Reviews

LG Velvet review: Flagship reimagined

A refreshing take from LG, a much needed option in 2020

Published

November 3, 2020

I’ve reviewed many different phones this year and consistently the theme has been this: Phone prices are rising; and there are no exceptions. A faster display, multiple cameras, 5G — it all adds up. If you don’t need all of these extras on a flagship smartphone, what options are there for you?

Instead of launching a revolutionary new phone meant to blow your socks off, LG sought to fill that void with a new breed of flagship smartphone with just the essential features: the LG Velvet.

An introduction

I’ve closely followed the evolution of LG smartphones for more than six years now. In the second half of 2020, the Korean company is shifting gears — from a new design ID to a new name.

The first phone out of the gate is simply called Velvet, which is a drastic change from their last phone called the LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen.

LG says that starting with Velvet they are moving away from the G and V Series and adopting more expressive names that better fit each smartphone. Instead of offering similarly designed smartphones with marginally better specs, which is basically what everyone else in the industry is doing, they want to create differentiated products with a clear character.

The Velvet isn’t meant to be the successor to last year’s G8; neither is it a midrange version of the V60.

Who then is the Velvet for? What consumer need does it address? And is it your GadgetMatch?

READ: LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen review: 2020’s most underrated phone

Evolved design language

If I were to describe LG phones released over the last few years, several words come to mind: uninspired, unexciting, boring, bland. They looked okay but let’s just say they would never have won a smartphone beauty pageant, so most folks did not pay attention.

With the Velvet, LG set out to focus on its design. Versus last year’s G8 and the V60, immediately you can tell that LG made an effort. From curves on both its front and back, to what they’re calling a raindrop rear camera — with modules that get smaller as they reach downward. I especially appreciate the clear intent to avoid a huge camera bump.

Did they hit the mark? I’m not sure; I’m finding it hard to make an emotional connection with my review device.

After all the rich vibrant phones that have become my daily drivers this year, my LG Velvet is a bland shade of grey. Although, it is available in a host of other colors: Illusion Sunset, Aurora White, Aurora Green, Aurora Silver and something they’re calling New Black.

I am also not sure the curved displays were the best choice and overall it doesn’t necessarily look original.

There is, however, a lot to like about the Velvet. There is a certain subdued sophistication about the phone. I appreciate that it’s not too wide so you can hold it securely with one hand and that it’s light enough so that when you use it with the Dual Screen Case, it doesn’t get significantly heavy.

I also like that the Dual Screen case for the Velvet also comes in matte white. It’s refreshing, and it doesn’t pick up smudges like the mirror finish of the V60’s Dual Screen case.

I love that there are well-designed third party cases available for the Velvet at launch. LG partnered with Korean accessory manufacturer Design Skin. I would go as far as saying that these are some of the best designed cases we’ve seen for any phone.

This case has two card slots, comes in an olive shade and a croc skin finish.

This emerald green one is my favorite. It has an elastic leather strap just like a designer clutch — a stylish way to keep your phone secure when you’re out and about. Hidden underneath is a slot for a card or two.

There are plenty of other case options for the LG Velvet on Amazon ahead of its European and North American debut as well.

A flagship that doesn’t blow your socks off

There are many ways to tackle this next section. It can be about addressing why this phone has a 700-series processor, usually reserved for midrange smartphones, which I feel is the elephant in the room. In the US, the T-Mobile variant is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000C chip. I want to take this opportunity to challenge the status quo and encourage a new way of thinking.

Silicon technology has improved so much over the last few years that it’s gotten to a point where most people don’t necessarily need a phone with a top of the line processor.

This next statement might come off as controversial, but the everyday user does not need a phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865.

Snapdragon 765, which powers the LG Velvet, is a very capable processor that can handle the needs of the average consumer. If doing so allows a phone company to pass on savings to you the consumer, I’m all for it.

