Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G review

Summary

The Redmi Note 13 5G offers a budget-friendly 5G experience with a solid display and chipset. It features a 6.67-inch OLED screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader. Though lacking stereo speakers and an under-display fingerprint reader, it provides decent camera performance and expandable storage. However, the battery life is underwhelming, and video recording capabilities are limited. The phone aims to balance its shortcomings with a pleasant user experience and good value for the price.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Redmi Note 13 5G is a budget 5G smartphone aiming to provide a solid experience with 5G connectivity.
• 🔄 It features a different chipset and a higher resolution main camera compared to its predecessor, the Redmi Note 12.
• 📚 The phone has a flat plastic back panel with a metallic matte finish and IP54 rated dust and splash resistance.
• 🖥 It comes with a 6.67-inch OLED screen with 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
• 🎶 The Redmi Note 13 5G includes a headphone jack and a single speaker with Dolby Atmos support but average sound quality.
• 🔒 Unlike other Redmi models, it has a side-mounted fingerprint reader which is fast and reliable.
• 💾 The phone offers 128 or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, expandable via a micro SD card, and runs MIUI 14 on top of Android 13.
• 📈 The MediaTek Dimensity 680 chipset is a rebranded version of the 2021 Dimensity 810, offering competitive performance in its price range.
• 🔋 Despite having a 5,000mAh battery, the battery life is unimpressive with a score of 9 hours and 49 minutes in active use tests.
• 📸 The main camera is competent in daylight, producing 12MP photos with good detail, but lacks macro capabilities and 4K video recording.
• 🤳 The 16MP front-facing camera delivers good selfies with great detail, skin texture, and natural colors.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G?

The main purpose of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G is to provide 5G connectivity along with a solid enough smartphone experience on a budget.

How does the Redmi Note 13 5G's design compare to its predecessor?

The Redmi Note 13 5G has a flat plastic back panel with a metallic matte finish and a rectangular camera island. It also features a sharper edge where the back meets the plastic frame, and it offers improved IP54 rated protection against dust and splashes compared to the IP53 rating of its predecessor.

What are the key features of the Redmi Note 13 5G's display?

The Redmi Note 13 5G has a 6.67-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The display has great contrast due to OLED technology and supports 10-bit color depth in some markets. It also offers adaptive refresh rate switching and a maximum brightness of nearly 1000 nits in auto mode.

How does the Redmi Note 13 5G perform in terms of audio quality?

The Redmi Note 13 5G has a single speaker with very good loudness and Dolby Atmos support, but the sound quality is average with a focus on vocals and highs. It also includes a headphone jack.

What is the performance of the Redmi Note 13 5G's chipset?

The Redmi Note 13 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, which is a rebranded Dimensity 810 from 2021. It performs well within its price bracket but faces competition with better performance in both CPU and GPU. The phone handles daily tasks and light gaming smoothly with occasional slowdowns.

What is the battery life of the Redmi Note 13 5G, and how fast does it charge?

The Redmi Note 13 5G has a 5000mAh battery with a relatively low battery life, scoring 9 hours and 49 minutes in active use tests. It supports 33W charging, with the bundled adapter charging the phone from 0 to 50% in half an hour and a full charge taking 76 minutes.

How does the Redmi Note 13 5G's main camera perform?

The main camera of the Redmi Note 13 5G is a 108MP sensor that produces 12MP photos with good detail and natural colors. It has decent dynamic range and contrast, although it shows some softness on uniform surfaces. The camera uses automatic night mode for low-light conditions, delivering good exposure and detail with minimal noise.

What are the limitations of the Redmi Note 13 5G's camera setup?

The Redmi Note 13 5G lacks a macro camera, and its 1080p video recording from the main camera is unimpressive with natural colors but limited dynamic range and contrast. Additionally, there is no support for electronic stabilization. The ultra-wide camera's photo and video quality are average, with poor detail and lack of night mode support.

What is the storage capacity and expandability of the Redmi Note 13 5G?

The Redmi Note 13 5G comes with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which is expandable via a microSD card.

What are the software features of the Redmi Note 13 5G?

The Redmi Note 13 5G runs on Xiaomi's MIUI 14 on top of Android 13, which is responsive and customizable. All Redmi Note 13 models will receive an update to HyperOS in the future.