Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro review

Xiaomi is again as soon as once more with one other set of low-cost Redmi telephones to tempt budget-conscious consumers.

There are 5 Redmi Word 13 handsets in complete – the 13 4G, 13 5G, 13 Professional 4G, 13 Professional and 13 Professional+ – all of which can be found within the UK (however not the US, like standard)/

Total, it’s extra of the identical from Xiaomi which suggests spectacular design and specs for funds or mid-range costs.  

I’m reviewing the Professional mannequin right here which has similarities to its predecessor, the Redmi Word 12 Professional, however arrives with a swap from MediaTek to a Qualcomm processor in addition to a 200Mp foremost digital camera and double the storage. 

The telephone is yours for £339, so let’s see if it’s price your cash. 

Design & Construct 

• Related design 
• Now IP54 
• Three colourways 

On the design entrance, it’s extra of the identical from Xiaomi however that’s no dangerous factor. Redmi telephones have all the time regarded good and the Word 13 Professional isn’t any exception if you happen to ask me. 

Positive, it seems remarkably just like its predecessor however that doesn’t matter to most potential consumers. Regardless of its samey styling, there are a selection of tweaks and upgrades, a few of that are invisible to the bare eye. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The primary is a soar to Gorilla Glass Victus (up from 5) on the entrance. It’s additionally glass on the again, although its kind is unspecified. Xiaomi has additionally applied numerous toughness measures, together with a shock-absorbing layer and strengthened body corners. 

I haven’t dropped the telephone throughout testing, nevertheless it’s actually stronger than the Redmi Word 12 Professional on paper. The safety can also be rated barely greater at IP54 slightly than IP53 which means it’s just a little higher at heading off water, although it’s not totally mud or waterproof. 

The physique is slim at 7.98mm (so we’ll name that 8mm then) and has a properly balanced weight of 187g, although I wouldn’t complain if it was just a little lighter. Flat sides on the body are all the craze nowadays, whereas a small bezel makes the telephone snug to carry. 

On the again, the digital camera module shouts “have a look at me” and is extra neatly organized this 12 months into a satisfying sq.. The 2 foremost lenses are huge, each in diameter and the way far they stick out of the telephone, however fortunately the provided case ensures the telephone doesn’t wobble on a flat floor. 

These bundled instances are usually clear nevertheless it’s matt black right here, which seems good, however you possibly can’t see the color of the rear glass.

Chris Martin / Foundry

I’ve acquired the Aurora Purple choice on check which modifications because the telephone strikes and catches. In the meantime, the digital camera module is break up into pastel shades of blue, inexperienced and pink. I personally favor the Ocean Teal colourway and Midnight black seems far much less mirror-like than its predecessor. 

I additionally just like the matt end on the rear glass, largely because it doesn’t appeal to fingerprints, however it’s fairly slippery to the contact. 

Display & Audio system 

• Nonetheless 6.7in AMOLED 
• 120Hz refresh price 
• Barely greater decision 

Not a lot has modified concerning the display so it’s nonetheless a 6.67in AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh price.  

Xiaomi calls it CrystalRes and there are some upgrades together with a bump to 1.5K decision (1220 x 2712), leading to a better pixel density of 446ppi (up from 395ppi) and the bezel across the display is smaller, giving it a extra premium feel and appear. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

See also  Developers Have Over 600 Native Vision Pro Apps Ready Today

Peak brightness has supposedly doubled to 1800 nits. The display is actually vivid, and I measured it a really stable 503 nits with automated brightness switched off.  

It’s properly crisp and vibrant, so my solely actual grievance is that white can typically look off, both shimmering with delicate hints of color or a inexperienced tint. I consider the latter is brought on by the manufacturing facility utilized display protector (which will be eliminated if you happen to like), however even then, it’s solely seen from sure angles.

The refresh price is ready to a dynamic mode by default, so it can routinely swap between 60- and 120Hz relying on what you’re doing. You’ll be able to repair it to both if you happen to favor, however there’s no LTPO tech for routinely adjusting all the way down to 1Hz to protect battery life.

The display now homes the fingerprint scanner (beforehand mounted within the energy button) and I want Xiaomi had left it because it was regardless of it feeling extra premium. The scanning space is just a little too low down the show for consolation and I didn’t discover it essentially the most dependable both.

Stereo audio system on the Redmi Word 13 Professional have Dolby Atmos help, which is on by default. I don’t assume it provides a lot to telephones and the audio system sound completely wonderful for common telephone utilization however are nothing to put in writing dwelling about. 

Doubtlessly extra thrilling, for some customers anyway, is the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack. A rarity nowadays however a boon for these eager to keep away from Bluetooth headphones. 

