Two budget phones priced at 12–14 thousand rubles with AMOLED screens, batteries over 6000 mAh, and NFC. Choosing between them isn’t as easy as it seems, because these are the brand-new REDMI Note 15 and realme P4. I’ve had both in my hands for several weeks. Now I’m sharing honestly what each does better and who should get which one.

Comparison of two budget smartphones of 2026

realme P4 and REDMI Note 15 — Prices in 2026

On AliExpress, the REDMI Note 15 smartphone starts at around 12,000 rubles, and the realme P4 starts at around 13,500 rubles. In Russian retail, the picture is different: the realme P4 starts at 15,499 rubles on sale and 16,999 without, while the REDMI Note 15 is more expensive in retail. So if you’re buying through marketplaces — REDMI is the better deal; if through Russian retail — realme is.

The package contents are identical in composition for both: a case, a power adapter, a Type-C cable, and a SIM tray ejector pin. But the case quality differs. The REDMI Note 15 comes with an opaque matte black case that feels pleasant to the touch and is practical. The realme P4 has a wavy transparent case — it looks interesting but collects fingerprints.

Package contents of the realme P4 (left) and REDMI Note 15 (right)

Both cases provide real protection — they’re not just token covers.

Design and Ergonomics

The realme P4 is visually more interesting. In my case, the vibrant Racing Purple color, the signature stripes on the back, and the flat edges — this smartphone stands out among generic budget phones. It sits on a table and people ask what it is.

The REDMI Note 15 in Forest Green looks calmer and less flashy. But in hand — it’s a completely different feeling:

  • weight 183.7 g versus 205 g for the realme;
  • thickness 7.94 mm versus 8.09 mm;
  • curved side edges on the display;
  • a more elongated body.

The realme P4 with its flat edges feels more massive and angular. This isn’t a disadvantage — some people prefer this form factor. Plus, the body is protected against moisture and dust. But personally, I find the REDMI Note 15’s ergonomics more comfortable, even though the realme wins on looks.

Smartphones with Good Screens — Which One Is Better?

Both are AMOLED, both 120 Hz, with nearly identical diagonals: 6.8 inches for the realme versus 6.77 for the REDMI. But the impressions differ. The REDMI Note 15 is visually more pleasant as a screen: curved edges on the sides, relatively symmetrical and thin bezels, and a 93% screen-to-body ratio. Plus 3840 Hz PWM with 16,000 brightness levels (important for those sensitive to flickering). TÜV Rheinland certifications for blue light and flicker — not marketing, but real tests.

The realme’s screen is brighter (right), and you can feel it

However, the realme P4’s screen is brighter: 1200 nits HBM versus 800 nits for the REDMI. In the summer sun, this makes a difference: the realme’s screen is more readable in direct sunlight. Both have FHD+ resolution with roughly the same pixel density. Both have in-display fingerprint scanners, but the REDMI Note 15’s responds noticeably faster. At the same time, the realme P4 features a physical proximity sensor, which prevents accidental touches during calls (the REDMI has a virtual one).

Performance: Snapdragon 685 vs Helio G100

This is the most important section of the realme P4 vs REDMI Note 15 comparison. The difference in speed exists and is noticeable in everyday use. Processors: Helio G100-Ultra for the REDMI versus Snapdragon 685 for the realme. The Helio is slightly more powerful, but the chip difference isn’t the main thing. The main thing is the memory type.

In the throttling test, the realme P4 (left) shows higher performance

The REDMI Note 15 uses UFS 2.2, while the realme P4 uses eMMC 5.1. These are different storage speed standards, and you can feel the difference:

  • the realme P4 occasionally stutters when opening and switching between apps;
  • the REDMI Note 15 experiences this noticeably less often;
  • the fingerprint scanner on the REDMI responds faster precisely because of the faster storage;
  • in games, the smartphones perform roughly the same (the processor matters more than storage there).

In everyday use, the REDMI Note 15 feels subjectively smoother. For those accustomed to fast smartphones, the eMMC in the realme P4 can be annoying.

