Xiaomi’s most recent Redmi Note 13 lineup, with special attention to its cameras and some fascinating AI capabilities, packs an outstanding punch for its pricing. Additionally, they can be less expensive options than the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.
Two of the five-strong new Redmi Note 13 series that were released in January are the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus.
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When I tested the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, I wasn’t sure what to anticipate from a company more recognized for its budget-friendly models than its flagships. However, I had a pleasant surprise.
Xiaomi: Fantastic plastic and a fast screen
The new Xiaomi Redmi Note phones’ lightweight design caught my attention right away. This was because the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, which weighs just 187g and has a plastic back, and the Pro Plus, which weighs 204g, are the two models that have plastic frames. During my hands-on experience, I was concerned that they may break easily if I dropped them, but they appear to be rather sturdy and have Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the screens.
The Pro and Pro Plus have different levels of dust and water protection, with the Pro supporting an IP53 rating and the Pro Plus having an IP68 rating for more protection. Basically, plenty sufficient to resist getting caught out in the weather.
Both gadgets had a smooth, elegant appearance and were comfortable to handle; however, the Pro Plus distinguishes out from the others because it has a little curved shape, whilst the other versions all have flat edges.
There is a speaker, microphone, and IR blaster on top of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, and another speaker, microphone, and SIM tray are located on the bottom. On the right side, however, are controls for volume and power. All very standard fare. The Redmi Note 13 Pro shocked me by having a 3.5mm audio port because most phones now have Bluetooth instead of one, but it’s still a way to prolong battery life for music playback.
I didn’t get a chance to test the glossy, brilliant 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED screen with thin bezels on the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G or Pro Plus, but it still appeared sharp and vibrant.
Although it won’t be a deal breaker for most people, I found it frustrating that the Pro was particularly prone to taking up fingerprints and smears. My attention was then drawn to the sizable camera model located on the rear of both models.
Xiaomi: Capable cameras
The Pro and Pro Plus, which each have a triple camera system with a 200-megapixel main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 16MP front camera with optical image stabilization, best highlight the Redmi Note 13 series’ strong emphasis on photography.
Compared to the previous Redmi Note 12 Pro, this larger camera module is much more noticeable. On both versions, the 50-megapixel primary camera is replaced with an improved 200-megapixel camera.
When I pushed the zoom to its maximum 4x focal range, I was amazed at how much detail the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus was able to capture. This is where the optical image stabilization really helped, especially in low-light conditions.
Given that macro cameras significantly improve the overall smartphone photographic experience, the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera seems a little unnecessary. In today’s top phones, ultra-wide cameras are more often utilized for macro photography.
With Xiaomi ProCut 2.0, photos shot in 200-megapixel mode may produce various crops to accommodate a variety of aspect ratios. which is useful for filming content for social media. The depiction of color was slightly subdued but not entirely washed out, giving the impression of more natural, realistic color.
As expected, AI effects play a significant role as well. For example, the beautify tool let me alter the size and form of my eyes and the overall appearance of my face in a selfie. I tried this, and while it seemed unsettling at first, with some experience, it generated some subtle but attractive outcomes.
A demonstration of the AI Sky Replace tool was also shown to me, and it did a good job of replacing a drab, washed-out, boring sky with some dramatic, eye-catching skies—some of which appeared a touch too intense. Similar to the Magic Eraser feature on more recent Google Pixel devices, you may now remove undesired individuals from photos. It didn’t always work at all, and occasionally it worked rapidly.
The larger-than-usual 1/1.4″ sensor—which can capture more light in a single shot—made low light performance better than I had anticipated. This was noticeable in the poorly lit area where I used the phone. I also really like some of the entertaining retro-style video mode filters, but I wasn’t able to use them all.
There’s some intriguing potential here, especially considering the price (more on that later), but the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Note 13 Pro Plus aren’t likely to compete with the Galaxy S24 series in a straight smartphone picture duel.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus and Redmi Note 13 Pro have an eye-catching three-camera squared design for their camera arrangement. Though the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G seems to integrate its camera system a little better, I found that it protrudes slightly and hindered me from resting the phone down flat.
Xiaomi: Specifications flex
The Pro Plus Redmi Note 13 has a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra chipset, whereas the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2.
The Galaxy S24 won’t be affected by the performance of either 4-nanometer chip because it trails that of the most recent Snapdragon Gen 3 and Gen 2 chips. But since both chips are still high, that might not matter in daily use.silicon slices for performance
In the little time I had with both devices, I couldn’t really tell the difference in performance; nonetheless, the Dimensity chip ought to operate better and play games better than the other. Though nothing too severe, I did occasionally detect a stutter from both versions, notably on the Pro with the Snapdragon when I was experimenting with the camera and AI functions; this could potentially be related to software optimization.
The most recent MIUI version 14.0.2, which is based on Android 13 rather than Android 14, was installed on both smartphones.
There were a number of preinstalled apps, including TikTok, Spotify, and AliExpress, that ought to be uninstalled; it’s difficult to determine if this is because these were demo models.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus come in two variants: 8GB RAM and 256GB and 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.
Because I only had the devices for a short while, I wasn’t able to get a real sense of how long the battery will last, but the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a 5,000mAh battery that employs 120W HyperCharge, which is supposed to fully charge the phone in 19 minutes.
Though not as speedy as the Plus variant, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G features a slightly larger 5,100mAh battery with 67W turbo charge, which is still pretty quick—the phone can be fully charged in 44 minutes—and both come with a charger in the box.
In terms of battery life, both phones are therefore capable of outlasting a Galaxy S24 and probably a good several other top Android phones, both in terms of capacity and charging speed.
Xiaomi: A sharp cost
Although I haven’t seen the entire lineup yet, the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Pro Plus have impressed me thus far. Given the potential quality of the Redmi Note 13 series, the prices appear pretty reasonable; the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, starts at £449 / $400 / AU$605.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage starts at a somewhat lower £339 / $304 / AU$460. Select stores are currently offering the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G and Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G at a discounted price. However, before you jump and acquire one, we advise you to wait for our whole assessment.
However, the current outlook indicates that we may be looking at a few phones with features and specs that rival those of the newest flagship models, without the corresponding price tag. All of it seems encouraging.