Xiaomi’s Best-Selling Smartphone in 2026? Here’s Our Review
The Redmi Note series from Xiaomi has been one of the best-selling smartphones for many years. And rightly so, because you get a lot for very cheap. I tested the new Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus and compared it to the competition from Samsung.
While there is a lot of coverage of top smartphones priced over 1.000 dollars, mid-range smartphones often fly under the radar in reporting. Yet Samsung’s Galaxy A series and Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series are among the best-selling smartphones ever. Xiaomi has now unveiled the new models for 2026.
Once again, Xiaomi is launching a large number of new smartphones, making it hard for customers to choose the right model. However, the differences are marginal. The Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus is the best model in the range. The Note 15 Pro (without Plus) offers slightly less performance, slower charging, and a worse front camera. Otherwise, the two smartphones are essentially identical.
Design and Display
The only visual difference is noticeable at first glance. While the cheaper model has a flat display, the Plus model is slightly curved at all four display edges. However, not nearly as much as previous curved displays, so it didn’t bother me while I was using it.
The display itself is impressive, featuring AMOLED technology with rich colors and true blacks, as well as a slightly higher resolution than the usual Full HD for a razor-sharp picture. At just over a thousand nits, the brightness is bright enough for everyday use.
Turning the smartphone over reveals an unusual back. At least if you opt for the Mocha Brown color. Xiaomi has opted for a leather-look plastic here. This variant feels great in the hand and is particularly suitable for anyone who likes to use their smartphone without a case. The other two colors, Black and Glacier Blue, on the other hand, rely on ordinary matte plastic.
Performance and Software
The built-in processor is well-suited for everyday tasks and also offers enough power to play a game or two. However, the system itself shows many stutters. This is not usual for Xiaomi, even in this price range. Since I tested the smartphones before the market launch, there will likely be an update before then.
Speaking of updates: Xiaomi is still delivering the Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus with Android 15 and its own HyperOS 2 interface. An update to the latest version should be available in a few months at the latest. HyperOS is visually appealing and offers many additional features and animations that enhance the user experience. However, the smartphone comes with quite a few pre-installed apps (bloatware), and the system apps display advertising during use. The many pre-installed apps are completely normal in this price range and can be removed with just a few clicks. However, the advertising in the system apps is quite confusing, especially for inexperienced users, making the smartphone unsuitable for this target group.
On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by the built-in speakers. These are located at the top and bottom of the frame and offer real stereo sound when the smartphone is held in landscape format. They also provide a lot of volume and can be used as speakers when showering or cooking.
Battery Life & Capacity
Thanks to new battery technology, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus’s battery is significantly larger than in previous models: 6,500 mAh. The runtime in the test was good at around 18 hours. That is 3 hours more than Samsung’s competition. Charging is also quite quick, at around one hour from 0 to 100. At 100 watts, however, we would have hoped for an even shorter charging time. However, this is only possible if you use a Xiaomi Hyper Charge charger. Unfortunately, this is not included in the box.
Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus Camera Review
The Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus offers two cameras on the back: The main camera with its 200 megapixels allows you to create zoom photos with a lower resolution using a so-called “sensor crop” and thus acts as a “telephoto camera lite”. In daylight, this works quite well with 4x zoom. At night, you should limit yourself to a maximum 2x zoom. Xiaomi has installed an ultra-wide-angle 8-megapixel camera as the second camera. The resolution is somewhat low, but sufficient for snapshots in good light. The photos from the main camera, on the other hand, are very sharp and rich in detail. The camera is also impressive at night, which was not the norm at this price range just a few years ago. In general, the camera delivers a solid result for the price, as you can see from our sample photos.
Main camera at night
Main camera at night
Main camera at night (2x zoom)
Selfie camera
Ultra wide-angle camera at night
My Conclusion
The Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus impresses in the test with its high-quality workmanship and excellent feel. The built-in hardware also makes a good impression during testing. The display is razor-sharp, and the camera and battery life are well-suited for everyday use. As usual with Xiaomi, I see weaknesses in the software. Late updates and excessive advertising in the system tarnish the smartphone’s otherwise good impression.
Pros of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus
- high-quality workmanship
- good display
- fair price
- Good battery life
Cons of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus
- Advertising in system apps
- Pre-installed bloatware
- old Android and HyperOS version
