Redmi 13 5G Review: Budget Beauty or Feature Beast?

Key Highlights:

• The Redmi 13 5G has a huge 5030mAh battery capacity.

• The smartphone features a 6.79-inch display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.

• Powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE CPU, the gadget runs on HyperOS.

Redmi 13 5G Review: Power or Price?

Xiaomi has released the Redmi 13 5G, the successor to its affordable phone, the Redmi 12 5G. It costs Rs 13,999 and comes with a premium Corning Gorilla Glass back and a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE CPU. Xiaomi has replaced MIUI 14 with HyperOS, and while specifics are limited, the Redmi 13 5G appears to fulfil the promised capabilities for its pricing.

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Design: Gorgeous glass back

The Redmi 13 5G has an exquisite glass back panel, which is a popular feature on its predecessor. Each colour version has distinct characteristics, such as the Ocean Blue unit, which has a shimmering ocean wave-like sheen. The back is also highly resistant to fingerprints. However, the glass makes the phone slippery, making it difficult to handle.

The phone weighs 205g and is 8.3mm thick, making it seem even heavier with the supplied case. This, paired with the huge screen and slick design, may make one-handed use difficult. The new ring light encircling the dual-camera arrangement gives a unique touch, although the general look is similar to the Redmi 12 5G. The Redmi 13 5G's design may not transfer into a comfortable user experience.

Display: Big and vivid

The Redmi 13 5G has a 6.79-inch FHD+ display with vivid colour reproduction, ideal for immersive entertainment. However, its reflectiveness and thick bezels might be annoying in strong light. The phone also has a punch-hole notch for a smoother look and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection for further peace of mind. The phone's larger bezels may be annoying to certain users. Overall, the display is a terrific choice for individuals who want a contemporary, edge-to-edge design.

The phone includes a convenient reading mode that changes the display backdrop colour to a warmer tone, minimising eye strain for individuals switching from long hours on computers to smartphone use. It also has DC dimming technology to reduce eye fatigue during prolonged screen usage. Despite minor flaws with reflectivity and bezels, the phone's size, colour accuracy, and user-friendly features make for an engaging viewing experience.

Decent performance

The Redmi 13 5G is a low-cost phone featuring a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE microprocessor with HyperOS, however its processor fails to deliver peak performance. Bloatware, including pre-installed programmes such as Netflix, Snapchat, and games, detracts from the initial user experience. The phone has been lag-free for 36 months, but our testing found that it stalled on a few times, flashing a "System UI not working" error message. Despite not generating any serious difficulties during games, the phone's performance slowed and heated up significantly after lengthy gaming sessions.

Benchmark testing reveal that the phone achieved 955 in single-core and 2125 in multi-core tests, with a 99.4% stability score and a highest loop score of 171. However, real-world use is more important. The average user in this price range (about Rs 15,000) prioritises essential functions like calling, social networking, and a good camera. The Redmi 13 5G performs wonderfully on these tasks, but the bloatware is a nuisance, and the initial slowness has to be addressed. The camera, surprise, appears to be a strong point, which will be discussed in further depth later in the review.

Great Camera

The Redmi 13 5G is a cost-effective smartphone having a 108-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel macro camera for close-ups, and a 13-megapixel front camera for selfies. Its camera performs admirably, particularly in low-light circumstances, producing colourful and sharp photographs. However, low-light photography needs refinement, and night mode has some oversaturation. The 3x zoom achieves a fantastic blend of clarity and detail, while the back camera's portrait mode has excellent edge recognition.

The front-facing camera's portrait mode falls short. The selfie camera offers a natural-looking beauty setting that smoothes skin texture without going too far. Overall, the Redmi 13 5G provides a remarkable camera experience, producing high-quality photographs in most lighting settings.

Huge battery backup

The Redmi 13 5G is a powerful phone with a long-lasting 5030mAh battery, making it ideal for social networking and gaming. Its power-efficient CPU allows for all-day use without battery concerns. The phone's 33W rapid charging functionality lets it to charge from 0% to 100% in 60 minutes, even at slower rates. The battery's performance was tested using Shadow Fight 4 for 40 minutes, using just 20% of the charge, and streaming material online for 30 minutes with little dip. Overall, the Redmi 13 5G is a fantastic pick for customers who want a long battery life.

Redmi 13 5G Verdict: Buy or Bye?

The Redmi 13 5G, retailing at Rs 13,999, is a low-cost smartphone with a gorgeous design, huge display, and long-lasting battery. Its camera performs well in daytime and has a sufficient CPU for daily operations, but low-light photography and occasional latency restrict its popularity.