In addition to a gaming smartphone POCO X6 Pro and a photo flagship Xiaomi 14 The Chinese giant has also launched mid-range models — Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro (both 4G versions) on the Ukrainian market. The processor here is simpler than that of POCO, but the cameras and screens are better, especially in the older model. We have already tested the devices, and in the review below we share our impressions, test results, user experience, etc.
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| Redmi Note 13 | Redmi Note 13 Pro | |
| Display | 6.67”, AMOLED, 2400×1080 pixels, 1000 nits brightness, 120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch input frequency, 8 bits, 1920 Hz PWM dimming, Gorilla Glass 5 | 6.69”, AMOLED, 2400×1080 pixels, 1800 nits brightness, refresh rate up to 120 Hz, touch input frequency 240 Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 12 bits, PWM dimming 1920 Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (680) (6 nm) | MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra (6 nm) |
| RAM | 6/8 GB LPDDR4x | 8/12 GB LPDDR4x |
| Drive | 128/256 GB UFS 2.2 | 256/512 GB UFS 2.2 |
| Main camera | 108 megapixels (Samsung HM6, 1.67”, ƒ/1.7, PDAF), 2 megapixel depth sensor (SmartSense SC202, 1.5”, ƒ/2.4), | 200 megapixels (Samsung HP3, 1.4”, ƒ/1.65, OIS, PDAF, SuperQPD), 8 megapixels ultra-wide-angle (Sony IMX355, 1.4”, ƒ/2.2), 2 megapixels macro lens (OmniVision OV02B10, 1.5”, ƒ/2.4) |
| Front camera | 16 megapixels (ƒ/2.45) | 16 megapixels (ƒ/2.45) |
| Connection | 4G, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, IR port, NFC module, 3.5 mm audio jack, USB Type-C (2.0) | 4G, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, IR port, NFC module, 3.5 mm audio jack, USB Type-C (2.0) |
| Additionally | optical fingerprint scanner, IP54 moisture protection, stereo sound | optical fingerprint scanner, IP54 moisture protection, stereo sound |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 33W fast wired charging | 5000 mAh, 67W fast wired charging |
| Dimensions | 162.3×75.6×8 mm | 161×74.95×7.98 mm |
| Weight | 173.5 grams | 188.5 grams |
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro come in medium-sized white boxes.
Inside are the phones themselves, documentation, 33W and 67W power supplies, USB-Type-C cables, paper clips to open the SIM card slot, and nice quality cases.
In the latter case, these are not the simplest transparent cases, but full-fledged, rather thick covers that match perfectly the colors of the cases and definitely deserve the user’s attention.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro look identical, and the only difference is in the middle. The dimensions of the younger model are 162.3×75.6×8 mm, and it weighs 173.5 grams. The older model has dimensions of 161×74.95×7.98 mm. It weighs — 188 grams. Both devices are protected against moisture and dust according to the IP54 standard. This means that the smartphones are not afraid of rain and splashes, but they should not be immersed in water.
The new products have a modern, ascetic design. They have a glossy plastic body with flat edges and rounded corners.
On the front panel, we see relatively thin bezels around the screen and a built-in front camera.
Behind it are three separate bulging modules of the main camera, a flash, and the Redmi inscription.
On the right side of Redmi Note 13 we see the lock button and volume keys. There’s nothing on the right side, but on the top there’s a speaker, an infrared port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The bottom side has another speaker, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a SIM card slot (either two nano-SIMs or one nano-SIM and one microSD card).
On the right side of Redmi Note 13 Pro, we also see the volume keys and the lock button. The SIM card slot (either two nano-SIMs or one nano-SIM and one microSD card) is located on the right side. On the bottom we see a USB-C port, a microphone, and a speaker, and on the top there is an infrared port, a second speaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro are definitely not compact models. These are «shovels», which are comfortable to hold in your hand and do not slip out despite the glossy body. However, you won’t be able to use them with one hand in some scenarios, especially if your fingers are not very long. I would also like to note that the models quickly collect dust and fingerprints, so they should be put in cases right away.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro have fingerprint scanners built into the screens. The former is protected by tempered Gorilla Glass 5, and the latter has Gorilla Glass Victus.
Redmi Note 13 has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen (1080×2400 pixels). The pixel density is — 394 ppi, the refresh rate is 120 Hz, and the touch input frequency is 240 Hz. The declared maximum brightness is — 1000 nits. There is support for 8-bit color and PWM dimming.
