The Redmi Note 15 SE arrives in the market at a time when the global DRAM shortage is forcing the hand of manufacturers to drive up the asking price of smartphones across all segments. It still manages to assemble a good set of specs that provide immense value for the price. The device packs the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC under its hood, uses a 50MP Light Fusion 400 sensor for the main camera, and is MIL-STD-810H compliant. On paper, the smartphone justifies its Rs 23,000 price tag (Rs 21,500 on Amazon). We used it for a week to find out if it holds up well in daily use. Here is our review of the Redmi Note 15 SE.
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In This Article
Redmi Note 15 SE Review: Design and Display
Box Contents
- Smartphone
- 45W power adapter
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Protective cover
- SIM ejector
- Phone seal stickers
- Quick start guide
The Special Edition model follows the same design language as the rest of the Redmi Note 15 lineup. The large camera island is centre-aligned, but it does not have a massive bump. As a result, the smartphone does not wobble much when placed on a flat surface. There are 3 colour schemes/back finishes on offer – Crimson Reserve (Eco Leather), Frosted White (Marble), and Carbon Black (Matte). We used the Crimson Reserve variant for this review. Its eco leather back panel had a satisfying in-hand feel. The Redmi lettering is etched at the bottom of the panel.
The back panel curves into the rounded plastic frame. This frame houses the volume rocker and the side button on its right edge. At the bottom lie the hybrid SIM tray, primary microphone, USB-C port, and primary speaker grille. The noise-cancelling microphone, IR blaster, and secondary speaker grille are positioned up top. The slot for the second SIM card in the hybrid SIM tray can be used for a microSD card up to 1TB. The smartphone is rated IP65 + IP66 for dust and water resistance. It is compliant with MIL-STD-810H standards and can survive falls from a distance of up to 1.7m without taking damage.
The splendid 6.77-inch curved AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,200 nits. It is able to maintain optimal legibility under harsh sunlight – something we’re not used to seeing on a midrange smartphone. The touch response is smooth, and accidental touches due to the curved form factor are a rarity. The under-display optical fingerprint sensor does its job quite well.
During the review period, we used the Redmi Note 15 SE to stream movies and TV titles across OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar. The 1,080 x 2,392p AMOLED panel produced rich visuals with punchy colours and tasteful contrast. The audio output from the dual-speaker setup was decent, but could’ve used a stronger low end.
Redmi Note 15 SE Review: Performance and Cameras
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset lies at the core of the Note 15 SE. The smartphone comes in 3 RAM (LPDDR4X) and storage (UFS 2.2) variants:
- 6GB + 128GB: Rs 22,999
- 8GB + 128GB: Rs 24,999
- 8GB + 256GB: Rs 26,999
We ran a couple of benchmark tests on the device. Here is how it performed:
- AnTuTu 3D: 853,756
- Geekbench 6: 1,012 (single core) | 2,940 (multi-core)
The Redmi Note 15 SE goes through routine tasks like calling, texting, web browsing, and media streaming without any issues. It’s not the speediest device in its category, but it isn’t sluggish either. We only came across speed bumps when we overwhelmed the device by running multiple apps and tasks at once to test its limits. As a daily driver, it did not leave us with much room for complaints.
The gaming experience on the Note 15 SE is enjoyable if you limit yourself to medium graphics and a 60fps frame rate. We played titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile on the device without encountering any major lag or frame drop. However, pushing the graphics or frame rate to higher settings paves the way for stutters and other pesky issues. The smartphone does a passable job of managing the internal heat. We noticed some warmth along the back panel after 15 minutes of gameplay. Thermal throttling only becomes an issue over an extended gaming session.
Software duties on the Note 15 SE are handled by the Android 15-based HyperOS 2 out of the box, but the Android 16 (HyperOS 3) update is now available for this device. Xiaomi has promised 4 major OS updates, including the most recent HyperOS 3. The smartphone will receive security patches for 6 years.
Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 skin is light, intuitive, and fluid. It is well-optimised for the platform and delivers a very satisfying browsing experience. The smooth transitions and animations contribute significantly to this aspect. We also like the personalisation options on offer. There are plenty of native themes and lockscreen styles to give the device a unique flair. Xiaomi’s AOD faces continue to impress with their design and notification effects.
The 5,800mAh Li-ion battery pack holds enough juice to comfortably last a day. It isn’t as massive as the Si/C units that have become the norm in the segment, but it gets the job done. We ended regular usage days with almost 30-35% charge in the tank. Our daily screen time ranged between 5 and 6 hours. The 45W power adapter provided in the box takes an hour to fully charge the device.
The 50MP rear camera is the highlight of the Redmi Note 15 SE. It uses a 1/2.88-inch Light Fusion 400 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. Joining this lens in the rear camera island is a 2MP depth sensor. A 20MP front-facing camera lies inside a punch-hole cutout on the display.
The main camera takes great shots in outdoor daylight conditions. These images showcase vibrant colours and rich details. The smartphone boosts the HDR in post-processing, which makes the pictures look ‘social media ready’, but the overall results are quite impressive. For a midrange smartphone in the sub-Rs 25,000 price bracket, this is as good as it gets. In limited lighting, however, the primary shooter struggles to take well-lit shots. Even with Night Mode enabled, the images have a lot of noise.
Portraits taken by the main camera are vivid and well-focused. The smartphone does a good job of separating the subject from the background. However, the background blur leaves more to be desired. The front-facing 20MP camera takes clear selfies with limited texture and tone correction. This camera can record 1,080p videos at 30fps. Meanwhile, the main camera can record 4K videos at 30fps.
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Verdict
The Redmi Note 15 SE offers a bang for the buck at Rs 22,999. It does not make concessions when it comes to power, as it rocks the same chipset as the base model in the series. Its bright AMOLED display offers a smooth touch response and an enjoyable viewing experience. The main camera captures splendid shots in natural lighting. The 5,800mAh battery pack keeps your battery anxiety at bay. The software experience is very intuitive, but it is about time Xiaomi adds a dedicated AI package to its midrange offerings.
Pros
- Bright display
- Sleek profile
- Good main camera
Cons
- No ultrawide lens
- Runs Android 15 out of the box
