REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G Drift Test - Durability Review Malaysia

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Denise

Denise combines seven years of tech journalism expertise with testing to deliver trustworthy product recommendations. An analytica ...

Why Even Use a Phone for Motorsports?

So here's the thing about shooting motorsports - it is one of the most demanding environments you can throw a camera into. You're dealing with:

Cars moving at high speeds with unpredictable movements
Smoke, dust, and debris flying everywhere
No opportunity for retakes (especially when you're burning through tyres)
Constant risk of equipment damage

Traditional cinema cameras and DSLRs are expensive, fragile, and require constant babying. Drop one? That's thousands of ringgit down the drain. Get dust in the sensor? You're done for the day.

When Xiaomi told us they had a durability-focused phone coming up, we saw an opportunity. Forget the boring drop tests and scratch tests, because let's see if this thing can actually handle real-world abuse in the form of a proper drift video.

The Durability Claim: Built Like a Tank

The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G isn't trying to be the most powerful camera phone on the market (Xiaomi even makes more capable phones with 8K recording and LOG profiles), but instead is focusing on something arguably more critical for action shooting: durability.

Xiaomi calls it the "Titan Durability" - it is marketing speak that actually translates to some impressive engineering:

10x more impact resistant with a high-strength fibreglass back panel
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 can withstand a 2.5-meter front drop test
Certified with SGS Premium Performance Certification - 5 Stars for drop, crush, and bend resistance
REDMI Titan Structure - features a high-strength motherboard and a reinforced mid frame for long-term durability and reliability for everyday use
IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K water and dust resistance
2-year warranty covering screen and battery damage

On paper, these specs sound good. But can it actually handle being mounted to a drifting car, getting soaked under the heavy rain, and shooting for six hours straight under the Malaysian sun?

The Setup: Two Cars, No Second Chances

We kept the setup deliberately simple:

2 cars with experienced drift drivers
1 set of tyres per car (once they're done, we're done)
Suction cup mounts for POV shots
Basic rigs for handheld footage
A safety harness (because apparently someone thought strapping Umar to the outside of a car was a good idea, but he ended up shooting from the boot anyway)

Camera Settings

The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G shoots 4K at 30fps, the maximum resolution and frame rate available. There's no Pro Mode for video (only for photos), so we used an external app to manually control ISO and shutter speed for proper motion blur. We also added an ND filter to control exposure in bright sunlight.

Yes, we're nerding out on a phone camera setup. But if you're going to use unconventional gear, you should use it properly.

The Photography Specs Actually Matter

While we abused one phone as a video camera, we used a second REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G for photography. The specs here are genuinely impressive:

200MP main camera with a large 1/1.4" sensor
4x optical-level zoom (in-sensor zoom, not digital)
Excellent detail retention even when shooting from a distance

Having that telephoto reach was crucial because when cars are drifting and throwing smoke and debris everywhere, you would really want to keep your distance. The 4x zoom lets us capture crisp shots without putting ourselves (or the phone) directly in the line of fire.

The Real Test: Six Hours of Continuous Shooting

We started both phones at 100% battery and didn't charge them once during the entire shoot. Six hours under the sun, just constantly recording, reviewing footage, and taking photos.

The 6500mAh battery held up remarkably well — more on that at the end.

When Malaysia's Weather Became Part of the Test

One shot we absolutely needed was the classic tyre-through-water splash. We were planning to manufacture the moment with a few bottles of water when, in perfect Malaysian fashion, the weather had other plans.

Towards the end of the shoot, the skies opened up. Rain on a drift track means natural puddles, wet asphalt, and the kind of dramatic spray we couldn't have created artificially. It also meant an unplanned stress test for the phone's water resistance (yes!).

We mounted the phone at a low angle to capture the full effect of tyres cutting through standing water. As the cars roared through, the phone took a direct hit - not just a splash, but a proper soaking from both the rain and the tyre spray.

Thanks to the IP69K rating and Xiaomi's "AI Wet Touch 2.0," the touchscreen remained fully functional even while water was running down it: no protective cases, no towelling off between takes, no waiting for it to dry. We just kept shooting straight through the downpour.

If anything, the rain made for better footage and proved the durability claims weren't just marketing fluff.

The Results

After six hours of:

Being mounted to drifting cars
Some pouring rain
Exposure to smoke, dust, and debris
Constant vibration and impact
KL’s unforgiving heat

The phone didn't have a single scratch. Not one. The screen was intact, the body showed no damage, and it kept recording as if nothing had happened.

The battery? 89% after six hours of filming. Now, you be the judge of that.

What About Image Quality?

Here's where you need to manage expectations. The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G isn't a cinema camera. It doesn't shoot in LOG. It won't replace a RED or ARRI for professional productions.

But the footage? Genuinely impressive for what it is.

The 4K 30fps footage held up well in editing and colour grading. Yes, there's a limit to how far you can push the colour, but for social media content, YouTube uploads, or even client work that doesn't require theatrical projection, it's more than adequate.

The 200MP photos showed excellent colour and contrast, with sharp details even in challenging lighting conditions. The 4x zoom shots remained crisp, avoiding the mushy look you typically get from digital zoom.

The Verdict: A Tool That Doesn't Get in the Way

The best camera is the one you're willing to actually use. When you're shooting in extreme conditions, having expensive equipment can make you hesitant to use it. You pull back on shots, you play it safe, you worry about repair costs.

The REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G costs a fraction of professional camera gear, but it freed us up to shoot the way we wanted. We mounted it in risky positions, got it dirty, and didn’t have to stress about damage. That creative freedom is worth more than marginal improvements in image quality.

So, is it the best camera for motorsports? Probably not.

But is it the most practical one for this kind of shoot? Absolutely.

For content creators, social media managers, or anyone who needs decent footage without the constant anxiety of equipment damage, this phone makes a compelling case. The durability isn't just a gimmick - it genuinely changes how you approach shooting.

Would we use it again for similar projects? Without hesitation. Sometimes the best gear is the gear that lets you focus on getting the shot instead of protecting your equipment.

Watch the video here!

Pricing and Availability

The REDMI Note 15 Series is now available for pre-order and purchase in Malaysia: