Redmi Note 13 Pro + 5G: A budget-friendly smartphone with premium features
Redmi Note 13 Pro+. Picture: Noel Campion.
I review a lot of the latest and greatest tech, and while the opportunity to review the best smartphones is great, but not everyone can afford the top-of-the-range smartphones. In recent years, mid-range phones have got much better to the point you’re not missing out on too much if you opt for a cheaper option. I’ve been testing the new Redmi Note 13+ 5G over the last few weeks, and while it doesn’t have the fastest hardware, it comes with other impressive high-end features at a budget-friendly price.
The Note 13 Pro+ has a sleek and futuristic design language, meticulous attention to detail, and premium materials integrated to create a stylish-looking device. The build quality is excellent, with internal design and material that should help with durability and reliability, even in the most demanding environments.
My moonlight white review sample features a two-tone effect around the glossy back with an inner frosted finish on the bottom two-thirds and a polished finish on the top where the triple cameras and dual flash units reside. The two main camera modules are large, with a third smaller camera. I like the chrome accent surrounding the two main camera lenses, and it would have finished the look if this had continued around the body. Instead, the body is silver textured plastic.
The front features asymmetrical bezels with curved corners, with the top and bottom bezels larger than the side bezels.
The left edge is blank, while the right houses the volume rocker and power button. The bottom edge has the SIM tray, USB-C port and down-firing speaker grill. The top-firing speaker grille for a stereo sound setup and an IR blaster are on the top edge.
The phone feels great in the hand, but the body is incredibly slippery, so a case is highly recommended.
Redmi has prioritised durability with the Note 13 Pro + 5G, making it more resilient to accidental drops and damage. The phone boasts an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water ingress. This level of durability ensures peace of mind for users, especially those prone to clumsiness or accidents.
The device sports a spacious 6.67-inch, 2712 × 1220px high-resolution display with a 12-bit colour dept that produces crisp and vibrant visuals. With a PPI of 446, images and text appear incredibly sharp. The screen also boasts 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, ensuring accurate colour reproduction for photo editing and social media usage.
One standout feature of the display is its maximum brightness of 1,800 nits, which is exceptional for a smartphone in this price range. This brightness level ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight.
It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ as well as 1,920Hz PWM dimming and up to 120Hz refresh rate.
The Note 13 Pro + 5G boasts stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, providing immersive sound quality. While not groundbreaking, the speakers deliver rich audio with sufficient volume for everyday use. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or listening to music, the audio experience is satisfactory and enjoyable.
Under the hood, the MediaTek 7200 Ultra processor powers the device with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
I put every phone I reviewed through several benchmarking apps, and while the Note 13 Pro + delivered mediocre results, it wasn’t evident in everyday use. Whether gaming, multitasking, or streaming content, the phone delivers smooth and responsive performance. The efficient chipset contributes to impressive battery life, ensuring long-lasting usage on a single charge.
You can shoot videos in 4K resolution at 60fps using the main camera. However, there's a notable disparity in the capabilities of the various cameras on the device. While the main camera supports 4K recording, the other cameras are limited to 1080p resolution.
This lack of uniformity between the cameras may be a drawback for users seeking consistency in their video recording options.
The 2x zoom on the primary sensor is excellent, and the 4x is excellent when the light is good, but the 10x magnification lacks detail.
The 200MP mode can capture incredible detail with a good amount of light, but the files are massive, averaging around 40 MB, and, of course, it only works on the main camera sensor.
The device runs on MIUI 14, offering a user-friendly and intuitive interface. While it provides a smooth and responsive user experience, it comes with a load of bloatware, which can be removed, but it’s annoying nonetheless. Also, I did notice the occasional lag when switching between apps.
The Note 13 Pro + 5G has a large 5,000mAh battery that offers impressive endurance, lasting over a day with moderate usage. I love that Redmi has included a 120W fast charger that ensures quick and convenient charging, replenishing the battery from 0% to 100% in just 19 minutes if you manually enable the boost charging speed feature while keeping the display off. This rapid charging capability provides added convenience for users, ensuring minimal downtime between charges.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro + 5G offers a compelling package of features at an affordable price point. Its durable build, stunning display, adequate performance, and versatile camera capabilities should be attractive to a wide range of users.
Whether you're a casual or a power user, the Redmi Note 13 Pro + 5G is a solid choice that delivers exceptional value for money.
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