The best phone under 8 thousand? Here are 5 reasons why I would buy the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G

A week ago, Xiaomi brought the long-awaited Redmi Note 15 series to the Czech Republic, enriching the mid-range Android phone segment with five new models. Taking into account introductory promotions, prices range from 4,299 CZK to 10,499 CZK, thus adapting to diverse user needs.

For consumers looking for the best phone for approximately 8 thousand Czech crowns, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G currently appears to be the best choice, available until February 18 for 7,490 CZK in the basic 8/256GB configuration. With its parameters and design, the phone responds to current trends and generally offers a very balanced set of features, where no area is explicitly lacking. I will introduce its main advantages in this article.

Modern Design and Durable Construction

While Redmi phones previously made it quite clear that they belonged to a lower price segment, looking at the Note 15 Pro 5G, you could easily think it costs 12 thousand or more. This is especially true for the Titanium variant (see image below), which mimics the shade of last year’s Xiaomi 14T, for example.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G looks incredibly elegant, thanks to its individual design elements. The centered camera module on the back doesn’t draw more attention than necessary, and the flat side edges give the phone a more premium feel. The front is dominated by a completely flat display with thin bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera. Visually, the phone simply appealed to me greatly.

We must not forget durability: the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G boasts IP68 certification, which ensures its resistance to dust and water. The phone can theoretically be submerged in 2 m deep fresh water for 30 minutes.

Large Battery with Reverse Charging Support

If you crave maximum endurance and feel that your current phone’s battery is nearing its end, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G might pleasantly surprise you. Xiaomi has equipped it with a silicon-carbon battery with a high capacity of 6,580 mAh. Intergenerationally, we are talking about an increase of almost 1,500 mAh. With normal use, you get up to 2 days of battery life, and regarding endurance for specific activities, Xiaomi mentions up to 27 hours of video playback or 108 hours of music playback.

The significant increase in battery capacity was perhaps the most prominent trend in smartphones last year, which is only now manifesting in the Redmi Note series. Smartphone manufacturers (especially Chinese ones) do not seem to want to stop adding milliamp-hours anytime soon, so it is likely that we will see further progress in the next generation.

A big plus for the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G is also support for 22.5W reverse charging, which comes in handy when your headphones or smartwatches run out of juice. However, I don’t view the 45W charging of the phone itself too positively, as I well remember the 67W support on the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, which I tested in spring 2023.

Next-Generation 200Mpx Camera

The Redmi Note Pro series traditionally offers excellent photo quality for its price. This year’s Pro 5G model again received a 200Mpx sensor, but it is said to be a new generation that introduces a system called the 200Mpx AI Engine. According to Xiaomi, this system enhances the quality of details in images using artificial intelligence, reportedly in various lighting conditions and at different zoom levels.

And speaking of light: the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G will also perform well at night thanks to its 1/1.4″ sensor area. Such a large optical format is not at all common in the price category where this new model is located.

Fast Dimensity 7400-Ultra Chipset

Xiaomi, of course, did not forget to update the chipset in the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G. Last year’s Dimensity 7300-Ultra is replaced by the Dimensity 7400-Ultra (both from MediaTek), which boasts a slightly higher frequency of up to 2.6 GHz.

The main thing, however, is that with this processor, you can handle not only trivial tasks like browsing social networks and surfing the web, but also playing somewhat more demanding games or slightly more complex multitasking. It’s clear, of course, that you won’t play Genshin Impact at the highest possible quality, but generally speaking, performance won’t limit you.

Bright AMOLED Panel

The enthusiasm for all the aforementioned qualities of the phone would quickly fade if it had a terrible display. But with the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G, you don’t have to worry about that, because its screen specifications are excellent. The 6.83” AMOLED panel operates at 1.5K resolution (2772×1280 pixels) and provides up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

Maximum brightness reaches 3,200 nits, which represents a slight improvement over last year’s model, and 12-bit depth ensures more accurate color display. A higher contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1 also contributes to better rendering of individual shades. For some users’ eyes, 3840 Hz PWM dimming could provide relief.

The display is protected against damage by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which we have previously seen on a number of flagship smartphones. With Wet Touch 2.0 technology, the screen should respond better to touches with wet hands.

Who is the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G suitable for?

Do you have a set budget for a new phone of 7–10 thousand Czech crowns and desire a balanced set of features that doesn’t prioritize performance over photo quality? Do you appreciate a large battery and increased structural durability? If so, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G seems like an excellent choice for you.

For me, the Pro 5G model represents an excellent choice if you don’t need lightning-fast charging – in which case it would be worth considering buying the more expensive Note 15 Pro+ model, which supports up to 100 W. However, if this value doesn’t mean much to you, there’s not much point in paying extra.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G in the basic 8/256GB version currently costs 7,490 CZK, while the 8/512GB variant can be purchased for 8,490 CZK.

What impressed you most about the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G’s features?