Xiaomi’s new Redmi Note 13 5G (review) includes a bunch of improvements, but most importantly, it boasts an upgraded camera system. The Note 13 5G also features a sleeker design and an upgraded chipset under the hood. All these new additions come for an unchanged starting price of Rs 17,999. Xiaomi hopes that the improved Redmi Note 13 5G can compete with the likes of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G (review), which also carries the same price tag.
Overall, both smartphones offer a decent camera system, considering the price. But if you have to choose one, things can become confusing. For instance, the Redmi Note 13 5G and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G include a 108MP primary camera and a 2MP macro shooter. However, the Redmi Note 13 5G offers an ultra-wide lens, which the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G skips. Here’s a camera comparison of the two smartphones.
Table of Contents
Redmi Note 13 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G camera specifications
| Redmi Note 13 5G | OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G |
| 108MP primary camera | 108MP primary camera |
| 8MP ultra-wide camera | 2MP depth sensor |
| 2MP macro camera | 2MP macro camera |
| 16MP selfie camera | 16MP selfie camera |
Daylight (HDR)
In this photo, both smartphones treat the same scenes differently. The sample with the Redmi Note 13 5G includes a cooler tone, while the image captured by Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is on the warmer side. Based on the treatment of the photo, it would be hard to pick a winner as different users have different preferences.
However, if we look closely, the Nord CE Lite 5G offers a better dynamic range in daylight. Even the sign boards at the back have better readability with the OnePlus smartphone. Notably, the Redmi Note 13 5G detects the accurate shade of the red building and sky.
In this case, I prefer more details over an accurate colour palette because I can correct colours in post-production. If you prefer the photo taken with the Redmi Note 13 5G, that is totally fine too.
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Portrait
Both smartphones also utilise the primary camera for portrait images. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G includes a 2MP depth sensor for a richer bokeh effect. Does that mean better portrait shots? Let’s see.
In this case, photos captured by the two smartphones include the right amount of sharpness and brightness. I also have no complaints about the bokeh effect. But there’s a clear distinction in the complexion of the subject. The Redmi Note 13 5G preserved the accurate complexion, plus details on the face. You can notice some softening on the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.
Plus, the Note 13 5G accurately detects the orange colour of the flag in the background, while the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G fails to distinguish the correct shade.. again.
Winner: Redmi Note 13 5G
Selfie
The selfies were more or less the same as the portrait performance. The Redmi Note 13 5G preserved the right complexion and facial details. The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G over-brightened the skin tone.
Notably, the Redmi Note 13 5G also offered better dynamic range in this case, as you can see brighter and sharper objects in the background. The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G changed the colour of the sky to deep blue, which wasn’t the case.
Winner: Redmi Note 13 5G
Macro
Most smartphones in this segment offer underwhelming macro cameras. The story remains the same for the Redmi Note 13 5G and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. While both phones successfully identified the subject, they still encountered problems regarding depth perception and capturing fine details.
Here, the Redmi Note 13 5G offers better details, while the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G over-softens and over-exposes the entire image. If you zoom in, the macro shot by the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G gets more blurry.
Winner: Redmi Note 13 5G
Low light
If we flip the switch from daylight to low light, again, the two smartphones struggle with details and stability. In relative terms, the Note 13 5G performs better, be it in terms of details and brightness.
While the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G may produce images with improved colour rendition, the captured details appear blurred.
Winner: Redmi Note 13 5G
Low light with night mode
If we look at the same scene with night mode enabled, there is a significant difference. This time, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G has boosted the image, but in a good way. The photo is sharp, the colours look good, and the shadows are prominent for a more picturesque treatment. The Note 13 5G also captured a decent amount of detail, but the image looks flat.
Both the Redmi Note 13 5G and Nord CE 3 Lite 5G struggle to effectively manage lens flare in the background, a common issue with smartphones across various segments.
Winner: OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G
Verdict
The Redmi Note 13 5G emerged as the winner in our four out of six camera tests. While I preferred the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G’s performance in daylight, in most other instances, the Note 13 5G does it better. Here are some extra features you need to keep in mind before making the final decision.
- The Redmi Note 13 5G also offers an ultra-wide camera, which can add versatility in some situations.
- Video performance was more or less the same. The Redmi Note 13 5G and Nord CE 3 Lite 5G can record Full-HD video at 30fps.
- Both phones also provide comparable stability. The colours appear richer during video recording on the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.