Specs & Efficiency 

• Swap to Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
• Double the storage 
• Extra RAM too 

This 12 months, Xiaomi switched from MediaTek to Qualcomm for the processor on the Word 13 Professional, with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 within the engine room.  

That is paired with both 8- or 12GB of RAM relying on which storage capability you select. The previous comes with 256GB which is double that of the entry-level Word 12 Professional and nice to see and there’s additionally a 512GB choice, too. 

Properly, for some markets anyway as solely the 8/256GB is accessible within the UK. That’s a 3rd additional RAM in comparison with final 12 months. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The Snapdragon is an identical chip to the Redmi Word 12 Professional’s and as such efficiency isn’t massively completely different in the true world, although some benchmarks are markedly improved. 

I seen the odd slowdown nevertheless it’s largely a case of letting the telephone get ‘warmed up’ if you first swap it on and every part settles down rapidly. Switching between apps and gaming is easy and zippy. 

Redmi Word 13 Professional benchmarks

Extra than simply spectacular core specs and efficiency, the Redmi Word 13 Professional has different methods and options together with Twin SIM (both two nano or mixed with eSIM) and 5G help. 

There’s additionally dual-band WiFi (however oddly downgraded to WiFi 5 from 6), Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and even an IR blaster which you need to use to regulate units like your TV – fairly useful when you don’t have any concept the place your toddler has hidden the distant.

Cameras 

• New 200Mp foremost digital camera 
• 8Mp ultrawide and 2Mp macro stay  
• 16Mp entrance digital camera 

The massive information within the images division this 12 months is an improve from a 50- to a 200Mp foremost digital camera, which was beforehand held again for the Redmi Word 12 Professional+. It’s a powerful quantity and the sensor has optical picture stabilisation (OIS) and an impressively quick f/1.65 aperture.

Elsewhere issues stay successfully the identical with an 8Mp ultrawide digital camera and a 2Mp macro lens to finish the trio of rear shooters. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Let’s deal with the primary digital camera since that is the large improve and though you possibly can shoot in 200Mp photographs, you most likely don’t wish to regardless of the additional storage this 12 months. Like many telephones nowadays, the Redmi Word 13 Professional pixel bins, combining 16 pixels into one with the intention to provide you with a 12.5Mp outcome. 

The primary profit being that extra mild will be sucked in, because it have been, by the sensor for extra spectacular outcomes. So, how does it carry out? Total, I discovered the digital camera to be first rate on the entire, however nothing to put in writing dwelling about. 

Pictures look higher on the telephone however reveal imperfections when seen on a bigger show. Regardless of a very good quantity of element, natural-looking colors and quick digital camera app, I discovered plenty of photographs weren’t significantly crisp, with the main target typically barely off in decrease lighting. 

With no depth sensor, the portrait mode depends on software program and as you possibly can see beneath, the telephone struggles to find out the place my canine ends and the railings behind start.  

Don’t get me mistaken, some good common photographs are potential, however the expertise is way from excellent when you begin to look nearer. 

The ultrawide digital camera is okay when you might want to match extra in, however the high quality isn’t nice, with related focus points to the primary shooter.

The macro digital camera (which is oddly accessed from the settings slightly than the ‘extra’ part of modes) is like most 2Mp macros; mediocre and actually there to bump the digital camera rely. It’s low decision and stuck focus makes it tough to get something worthwhile.  

On the entrance is a 16Mp selfie digital camera (in a punch gap notch) which supplies some good photographs in each common and portrait modes. 

In the case of video, you possibly can shoot as much as 4K/30fps however I’d persist with the default 1080p mode and swap it to 60fps for added smoothness. High quality from the primary digital camera, partly due to the decision and OIS (optical picture stabilisation), is first rate. 

Battery Life & Charging 

• 5100mAh battery 
• 67W turbo charging 
• Charger included 

It is a sturdy space for the Redmi Word 13 Professional and although little or no has modified from the 12 Professional, I’ve little to complain about. 

The marginally bigger 5100mAh battery isn’t sufficient to make a major distinction, however I discovered the Redmi Word 13 Professional can comfortably final a day of utilization and virtually make it by means of a second day.  

Chris Martin / Foundry

It ran out at simply gone 9pm on the second day and that is with combined utilization. In case you’re going to be gaming and watching plenty of video, then charging each night time might be wanted. Different two day stretches didn’t make it so far as 9pm, so it’s not fairly a two-day telephone.

In our standard PCMark battery check the Redmi Word 13 Professional lasted a good but not exceptional 11 hours and 55 minutes. Word that testing was performed with the display mounted to 120Hz, so the dynamic mode will lengthen battery life just a little. 

