Review Summary
Expert Rating
The Redmi Note 13 Pro, in some sense, may appear as the awkward middle sibling in the new Redmi Note 13 series, but it is nonetheless an attractive option, considering the price. Starting at Rs 25,999, the smartphone packs a 200MP camera, 67W charging, a tall 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K (2,712 x 1,220 pixels) resolution, and Dolby Atmos-enabled stereo speakers.
The Note 13 Pro also sticks to the OG Redmi Note roots and it is among the few sub-Rs 30K phones to offer a headphone jack. There’s also an IR transmitter, which many old Redmi phone users love.
However, its biggest challenge is competition in the segment. In the under Rs 30,000, smartphone OEMs like OnePlus, POCO, and iQOO have been offering similar, if not better features for relatively more affordable prices. The phone continues to run on Android 13, though Android 14 is promised shortly. Here is everything you should know while considering the Redmi Note 13 Pro.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The Redmi Note 13 Pro won’t disappoint if sleek design, fast charging, good battery, and cameras matter to you. It also offers one of the best displays in the segment. Additionally, the native reading mode continues to make the reading experience pleasant. However, the phone is still awaiting the Android 14 update, while other OEMs have already started offering it out of the box. The Note 13 Pro cameras perform reliably in daylight, but the performance in low light still needs some improvement.
Design and display
There’s a lot to like about the Redmi Note 13 Pro in terms of design. It boasts a sleek glass-like finish on the back with a matte coating, effectively concealing fingerprint smudges. The purple variant I’m reviewing features subtle shades of blue and green near the camera module, adding a refreshing touch. Xiaomi has also paid attention to detail with the silver Redmi branding at the bottom of the rear panel, complementing the overall colour scheme. For those who prefer more understated colours, the Redmi Note 13 Pro offers white and black options, both of which are equally appealing.
The in-hand feeling is also good, considering the size of the smartphone. The placement of the volume and power buttons is perfect for my grip. The headphone jack isn’t too close to the edge for an unhampered gaming experience in landscape orientation. For durability, the Redmi Note 13 Pro gets an IP54 rating, which provides adequate protection from dust and water splashes. Of course, a higher IP64 rating is reserved for the more expensive Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (review).
One standout feature of the Redmi Note 13 Pro is its display quality and viewing experience. It features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection, which is a significant upgrade from the standard Corning Gorilla Glass 5 found in many smartphones in this price range. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display further gets enhanced with Dolby Vision support and AdaptiveSync refresh rates ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz across four levels. Additionally, the device includes a fingerprint scanner, which is reasonably responsive as long as your fingers are clean.
Video playback on YouTube and Netflix was quite immersive, with the latter having Dolby Vision support. The viewing experience on the Redmi Note 13 Pro is also comparatively better than its immediate rivals as it generally displays warm and punchy colours without severely affecting the contrast. You can tweak the settings between Vivid, Natural, or Saturated based on your preference. There’s also my favourite Reading mode, which substantially improves the reading experience.
Cameras
The Redmi Note 13 Pro boasts a new 200MP ISOCELL HP3 camera sensor, similar to the one on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. There’s also an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 16MP selfie shooter.
The camera performance of both the Redmi Note 13 Pro and 13 Pro+ is quite similar, and you can find a detailed review here. Generally, the primary camera captures images with vibrant saturation, giving photos a pleasing orange-ish hue. There’s a noticeable noise reduction and improved dynamic range across various lighting conditions. However, in low-light situations, colour consistency in photos can be inconsistent. Some of our low-light shots also exhibit high saturation and overexposed areas.
The output with the ultra-wide camera tries to mimic the colour balance of the primary camera though the details may not be the best. At least the dynamic range remains more or less balanced. The portrait camera results can be a hit-and-miss as the subject may get out of focus occasionally. The front camera does well in good lighting conditions. It also tends to detect skin tones well.
However, skin tone detection can be occasionally inconsistent in portrait. Fair to say the photo doesn’t look good, though you may need to spend some editing the image to get the right colour. Speaking of editing, the native editor has some AI features to remove the background or enhance colour, which works fine, if not the best.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro can shoot 4K videos at 30fps, while the front camera can record 1080p video at 60fps. At least with the “upgraded” 200MP primary camera, Xiaomi could’ve considered adding 4K at 60fps.
Performance and software
The Redmi Note 13 Pro gets three storage configurations, with the base model offering 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This was also the option I reviewed. The top model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage costs Rs 29,999, while the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option carries a price tag of Rs 27,999. All three storage variants draw power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2.
In benchmarks, the Redmi Note 13 Pro stands out among its peers, hitting the sweet spot in performance. It achieved an impressive score of over 5 lakh in the AnTuTu overall test. Interestingly, despite sharing the same SoC, the POCO X6 (review) scored higher. Do note these scores could be a notch higher on the 12GB RAM variant of the Note 13 Pro.
Beyond numbers and in real life, the Redmi Note 13 Pro works smoothly with negligent stutters. I did not face any abrupt crashes or heating issues. Even the gaming experience was surprisingly smooth. I compared the 30-minute BGMI gaming test on Note 13 Pro and Nothing Phone 2(a) (review). Both phones exhibited identical battery consumption rates, with each consuming 10 percent of the battery. The Note 13 Pro got a notch warmer than the Phone 2(a) after 30 minutes of gaming.
However, Xiaomi needs to work on improving the overall software experience. For instance, the camera app UI feels confusing and native Mi apps cannot be uninstalled. At the time of writing this review, the Redmi Note 13 Pro still runs on Android 13-based MIUI with three years of Android update promise. The phone also includes several pre-installed apps that can make the software experience somewhat cluttered.
Battery and charging speed
The Redmi Note 13 Pro gets the biggest battery in the new Note 13 series. It packs a 5,100mAh battery with 67W charging (charger included in the box). In the PCMark Battery test, the phone survives for 12 hours with flight mode enabled and 50 per cent screen brightness. Even beyond the test, you can expect a solid battery with a high refresh rate enabled and manual brightness (80 percent).
The charging speed is decent, if not the best. With the bundled charger the phone attained nearly 70 percent battery in 30 minutes. A full charge takes around 50 minutes.
Final Verdict
The Redmi Note 13 Pro comes across as a solid all-rounder smartphone with an appealing price tag. It can be the ideal phone for those who enjoy watching shows and movies on their device. The camera performance is satisfactory overall, although low-light shots could benefit from some improvement. Upon comparing samples taken by the Redmi Note 13 Pro and the Nothing Phone 2(a), the former emerged ahead by a few notches, particularly in terms of the primary camera.
If you prefer a clean Android experience, Nothing Phone 2(a) deserves a look. For gaming-centric users, the POCO X6 or X6 Pro is also a solid choice. If you’re already used to the MIUI interface and don’t care about gaming too much, the Redmi Note 13 Pro won’t disappoint.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Reasons to buy
- The Redmi Note 13 Pro features a sleek design. The purple colour variant also looks trendy.
- The 200MP primary camera captures stunning photos in daylight. The ultra-wide camera also maintains some consistency.
- The 5,100mAh battery offers solid backup. There’s also 67W fast charging.
Reasons not to buy
- While daylight photos are good, the Redmi Note 13 Pro struggles in low-light conditions.
- The smartphone is still running on Android 13.
 | Rs. 25,999.00 | Go To Store |
 Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro | vs |  POCO X6 Pro |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro | vs |  Nothing Phone 2a |
