Smartphones

Redmi Note 13 Pro : test/review

Published on: 01-03-2024 / Modified: 01-03-2024

I've been testing Redmi Note smartphones since the fifth generation and today it's the turn of the 13th generation to undergo my test protocol. With the experience I've accumulated with the brand and its evolution, I've got quite a bit of distance to evaluate each new generation. So far, the experience is fairly positive,I still have the Redmi Note 5, which still works impeccably. The Redmi Note 13 Pro is very different from the first model I tested. The brand has undergone various mutations, sometimes with questionable choices but Redmi has always stayed in the race establishing itself as the benchmark for affordable entry-level and mid-range smartphones. While Samsung may do better on certain models, it never does it in the same price range

There was a time when Xiaomi/Redmi launched new generations almost frantically, sometimes twice a year, with each iteration bringing its own batch of new features. This frenzy has waned, with now one generation per year and fewer notable innovations. Fortunately, Redmi occasionally wakes up and introduces a phone with a real novelty, like the Redmi Note 12 Pro with its excellent photo sensor (the Sony IMX 766). I have the impression that they're looking to replicate this success with the new Redmi Note 13 Pro equipped with an all-new photo sensor. After an interlude at Sony, they're back at Samsung with the 200 megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP3, which I haven't yet had the chance to test on another phone

Pixel-centric marketing effect or genuine success? Let's find out in this new test.

Manufacturer web site:

https://www.mi.com

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.

Price Redmi Note 13 Pro

The list below shows the prices for the Redmi Note 13 Pro from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.

The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!

Timeline

February 25, 2024: order the Redmi Note 13 Pro from Proximus

February 27, 2024: phone received, testing begins

Why this phone?

I don't have the time or the money to test every new phone that comes out. So I'm forced to make judicious choices to find products that are interesting enough for my visitors. Sometimes I spend a considerable amount of time looking for a model to test, while other times it only takes five seconds to make my decision. With the smartphones in the Redmi range, we're more in the category of lightning choices. I can't even pretend to make a rational choice, because as soon as a new generation is released, I buy it. I've had the opportunity to test nine generations of Redmi, systematically testing the standard version and the Pro version, sometimes exploring variants if they're of particular interest

Why persist in this approach? Even if some models have disappointed me at times, Redmi has always managed to position itself as a benchmark in its price range, despite price increases over the last three years. No other brand has managed to pack all the necessary features into a phone in this price range. The Redmi Note 12 Pro, with its remarkable Sony IMX 766 photo sensor, had positively surprised me. When I learned that the Redmi Note 13 Pro would be equipped with a new Samsung sensor that I hadn't yet tested, that's all it took for me to buy it.

In addition to the photo sensor, there are several other features that speak in favor of this phone. I'm thinking in particular of the AMOLED screen, performance, generous storage (256 GB!), battery life, ... in short, on paper, it's another promising combination!

Unpacking

I'm used to the ultra-standard packaging of Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO/... and nothing has changed with this new generation. I just had a little stress when I saw the picture of the phone on the box because the color didn't match what I bought but to tell the truth, the color of the phone pictured doesn't necessarily match the color of the phone in the box. It's just that for previous models, I'd bought the color that matched the box. I tested the charcoal gray version with 8 Gb of RAM and 256 Gb of storage

The box contains the phone, a 65-watt charger, a charging cable, a soft silicone shell, a needle to open the sim drawer and the usual paperwork, which I've never actually read

The protective shell is often useless because the phone is well protected, but for this model it has another purpose. The photo sensors on the back of the phone are quite thick and cause an imbalance when the phone is placed on its back, so the cover helps to reduce the gap between the optical unit and the back of the phone

First configuration

The configuration of the Redmi Note 13 Pro is similar to other phones running MIUI 14, I didn't notice any changes compared to the other models tested. If you don't want to be followed by ads, don't forget to turn down the dynamic wallpapers.

Finish

The Redmi Note 13 Pro has a very elongated format, measuring 16.1 cm by 7.4 cm, with a height of 0.8 cm. The back of the phone is covered with a plastic mirror-effect surface that will quickly give way to fingerprints. The photo block is integrated in a square format on the top corner of the phone with the type of optical block changing almost every generation. The Redmi Note 12 Pro had a vertical optical block and a slightly different sensor layout.

