Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ review
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a mid-range smartphone that boasts an impressive 200-megapixel camera. This year's upgrade also includes a faster chipset, improved display, and larger storage options. The phone's design is typical of Xiaomi, with a square camera housing and flat glass back. One of the standout features is the display, which is a 6.67-inch OLED panel with a 1220p resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This results in a sharper image than last year's model, with a pixel density of 446 PPI. The phone also supports 12-bit color depth and HDR10+ video. The camera system is led by the 200-megapixel main sensor, which produces excellent photos during the day, with great sharpness, fine detail, and true-to-life colors. At night, the main cam does an impressive job, capturing good contrast and color reproduction. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, however, is less impressive, producing soft and lacking-in-detail shots. The phone's performance is solid, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset. Battery life is average, with a 5100mAh battery that lasts around 10 hours and 16 minutes in active use. Charging is quick, with a bundled adapter able to charge the phone from 0 to 83% in half an hour. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers great value for its price, making it a solid recommendation for those looking for a mid-range smartphone with impressive camera capabilities. However, some compromises are made on other aspects, such as the ultra-wide-angle camera and battery life.
Build Quality and Design
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is the latest addition to Xiaomi's mid-range lineup, boasting an impressive 200-megapixel camera and several other upgrades over its predecessor. As I delve into this review, it's time to shine a light on the phone's build quality and design. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ follows in the footsteps of previous Xiaomi mid-rangers with a typical square camera housing featuring subtle dividers and large chrome rings around the cameras. The back is made of flat glass, while the frame is constructed from plastic. Despite being familiar, this design approach still manages to deliver a decent grip, thanks to its sharp edges and matte finish. While not spectacular, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has seen an improvement in water resistance compared to last year's model. The phone now boasts IP54-rated protection, up from IP53. This subtle upgrade is a welcome change, adding a touch of reliability to this mid-ranger. The display on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is its crowning jewel, offering a crisp and vibrant OLED panel with a 1220p resolution. Gorilla Glass Victus protection and a 120Hz refresh rate further enhance the viewing experience. In terms of build quality and design, this phone has achieved a solid, if not spectacular, scorecard. While it may not break any new ground in terms of innovation, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers a reliable package that should satisfy mid-range buyers. If you're looking for a no-frills, dependable smartphone with an impressive camera and display, then this phone might just fit the bill.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a mixed bag. On one hand, the phone has a large 5100mAh battery that should last all day with moderate use. However, in our tests, it didn't quite live up to expectations. In our active use test, which involves continuous use of the phone's features such as internet browsing, social media, and video streaming, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ lasted for around 10 hours and 16 minutes. This is a respectable number, but not exceptional given the battery capacity. The real issue is that the phone doesn't quite deliver on its charging capabilities. Despite supporting fast charging at up to 67W, we found that it took around 42 minutes to fully charge from zero. This is slower than many other mid-range phones in this category. What's more, the battery life seems to be inconsistent, and our test results suggest that the phone may not last a full day with heavy use. This could be a concern for users who need a reliable device that can keep up with their daily demands. Overall, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has a large battery, its actual battery life is somewhat disappointing. If you're in the market for a phone with excellent battery life, there are other options available that might better suit your needs.
Display
The display on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. The phone features a 6.67-inch OLED panel with a 1220p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 446 PPI. This is a notable improvement over the 1080p display found on last year's model. One of the standout features of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ display is its sharpness and clarity. The higher resolution makes for a more detailed and vibrant visual experience, even when compared to other phones in its price range. Additionally, the phone supports 12-bit color depth, which provides a wider range of colors and a more immersive viewing experience. The display also features HDR10+ video and Dolby Vision support, making it well-suited for streaming high-quality content. In our testing, we found that the maximum brightness level reached up to 530 nits when using the manual slider, with an impressive boost to 1330 nits in auto mode. Another notable feature of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ display is its refresh rate behavior. The phone smoothly switches between 120Hz and 60Hz based on usage, allowing for efficient battery life management. This feature ensures that users can enjoy a seamless viewing experience while also conserving power. The under-display fingerprint reader has also been upgraded to provide faster and more accurate biometric authentication. Overall, the display on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering improved sharpness, clarity, and color accuracy. It's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a phone with a high-quality visual experience at an affordable price.
