Redmi 15 5G has officially launched in India, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for Xiaomi, once the undisputed market leader, the company is now fighting to regain lost ground in a fiercely competitive smartphone market.
The new Redmi 15 5G comes with a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 33W charging, and can even reverse-charge other devices. Powering the phone is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. On the front, there’s a 144Hz TÜV Rheinland-certified display, while the rear houses a 50MP camera. Software is handled by HyperOS 2.0 (based on Android 15), complete with Google Gemini AI features like Circle to Search.
Pricing starts at ₹14,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB versions cost ₹15,999 and ₹16,999, respectively. Sales begin August 28 via Amazon, Xiaomi’s official site, and retail stores. Buyers can choose between Frosted White, Midnight Black, and Sandy Purple colorways.
The nostalgia play: “Kiska Baja?”
It’s hard not to look at the Redmi 15 without remembering Xiaomi’s “Kiska Baja?” TVC campaign, a cheeky ad that aired when the brand was at its peak in India between 2017–2021. Back then, fueled by the Redmi Note and Redmi A series, Xiaomi had already disrupted the market with its aggressive “value-for-money” strategy.
The ad captured that dominance perfectly: everyone in the ad had the same Xiaomi ringtone, sparking the punchline “Kiska baja?” (whose bell has been rung?). It wasn’t just marketing; it was a reflection of reality. Xiaomi was the default choice for millions of Indian users, and rivals were genuinely rattled.
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Kiska Baja No More? Xiaomi’s Market Share Shrinks to Single Digits
But the landscape has shifted. According to IDC, Xiaomi’s market share in India slipped to around 7–8% in Q1 2025, down sharply from its 26% peak in early 2021 when it was the country’s No. 1 brand. Competitors like Samsung, Vivo, and Realme have surged ahead with aggressive retail expansion and premium-leaning portfolios.
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Can the Redmi 15 do it again?
Well, the value-for-money playbook that Xiaomi mastered before the pandemic isn’t as sustainable today. In a world shaped by shifting geopolitics, fluctuating import duties, and volatile component and memory prices, brands are being pressed harder than ever.
That means the Redmi 15 has its work cut out. It’s clear that wooing back the massive mid-range buyer base in the same segment that built Xiaomi’s empire in the first place isn’t that easy. But whether it can spark a turnaround remains the big question.
We’ll find out soon enough: the Redmi 15 goes on sale in India on August 28. For now, only time will tell if this phone can deliver Xiaomi’s next “Kiska Baja” moment.
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