The most striking thing about this new model is the size of the sensors. The two large black circles protrude quite strongly from the phone and will put the phone in a situation of permanent imbalance when placed on its back. If you're the kind of person who gets annoyed by this, you'll need a protective cover to compensate for the difference in height and fortunately there's one in the original box. It's actually the 200 megapixel sensor that needs more space but to avoid creating differences between the sensors, the second sensor is integrated into a circle of the same size.

On the upper edge of the phone you'll find an audio output, a headphone output, an infrared port and a sound sensor.

On the lower part there's the usual USB Type C port, a second audio output, the SIM drawer and another sound sensor.

The sim drawer accommodates two sim cards in duplex mode, so it's not possible to insert a memory card.

Redmi has been equipping its phones with amoled screens for several years now, and these have improved with each generation to the point where they are beginning to overshadow phones from a higher range. The edges are thinner and thinner, and the screens are of better quality. I'll come back to this subject later in my review, but I compared the screen of this Redmi Note 13 Pro with that of a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and quite frankly, the Redmi was far from ridiculous - quite the contrary!

The phone's surrounds are uniform and made of plastic. The volume and ignition buttons are in the usual place, but this time the fingerprint sensor is located on the screen rather than on the ignition button

The Redmi range has never been a benchmark in terms of finish, but that doesn't mean these phones are going to put you to shame. The level of finish is quite decent, the choices made to integrate the optical unit are sometimes questionable, but if that's the price you have to pay for a good-quality camera, why not

Specifications

The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone. I tested the Redmi Note 13 Pro in its 5G version, 8Gb RAM and 256 Gb storage. This smartphone runs on Qualcomm architecture, so all the components linked to this architecture, such as CPU, GPU, Bluetooth, modem, GPS and sound chipset, will be common to all phones using the same hardware. I'm thinking of the POCO X6, for example, which uses exactly the same hardware. It's mainly the camera and screen that will take these two phones in different directions.

For the screen and camera, I'll go into a little more detail in the chapters devoted to these subjects in my test

CPU / GPU Performance

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen2 CPU (SM7435) also found in the POCO X6. The Redmi and POCO are among the first to use this CPU. This type of CPU is a mid-range CPU, but offers very good performance for this price range. The POCO brand has always been used to offer the best price/performance ratio, but by definition this principle also applies to the Redmi Note 13 Pro, since it uses exactly the same hardware. This level of performance brings the Redmi and the POCO to a slightly higher level than the Samsung Galaxy A34

For graphics, the Redmi Note 13 Pro is equipped with an Adreno 710 GPU also found in the POCO X6 and the Honor Magic 6 Lite, which I also tested. This mid-range GPU will let you run just about any application without too much difficulty. Most games will be accessible with a good level of graphics.

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

I obtained an Antutu score of 454267 points with Antutu v8. The score I obtained with the POCO X6 was a little higher, as I was unable to run Antutu v8 and had to use Antutu v9, which generally results in higher scores. With this level of performance, the Redmi Note 13 Pro gains around 10% over the previous model. This level of performance is more than sufficient for the vast majority of users. Only hard-core gamers might need more power, but for everyone else, it will be sufficient.

I was worried that using a 200-megapixel sensor might put the phone off performance-wise, but this is not the case, the Redmi is responsive and takes photos almost instantly

Gaming

To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro isn't a phone designed for gamers, but it offers enough power to play in good conditions. I was able to play PUBG Mobile in HD in very good conditions with a frame rate of 60 fps. I didn't experience any jerks or interruptions during the game.

Network performance

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a global phone, which means it covers a range of 3G, 4G and 5G frequencies, enabling you to use it in the vast majority of countries.

Signal 4G (from December 2020)

I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.

To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.

Overview of the phones tested with this methodology

I took 1,366 measurements to assess the 4G signal quality of the Redmi Note 13 and obtained very similar results to those I obtained with the POCO X6. That's to be expected, these are two phones that are almost identical in every way. I obtained an average signal of -96.74 dBm with the phone and -92.02 with the probe at the same time. I'm getting a difference of over 4 dBm here, which indicates that the phone has some weakness in its mobile signal. It's far from being the worst in the ranking, but if you live in an area where the signal isn't very good, this phone is likely to stall faster than average.

