At a glanceExpert’s Rating
ProsSignificantly cheaper than 5G modelStrong 120Hz OLED displayIP54 ratedConsPoor performanceObnoxious softwareUnreliable in-display fingerprint sensorOur VerdictOn the floor, Xiaomi is providing you a tempting deal: drop 5G from the equation, and it can save you £80 on the Redmi Note 13 5G. It’s not so simple as that, nevertheless, with downgrades to the design and the efficiency. It stays a strong sub-£200 telephone with a very good show, however every little thing else feels at or barely beneath par.
Price When ReviewedUnavailable within the US
Xiaomi’s technique on the subject of the aggressive reasonably priced smartphone market appears to be to flood it with sheer numbers.
For additional proof contemplate the Redmi Note 13, a variant on the already-reviewed Xiaomi Redmi Note 5G that omits – you guessed it – 5G connectivity.
That’s not the one distinction to this mannequin, nevertheless, which is why it warrants a very separate evaluation. Divergences in chipset, design, and maybe most significantly pricing imply that it’s price contemplating by itself phrases.
One factor’s for certain: for those who’re after one of the best display screen attainable for underneath £200, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 ought to be in your checklist of candidates. Unfortunately, nevertheless, some acquainted criticisms preserve it from being an easy advice.
Design & Build
Flat design, however chunkier than 5G model
IP54 water and mud resistance
Gorilla Glass 3, not Gorilla Glass 5 like 5G mannequin
The Redmi Note 13 broadly subscribes the identical design language as its 5G brother, but it surely’s removed from similar.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
You get the identical sort of blandly flat-edged look, with a well-known plastic body and shiny plastic rear panel. The primary digital camera structure is similar too, although the elevated plastic mounting plate of the Redmi Note 13 5G is nowhere to be seen.
There’s one clear purpose for the latter distinction, so far as I can see. The Redmi Note 13 is an altogether thicker telephone at 8mm (vs 7.6mm). With a weight of 188.5g, it’s additionally 14g heavier, although there’s no clear purpose for this.
The Redmi Note 13 broadly subscribes the identical design language as its 5G brother, but it surely’s removed from similar
Hold the 2 telephones facet by facet and also you’ll discover that this 4G-only mannequin is a millimetre taller and half-a-millimetre wider. The purpose for that appears to be thicker bezels, with a noticeably thicker chin making it look much less premium than the Redmi Note 13 5G.
Another rollback in comparison with its better-connected brother is the usage of the older and weaker Gorilla Glass 3 reasonably than Gorilla Glass 5. You nonetheless get IP54 water and mud certification, although, which is a step up from earlier fashions.
Strangely, the fingerprint sensor right here is an in-display answer reasonably than the 5G mannequin’s energy button various. This feels like an improve, however in my expertise it very a lot represents a backwards step.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Even after a few pairing makes an attempt, I discovered that the telephone constantly did not learn my proper thumb. Weirdly, my left thumb registered comparatively reliably. It’s price noting that I’ve been utilizing two different telephones with in-display fingerprint sensors concurrently with the Redmi Note 13 with out problem, so there evidently isn’t an issue with my thumb.
Like the 5G mannequin, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster on the highest fringe of the telephone. The latter allows you to management your TV and Hi-fi tools utilizing the Mi Remote app, which is doubtlessly a fairly helpful characteristic – particularly for those who’re rocking numerous older audiovisual gear.
Screen & audio system
(*13*) 6.67-inch Full HD+ OLED
120Hz refresh charge
Stereo audio system
The Redmi Note 13 is a subtly totally different beast to the Redmi Note 13 5G, however one of many parts Xiaomi seems to have left kind of alone is the show. There’s an excellent purpose for that: that is undoubtedly a superb show.
This 6.67-inch OLED was arguably one of the best factor in regards to the 5G mannequin, and so it proves right here. It contains a strong FHD+ (2400 x 1080) decision, easy 120Hz refresh charge and measured high brightness of 454 nits with auto-brightness turned off.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
That’s a tad dimmer than the 5G mannequin, which I recorded as hitting 480 nits, but it surely’s not a vastly important distinction. It makes for snug indoors viewing, whereas activating auto-brightness will carry the excessive brightness mode (HBM) into play while open air. Visibility is sweet in virtually all environments.
You don’t appear to get 5G mannequin’s identical degree (1920Hz) of PWM dimming, nor its 10-bit color help. But these are comparatively minor concessions, particularly within the identify of getting that worth beneath £200.
The foremost enchantment of Xiaomi’s display screen is how color correct it’s. Similar to the 5G mannequin, utilizing the extra natural-looking Standard color scheme, I recorded a 100% sRGB gamut protection and a mean Delta E of 0.87 (near 1 being the best).