Comparing realme UI and HyperOS Interfaces

There’s an interesting situation here: each has its own drawback. The REDMI Note 15 launched with HyperOS 2 and has already received an update to HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. The realme P4 is still on realme UI 6.0 with Android 15, though an update to realme UI 7.0 with Android 16 should be coming.

You open any app on the REDMI, and you see this

But the Android version isn’t the only criterion. HyperOS on budget Xiaomi smartphones is a story of its own:

  • ads in system apps;
  • over a dozen pre-installed partner apps that need to be manually removed;
  • constant notifications from Xiaomi system services during the first days of use;
  • the shell’s functionality on budget REDMI phones is noticeably poorer than on flagship Xiaomi models.

realme UI, despite its older Android version, is noticeably cleaner and more functional:

  • AI photo editor right in the gallery: object removal, sharpening, detail enhancement;
  • intuitive interface without unnecessary layers and hidden settings;
  • the built-in dialer allows call recording without warning;
  • no ads in system apps out of the box.

The ads in HyperOS can be disabled and the bloatware removed, but it takes time and a willingness to dig into settings. If you just want to pick up the phone and use it, the realme P4 is more convenient from day one.

REDMI Note 15 and realme P4 Cameras

The affordable smartphone with a good camera in this comparison is the REDMI Note 15. The gap here is significant. Main cameras:

  • REDMI Note 15: 108 MP, 1/1.67-inch sensor, f/1.7, maximum digital zoom 20x;
  • realme P4: 50 MP, 1/2.88-inch sensor, f/1.8, no OIS, maximum zoom 10x.

In daylight, both shoot decently. But when zooming in, the difference is noticeable: the realme P4’s quality starts dropping sooner, while the REDMI Note 15 maintains detail longer thanks to its larger sensor.

Night photo with 3x zoom on realme P4 (left) and REDMI Note 15 (right)

The difference is especially noticeable with the front camera in night conditions. The realme P4’s front camera is frankly weaker: night selfies come out noisy and with poor detail. The REDMI Note 15 performs significantly better.

Night selfie on realme P4 (left) and REDMI Note 15 (right)

The video situation is the same:

  • REDMI Note 15: 1080p@60fps, digital stabilization works more confidently, the image is less grainy;
  • realme P4: only 1080p@30fps, stabilization is weaker, the processor can’t handle it.

If photography matters to you, the choice is obvious. The REDMI Note 15’s camera is objectively better regardless of the shooting scenario.

Battery — The Main Advantage of the realme P4

The smartphone with a powerful battery in this duo is definitely the realme P4. A 7000 mAh silicon-carbon battery versus 6000 mAh for the REDMI Note 15. The difference in battery life is real:

  • realme P4 in moderate use — two days without charging;
  • REDMI Note 15 in moderate use — a day and a half.

The charging speed difference is also noticeable: 45W for the realme versus 33W for the REDMI. A full charge cycle for the realme P4 takes just over an hour — the REDMI Note 15 takes longer. The realme P4’s silicon-carbon battery is rated for 1,600 charge cycles. This means that after several years, the battery will lose capacity more slowly than the standard lithium-ion in the REDMI Note 15. A long-term argument in favor of realme.

What to Buy: realme P4 or REDMI Note 15

Personally, I’d go with the REDMI, but I’d recommend the realme to you

The realme P4 and REDMI Note 15 are both honest budget phones among smartphones under 15,000 rubles, but for different people. Here’s a simple decision guide.

Buy the REDMI Note 15 if:

  • speed matters to you (UFS 2.2 vs eMMC 5.1 — it’s noticeable);
  • you take a lot of photos (camera and video are objectively better);
  • you prefer better ergonomics (lighter, thinner, more comfortable in hand);
  • you’re willing to spend 20–30 minutes cleaning ads from the firmware.

Buy the realme P4 if:

  • you want two days without charging (the difference from the REDMI is real);
  • a clean, ad-free firmware out of the box matters to you;
  • you’re buying a smartphone for parents or someone who doesn’t want to dig into settings;
  • you’re buying from Russian retail (the realme P4 is better priced there).

My personal choice as a tech enthusiast is the REDMI Note 15 for its speed and camera. For an average person who just wants a reliable smartphone, I’d recommend the realme P4: simpler, cleaner, longer battery life.