Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G review

Design, build quality, handling

Xiaomi went for a different look this year. Not radically so. Some design elements remain mostly unchanged, like the large, symmetrical camera island. The biggest change, however, is the flat front and back of the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G.

The phone looks and feels nothing like its predecessor shape-wise. It is also interesting to note that the Redmi Note 15 Pro 4G is a lot curvier than its 5G counterpart.

We personally like the flatter look of the 5G a bit better. Curvy displays were admittedly a cool trend, but their utility and appeal are dubious at best. With its completely flat front, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G should be very easy to equip with a good glass screen protector, if that is your thing.

Color options for the phone include Titanium, Glacier Blue, Mist Purple and Black. The frame is nicely color-matched with the back. It ties the whole design together nicely.

The back feels smooth and a bit silky to the touch, while the sides feel coarser, almost like brushed aluminum. In case you were wondering, no, the frame is not metal. It is plastic, but it gives off a compelling impression.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G

Speaking of materials, it is only fair to mention that the front of the phone is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers excellent protection. Also, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G feels sturdy. Very sturdy, in fact, with practically no flex or hollowness.

In a bid for extra sturdiness, Xiaomi has certified the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G for IP68/IP69K. That means protection against high-pressure water jets and the ability to survive a dip in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

There is nothing special in the controls department: a mostly empty left side and a power button plus volume rocker setup on the right side. The top side feels busy, and it kind of is, with the speaker output grill, secondary microphone and IR blaster. The bottom also houses a speaker grill, alongside the Type-C port and the Nano-SIM tray.

There are no visible sensors anywhere above the display. The bezels are far too thin to house sensors anyway. Everything is nicely tucked away and hidden underneath the actual panel.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G uses an optical under-display fingerprint reader. It is both accurate and snappy, and also well-positioned height-wise.