You can check out the photos below to see the quality you can expect from the Redmi 15 4G camera.

Night photography does turn out average, leaving me wanting more, and close up photos, including of food, are well reflected.

Selfies using both the front (first photo below) and rear (second photo) camera appear delightful and good.

The 50MP sensor definately makes portrait photos appear much better thought the bokeh effect available on the front camera potrait shot is pretty neat.

This competent primary lens exceed my expectations for a budget 4G phone despite having only up to 2X of zoom.

In terms of videography, you can watch the video below to see how good is the phone’s videography capabilities.

Overall, the Redmi 15 4G camera is a reliable daily shooter, but it won’t be winning any awards for flexibility or night performance.

Battery

The battery life is undeniably the biggest highlight of this budget device.

Equipped with a substantial 5,000mAh cell, this phone is a genuine endurance champion.

For my typical usage – a mix of social media, streaming podcasts, and occasional photography – I comfortably sailed through a full day, often finding myself with 40% or more charge left by bedtime.

Light users could easily stretch this to two full days, which is a massive win at this price point.

The stellar longevity makes it a good “two-day phone” with the battery consistently over-delivering.

The phone supports 33W fast charging, with my test showing that it refuels the battery by 7 per cent in 6 minutes.

Conclusion

The Realme 15 4G presents a compelling value proposition that centers almost entirely around unrivaled longevity.

As my review confirms, this is a genuine two-day phone for the average user, a feat achieved by its massive 5000mAh battery.

However, buyers must consciously accept the classic budget trade-off which comes in moderate camera capability as well as average processor speeds.

That said, this device is not for power users obsessed with peak processing speed or top tier photography but rather for those seeking power endurance with budget practicality.

Therefore, I feel that the Realme 15 4G would be perfect for students and field workers, as well as elderly users who want to have a functioning all day long phone which also offers simplicity and reliability.

So, if your priority is battery life and keeping more money in your wallet, the Realme 15 4G is, without question, the best long-distance runner in the entry-level race.

Where to buy

The phone comes retails at just RM599, with Xiaomi constantly offering sweet deals if you get the device exclusively from authorized Xiaomi dealers like Urban Republic on Shopee.

I hope my Redmi 15 4G review helps you decide, or gives you a general idea of the phone.

BUY THE REDMI 15