Kicking off 2024 with a bang, Redmi, Xiaomi’s dynamic sub-brand, has unveiled its latest offering in the market – the Redmi Note 13 Series. This exciting new lineup features three distinct models: the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 13 5G. Among these, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G stands out as a particularly intriguing option.
On paper, the phone offers a blend of high-quality photography, robust performance, and a premium display experience, all packaged within a budget-friendly price. Let’s check out how the phone fares in daily use.
Specifications
As the ‘middle child’ of this series, it packs a punch with its impressive specs and features.
| Size and weight | Height: 161.15mm Width: 74.24mm Thickness: 7.98mm Weight: 187g |
| Display | 6.7″ AMOLED 120Hz 1220p up to 1800 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon® 7s Gen 2 CPU: Octa-core CPU, up to 2.4GHz GPU: Adreno GPU |
| Splash, Water and Dust Resistant | IP54 |
| Cameras | 200MP main cam 8MP ultra-wide 2MP macro 16MP front |
| Battery | 5100mAh |
| Charging | Supports 67W turbo charging USB-C 67W in-box charger |
| Storage and RAM | 8+256GB | 12+512GB LPDDR4X + UFS2.2 |
In the box
Here’s what you can find in the box with your phone:
- Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G phone with pre-applied plastic screen protector
- 67W charging brick
- Charging cable
- Silicone case
- SIM tool
- User manuals
Design and display
The Redmi Note 13 Pro stands out with its eye-catching design. Its flat back and screen, framed with a metallic finish, lend a robust and sleek appearance. A large camera island, although perhaps unnecessarily big, adds a touch of sophistication.
At first glance, the Redmi Note 13 Pro’s specs sheet might give the impression that it has simply rehashed the 6.67-inch OLED panel from its predecessor, but this isn’t the case. The display has been significantly upgraded, now boasting a sharper image with a 446 DPI and a resolution of 2712×1220. Additionally, it offers an impressive peak brightness of 1800 nits, which is double that of the previous model.
Despite the absence of waterproofing and microSD card support, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G stands out for several reasons. It comes with a bright 120 Hz OLED display and includes a protective case right in the box.
The presence of a headphone jack adds to its convenience, and the durability is enhanced with Gorilla Glass Victus covering the screen. The phone also features a fast under-display fingerprint reader and supports eSIM.
Performance and software
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G introduces the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, setting expectations for performance. Xiaomi has also made a commendable commitment regarding software updates for the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G. The company promises three major Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches. While this update policy doesn’t quite match the extended support offered by Google and Samsung for their flagships, it represents a significant improvement from Xiaomi’s previous update commitments and is quite satisfactory for its price segment.
However, it’s important to note that the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G ships with MIUI 14 based on Android 13, which means it’s already one OS update down from the promised three.
In terms of performance, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor in the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G handles multitasking smoothly and supports playing graphics-intensive games. Videos look amazing on the phone, too, with bright, vivid, and rich colors.
The smartphone runs on an Android 13-based MIUI 14 operating system, offering a range of customization options. One major qualm? The device comes with a significant amount of pre-installed bloatware which is annoying to say the least.
Camera
The Redmi Note 13 Pro steps up its camera game by incorporating Samsung’s 200-megapixel sensor, first seen in the 2022 Pro+ model, into its main camera. This high-resolution camera delivers impressive results, particularly in low-light conditions. However, the performance of the other cameras in the setup doesn’t quite match up.
It seems that the bulk of the budget for the Note 13 Pro was allocated to the main camera, which is complemented by an 8 MP ultra-wide and a 2 MP macro lens. For selfies, there’s a 16-megapixel sensor situated in the centered punch-hole of the display.
The main camera’s sensor is notably large for a mid-range phone at 1/1.4″, allowing for substantial light capture. By default, photos are taken at a 12-megapixel resolution (4080×3060) using 16-pixel binning, but there’s an option to switch to the full 200MP resolution in the camera app.
In our testing, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G’s main camera excelled in both daylight and night conditions, capturing detailed images. The high-resolution sensor even provided usable shots at 4x digital zoom, although the camera can magnify up to 10x, where the quality tends to drop off. Night shots with digital zoom, however, suffered from sharpness and noise issues.
The ultra-wide shots were less sharp, but in some daylight conditions, they surprisingly offered more pleasing colors than the main camera. Nighttime shots with the ultra-wide lens, though, were blurry and had muted colors due to the smaller sensor size.
Take a look at some of the camera samples of the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G:
Battery
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G comes equipped with a 5100 mAh battery, supported by a 67W fast charging capability, complete with the charger included in the box. The charging speed is impressively quick, particularly when compared to competitors with less than 40W charging. There’s no wireless charging though.
Additionally, the battery life itself doesn’t quite stand out.
In typical usage scenarios, the device reliably lasts a full day on a single charge. Yet, during our testing, we occasionally observed a somewhat higher rate of battery depletion. This could be attributed to ongoing software optimizations or the activity of various pre-installed apps in the background, which seemed to consume power even when the phone was in airplane mode.
Audio and haptics
The audio performance of the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G is commendable, offering a robust and clear sound profile that remains distortion-free even at higher volumes.
A notable feature is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top of the phone. This allows for the convenience of using traditional headphones, providing a reliable audio experience without the hassle of keeping wireless earbuds charged.
In terms of haptic feedback, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G delivers a satisfactory response, although it falls slightly short of the sharper haptic experience found in higher-end smartphones.
Verdict
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G stands out in the mid-range market with its impressive 200MP main camera, efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, and a vibrant 120 Hz OLED display. Its 5100 mAh battery with 67W fast charging and the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack further enhance its appeal.
However, the phone’s secondary cameras and battery life, while adequate, don’t reach the highs of its main features. The haptic feedback is decent but not as refined as in premium models. The commitment to software updates is commendable, though the device is marred slightly by bloatware and lacks waterproofing.
Overall, the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G offers great value for its price, excelling in camera and display capabilities. It’s an attractive option for those prioritizing these features, but it may fall short for users seeking the highest standards in every aspect.
Pricing and availability
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G is available at S$419 on Lazada and Shopee.
