Emir BardakçıWe have been tracking Xiaomi’s software trajectory for years, and usually, the logic is simple: the more you pay, the longer you stay relevant. However, the latest data regarding the REDMI 15 series has left us completely baffled by a policy shift that feels like a step backward for the main lineup.
I recently looked into the official update schedules, and the results are jarring for anyone planning to pick up the standard Redmi 15. While the industry is moving toward longer support, Xiaomi has surprisingly slashed the longevity of its core budget model while giving its “cheaper” sibling the flagship treatment.
TL;DR: The Update Breakdown
- Redmi 15/15 5G: Only 2 years of Android updates (up to Android 17) and 4 years of security patches.
- Redmi 15C: A massive 4 years of Android updates (up to Android 19) and 6 years of security patches.
- Pricing Twist: The Redmi 15C starts at roughly $100 (approx. 4,327 TL), making it better value for long-term use.
- EOL Warning: The Redmi 15 will hit its End-of-Life (EOL) status as early as 2029, much sooner than expected.
Xiaomi ends Redmi 15 support earlier than expected: Only 2 Android updates
The Redmi 15 and Redmi 15 5G launched with Android 15 and were initially whispered to have much longer support. Instead, Xiaomi has confirmed they will only see Android 16 and Android 17. For a phone released in late 2025, reaching EOL by late 2029 feels incredibly restrictive.
We noticed that these devices are scheduled for security updates only every 90 days. This quarterly cycle is standard for budget tiers, but the cutoff at Android 17 means this phone will effectively be “old news” by next year. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for master mechanics or tech enthusiasts who need their tools to last.
The $100 Miracle: Redmi 15C Update Policy
The real shocker comes when we look at the Redmi 15C and Redmi 15C 5G. Despite being positioned as lower-tier devices, they are receiving a “Flagship-tier” update promise. These $100 phones will be supported all the way to Android 19 with security patches lasting until October 2031.
| Feature | Redmi 15 / 15 5G | Redmi 15C / 15C 5G |
| Launch OS | Android 15 | Android 15 |
| Max OS Version | Android 17 | Android 19 |
| Security EOL | Aug/Oct 2029 | Sept/Oct 2031 |
| Frequency | 90 Days | 90 Days |
What’s next for budget buyers?
If you are looking for a secondary device or a reliable daily driver that won’t break the bank, the Redmi 15C is the clear winner here. It is rare to see a company offer 4 major Android updates on a $100 handset, especially when the more expensive “standard” model is left in the dust.
We suspect this might be due to the specific chipsets used in the Redmi 15C having better long-term vendor support, but for the end consumer, the “why” matters less than the “what.” What you get is a phone that lasts two years longer for less money.
I agree with your first sentence – we have been demanding this for years, but Xiaomi is not dealing with it. They only make promises, no information on why it is delayed. But they release a new phone almost every week, which devalues the existing ones. For example: Poco F6 is 1.5 years old, and updates are already delayed (they said Hyper3 would come in November-December, it’s January 29 now) and the F7-X7-M7+ and already the F8-X8-M8 are out. Why is this manufacturer in such a hurry? I definitely won’t buy Xiaomi anymore. Shame.
The AER data is not to be taken seriously, after all, Google doesn’t verify or enforce the validity of what they’re told by manufacturers. I still remember what they did to the Mi 11 Lite (4G, Courbet), they didn’t keep all channels (variants) updated with the same security patches, and they didn’t honor the quarterly security updates either. If I remember right, only global and EU got updates past a certain point, Indonesian or Russian units were left stranded.
Anyway, don’t be surprised when seeing lower tier smartphones having longer support cycles than what Xiaomi has users accustomed to; as long as they are released in the EU, they have to comply with their directives and laws. One of them, which came into effect for every smartphone introduced into their markets past June 2025, mandates at least 3 years of functional updates and at least 5 of security ones.
I just checked the EU label for both the 15 4G (Snapdragon 685, EU ID 25062RN2DE) and 15 5G (Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, EU ID 25057RN09E), both are declared to have been introduced in the EU in August 2025, and both are listed as receiving security updates for 5 years, the EOL for those variants would be at August 2030. I don’t think I can link URLs here, but anyone can search for those model IDs at EU’s EPREL website to see their labels with details.
So, what I surmise, is that either the AER data Xiaomi publishes doesn’t take into consideration EU variants, it does but it is incorrect, or they are not in compliance. As I mentioned before, they didn’t honor what was declared for the Mi 11 Lite years ago, I wouldn’t trust it implicitly; and not all released devices are put through AER validation either.
I’m new user of Redmi phone and I bought Redmi15 5G.I already check Xiaomi Community and one of user resources team of Xiaomi list the eligible phone for 5 years updates and Redmi15 5G/4G in the list.
But I’m not quite sure if it’s truth for final answers by Xiaomi.If don’t,it was such a disappointment and I swear this will be the last time I bought Redmi phone if that happened.Imagine you paid a lot than other cheap device get sweet treatment
I’m new user of Redmi phone and I bought Redmi15 5G.I already check Xiaomi Community and one of user resources team of Xiaomi list the eligible phone for 5 years updates and Redmi15 5G/4G in the list.
But I’m not quite sure if it’s truth for final answers by Xiaomi.If don’t,it was such a disappointment
I’m new user of Redmi phone and I bought Redmi15 5G.I already check Xiaomi Community and one of user resources team of Xiaomi list the eligible phone for 5 years updates and Redmi15 5G/4G in the list.
But I’m not quite sure if it’s truth for final answers by Xiaomi.If don’t happen,it was such a disappointment and I swear this will be the last time i bought Xiaomi phone
Disappointed,First and last time i will use Xiaomi
Disappointed,First and last time i will use Xiaomi Device
Disappointed,First and last time i will use Xiaomi Devices,I mean…bro I paid more for the best device,of course I want New UI and More features as budget phone…..Why lower get special? Redmi15 5G user disappointed