The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 and Samsung Galaxy A55 represent compelling options for users seeking a balance of features and affordability. This comparison dissects their core specifications, focusing on performance, display quality, battery life, and charging capabilities to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is the stronger choice. While the Redmi Note 15 offers a competitive chipset and faster charging, the A55’s superior battery endurance, measured at 13:27 hours of active use, provides a more reliable experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2024, March 11 |
| Status | Rumored | Available. Released 2024, March 15 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.4 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.29 in) | 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2 mm (6.34 x 3.05 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.83 inches, 112.6 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, PWM, HDR10+, 3200 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.75 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Exynos 1480 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Xclipse 530 |
| OS | Android 15, HyperOS 2 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.4", 1.0µm
2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/4.0", 0.7µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5520 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glacier Blue, Purple, Black | Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, Lemon |
| Models | 25096RA9BG | SM-A556V, SM-A556B, SM-A556B/DS, SM-A556E, SM-A556E/DS, SM-A5560 |
| Price | About 300 EUR | $ 324.99 / £ 251.50 / € 319.99 / ₹ 23,998 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 15
- Faster 45W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 offers good efficiency
- Battery life likely inferior to Galaxy A55
- Display brightness likely lower than A55
- Camera performance potentially less refined
Samsung Galaxy A55
- Exceptional 13:27h active use battery life
- Brighter 1010 nit display for outdoor visibility
- Samsung’s refined software and update commitment
- Slower 25W wired charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Exynos 1480 may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A55 boasts a significant advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 1010 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight, a common pain point for smartphone users. While the Redmi Note 15’s display specifications are currently unknown, Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology typically delivers vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The A55’s brightness level suggests a more premium viewing experience, particularly for outdoor use and HDR content consumption. We expect the Redmi Note 15 to offer a standard LCD or AMOLED panel, but without specific data, it’s difficult to assess its color accuracy or viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the Redmi Note 15, a direct comparison is challenging. However, Samsung typically prioritizes image processing and software features. The Galaxy A55 likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced algorithms for noise reduction and dynamic range. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and optical image stabilization (OIS) on the Redmi Note 15 makes it difficult to assess its low-light performance. We anticipate the A55 to deliver more consistent and refined image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of OIS on the A55 would further enhance its capabilities.
Performance
Both the Redmi Note 15 and Galaxy A55 utilize 4nm chipsets – the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and Exynos 1480 respectively. However, the Exynos 1480 features slightly higher clocked Cortex-A78 cores (2.75 GHz vs 2.4 GHz), potentially offering a modest performance edge in CPU-intensive tasks. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, while slightly slower on paper, benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized software and potentially better GPU performance. Both devices employ the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, suggesting similar performance in less demanding scenarios. The Redmi Note 15’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is likely to be more efficient, but the A55’s slightly faster CPU could translate to quicker app loading times and smoother multitasking.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A55 clearly wins in battery endurance, achieving 13:27 hours of active use. This is a substantial advantage over what we might expect from the Redmi Note 15, given its 45W charging. While 45W charging is faster than the A55’s 25W, faster charging doesn’t necessarily equate to better overall battery life. The A55’s efficient Exynos 1480 chipset and optimized software contribute to its impressive longevity. The Redmi Note 15’s faster charging will reduce downtime, but the A55’s longer runtime minimizes the need for frequent top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 if you prioritize faster charging speeds and a potentially lower price point, and frequently engage in short bursts of gaming or media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A55 if you value long-lasting battery life, a brighter and more visible display in outdoor conditions, and a more polished software experience with guaranteed updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1480 in the Galaxy A55 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 1480 is a capable chipset, it's known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. Samsung's software optimizations and the A55's cooling system mitigate this, but users engaging in extended gaming sessions may experience some performance dips. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the Redmi Note 15 may offer slightly better sustained performance due to its potentially more efficient architecture.
❓ Is the 45W charging on the Redmi Note 15 significantly faster in real-world use compared to the Galaxy A55’s 25W?
Yes, 45W charging will demonstrably reduce charging times on the Redmi Note 15. While exact 0-100% times are unavailable, expect a faster top-up compared to the Galaxy A55. However, the A55’s superior battery life means you’ll need to charge less frequently, potentially negating the benefit of faster charging for many users.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Redmi Note 15 and the Galaxy A55?
Samsung’s One UI offers a more polished and feature-rich software experience with a commitment to longer software update support. Xiaomi’s MIUI, while customizable, can be more prone to bloatware and may receive fewer long-term updates. This difference is significant for users who prioritize software stability and security.
