Xiaomi’s REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G Smartphone Survives the Ultimate Torture Test

Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything recently tested the latest Xiaomi mid-range challenger, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G, for durability. This time around, the phone made some bold claims, as it has a fancy fiberglass back panel that’s allegedly ten times more impact resistant than regular glass, a front Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panel for scratch protection, an IP69 rating that means it can withstand extreme water and dust, and a massive 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery that’s supposed to retain 80% of its charge after 1,600 recharges. So, what happens when you make all of these allegations over the phone?

The first test was scratch resistance. Nelson removed the screen protector and began a scratch test, moving picks across the display to see how it would respond. It performed almost exactly as expected of a Victus 2 panel. It marked quite readily at level 6, and level 7 left a little more of a groove, but that’s about it. Even after all of the scratches, the 32-megapixel selfie camera with the same glass still works properly. Furthermore, the under-screen optical fingerprint reader continues to function well. Heat also didn’t stand a chance, as Nelson placed a lighter up to the phone for 25 seconds to test its ability to survive a direct flame.

The next step was bend testing (determining how much pressure the phone can withstand before flexing), which involved Nelson holding the phone and giving it a good squeeze, applying force from both ends. To be honest, it hardly moved at all. That’s due to a mix of a sturdy plastic frame, an internal metal substructure, and, of course, that gorgeous fiberglass back panel. Which, by the way, is significantly more durable than the ordinary glass back panel. Nelson even attempted to scrape it with a knife, and it came out in relatively decent form.

So, what makes this phone so durable? A complete breakdown revealed all of the intricate engineering required to keep it intact. The screws were removed, the panels were removed, and the inner workings became visible. It’s evident why this phone is so durable: it has a large metal mid-frame that occupies the majority of the body, a large vapor chamber for cooling, and dual battery connectors for 100W charging. The charging port features a large rubber cover around it to prevent water from entering, which is especially necessary considering the IP69 rating. Water damage indications and protective membranes cover the most susceptible areas, and the 200 megapixel camera, ultrawide lens, and other components appear to be built to last.

As a bonus, the phone’s structural strength should provide some drop protection. Xiaomi claims it can withstand falls from 2.5m and has SGS certification to back it up. Nelson didn’t do any high-dive style drops in this video, but the fact that it can withstand some major bending, scratching, heat, and disassembly without bursting into a hundred pieces suggests that these claims are definitely correct. The good news is that everything still worked after that, including the speakers and the SIM tray ejection tool.