The Pros and Cons of realme 15 Pro 5G

The realme number series has always been a popular choice for its good value, and the realme 15 Pro 5G continues that tradition. Interestingly, this model now stands as the highest version in the lineup, as realme no longer releases a Pro+ model. So, does it perform as well as the realme 14 Pro+, or is it closer to the realme 14 Pro?

At first glance, the realme 15 Pro 5G brings several nice upgrades. In some areas, it even performs better than the previous Pro+ model. So, let’s take a look at its pros and cons!

Pros of realme 15 Pro 5G

The realme 15 Pro 5G is priced at around USD 400 and above, similar to the realme 14 Pro+ when it was first released. Here are some of the highlights that make this phone worth considering.

1. 50 MP Triple Camera Setup

The realme 15 Pro 5G features a triple camera setup with a main 50 MP sensor. This setup includes two cameras on the back and one on the front. It’s slightly different from the realme 14 Pro+, which had three cameras on the back including a telephoto lens for zoom shots.

Unfortunately, the telephoto lens is missing from the realme 15 Pro 5G, even though this phone is positioned as the top model in the series.

Still, the main 50 MP camera performs very well. It uses a Sony IMX896 sensor with a size of 1/1.56 inches and an f/1.8 aperture. The sensor captures light effectively, and features like multi-directional PDAF and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) help deliver sharper and clearer photos.

The secondary camera is a 50 MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.0 aperture. This is a higher resolution than the ultrawide camera on the regular realme 15 5G. It captures wider scenes and fits more objects in one shot that's great for landscape or group photos.

On the front, the realme 15 Pro 5G also carries a 50 MP camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The selfie quality is quite good, and it can record videos up to 4K at 60fps. The video results are also more stable with the combination of gyro-EIS and OIS.

2. AI Features for Photography

The realme 15 Pro 5G comes with AI-powered features that enhance the camera’s performance. One of them is AI Party Mode, a special mode designed to improve photo quality in party settings or low-light conditions.

With this AI feature, skin tones look more natural and lively, lighting becomes better with added effects, and photo details appear clearer. These enhancements are powered by what realme calls the Triple Party AI Algorithms. The Portrait Mode also works well to create more memorable photos during events or parties.

Another interesting addition is the Custom Party Watermark feature. It allows users to add stylish watermarks to their photos that can give each picture a more personal and creative touch.

The phone also includes AI Edit Genie, another smart feature that lets users edit photos using voice commands. You can simply say what you want to change, and the AI will apply the edits automatically. However, it currently supports only around 20 languages. More languages may be added through future updates.

3. Strong Performance with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

As a mid-range smartphone, the realme 15 Pro 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. Released in early 2025, this processor is built for phones that need strong and efficient performance. Other models, such as the vivo V60, also use this chipset.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 offers a major upgrade in both speed and AI performance. It improves AI tasks by up to 200 percent compared to its predecessor. It even includes some high-end gaming features usually found in the Snapdragon 8 series, such as the Adaptive Performance Engine 4.0 for better HDR visuals.

This 4 nm chipset uses an eight-core architecture. It includes one Cortex 720-based Kryo Prime core running at 2.8 GHz, four Cortex 720-based Kryo Gold cores at 2.4 GHz for performance, and three Cortex 520-based Kryo Silver cores at 1.84 GHz for efficiency.

For graphics, it uses the Adreno 722 GPU with a clock speed of 1150 MHz to deliver smooth visuals for gaming and video playback. The phone also comes with 12 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and internal storage options of 256 GB or 512 GB (UFS 2.2). Other variants may be available in certain markets.

In benchmark tests, the realme 15 Pro 5G reportedly scores around 1.1 million points on AnTuTu due to the use of Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. For comparison, the previous Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 used in the realme 14 Pro+ reached only around 800,000 points.

Independent tests, such as those by GSMArena, show similar results, with scores of about 1.09 million on AnTuTu 10. This performance makes the realme 15 Pro 5G capable of handling heavy multitasking and demanding games smoothly. It’s clearly one of the strongest performers in its class.

4. Up to 3 Years of OS Upgrade Guarantee

Even though it belongs to the mid-range category, realme still provides a solid software update guarantee for its phones. The realme 15 Pro 5G, for example, comes with up to three major Android upgrades. This same promise also applies to the regular realme 15 5G and even to earlier models like the realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro+.

At launch, the realme 15 Pro 5G runs on Android 15 with the Realme UI 6.0 interface. This means the phone can stay updated at least until Android 18, expected to arrive around 2028, assuming Android versions continue to release yearly.

In addition to OS upgrades, the phone also gets security patch updates for about four years. With this kind of support, the realme 15 Pro 5G is a good choice for users who want a phone that can last for several years without feeling outdated.

5. Curved Screen with 144 Hz Refresh Rate

The realme 15 Pro 5G features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display to continue the same panel type used in the previous generation. It supports Full HD+ resolution (1280 x 2800 pixels) and delivers bright, sharp visuals. The screen also comes with HyperGlow 4D Curve+ technology.

One of the standout features of this screen is its 144 Hz refresh rate. This is higher than the 120 Hz found on the realme 14 Pro series and matches the refresh rate of the regular realme 15 5G. With this high refresh rate, scrolling, animations, and gameplay feel much smoother and more responsive.