In essence, I believe that is what the LG Velvet is all about: giving users what they need instead of making them pay for high tech extras that prosumers and tech nerds have come to expect.

It’s a well-rounded smartphone and it comes with support for 5G networks. This is despite the lack of a fast display and out of this world telescopic camera.

In the time that I spent with the LG Velvet, I didn’t experience any hiccups in terms of performance. The phone has enough RAM to handle all the apps that I juggle on a daily basis, and the Snapdragon 765 processor handled everything I threw at it.

Of course Pokemon Go and Raid Shadow Legends might not qualify as graphics intensive games, but my buddies Joshua Vergara and Booredatwork also played a lot of Call of Duty and PUBG, respectively, and they didn’t have complaints either.

Its P-OLED display is bright and vibrant and was a pleasure to consume content on. Like the V60, it has a tear drop notch on the top center of the screen.

Dual Screen, dual fun

Cementing the company’s commitment to this form factor, the Velvet is compatible with its own Dual Screen case. Depending on where you live, it either comes bundled or is a separate purchase.

In our exhaustive review of the LG V60, we explored all the things you can do with this form factor and why it makes sense as an accessory. If you want an in-depth guide on how you can maximize the dual screen experience, read that review here, or watch it here. My thoughts there apply to the Velvet’s Dual Screen experience as well.

I love being able to use it as a controller to level up my game play, tickling my retro bones using Drastic DS to emulate my favorite Nintendo games from my childhood, and using it as an e-book reader using Librera, which is closer to the experience of reading an actual printed book than.

Of course there’s multitasking: having two documents open at the same time, or a web browser in one and Google Docs in the other. Having that second display for a chat app, a video, or my twitter feed is great and makes a lot of sense for someone like me. You can also save shortcuts for apps that you frequently open together: Spotify and Google Maps when you’re driving for example.

One of my favorite use cases, pun unintended, is flipping the case all the way around and using it as a monitor when photographing others. I also love that I can easily prop the phone up when watching videos or even when I’m on a video call.

Stylus support

Just like the V60, there’s support for any Wacom AES pen on the Velvet. If you’re the type who likes being able to jot down notes the old school way, you can purchase a stylus like Wacom’s Bamboo Ink and use it to take notes, sign documents, or draw on your Velvet.

Some will argue that the Galaxy Note comes with a bundled pen and that you can store it in the phone, but old-school note-taking isn’t for everyone. The experience also isn’t as close to pen and paper as the Apple Pencil and the iPad.

What I like about the Velvet, just like the Dual Screen case, is that the extra cost is your choice to make depending on your needs.

Exceptional audio lineage

When it comes to audio the LG V60 is the best phone I’ve reviewed this year. Given its lineage I was curious to see how well the Velvet performed in this department.

The phone comes with stereo speakers, LG’s 3D sound engine, and a headphone jack. The only thing it doesn’t have is Quad DAC support which both the G and V series had been known for. Even in this more affordable segment, LG is still the gold standard when it comes to phone audio.

When reviewing the Velvet, I did my usual blind test by listening to songs I know by heart. Its speakers aren’t as loud as the V60 but they are tuned very well. They sound leaps and bounds better than last year’s G8X. It’s also much louder and richer compared to the Samsung Galaxy S20+.

For even better sound you can toggle ON LG’s 3D Sound Engine via the quick settings panel.

Acceptable camera performance

The LG Velvet has three cameras: a standard 48MP wide angle lens, an 8MP ultra-wide angle with a 120 degree field of view, and a 5MP camera dedicated for measuring depth.

This is an important category so I spent a lot of time putting the Velvet’s camera through its paces. Take a look at these sample shots I took around Brooklyn.

With the sun shining overhead, against the light, or even when the sun started to set, the Velvet’s main camera does the job of capturing good photos.

Night Mode also does a decent job when it got dark.

Its ultra-wide angle camera doesn’t perform as well. It was alright during the day, but poor as the sun started to set. Details become fuzzy when there’s not enough light.