This is undoubtedly a superb show
One criticism I had of the Redmi Note 13 5G was its lack of stereo audio system. Bizarrely, the cheaper Note 13 does pack this characteristic. Go determine.
Whatever the reasoning behind this inclusion, it makes the Redmi Note 13 a greater all spherical media participant than its brother. Sound output is sweet and clear, and positively advantages from the stereo separation, although as we’ve come to count on of cheaper telephones it lacks any nice sense of depth or low-end rumble.
Specs & Performance
Slow Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip
6 or 8GB of RAM
128 or 256GB of expandable storage
Another basic manner by which the Redmi Note 13 differs from its 5G brother is the processor that’s been chosen to energy it. There’s a Snapdragon 685 working the present right here, versus the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 on the 5G model.
This is a extra mainstream alternative for the 4G mannequin, however not essentially a superior one. In reality, our benchmark assessments reveal that the Redmi Note 13 5G is a a lot stronger performer in each CPU and GPU phrases.
Of course, the 5G mannequin prices not less than £50 extra. However, each the £199 Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and the £169 Samsung Galaxy A15 additionally beat the Redmi Note 13 fairly handily in every benchmark, as does the £180 Moto G84 5G. The Redmi Note 13 4G is basically not a very sturdy performer, even inside its worth bracket.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 benchmarks
Sure sufficient, it could possibly really feel just a little sluggish within the fingers. Jumping into the settings menu or opening up a brand new app takes a beat longer than I would love, whereas hopping between open apps within the app switcher results in a second or two of stuttering.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
General navigation is sufficient, with slick scrolling that makes essentially the most of that 120Hz refresh charge, and the fingerprint sensor unlocks moderately snappily too – when it really works. But cracks begin to seem when pushing the telephone past these super-basic duties.
The Redmi Note 13 4G is basically not a very sturdy performer, even inside its worth bracket
Like the 5G mannequin, console racer Wreckfest will run, however you’ll need to drop all of the settings right down to Low if you’d like something resembling a constant body charge.
You do get both 6- or 8GB of RAM backing that Snapdragon 685 chip up, which is a strong quantity for the cash. Storage choices, in the meantime, are 128- or 256GB choices, with Micro-SD card growth potential additionally added in.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
One crucial spec that’s lacking right here, after all, is 5G connectivity. Contrary to what your community operator would possibly let you know, although, this nonetheless shouldn’t be an enormous deal for most individuals. While 5G entry has improved, it’s nonetheless removed from ubiquitous, and getting the total pace and latency profit isn’t a given, even when it’s obtainable.
Camera
108Mp foremost sensor
Reasonable ends in good lighting, horrible night time photographs
Decent selfie digital camera
It appears Xiaomi has put in precisely the identical digital camera system within the Redmi Note 13 because it has within the 5G mannequin, so all of my feedback from that earlier evaluation apply right here, even with the change in processor.
This set-up is led by the identical 108Mp 1/1.67″ foremost sensor, which appears to be the trusty outdated Samsung Isocell HM6. It yields predictably strong photographs with first rate depth and dynamic vary. The colors may be just a little punchy for some, however publicity and element are on level.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
That’s the case in preferrred lighting, not less than. As quickly as the sunshine drops, the Redmi Note 13’s photographic efficiency drops off a cliff. Without OIS (optical picture stablisation) to maintain issues regular and lengthen shutter instances, ‘Night mode’ photographs are a grainy, noisy mess.
In my Note 13 5G evaluation I floated the chance that the MediaTek chip might need some picture processing limitations, however these Snapdragon 685-driven photographs are not any higher.
Colours may be just a little punchy for some, however publicity and element are on level
Once once more, regardless of the shortage of a devoted telephoto digital camera, Xiaomi encourages you to zoom at 2x and even 3x, successfully utilizing all these further pixels to crop in. Any additional will actually spotlight the drop intimately, however I used to be fairly pleased with the outcomes at these decrease zoom ranges.
Where you’ll actually discover the drop-off in high quality in the course of the day is if you change to the devoted 8Mp ultrawide, which brings with it an enormous lack of each element and publicity. There’s additionally a devoted 2Mp macro sensor on the again, which is nearly as pointless because it ever is.
Feed the 16Mp front-facing digital camera loads of gentle, and it’s able to producing strong selfies. On a barely drab day, it did wash the colors out considerably, but it surely does an affordable job.
The video providing from that foremost sensor could be very restricted to a mere 1080p and 30fps. Meanwhile, the shortage of OIS signifies that you gained’t be getting significantly regular photographs.