The display is also bright enough for outdoor use. It reaches up to 6500 nits peak brightness, so you can still see the screen clearly even under strong sunlight. For protection, realme uses Gorilla Glass 7i to make the screen more resistant to scratches and minor drops.

6. Loud Stereo Speaker Support

The realme 15 Pro 5G comes with dual stereo speakers that deliver louder and clearer sound. This setup creates a more immersive experience, especially when playing shooter games or watching movies. The sound feels balanced from both speakers. This is great for listening to music or streaming content.

The main speaker is placed at the bottom of the phone, while the secondary speaker is combined with the earpiece above the front camera.

In terms of volume, the realme 15 Pro 5G does not disappoint. It even features an Ultra Volume Mode that can boost the sound output by up to 300 percent.

However, sound quality can drop slightly at the highest volume. For the best experience, it’s better to keep it at 100 percent or lower. Higher levels should only be used in special situations, such as making calls in noisy environments.

7. 7000 mAh Battery with Fast Charging

One of the biggest improvements in the realme 15 Pro 5G is its battery capacity. It now packs a 7000 mAh battery, an upgrade from the 6000 mAh used in the realme 14 series. Despite the larger capacity, the phone still feels slim and not too heavy with its Silicon Carbon battery design.

In terms of endurance, realme claims the phone can last more than a day on a single charge. It can play music for up to 113 hours, stream YouTube for up to 22 hours, or record 4K videos at 60fps for about 4.4 hours.

The phone also supports 80W Ultra Charge, which has impressive charging speed for its price range. According to realme, the battery can reach 50 percent in just 25 minutes, while a full charge takes around 61 minutes.

Even a short 5-minute charge is useful in emergencies. It can power the phone for up to 1.15 hours of gaming or 3.3 hours of YouTube playback. The battery is also designed to maintain its health over time, so the phone is reliable for long-term use.

8. Slim Body with Strong Durability

As mentioned earlier, even though the realme 15 Pro 5G carries a large battery, the body remains slim and comfortable to hold. It measures only 7.79 mm thick and weighs around 187 grams. This makes it one of the few phones with a huge battery that still feels sleek and lightweight. You might not even guess its capacity just by looking at it.

The design looks elegant and modern, with a touch of luxury coming from its color options. The realme 15 Pro 5G is available in Velvet Green and Flowing Silver. Both colors have a smooth matte finish that feels nice to the touch and doesn’t easily collect fingerprints.

In terms of durability, the phone performs very well for its class. It maintains the IP68 and IP69 ratings from the previous generation, meaning it is resistant to dust and can handle high-pressure water jets. It can even survive being submerged in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes.

The realme 15 Pro 5G also meets the MIL-STD-810H military standard that makes it more resistant to shocks or drops from certain heights!

Cons of realme 15 Pro 5G

Despite its impressive capabilities, this phone still has some things to consider. This is understandable, considering no phone is perfect. Here are some of the realme 15 Pro 5G's shortcomings.

1. No Telephoto Camera

The realme 15 Pro 5G is now the highest model in the series after realme stopped releasing the Pro+ version. Because of that, many users expect it to match or even surpass the realme 14 Pro+ or 13 Pro+ in performance and features.

However, this phone falls short in one area, the camera setup. Unlike the previous Pro+ models, the realme 15 Pro 5G doesn't include a telephoto camera, which is useful for capturing distant objects with better clarity.

Instead, the phone depends on digital zoom from its main camera for long-distance photos. While the results are decent, the image quality is still below what a telephoto lens can offer.

2. No microSD Card Slot

Another thing to note is that the realme 15 Pro 5G does not have a microSD slot. This might be disappointing for users who like to expand their storage, but it’s becoming common among mid-range and flagship phones. Many brands remove this slot to maintain better overall performance and stability.

On the bright side, the phone already provides large storage options of up to 512 GB, along with 12 GB of RAM, which should be enough for storing plenty of photos, videos, and apps.

3. Missing Audio Jack

The realme 15 Pro 5G also doesn't come with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which can be inconvenient if you still use wired earphones. You’ll need a Type-C to 3.5 mm adapter to connect them, or switch to earphones that already use a Type-C connector.

A more practical solution is to use TWS or wireless earphones. This option is easier and more comfortable, especially since the realme 15 Pro 5G supports Bluetooth 5.4. The connection is stable, the sound delay is minimal, and it works well even when gaming.

Conclusion

realme 15 Pro 5G takes the place of the Pro+ models from the previous generations. Many users expected it to bring major improvements, but there are still a few downsides, especially in the camera section. The phone doesn't have a telephoto lens, so you only get a main and an ultrawide camera on the back.

Even so, the realme 15 Pro 5G still performs well as the top model in the series. Its bright and smooth AMOLED display, clear stereo speakers, and strong AI features make it enjoyable to use. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset also gives better performance for multitasking and gaming compared to the previous model.

The 7000 mAh battery is one of its biggest highlights. It lasts easily for more than a full day, making it a great option for users who want long battery life.

So, does the realme 15 Pro 5G deserve to be the highest model in the series? It may not be perfect, but its performance, features, and long-lasting battery make it a solid choice in the realme lineup.