Redmi Note 13 Pro has a 6.69-inch display with AMOLED matrix, the resolution here is also 10802400 pixels, as well as a pixel density of 394 ppi. But the maximum brightness is 1800 nits, the refresh rate is 120 Hz, and the touch input frequency is 240 Hz. Support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 12-bit color, and PWM dimming is declared.
Both smartphones have dark and light themes, a reading mode, color temperature settings, the ability to change the font and text size, refresh rate settings (automatic, 60 or 120 Hz), and the Always-On-Display feature. However, it does not work all the time, but only for 10 seconds after the screen is locked.
The screen of Redmi Note 13 is bright and juicy. The resolution is at a good level for this segment, and the display itself is one of the strengths of the model. The user experience is improved by the increased refresh rate. There is enough brightness for any lighting conditions and even in direct sunlight everything is visible perfectly. However, in this case, the brightness should be at maximum.
The display of Redmi Note 13 Pro is even better, with richer colors and detail. This is also one of the main advantages of the model, which is complemented by an increased refresh rate, support for various functions and 12-bit colors. In outdoor conditions under the sun, the brightness is more than enough to use comfortably.
The built-in fingerprint scanners are installed close to the bottom bezel. For me, their location is convenient, and the unlocking speed is adequate. Judging by their performance, these are probably the same sensors that work well even with a wet finger, but sometimes they still don’t recognize it.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro have two full-fledged speakers, which means the smartphones have stereo sound. Both models sound loud, but the older one has a more voluminous and clearer sound.
As with other new models from the manufacturer, the smartphones support Dolby Atmos technology, have a built-in equalizer, and a variety of sound presets. However, there is no immersive sound with an immersive effect and a sense of space, which is logical for this price category.
Both smartphones unexpectedly support a very wide range of audio codecs (AAC, SBC, aptX, aptXHD, aptX Adaptive audio, aptX TWS+ audio, LDAC and LHDC), and there is also a 3.5 mm audio jack. Therefore, if you have good headphones, smartphones will provide relatively adequate sound quality.
The vibration motors are probably the same. They are powerful, but, of course, this is far from the flagship level and there are no separate settings for this.
Redmi Note 13 has a main camera with three modules. The main Samsung ISOCELL HM6 camera is 108 megapixels (f/1.8, 24 mm) with PDAF, an additional ultra-wide-angle sensor of 8 megapixels (f/2.2, 120 degrees) and a third 2-megapixel macro module (f/2.4). The front camera is 16 megapixels (f/2.4). The main and selfie cameras can shoot video at a maximum of 1080p at 30 frames per second. There is no optical stabilization, but there is digital stabilization.
The camera of the younger version takes good photos for its price, especially in sunny weather. The colors are rich, the detail is present, and there is even good contrast. This is all about the standard 12-megapixel format, but there is also a 108-megapixel format. Here, the detail is better, but they weigh more and need to be processed in detail on a PC.
Normal reviews apply only to the main module because the additional ones are just for show and I would not recommend using them unless absolutely necessary.
In low light or at night, the photos, of course, have much more noise, but they still take adequate photos for the night mode and their price tag.
The selfie camera is just fine, there are various beautifiers and a bokeh effect. However, in the latter case, it is better to take pictures with a minimum of details in the background, because in the background, as in the example below, there may be various artifacts.
In Redmi Note 13 Pro, the main sensor is a 1/1.4-inch Samsung ISOCELL HP3 at 200 megapixels with f/1.65 aperture, optical image stabilization and SuperQPD autofocus. Auxiliary sensors are Sony IMX355 with 8 megapixels with f/2.2 aperture and 123-degree viewing angle, and OmniVision OV02B10 macro lens with 2 megapixels with f/2.4 aperture. The selfie sensor is 16 megapixels with f/2.45 aperture. Both the main and selfie cameras shoot 1080p videos at 60 frames per second, and most importantly, there is full optical stabilization.
The photos on this smartphone are even better, especially for its segment. They are bright and detailed, and most importantly, you can take pictures even without sun, even in fog, even whenever you want and get high-quality contrast images.
The front-facing module in the older model seems to be similar to the younger one, but in fact it takes and records video much better, and the portrait mode works without errors.