The third camera dedicated to creating background blur does a good job cutting subjects out. Phones usually struggle to separate Chay’s hair from the background but the Velvet managed to do it pretty well.

Camera comparison

It’s important to manage our expectations based on how much the Velvet costs. I compared it to the similarly priced OnePlus 8, and the pricier Samsung Galaxy S20+.

During the day when the sun is out, the sky blue, and the model straight off the Paris Fashion Week runway, you’d be hard pressed to pick one photo over the other. All phones did great, captured details well, and produced similar colors.

I’d say the same about this ultra wide angle shot. The only difference is that the S20+ has a wider field of view.

It’s a similar case with these photos taken with 2x zoom. Both the OnePlus and Velvet use digital zoom as they do not have dedicated telephoto cameras.

This ultra-wide angle shot is interesting — a test of how all three phones handle backlit subjects. The S20+ and the Velvet handled the harsh lighting conditions very similarly. The OnePlus 8 did the best job at managing highlights. In some cases, it just boils down to camera software, like in this example.

We spent a lot of time comparing the phones after dark. First, this artsy photo of the Manhattan Bridge shot through some fencing.

Next is of the Brooklyn Bridge. I did a poll on Twitter and most of you picked the S20+’s photo, with the Velvet coming in second and the OnePlus 8 third. It’s a tough call and really depends on what people are judging for. Some voted for presumed color accuracy, some for detail, some voted based on which one fits their aesthetic best.

When you switch to the ultra-wide angle camera, this is where the Velvet suffers. Just like in our daytime photos, the Velvet didn’t capture enough detail for it to be usable.

We took more comparisons this time without night mode. For the most part the results were pretty similar across the board.

In this last comparison photo, we didn’t use night mode as well. All three phones handled this back lit shot differently, but I think all of them are post worthy.

Overall it’s no surprise that people chose the S20+’s photo in my Twitter poll. It does after all have the best camera hardware of the trio, but the Velvet’s main camera held its own. It produced accurate colors in low light while being the cheapest phone in this shootout.

Its ultra-wide camera is just a let down, especially considering LG was pioneered this feature on smartphones many years back. Maybe they shouldn’t have included it, that might have brought down the price even further.

All-day battery

The LG Velvet comes with a 4300 mAh battery. It lasts me a full day of average use with a little bit left over for the next day. It’s not as long lasting as the V60 but overall its battery life is great.

Charging speeds are also respectable considering its battery capacity. Using the bundled fast charger, I got to 10% after 10 minutes and 70% after an hour. A full charge took just one hour and 52 minutes.

The Velvet also supports wireless charging, and it works even with the Dual Screen case on.

If you get the Dual Screen case, it comes with a USB-C adapter that magnetically latches into place. I think is a great idea. Once you plug it into the bundled USB-C cable, you’re not going to lose it. In case you do, you can buy a replacement online.

Pricing and availability

The LG Velvet was announced in South Korea earlier this year with a KRW 899,800 (US$ 700) launch price. In Europe, pricing vary per country: In Italy, it was going for EUR 650 (US$ 757), bundled with the Dual Screen case and LG’s Tone Free wireless earbuds.

In the US, it starts at US$588 if you get it from T-Mobile, US$599 from AT&T, and US$699.99. Just note that the T-Mobile model has slightly different specs than the unit we reviewed.

Is the LG Velvet your GadgetMatch?

Despite not offering the coolest features smartphone nerds rave about, there’s something interesting about the LG Velvet. It’s a much needed class of device for right now. 2020 is the year when brands known for making flagship killers have all but abandoned that calling.

Prosumers who need more computing power, better cameras, and a faster display should definitely look elsewhere.