Battery Life & Charging
5000mAh battery
Slightly higher battery life than 5G mannequin
Solid 33W charging
Xiaomi has caught with a well-known battery and charging setup right here. Once once more there’s an ample 5000mAh cell, which can energy you thru a full day of average to heavy utilization.
On lighter utilization days, I acquired to the top of a day with 50 and even 60% left within the tank. As ever, all of it comes right down to how a lot media you devour.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
One fascinating level to notice is that the Redmi Note 13 carried out higher than the Redmi Note 13 5G in our ordinary PC Mark Work 3.0 battery take a look at, lasting 50 minutes longer.
This would appear to counsel that the Snapdragon 685 processor runs extra effectively than the Mediatek Dimensity 6080, although you may by no means depend out the deleterious results of 5G connectivity.
I really feel snug in stating that the Redmi Note 13 has barely extra reliable battery life than its 5G brother
Whatever the case, I really feel snug in stating that the Redmi Note 13 has barely extra reliable battery life than its 5G brother.
The charging provision is similar, although. You get the identical 33W charger included within the field, which I recorded getting the Redmi Note 13 from empty to 63% in half-hour. You can count on a full cost to take just a little over an hour, which isn’t dangerous in any respect.
Software
MIUI 14 over Android 14
Excessive bloatware
Busy notification menu
Here’s a curiosity for you: whereas the Redmi Note 13 5G that I reviewed used Xiaomi’s new HyperOS 1.0 UI, the plain Redmi Note 13 makes use of the older MIUI 14.
They’re each layered on high of Android 14, although, they usually each subscribe to Xiaomi’s fussy strategy to software program. You nonetheless get these large charmless icons and an unsightly cut up notification menu, for instance, even when just a few of the shortcut toggles have been juggled round.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The latter sit on a horizontally scrolling carousel, reasonably than all being bundled onto the principle menu like in HyperOS. The older strategy used right here is much less streamlined, but additionally much less cluttered. You additionally nonetheless get a Settings menu shortcut right here on MIUI 14, which I missed within the Note 13 5G’s change to HyperOS.
Elsewhere, Xiaomi nonetheless insists on filling its telephones with annoying bloatware, together with a complete folder devoted to ‘More apps’ comparable to Trip.com, LinkedIn and Amazon Music. There’s additionally one containing a bunch of horrible video games that each one appear to riff off higher, extra well-known examples.
Xiaomi nonetheless insists on filling its telephones with annoying bloatware
Xiaomi appears to be providing three main Android updates and 4 years of safety patch updates throughout the Redmi Note 13 vary, which is cheap for an inexpensive telephone.
Price & Availability
Xiaomi is providing two fashions of the Redmi Note 13 right here within the UK and Europe, which you should buy direct from the Xiaomi UK web site.
The entry mannequin offers you 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for a worth of £199, whereas the 8/256GB mannequin sells for an RRP of £229.
In the UK, the telephone can also be obtainable from Amazon, Currys and Very. But no networks are promoting it on contract, so that you’ll have to purchase outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.
And as ordinary, there’s no availability within the US until you need to danger importing one.
Wherever you purchase it from, the Redmi Note 13 is significantly cheaper than the Redmi Note 13 5G (£199). It appears to be in nearer competitors with the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G (£199) and the Moto G54 5G (£180). Both these rivals provide 5G connectivity and barely superior efficiency, however not such a formidable show.
Should you purchase the Redmi Note 13?
The Redmi Note 13 is an fascinating proposition, as regardless of the identify it’s not merely a Redmi Note 13 5G with out the superior community connectivity.
For £80 much less (at full worth) you’re getting the identical glorious show and first rate digital camera system, plus similar 33W charging speeds. You’re even getting barely superior battery life and stereo sound, in addition to an in-display fingerprint sensor reasonably than side-mounted one.
However, you’ll have to simply accept a bulkier and fewer premium design, in addition to markedly inferior efficiency alongside that apparent 4G community limitation.
On stability, the Redmi Note 13 doesn’t actually characterize higher worth than its 5G sibling, regardless of the cheaper price. It’s nonetheless a really strong low-cost telephone with a standout OLED display screen, however one which’s weighed down by ugly software program and poor efficiency.
Specs
Android 14 with MIUI 14
6.67in, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, flat show
In-display fingerprint sensor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 685
6GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM
128GB/256GB storage
108Mp, f/1.8 foremost digital camera
8Mp ultra-wide digital camera
2Mp macro digital camera
Up to 1080p @ 30fps rear video
16Mp front-facing digital camera
Stereo audio system
Hybrid dual-SIM
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.1
5000mAh battery
33W charging
162.2 x 75.55 x 7.97mm
188.5g
Launch colors: Midnight Black, Mint Green, Ice Blue
https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2302031/xiaomi-redmi-note-13-review.html
