Cheap vs Expensive Phones - How close ARE they!?

Summary

In this detailed comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus are put head-to-head to see if budget phones can truly rival flagship models. Despite the vast price difference, the Xiaomi offers nearly 90% of the flagship experience with strong build quality, impressive display, fast charging, and a capable camera. The Samsung edges out the Redmi in performance, camera versatility, and software support. However, for users looking for a budget-friendly phone with premium features, the Redmi proves to be an impressive contender. The video also highlights a VPN recommendation for online privacy with Surfshark.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers 95% of the premium flagship experience at 25% of the cost of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
• 😀 Despite the lower price, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus includes impressive features like a 120W fast charger, which is three times faster than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's charging speed.
• 😀 The build quality of both phones is high, with the Redmi offering a matte vegan leather back and soft rounded corners, while the Samsung uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and armor aluminum.
• 😀 Both phones feature OLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent color contrast. While the Samsung screen can go higher in resolution and brightness, the Redmi screen is still very good and can be brighter at default settings.
• 😀 In terms of battery performance, the Redmi excels in fast charging, but the Samsung offers better long-term battery life due to its more advanced battery technology and power management.
• 😀 Cellular signal performance is similar, with the Samsung edging out the Redmi in weaker signal areas. However, the difference is minimal unless you're in extreme low-signal environments.
• 😀 The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus delivers great performance for the price, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers significantly faster processing power and better GPU performance.
• 😀 In camera performance, both phones feature a 200MP main camera, but the Samsung provides sharper images and superior software processing, autofocus, and zoom capabilities.
• 😀 While both phones perform similarly for general tasks, the Samsung is notably more responsive, better suited for gaming, and more efficient in handling high-end tasks like photo editing and video stabilization.
• 😀 The Redmi offers a good software experience with MIUI, including a variety of customization options and smooth animations. The Samsung One UI is more polished and has a more extensive ecosystem of features and services.
• 😀 Xiaomi's Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers significant value for money, competing with flagship devices in most areas. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is still superior for power users who require more advanced features, better software support, and top-tier hardware.

Q & A

What makes the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus such an impressive budget phone?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers nearly 80-90% of the flagship experience at just a fraction of the cost. Despite its budget price, it boasts a solid build quality, a high-quality display, good camera performance, and fast charging. It competes very closely with premium devices in many areas.

How do the build quality and materials of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra compare to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and armor aluminum, offering a slightly higher quality in terms of material durability. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus feels equally premium with a vegan leather back, Gorilla Glass Victus 1, and solid build without noticeable flex or creaking.

How do the displays of the two phones compare in terms of performance?

Both phones feature OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a higher resolution and can be brighter. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is actually the brighter of the two when used with default settings. The Samsung’s extra brightness and sharpness are locked behind advanced settings, and in practical use, both displays offer excellent quality.

What is the difference in charging speed between the two phones?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus supports 120W fast charging, fully charging the phone in just 20 minutes, which is significantly faster than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The Samsung supports wireless charging, but its fast charging is limited compared to Xiaomi's, and requires a separate charger.

How does the signal performance of the two phones compare in real-world testing?

In Wi-Fi speed tests, both phones perform similarly, with the Xiaomi slightly outperforming Samsung in some locations. For cellular speeds, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra excels in low-signal environments, while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus holds its own in medium and high-signal environments, with its upload speeds often surpassing Samsung's.

What are the key differences in battery performance between the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus?

While both phones have 5,000mAh batteries, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers superior battery management, using more advanced technology that results in better standby performance and less degradation over time. The Xiaomi's battery, while faster to charge, is more prone to heat generation due to its ultra-fast charging, potentially causing faster long-term degradation.

What can you expect from the software experience on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers a smooth software experience with MIUI 14, based on Android 13, and lacks bloatware and ads. Samsung's One UI offers more customizability through the Good Lock app, but is generally considered more corporate. Both provide a solid software experience, but Samsung offers more long-term updates and features.

How do the performance benchmarks of the two phones compare?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, performs significantly better in benchmarks, offering roughly twice the CPU power and three times the GPU performance compared to the Xiaomi's Dimensity 7200 Ultra chip. In real-world use, the Samsung is noticeably faster when opening apps and handling demanding tasks like gaming or editing high-resolution photos.

How do the camera capabilities of the two phones compare?

Both phones feature a 200MP main camera, but the Samsung's camera produces sharper, more detailed images, especially in low light. The Xiaomi's camera performs impressively well, sometimes even outperforming the Samsung in certain lighting conditions. However, the Samsung offers superior autofocus, advanced software processing, better portrait modes, and zoom capabilities, giving it a clear edge overall.

What does the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus miss out on compared to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra?

While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus offers strong performance in most areas, it lacks features like wireless charging, advanced zoom lenses, and the S Pen. Additionally, the camera system, while impressive for the price, doesn’t match the versatility and quality of the Samsung, especially for professional or power users.