The LG Velvet is a solid phone. It’s built well, performs great, and most importantly it comes with a price tag that doesn’t break the bank. For that we give it the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

Gaming

Now playing: Final Fantasy VII Remake INTERGRADE on Switch 2

Final Fantasy VII Remake, handheld again

Published

January 23, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade | Nintendo Switch 2

There are two ways I ended up playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on the Switch 2: handheld, and docked. And in many ways, that split mirrors what this release is really about—flexibility, familiarity, and a little bit of re-learning.

Relearning muscle memory

Let’s get the small friction point out of the way first. Button prompts. Even after all this time, my brain still defaults to PlayStation glyphs. Triangle means something very specific to me in Final Fantasy VII Remake, and retraining that muscle memory on a Nintendo layout took a bit longer than expected. That’s not the game’s fault—it’s just the reality of revisiting something you’ve deeply internalized on another platform. And honestly, it’s something I’ll just have to get used to as more of these previously PlayStation-first titles land elsewhere.

Once that adjustment period passed, the bigger surprise came quickly—especially in handheld.

Midgar in the palm of your hand

Without even stacking it up against the PS4 or PS5 versions, the Switch 2 version already looks impressive on its own. In fact, it looks really good. There’s a moment of quiet disbelief when you realize you’re holding Midgar in your hands, running locally, and still retaining that sense of scale and atmosphere the remake is known for.

I’ve played Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on devices like the ROG Ally and Legion Go, and the feeling here is similar. Not in raw power comparisons, but in that same sense of admiration—Square Enix managing to package something this dense, cinematic, and emotionally loaded into a handheld experience without it feeling compromised at first glance. That same awe of seeing this classic reimagined is still intact, even on a smaller screen.

Living with 30fps

Performance-wise, the most noticeable limitation is the 30fps cap. It’s there, and anyone coming from a 60fps playthrough will notice it immediately. That said, it never felt like a dealbreaker to me.

Command inputs still land cleanly, combat remains responsive, and nothing about the experience felt sluggish. If you’re sensitive to frame rate shifts, this might take some adjustment. But in motion, and especially in handheld, it rarely pulls focus away from the game itself.

Streamlined progression, real relief

One feature that quietly made a big difference for me is the new Streamlined Progression option. Being able to start with maxed-out stats, unlimited resources, and reduced friction is a genuine quality-of-life win—especially for players who’ve already finished the game once and don’t necessarily want to grind their way through Midgar again.

It turns Intergrade into a smoother re-experience, letting you focus on the story beats and combat flow rather than progression systems you already know by heart.

The storage reality check

The less glamorous reality check comes with storage. At roughly 90GB, this is a heavy install, particularly if—like me—you lean heavily toward digital purchases. I had to delete three games just to make room.

If you have the option to go physical on Switch 2, that might be the more practical route, especially as more large-scale ports make their way onto the platform.

A familiar journey, made portable

Contextually, this release matters beyond just another port. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade arriving on Switch 2 is part of Square Enix’s broader push to bring the entire remake trilogy to more platforms, with the final entry already in development.

It also reinforces Intergrade as the most accessible entry point into the series—bundling the main campaign with the Yuffie-led EPISODE INTERmission, and now offering features that lower the barrier for newcomers while respecting returning players’ time.

At US$39.99, it lands at a price that feels fair. Whether you’re completely new to Final Fantasy VII Remake or just want a portable version of a game you already love, this is an easy recommendation—storage caveats aside.

Overall, this is an impressive Switch 2 port. Not perfect, not trying to outmuscle the PS5 version, but confident in what it is. Seeing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade run this well, this comfortably, on a handheld still feels a little surreal—and that alone makes it worth playing again.

If you’re looking for deeper technical breakdowns and direct comparisons with the PS4 and PS5 versions, Digital Foundry continues to do excellent work on that front. But as a lived-in experience, this one already earns its place on the Switch 2.

Reviews

HONOR X9d 5G review: Tougher, more long-lasting and optimized

Beyond all the marketing, it’s a compelling all-around smartphone that actually works well

Published

January 22, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

If you’re planning on getting the HONOR X9d 5G, do me a favor: don’t throw it on purpose. Don’t drop it on the floor or in water, nor do anything reckless to it.