According to official information, Redmi Note 13 is equipped with an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip (4 Kryo 265 Gold Cortex-A73 2800 MHz cores and the same number of Kryo 265 Silver Cortex-A53 1900 MHz cores), made on a 6-nm process and Adreno 610 graphics. However, the model we’re reviewing is powered by Snapdragon 680. However, this is a demo, so it is probably slightly different from the version that is on sale.
There is 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. However, there are also versions with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. You can also use a memory card up to and including 1 TB, but only instead of a second SIM card. The modules support 4G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC, as well as GPS L1, GLONASS G1, BDS B1, Galileo E1.
Probably, a different chip shows easier results in testing, but the Snapdragon 685 is not a star in the sky. It’s an affordable smartphone with the same processor. It’s cool and quite productive. It runs games on medium-high settings at 30 fps, but you can only play Genshin Impact or something like that on the lowest settings.
Redmi Note 13 Pro is powered by an 8-core MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra (a pair of 2200 MHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 2000 MHz Cortex-A55 cores), also made using the 6 nm process. The graphics chip here is Mali-G57 MC2.
The RAM is 8 or 12 GB LPDDR4x, and the storage is 256 or 512 GB UFS 2.2. There is also support for memory cards up to 1 TB, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC interfaces, as well as GPS L1, GLONASS G1, BDS B1, Galileo E1.
The MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra is a little more powerful than its younger brother, but it’s still a mediocre, but cool, chip. It’s also enough for most popular games, but it won’t run at maximum graphics.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro are multimedia smartphones for taking photos, watching videos, movies, or TV shows. If you need a model for mobile gaming, then pay attention to POCO X6 Pro.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro run on Android 13 with the new proprietary HyperOS add-on. I have already told you more about it in the reviews POCO X6 Pro andXiaomi 14.
Both smartphones are equipped with 5000 mAh batteries. Only the Redmi Note 13 has 33W fast charging, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro — has 67W fast charging. An hour and a half of charging from 0 to 100% is claimed for the younger model and 45 minutes for the older one. In fact, this is true.
In the PC Mark battery tests, Redmi Note 13 gave a result of 10 hours and 48 minutes, and Redmi Note 13 Pro — 8 hours and 21 minutes. In both cases, the results are so-so, and in fact, the smartphones hold a charge equally (a full day of work), so I’m surprised by the test results. In theory, they are logical, because the younger version has a slightly simpler screen and chip, which means it should hold a charge longer, but in everyday use I did not notice any difference.
Also note that the battery life may be shorter or longer depending on the usage scenario. More games and charging will have to be done in the evening or earlier, while less screen time and smartphones will last for a day and a half.
Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro have a modern design, and they are also light for their size. This is due to the plastic bodies, but when you pick up a device like this «shovel» you expect something heavier.
I believe that the smartphones more than justify their price tag. Of course, we are talking about official prices and in comparison with other «white» smartphones. You can order directly from China, but that’s a different version, a different matter, and a different comparison.
The best things about the phones are the screen and camera, and the sound. The worst is performance. The battery is in the middle because although the battery is relatively large, it could last longer due to the same large, bright displays and relatively mediocre optimization because the chips are weak.
I liked the powerful configuration. These are not flagships, so power supplies are a must, but covers are still often put in Xiaomi and sub-branded smartphones, while other competitors limit them to screen protectors. And it’s not just transparent silicone, which will turn yellow in a few months. The manufacturer has put nice cases to match the color of the smartphones, so they are immediately ready to use.
I didn’t like the glossy case on both models. It gets dirty in just a few seconds, so you need a case right away, or you have to walk around with a stained phone, or constantly wipe it.
Redmi Note 13 costs from 8000 UAH, but in official stores such as «Hello» its price is 8/256 GB UAH 8999. The price tag for Redmi Note 13 Pro starts at 9400 hryvnia, but in large networks the price UAH 10,999. In my opinion, in both cases, the price is reasonable and fair, but competitors are not asleep, although most of them are from Xiaomi.
You should pay attention toRedmi Note 13 Pro Plus (price from UAH 13,400). Although it costs a few thousand more, it may be worth paying extra to get more powerful stuffing, a better camera, etc. And then there’s last year’s Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G with a price tag of UAH 8800, which is not much different from the new products. Let’s not forget about Poco X6 Pro (price from UAH 12,200) if you need a relatively affordable gaming smartphone. Also take a look atMotorola Moto G84 with a price tag starting at UAH 7,500, Poco M6 Pro (price from UAH 7400) andrealme 12 Pro (price from UAH 13,500).
