Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 12GB RAM

The regular Note 13 now incorporates a 108MP primary, a first on a non-Pro Redmi Note smartphone. The rear camera module, which also adopts a new design, houses an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP macro camera.In terms of performance, there's a lot to like about the 108MP primary camera. Photos in daylight or good lighting conditions maintain a balanced contrast and saturation. Details are also decent, but there's a slight degree of softening to reduce grains from photos. If you want to preserve the details, the native 108MP camera mode does a great job. However, increasing the level of detail in images will result in a larger file size.The 8MP ultra-wide camera also treats the scene similar to that of the primary camera, though the grains in photos may appear more prominently. Grains become even more prominent in low light. The macro camera now successfully detects subjects, a significant improvement from the Note 12. However, it still lacks detail despite being dedicated to macro shots.The Redmi Note 13 5G also carries an upgraded 16MP front camera, which takes sharp images (normal and portrait) in daylight. But skin detection is still an issue, as the Note 13 tends to brighten the complexion. While some users may enjoy it, I prefer an accurate depiction of the complexion. In low light, the selfie camera struggles further.For videos, there's no OIS, but the EIS does a fair job at stabilisation. Both front and rear cameras support full HD recording at 30fps. Xiaomi could've considered adding support for 60fps to gain an edge.

As mentioned, the Redmi Note 13 5G draws power from MediaTek's Dimensity 6080 SoC paired with 6GB of LPPDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The variant I am reviewing offers 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, priced at Rs 19,999. There's also a variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage available for Rs 21,999.Compared to last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC-powered Redmi Note 12, the Note 13 showed gains in almost all benchmarks. Its AnTutu score increased by roughly 24 percent while the battery consumption during the test remained the same. In Geekbench's single-core test, the Note 13 showed a promising upgrade, though the multi-core score remained mostly constant. Fortunately, these gains do not result in throttling as the Dimensity 6080 SoC exhibited a stable performance even under heavy load.Even in real life, the Redmi Note 13 5G exhibited reliable performance. I did not face app crashes, though MIUI 14 showed a few glitches in animations, which is normal for most smartphones, even the expensive ones. Popular apps like Instagram and WhatsApp also performed smoothly.I would've been happier if the Redmi Note 13 5G shipped directly with Android 14-based HyperOS, which the smartphone should receive soon. Otherwise, MIUI also offers loads of customisations, which users will appreciate. The issue of extra pre-installed apps is also lingering. In that case, credit brands like Infinix for reducing unnecessary apps on their devices. Indian smartphone maker Lava is also doing a fine job of offering a clean Android experience.In terms of gaming, the Redmi Note 13 5G can run popular games, including Candy Crush and Subway Surfers, without any stutters. Moderately graphically intense games, like Asphalt 9, also ran smoothly at 50-60 fps. The Redmi Note 13 5G 5G can handle heavy titles like BGMI, Call of Duty, and Genshin Impact, though the phone heats up during prolonged use. In some instances, you may also experience more noticeable stutters.There's 5G support as well. With an Airtel 5G Plus SIM, the Redmi Note 13 5G achieved 200Mbps 5G speeds in my house in South Delhi. Do note that speeds vary based on locations.

The Redmi Note 13 5G continues to pack a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging. The phone performed decently in the PCMark battery test, lasting over 12 hours with flight mode enabled. In day-to-day usage, the Note 13 fetched roughly 10 hours of battery. Mind you, this was with the highest settings enabled. You can extend the backup per charge with moderate settings.With the bundled 33W charger, the Redmi Note 13 5G attained nearly 28 percent charge in 30 minutes. A full charge takes a little over an hour.