For one, it will void your standard warranty. The point is, you don’t need to subject the phone to those bizarre stress tests you see online.

Just know that if you’re unlucky enough at some point, it will likely survive accidental drops, splashes, and more mishaps.

Beyond all the marketing, the X9d simply works like a well-oiled machine — so far. That’s what HONOR’s latest entry to its popular and best-selling X series midrange line is meant to deliver.

And all things considered, it has the makings of a compelling all-around device in its segment. Let’s dissect further.

Tough, durable, more water-resistant

It’s only fair to get the toughness part out of the way first. On paper, the HONOR X9d 5G boasts drop resistance of up to 2.5 meters. Pretty darn good.

Our team even used the back panel as a makeshift chopping board, and it resisted scratches.

The biggest upgrade: quadruple IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for water and dust resistance.

This level of protection is now becoming standard across Android releases, and HONOR has kept up well.

It’s reassuring to know it can withstand spills, hot liquids, and even stronger splashes or full submersion. Again, hopefully only by accident.

Think of all this as insurance you’re paying for. If nothing bad happens during the X9d’s lifetime, then consider yourself fortunate.

Performance: No major hiccups

The HONOR X9d 5G runs on a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor. It promises a “significant jump” in performance.

In the two weeks I’ve had the device, that claim felt true compared to my experience with the X9c last year.

The device just feels more responsive for swipes and touches. It loads apps quickly, and navigates smoothly overall.

I’ve already edited blogs and played back FHD videos on YouCut without issue. Rendering shortform videos for social media posting was equally seamless. Here are a few.

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

Gaming wise, the device holds up well for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Call of Duty Mobile.

These titles aren’t only “playable” per se, but also enjoyable even at high graphics. A dedicated panel also provides quick gaming-related controls.

Particularly, in CODM, panning felt very natural, without tweaking settings. The touch response was balanced and not overly sensitive so you don’t overcompensate.

Admittedly, I didn’t push it with more demanding titles, but how well it handled editing, multitasking is clearly a legitimate strength.

The only slowdown came after taking photos continuously for about half an hour during its launch date.

But it tells you modern handsets allocate resources heavily toward camera processing.

Ample audiovisuals

What’s great about the HONOR X9d is it delivers clear and sharp visuals whether gaming, editing, filming, or simply consuming content.

It features a 6.79-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with up to 6,000 nits of brightness. But the real deal here is the 427 ppi pixel density, making visuals look even more vivid and crisp.

This display makes reviewing photos and videos convenient — useful for content creators or for quick double-checking before posting on social media.

Watching sports highlights or casual clips in between also feels more immersive with consistently high-quality visuals.

Battery life

The biggest jump from the X9c, unarguably, is the battery capacity. The X9d packs an 8,300mAh LiPo battery.

It lasts easily two days with casual at-home use. Outdoors, it still has juice by midnight for long days.

That’s with mobile data and location on, and even using the phone as hotspot for other devices. Other tasks include browsing, watching, using the camera occasionally, and editing short-form videos.

Gaming for an hour consumes just about 10% battery life, compared to 15% for most competitor devices.

The extra endurance pays off at the end of the day when you need entertainment or connectivity.

My only gripe is the device heats up significantly with hotspot turned on. Sometimes, it shuts itself off. That interrupts whatever you’re doing on connected devices.

Anyway, charging is surprisingly optimized. Despite the huge capacity, the 66W charging can refuel it back from 30% to full in just over an hour.

I do not wait for my phone to drain too much, but it should normally take just about 90 minutes from 1% to full.

Camera performance: Par for the course

Furthermore, the HONOR X9d 5G once again excels when with its camera performance.

The 108MP main camera delivers sharp and clear shots at up to 3X zoom with good lighting. Colors lean toward vivid and lively, so you don’t have to post-process a ton.