When charging is as fast as Xiaomi affords right here, battery life turns into much less of a problem. You may get the telephone from lifeless to 47% in quarter-hour and 87% in simply half-hour. A full cost takes an extra 10 minutes – faster than the quoted 44 minutes. 

That is as soon as once more due to the 67W turbo charger that Xiaomi provides within the field (a minimum of within the UK) however extra spectacular outcomes regardless of the bigger cell. There’s no wi-fi charging however that’s hardly shocking at this worth.

Software program & Apps 

• MIUI 14 
• Android 13 
• Probably two years of updates 

The Redmi Word 13 Professional comes with MIUI 14 (not Hyper OS as discovered on the Poco X6 Professional) which is predicated on Android 13. Oddly, that is precisely what the Redmi Word 13 Professional got here with – it’s a disgrace to not see Android 14 (the newest model on the time of writing). 

In case you’ve not used MIUI earlier than, it’s one thing of a combined bag. It’s actually higher than it was once however a far stretch from the sleek, user-friendly software program from rivals corresponding to Motorola, Samsung and Google. 

With some endurance and time invested in studying the OS and tidying it up, there are some good sides. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

You could love the break up notification and fast settings panels which pull down from both aspect of the selfie digital camera, iOS-style. I like the choice to have the lock display picture change each time I press the ability button, although these are sometimes accompanied by a hyperlink to a related story which means many are photographs of celebrities I don’t care about. 

I additionally like the way in which the edges of the show mild as much as inform you of a notification in addition to the floating app function, although I stumbled upon this and took some time to determine methods to do it once more.  

And that’s a very good metaphor for the software program as a complete: there are plenty of intelligent options baked into MIUI, however you must go and discover them, which is made arduous with the chaotic quantity of bloatware and settings. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Xiaomi isn’t clear on the software program replace coverage for the telephone however says “sometimes, we are going to preserve the safety updates for a minimum of 2 years after the primary cargo of a sure machine mannequin” on its help web site. 

Some get three years however since this isn’t a flagship machine, it’s safer to imagine you’ll get two years. If you would like longer help, which might be comprehensible, then it’s finest to take a look at the likes of Samsung and Google.

Value & Availability 

There’s only one mannequin of the Redmi Word 13 Professional out there within the UK with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

It normally prices £339, however you possibly can at the moment get one for £299 from Xiaomi and Amazon.

Xiaomi doesn’t formally promote its telephones within the US, however you may discover a world mannequin on Amazon. 

That’s the identical UK worth because the Redmi Word 12 Professional when it launched however with double the storage and a 3rd extra RAM, making it spectacular worth for cash.

The £449 Samsung Galaxy A54 and Google Pixel 7a each include 128GB, with solely the A54 out there in a 256GB configuration. They’ve benefits like higher software program help however Xiaomi affords nice worth with regards to {hardware}. A less expensive choice is the wonderful Motorola Edge 40 Neo at £299.

Try our listing of the perfect mid-range telephones for extra choices. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Do you have to purchase the Xiaomi Redmi Word 13 Professional? 

The Redmi Word 13 Professional, like its predecessor, ticks a heck of plenty of bins and can significantly enchantment to these in search of a premium telephone at a mid-range worth. 

And the value is similar as final 12 months regardless of a raft of upgrades, a few of that are small and a few are vital. 

You now get double the storage, outclassing many rivals, whereas the stable 120Hz AMOLED display can also be now brighter. Efficiency is easy, battery life is nice and charging continues to be very quick. A extra sturdy design is welcome, too.

Some customers will even relish often-overlooked options like a headphone jack and IR blaster. 

As standard, it’s software program and images the place the handset can’t match rivals, with not solely a much less user-friendly interface (regardless of some good options hidden away) but additionally a shorter lifespan as a consequence of a restricted replace help from Xiaomi.

In case you can look past these, it’s an incredible telephone for the cash.

Specs

• Android 13 w/ MIUI 14   
• 6.67in AMOOLED 120Hz flat show 
• Underscreen fingerprint sensor  
• Gorilla Glass Victus (entrance solely) 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM  
• 256GB UFS 2.2 non-expandable storage  
• 200Mp, f/1.65 foremost digital camera with OIS   
• 8Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide digital camera   
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digital camera  
• 16Mp, f/2.4 front-facing digital camera   
• Twin stereo audio system  
• Twin-SIM   
• 5G   
• Wi-Fi 5  
• Bluetooth 5.2  
• IP54  
• USB-C
• IR blaster
• Headphone jack   
• 5100mAh battery   
• 67W wired charging   
• 161 x 74 x 7.98mm   
• 187g 
• Midnight Black, Aurora Purple, Ocean Teal