Redmi Note 15 SE vs Redmi Note 15: Price cut, camera upgrade and key differences explained

Xiaomi has expanded its Redmi Note 15 lineup in India with the launch of the Redmi Note 15 SE (Special Edition), positioning it as a more affordable alternative to the standard Redmi Note 15. The new model starts at Rs 19,999, while the Redmi Note 15 now starts at Rs 24,999 after a price hike. Both smartphones share several core specifications, but differ in pricing, cameras and battery capacity.

Price comparison

Variant	Redmi Note 15 SE price	Redmi Note 15 price
6GB + 128GB	Rs 19,999	Not available
8GB + 128GB	Rs 21,999	Rs 24,999
8GB + 256GB	Rs 23,999	Rs 27,999

The Redmi Note 15 SE is clearly the more affordable option across all configurations, making it the entry point into the series.

Design and display

Both smartphones share a similar design language with curved edges, a “squircle” rear camera module and identical dimensions at 7.35mm thickness and 178g weight. They also feature IP65 + IP66 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Display specifications are identical on both devices, featuring a 6.77-inch FHD+ curved AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The SE variant, however, adds a vegan leather finish in its Crimson Reserve colour option.

Performance and battery

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and run HyperOS 2 based on Android 15, offering similar performance and software experience with 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches.

Battery capacity differs slightly. The Redmi Note 15 SE packs a 5,800mAh battery, compared to 5,520mAh on the Redmi Note 15, suggesting marginally better endurance on the SE model.

Camera comparison

Feature	Redmi Note 15 SE	Redmi Note 15
Primary camera	50MP	108MP
Secondary camera	2MP depth	8MP ultra-wide
Front camera	20MP	20MP

The Redmi Note 15 SE focuses on basic photography, while the Redmi Note 15 offers a significantly better camera system with higher resolution and ultra-wide capability.

The choice between the two ultimately depends on individual user priorities, including budget, battery needs and camera requirements.