Some samples:

But for such, HONOR’s camera app includes a generous lineup of pre-built filters that are actually useful, similar to those on the 400 and 400 Pro.

Night Mode brightens scenes with its own preset, while portraits can be smooth from different focal lengths.

Video recording at 1080@60 is generally smooth with OIS. Results are vlog-ready, and parallax shots don’t experience much jitters either.

The selfie camera holds up pretty well too with detail, while portrait mode actually adds depth.

Though video lighting can be tricky at times. After too many shots, the shutter occasionally lags too.

But overall, there isn’t anything too bad to say. The system is arguably one of the most pleasing in its class.

Especially in this segment, camera systems can make or break the midrange device’s value proposition.

I enjoyed using the device’s camera for both stills and videos. The responsiveness is straightforwardly quick for spontaneous moments too.

More photos:

Design

I’m glad HONOR ditched the curved sides in favor of a flat display with rounded corners.

Thankfully, the UI is optimized so content isn’t cut off at the corners nor seams. The razor-thin bezels keep you focused on the panel.

The backside of the Reddish Brown variant does resemble the HUAWEI Mate XT at first glance, which is understandable. But it still stands out with its own identity and style.

HONOR’s camera system retains the signature watch face look, paired with a gold plate-like logo at the bottom third.

The HONOR X9d runs on MagicOS 9.0 out of the box, and the UI looks neat overall and easy to tinker with.

There’s AI features here and there, but from the home screen, AI Suggestions actually help you pick up from where you left off.

Optimized connectivity

In relation to its aesthetic, the choice to have a plastic frame, instead of an aluminum one, benefits connectivity.

Wi-Fi connection felt more stable. On mobile data, though still signal strength-dependent, the phone can provide reliable network speeds.

Naturally, congestion and challenging spots can choke performance. Competitors do have ways of optimizing network selection better, which could be what HONOR works on next.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The HONOR X9d 5G earns a solid Swipe Right. It’s a durable and reliable mid-ranger offered at a fair price of PhP 18,999 (12GB+256GB).

I understand why some suggest opting for cheaper, niche-specific devices, especially for gaming.

But the X9d posits itself as a formidable all-around contender, and for the most part, it checks all the right boxes.

With proper usage, maintenance, and care, it carries the aura of the device that can confidently last four to five years.

Reviews

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G review: The midrange fashion piece

Work-ready and style-friendly!

Published

January 16, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Lately, I’ve been trying to move through life with more intention.

I dress a little more thoughtfully before heading out and pay attention to how things fit together, from clothes to accessories to how my bag is packed. It makes ordinary days feel a touch more polished, even when I am rushing between errands.

That shift has changed how I consider what I bring with me every day. My smartphone is no longer something I grab as an afterthought.

It’s something I want to feel comfortable holding; something that should look at home beside a composed outfit; and something dependable when the day inevitably moves faster than planned.

It was in that season that I met the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G in Mocha Brown which felt less like a piece of technology and more like an accessory chosen on purpose.

The faux leather finish feels refined and warm, with the kind of understated elegance that makes you want to build a look around it rather than hide it behind a case.

A study in texture and taste

Mocha Brown belongs in the same universe as a well-made leather bag or a dependable pair of polished loafers. It has that beautiful tension between simplicity and richness that makes fashion personal.

The faux leather back introduces texture and warmth. The clean lines and slim profile bring a sense of restraint. And then there are the gold sides and camera island — a gentle nod to discrete luxury.

Placed on a café table, held in a mirrored elevator, or tucked into a structured bag, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G looks like it belongs.

The design’s appeal doesn’t end with looks. Beneath the refined exterior is Redmi’s Titan Durability, a reinforced build that protects against drops, pressure, and everyday wear without disturbing the silhouette.

It looks elegant and feels considered rather than delicate. And it is built to last, even when life is anything but gentle.

Built like your favorite designer bag

As a lifestyle journalist, Titan Durability sounds like a clever way of making toughness chic.

