Xiaomi’s Redmi has always been synonymous with the brand’s more budget-conscious label. But through the years (and because of the trickling-down of technology) budget-friendly devices are hardly considered sub-par in quality nowadays – the recently launched Redmi Note 13 Series is proof of this.
With 5 new Redmi Note 13 variants to come out in the market and a bevy of accompanying tech wearables like the Redmi Buds 5, Redmi Buds 5 Pro, and Redmi Watch 4, Xiaomi aims to cater to a wider audience with slightly varying needs.
Take the base-model as an example. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 has both a 4G and 5G variant and it’s not just a matter of adding or removing a 5G variant. Each variant has their own personality and their own internal components – which we find quite interesting.
We got a hold of the Redmi Note 13 (4G) ahead of the launch schedule and had a few days tinkering with it. For a sub-10k Peso phone, we’re pleasantly surprised with how much features the brand were able to pack inside this handy unit.
Designed for Entertainment
Even for a base model, the Redmi Note 13 already sports a large 6.67” FHD+ AMOLED Display with 120Hz refresh rate (something that once upon a time was reserved for midrange to flagship smart devices). The large flat display renders colors well, so binging on your favorite shows becomes a pleasant experience. For better immersion, the unit is also equipped with pretty loud dual speaker setups – all Dolby Atmos capable as well. The dual speaker setup works well even on gaming when your hands cup the phone on both sides of the unit.
Speaking of gaming, the unit is powered by a 6nm chipset courtesy of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 processor. This is further supported by either an 6GB/ 128GB, or 8GB/256GB configuration. On our end, we’re using the 8GB/ 256GB variant for this quick review.
So far, for Mobile Legends: Bang-Bang, we were able to play the game at default high graphic and framerate settings. The device plops this down to low graphics for Genshin Impact to achieve a somewhat steady framerate.
Suffice to say, the phone is capable of gaming – just make sure to follow the default graphic settings best configured for the Redmi Note 13.
Lastly, in a word where 3.5mm headphone jacks are being removed, Redmi Note 13 kept theirs in place for those who may not want to use wireless TWS – again, just adding more options for the consumers.
Every Shot Iconic
The Redmi Note 13 Series focuses on better camera and optic experience for its users and the base model is a great way to gauge if the marketing and product guys at Xiaomi are really serious with this. To start, the Redmi Note 13 (4G) has a large 108MP Main Camera (f/1.75) – perfect for taking HDR shots as more data and information are captured in an image. This is then supported by a reasonable 8MP Ultra-wide Shooter (f/2.2), and a standard 2MP Macro lens (f/2.4). With good lighting, you can easily snap beautiful images with decent color saturation thanks to the Xiaomi Imaging Engine.
For selfie lovers, there’s a 16MP front-facing camera as well that job well with enough lighting.
Here are some sample shots from the phone:
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- Macro
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- 3X Zoom
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- Outdoor
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- Indoor
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- Selfie
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- Night
Does the phone allow you to take iconic shots as the campaign suggests? The answer is yes….in proper conditions. We’ll elaborate more on this once we throw the phone through more rigorous testing.
A Class of its own
The Redmi Note 13 Series follows a simplistic, streamlined design ethos. Nothing too fancy here especially with the Redmi Note 13. So, in the absence of crazy curves and odd camera module placements, the guys from Xiaomi ensured that what we’re getting is a more pristine device – highlighting their focus on substance above flashy designs.
That being said, the Redmi Note 13 (4G) variant comes in varying soothing colorways – from basic Midnight Black, to a subdued Mint Green. The Green is further enhanced by the glass-backed case which adds a more luxurious luster to the unit. Clean, simplistic, functional.
Now, while the unit is simplistically gorgeous to look at and feature-rich, it’s going to be useless if it can’t keep up with you and your activities. It’s good to note that the Redmi Note 13 comes with 5000mAh battery and a 33W Fast Charger. It also comes with MIUI 14 (based on Android 13) out of the box.
If you’re in the market for a no-fuss smart device that won’t break the bank and give you a host of rich content features and functionalities, then the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 might be the one for you. The 8GB/256GB model currently retails for just Php 9,999 and comes with an extended 1+1 Year Warranty. It will be available for pre-order starting January 16 to January 25, 2024.
Early Bird special on Xiaomi’s official Shopee Store for the 6GB/128GB variant of the Redmi Note 13 will commence on the same pre-order period of Jan 16-25, 2024 and new owners can enjoy a 500-pesos discount bringing the unit price down to Php 7,499 from Php 7,999 SRP.
For more information about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, head over to Xiaomi’s official Social Media Page.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Specs:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 Processor (6nm)
- 6GB/ 8GB RAM
- 128G/256GB storage expandable to 1TB
- 6.67-inch AMOLED FHD+ display (2400×1080), 120Hz refresh rate, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
- 108MP f/1.75 main + 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide + 2MP f/2.4 macro triple rear camera setup
- 16MP f/2.5 wide front camera
- 3G, LTE, SIM+ Hybrid SIM Slot, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, in-screen fingerprint sensor, ai face recognition
- USB Type-C, 3.5mm combo jack
- Dual Speakers, Dolby Atmos
- 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support
- MIUI 14 based on Android 13
- Midnight Black, Mint Green, Ice Blue
- Price: Php 7,999 (6GB/ 128GB variant) and Php 9,999 (8GB/245GB variant)