Camera
The camera system on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a highlight of the device. The main camera boasts an impressive 200 megapixel resolution, which is a significant upgrade over last year's model. In ideal lighting conditions, the main camera produces excellent photos with great sharpness, plenty of fine detail, and true-to-life colors. The shots have a wide dynamic range, and contrast is well-balanced. One notable aspect of the main camera is its ability to produce 12.5 megapixel photos during the day due to pixel binning. This results in images with excellent sharpness, despite the high resolution. When zooming digitally to two times, the results are solid, with minimal loss in quality and no noticeable noise introduced into the frame. The main camera also performs well at night, capturing good contrast and color reproduction, along with a wide dynamic range. The automatic night mode kicks in for really dark scenes, adding extra detail, sharpness, and better rendition of highlights and light sources to the photos. 4K videos from the main camera have great detail and sharpness, accurate colors, and wide dynamic range. Electronic stabilization is also present in all videos. Low-light videos are solid for a mid-range phone, with an adequate amount of detail, good contrast, and natural colors. However, there is noticeable noise in the shadows. The 8 megapixel ultra-wide camera, on the other hand, produces disappointing photos. Shots are soft and lacking in fine detail, with muted colors and poor contrast. The dedicated night mode struggles to salvage these photos, making them barely usable. 1080p video from the ultra-wide camera is also subpar, appearing washed out and soft with limited dynamic range. The macro camera, with its 2 megapixel sensor, takes limited detail due to its low resolution, and lack of autofocus makes it difficult to capture sharp macro photos. Selfies from the 16 megapixel front-facing camera have good dynamic range and natural color tone but are a bit soft overall.
Price and Value
In a crowded mid-range segment, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ stands out for its impressive features, particularly its camera. With a price tag of around $350, this phone offers an incredible value proposition. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 1220p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 530 nits of peak brightness. While not the most advanced screen, it's a significant improvement over its predecessor and offers a smooth viewing experience. Under the hood lies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which provides solid everyday performance and 5G connectivity. The phone also features a large 5100mAh battery with 67W fast charging capabilities, making it suitable for heavy users. The camera setup is where the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ truly shines. With a 200-megapixel primary sensor, this phone can take impressive photos during the day and night. While not perfect, the main camera produces excellent results, outshining its competitors in terms of sharpness, detail, and color accuracy. In comparison to other mid-range phones like the Poco X6 or Samsung Galaxy A54, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers a better price-to-performance ratio. Its impressive camera capabilities, combined with a decent display and performance, make it an attractive option for those looking for a budget-friendly device without compromising on features. While not perfect, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is an excellent value proposition at its price point. If you're in the market for a mid-range phone that offers impressive camera capabilities, smooth performance, and fast charging, this phone is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts an impressive lineup of upgrades, including a faster chipset and improved display. At the heart of this device lies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, which may seem less powerful compared to its predecessor, but still provides solid everyday performance. In benchmarks, both the CPU and GPU show promise for the mid-range class, demonstrating an upgrade over last year's Redmi Note 12 Pro. While it's not designed as a gaming powerhouse, the Note 13 Pro+ manages decent performance with games, making it suitable for casual gamers. Battery life is another aspect where the device shows average results, with our tests yielding just under 11 hours of active use. However, the phone still supports fast charging at 67W, allowing users to quickly top up their battery levels when needed. The camera capabilities of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ are undoubtedly one of its standout features, thanks in part to its 200-megapixel primary sensor. In ideal lighting conditions, the main camera delivers impressive results with great sharpness, fine detail, wide dynamic range, and accurate colors. In contrast, the secondary cameras, including an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro shooter, struggle to match the performance of the main camera. The ultra-wide camera produces soft images with muted colors, while the macro camera faces challenges with autofocus and limited detail. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers an exciting combination of upgraded features, including its improved display, faster chipset, and exceptional primary camera. While it may not excel in all areas, particularly when it comes to secondary cameras, this device still represents a solid mid-range option with competitive performance and value for money.
Pros
1. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has an impressive 200 megapixel camera, producing excellent photos during the day with great sharpness, plenty of fine detail, wide dynamic range, and true to life colors.
2. The phone features a larger storage option, up to 512GB, which is expandable through micro SD.
3. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has a competitive fast charging system, supporting 67W charging, and can charge from 0 to 83% in half an hour with the bundle adapter.
4. The phone's display is sharper than last year's model, featuring a 6.67-inch OLED panel with 1220p resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
5. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has stereo speakers that scored very good marks for loudness and sound quality, with great vocals, nice highs, and some bass.
6. The phone's under-display fingerprint reader is snappy and convenient to use.
7. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ runs on Xiaomi's MIUI interface, which is stable and feature-rich, and will receive an update to Hyper OS at some point later on.
8. The phone's battery life is solid, lasting around 10 hours and 16 minutes with active use.
Cons
1. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+'s other cameras, besides the main one, are lackluster, producing soft photos and lacking fine detail.
2. The Ultra-wide camera produces 1080p video that looks washed out and soft, with limited dynamic range.
3. The macro camera takes low-resolution close-ups with limited detail and no autofocus.
4. The phone's water resistance rating has been slightly reduced from IP53 to IP54, although it is still a decent level of protection.