As someone who also works in marketing, I appreciate messaging that distills strength and longevity into one cohesive idea.

On paper, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G carries IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings, making it one of the most water-resistant smartphones available today. IP6X protection keeps out fine particles.

Translated into real life, it simply means peace of mind.

Fashion rarely accounts for the least glamorous moments, yet those moments make up most of our day. I bring my smartphone into the bath, to the sink while washing dishes, and to the kitchen while prepping meals.

I even bring it through mud during obstacle courses, which is my sport. Frankly, I will not deny that I am glued to my phones.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G kept up even when my fingers were wet and soiled. The display responded and the buttons worked.

The speakers stayed clear after dealing with dirt and sand. More importantly, the charging port remained unaffected — something I wish I could say of my iPhone.

Durability also means not flinching at drops. Titan Durability includes a high-strength motherboard, a strengthened midframe, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front.

The phone can withstand drops from up to 2.5 meters onto smooth granite and remain intact.

I saw that firsthand when we brought the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G to an outdoor gym last year. It survived everything without theatrics.

A year later, and the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G keeps that resilience, only this time more refined and even stronger.

With this kind of durability, you stop bracing for impact. You simply pick it up and keep going.

The luxury of not worrying about battery

With our days stitched together by notifications, playlists, messages, and endless streams of content, battery life becomes less about numbers.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G’s 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery delivered two full days of use — impressive for someone who treats his phone as both companion and workhorse.

My morning begins with TikTok streaks and Olivia Dean on Spotify, transitions into message threads, “research” tabs, and campaign decks, and ends with Netflix and guilty-pleasure reality shows. It lasted through all of it without anxiety or the constant search for sockets.

Even a full binge-watch barely made a dent, and I finished Netflix’s Emily in Paris Season 5 without glancing at battery percentage every twenty minutes or so.

When power finally ran low, the 100W HyperCharge restored it in under an hour — 40 minutes with boost mode, to be exact.

With Xiaomi’s Surge Battery Management retaining at least 80% capacity after 1600 charge cycles, longevity extends beyond trends and seasons.

And with a battery this large, the 22.5W wired reverse charging was surprisingly useful for powering tiny accessories during long days out.

Now Playing: Emily in Paris Season 5

I have a soft spot for shows that blend glamour with a messy life, and there are few that do it as playfully as Emily in Paris.

The series feels like a whimsical mirror of my own world, not in couture or runway theatrics, but in the puzzle of pitching ideas, building campaigns, and keeping clients excited.

In my case, the settings are less Fendi and more coffee shops, restaurants, and meeting rooms, with deadlines tucked between lunch breaks and dinners that double as strategy sessions.

Season 5 charmed me with its exploration of becoming: Emily balancing ambition, romance, and her place in the world, choosing herself and her dreams with a conviction that felt quietly familiar.

Growth rarely arrives fully accessorized. It shows up in small decisions and the uncomfortable honesty of knowing what you want. It was fun to watch that unfold onscreen while trying to do the same offscreen.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G’s All-Around Liquid Display made the experience feel indulgent. The 6.83-inch screen and 3,200 nits of peak brightness meant that Parisian drama and Roman escapades played beautifully even as I sunbathed on my balcony.

Dual stereo speakers and a 400% volume boost brought every soundtrack moment to life, though I will admit that some of Mindy Chen’s covers fall short of the earlier seasons. “Mon Soleil” is still undefeated. “Espresso” was fine, but let’s not pretend it was iconic.

If you are in your millennial era of preferring ambience over noise, the 400% boost can feel like wearing platform heels to brunch–fun in theory, aggressive in practice — though very useful when you need to drown out the world.

Tailored for the day’s demands

My unit came with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, which meant I had more than enough room to capture photos and record videos for Instagram Reels without ever worrying about space.

Multitasking is easy and apps load without hesitation. Moving between work, content creation, social media, and streaming never felt taxing.

