Redmi Note 15 Special vs Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
The Redmi Note 15 Special (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads — 92/100 vs 54/100 (a 38-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has the bigger battery (8500 mAh vs 5800); the main camera is 50 MP vs 200 MP; the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is faster in AnTuTu (5,001,234 vs 840,353); the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has NFC for contactless payments, the Redmi Note 15 Special doesn't; the Redmi Note 15 Special is noticeably lighter (178g vs 235g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Redmi Note 15 Special
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
What makes Redmi Note 15 Special better?
- Lighter: 178g vs 235g
- Better portability (79/100 vs 33/100)
What makes Xiaomi 18 Pro Max better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5001234 vs 840353
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 1013
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 3000
- Bigger battery: 8500 vs 5800 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 45W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 50MP
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 55/100)
- Better camera (100/100 vs 34/100)
- Longer battery life (92/100 vs 55/100)
- Better display (82/100 vs 79/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Redmi Note 15 Special vs the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max scores 38 points higher (92/100 vs 54/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (100/100 vs 55/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (100/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads (92/100 vs 55/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (100/100 vs 55/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and the Redmi Note 15 Special are nearly equal (82/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (100/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (92/100 vs 55/100). In the "portability" category, the Redmi Note 15 Special significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max (79/100 vs 33/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Redmi Note 15 Special | Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | |
| AnTuTu | 840353 | 5001234 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1013 | 4327 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3000 | 12873 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.9" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1080x2392 | 1208x2624 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5800 mAh | 8500 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 50W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 200 MP | |
| Front camera | 20 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS 3 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3200 nits | 4000 nits | |
| NFC | no | yes | |
| Protection | IP66 | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 164.0×75.4×7.4 mm | 163.4×77.6×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 178 g | 235 g | |
| Launch price | — | $986 |
Camera comparison
Redmi Note 15 Special
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Front: 20MP
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 200MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Redmi Note 15 Special
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080x2392
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- 6.9" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 1208x2624
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Redmi Note 15 Special
- 5800 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
- 8500 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Redmi Note 15 Special and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads Redmi Note 15 Special by 83.2% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Redmi Note 15 Special
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (100/100 vs 55/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and the Redmi Note 15 Special are nearly equal (82/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (100/100 vs 34/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special (92/100 vs 55/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Redmi Note 15 Special significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max (79/100 vs 33/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Redmi Note 15 Special or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max significantly outperforms the Redmi Note 15 Special by 38 points (92/100 vs 54/100).
What is the rating of the Redmi Note 15 Special and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Redmi Note 15 Special has a MobileRank rating of 54/100, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max — 92/100.
Which has the better camera: the Redmi Note 15 Special or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads on camera score (100/100 vs 34/100).
Which is more powerful: the Redmi Note 15 Special or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads on performance (100/100 vs 55/100).
Should you choose the Redmi Note 15 Special over the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.