
Redmi 15 5G quick review: Unapologetically big!
So yes, the Redmi 15 is unapologetically big, bold, and in the affordable sub-Rs 15,000 price segment, you could even say size is its USP. And the good thing is, Redmi hasn't just made it big; they've packed it with plenty of features too. I've been using it for about two weeks, and while this isn't a full review, my first impressions are largely positive.Redmi 15 5G: Quick reviewI think I've said this enough times now — the Redmi 15 is a big phone. The only real drawback is its weight. At 217 grams, it can get tiring to hold for longer stretches.But here's the surprise: it comes with a massive 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. That's about 2,000mAh more than the Redmi 13, which was 8.3mm thick. This one is just 8.4mm thick. A 0.1mm increase for that kind of battery jump is quite something. I'll circle back to the battery in a bit, because it's one of the main highlights here.Design-wise, I have the Frosted White colour variant, and props to Redmi for this finish. It's a matte back with a beautiful texture that catches light beautifully. It doesn't smudge like the glass back of the Redmi 13, and honestly feels more premium in the hand. The metal camera deco on the back also looks sharp. If you're someone who likes large phones and can overlook ergonomics — because let's face it, anyone picking this up knows exactly what they're getting — then you're in for a treat.The 6.9-inch LCD display is massive, even by today's standards. I usually use a 6.1-inch iPhone 16, so the difference feels huge. Most of my time with the Redmi 15 has gone into watching Netflix and YouTube, and it's been a really enjoyable experience.advertisementOne of the highlights is the 144Hz refresh rate — a first in this segment. The weak link here is brightness. At 850 nits, it works well indoors but struggles a bit outdoors. To be fair, I haven't had many bright sunny days to test it on since it's been mostly rainy in NCR, so I'll reserve a more solid verdict for the full review. That said, the smoothness of 144Hz has been great, and most of the apps I use support it, which makes the experience even better.On the software side, the Redmi 15 runs HyperOS 2.0 atop Android 15, with a promise of two years of main OS updates and four years of security patches. It also comes with AI features like Gemini and Circle to Search, which is impressive at this price point. HyperOS is known to be heavy, but it performs surprisingly well here. Animations and transitions are smooth, though under heavier multitasking, I did notice some hiccups. Nothing major, especially considering this is a sub-Rs 15,000 phone, but it's worth noting.advertisementPerformance is handled by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It's a good, battery-efficient chip, and in day-to-day use, speed and responsiveness have been solid.Now, back to the main star of the show — that 7,000mAh silicon carbon battery. Redmi hasn't just added more capacity; they've also used a silicon-carbon cell, something we typically see in higher-end phones. It's the first phone in its price range to feature it, and endurance has been outstanding so far. Again, more detailed testing is on the way, but early impressions are excellent.Cameras include a 50-megapixel dual rear setup and an 8-megapixel selfie shooter. Both front and rear cameras can record 1080p videos at 30fps. Initial results have been decent for the price, but I'll have more samples and insights in the full review.All said, my early impressions of the Redmi 15 5G are quite positive. Coming from a small-phone user, this feels like a proper entertainment machine — a big screen in your hand with battery life to match. There's more to test, but for anyone who wants to have a truly large phone without burning a hole in their pockets, this one makes a strong case.The Redmi 15 5G is priced starting at Rs 14,999 for the base 6GB RAM + 128GB storage option. The 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB variants are priced at Rs 15,999 and Rs 16,999, respectively. Stay tuned for the full review dropping soon on India Today Tech.- Ends

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