Xiaomi HyperAI adds another layer to the experience, with features like AI Writing, AI Speech Recognition, AI Interpreter, AI Search, and AI Dynamic Wallpapers.

The Dynamic Wallpapers, in particular, stood out to me. They add a sense of personality, and they make the device feel more personal when you take the time to customize it.

Well dressed, but slightly unfinished

Performance is not only about speed and capability. It’s also about how it feels to use something every day. For a phone that presents itself as a statement piece, the user experience doesn’t quite match the couture-level confidence of its exterior.

HyperOS functions well, yet it rarely feels elegant. Finding themes that feel refined requires effort, and the overall interface leans more practical than polished.

The presence of bloatware is another friction point. From the moment the phone was turned on, several pre-installed apps appeared that I didn’t need or ask for.

They weren’t disruptive enough to break the experience, though they did distract from an otherwise composed first impression.

When you decide to glow up, it should go beyond appearances. Performance is part of that transformation. The screen is what we interact with all day, not the back of the phone, and the interface plays a big role in whether a device feels joyful to use.

You enjoy something more when you genuinely like how it performs and how it presents itself.

Thankfully, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G is a very capable midrange smartphone at its core. Its performance is dependable and its power is, surely, unquestionable.

With a more refined user interface and fewer distractions, it would feel as elevated on the inside as it looks on the outside.

When life becomes a lookbook

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G comes with a 200-megapixel camera system supported by a 200-megapixel AI Engine, which is safe to say it’s well-suited for slice-of-life storytelling.

It turns ordinary days into scenes worth remembering, capturing meals, places, outfits, and fleeting romance with clarity that looks beautiful on Instagram Stories.

That is something Emily Cooper would appreciate: the art of noticing, and the belief that even mundane things deserve to be romanticized.

I brought the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G with me through my usual rituals and a short island escape. It handled golden hour and mirror selfies with equal charm. Night time? Not so much unless you do it in Pro Mode.

Even so, details held up even when I cropped generously for Stories, and colors stayed true enough to feel editorial without being overstyled.

Is the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G your GadgetMatch?

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G feels like it was made for everyday affairs and misadventures.

There’s a confidence that comes from its Titan Durability, capable cameras, and an enduring battery; you worry less about keeping your phone pristine and you focus more on living.

If there is anything that betrays the illusion of luxury, it’s the software experience, which felt less polished than the hardware deserved.

For a device styled as fashionably as the Mocha Brown edition, I found myself wishing the UI and UX felt equally couture.

Swipe Right if you want a midrange phone that understands lifestyle as much as performance and can keep pace with intentional living.

Swipe Left if you need specialized power–better cameras or serious gaming, par exemple — and cannot compromise on those fronts.

For the rest of us, who value a mix of design, durability, and everyday capability at an accessible price, it’s a Super Swipe.

Because with everything it got, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G earns the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G retails for PhP 27,999. For the online-exclusive 12GB/256GB variant, it retails for PhP 25,999.

It comes in Mocha Brown, Glacier Blue, and Black. Along with the rest of the Redmi Note 15 series, it’s currently available on mi.com and across e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

Promotional offers

The Redmi Note 15 series comes with added peace of mind through a comprehensive ownership package.

Buyers receive a 4-year battery replacement warranty, 2-year liquid damage coverage, and 2-year front and back cover replacement, all covered under a 2-year overall warranty.

The Redmi Note 15 series is also available via 0% interest installment plans through Home Credit. Monthly payments start at PhP 1,199 for up to 18 months.

From January 16 to 29, buyers can enjoy PhP 2,000 off the Redmi Note 15 Pro and Pro+ 5G. It comes with a free Xiaomi Smart Band 10 and a Black Box Gift Set. From January 30 to February 8, the free gifts continue even as the cash discount ends.

Every purchase also includes three months of Spotify Premium and a three-month 100GB cloud storage plan.