Download/Upload speed

To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.

Wifi signal

I measured an average signal of -16 dBm close to the router and -62 dBm at a distance, which are average values and almost exactly the same as the POCO X6. The Redmi Note 13 Pro therefore has good wifi sensitivity, without being at the top of the range.

Download/Upload speed

To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.

GPS performance

To test the accuracy of the GPS signal, I use two positioning applications to evaluate the difference between the actual position and the position indicated by the phone. This test is done outdoors with nothing to obstruct the signal. An accuracy level of up to 3 meters can easily be corrected by an application (e.g. Google Maps).

I measured the GPS signal to estimate its level of accuracy by comparing my actual position with that detected by the phone. The GPS test application estimates accuracy at around 3 meters, but if I check with the real thing, I get an accuracy of around 4 to 5 meters in the open air. This level of accuracy can be corrected by your GPS application if you're on the road, but out in the open and without landmarks, the accuracy will probably not be sufficient.

I don't think this phone is capable of using two frequencies, as I didn't detect any additional frequencies during my test. The Redmi Note 13 Pro is therefore in the low mid-range, a little below the POCO X6.

Battery range

To test battery life I developed an application that measures the battery level minute by minute until the battery is empty. This application consumes about ten percent of the phone's resources and I do a test with 100 brightness. This test aims to reproduce a contemplative use of a phone (e.g. surfing the internet, reading articles, spending time on social networks). These results are not valid for intensive gaming/streaming use.

Battery charge time

I measured the average charge time with my UGREEN 100 watt charger and it took me 80 minutes to charge the phone from 1% to 100%. The charging speed is made up of three phases. The first phase took 22 minutes to reach 40% battery. Another slower phase took around 40 minutes to gain 40% battery and finally more than 20 minutes for the last 20 percent.

Battery life

I measured a battery life of 665 minutes with the screen at 50% brightness and 1186 minutes at 100% brightness. These are quite similar values to what I obtained with the POCO X6, but you'll see in the next paragraph that when I push the Redmi into the red, it consumes more than the POCO

Energy performance

Pushing the CPU and GPU to the limit, first separately and then together, I obtain different results from those of the POCO X6, even though the hardware is exactly the same. The Redmi is less energy-efficient, which means that when pushed to its maximum, it delivers less performance and consumes more energy. It also handles heat dissipation less well, as the battery reached 35°C at the end of the test, whereas the POCO reached 28°C under the same conditions. 35°C is still a very decent temperature, but for identical hardware you shouldn't have such a difference

Energy loss in the event of saturation of all components is also higher on the Redmi. In theory, the two phones are the same, but in reality, the Redmi is a little less powerful and less efficient

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.

Hardware

The big news I've been waiting for with this phone is its main photo sensor. Redmi has once again ditched Sony in favor of Samsung, this time opting for Samsung's 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP3 sensor. I often say that the number of pixels is no guarantee of quality, but sometimes the inherent sensor is capable of producing excellent photos. This sensor is part of the same family as the one used on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with a few differences:

Samsung ISOCELL HP3 (Redmi)

Resolution: 16320x12288

Pixel size: 0.56 microns

Optical format: 1/1.4 inch

Video: 30fps 8k, 120fps 4k, 480fps 1080p

Samsung ISOCELL HP2 (S24)

Resolution: 16320x12288

Pixel size: 0.6 microns

Optical format: 1/1.3 inch

Video: 30fps 8k, 120fps 4k, 480fps 1080p

The difference lies in pixel size and sensor size. The photo test is therefore likely to be quite interesting, as never before has a Redmi offered something so close to a high-end phone

As for the secondary sensor, it's a Sony IMX 355, which is without doubt the most widely used ultra-wide-angle sensor on the market - I've already tested it dozens of times.

Photo quality

Photo quality (indoor/studio)

The studio test is carried out under the same conditions so that the results can be compared on an equal basis. I calibrate my lighting for each test to obtain the same brightness and colour temperature. This test is a preliminary analysis of the technical qualities of a camera. Most phones fail this test, so you should also read the results of the other tests in the following paragraphs.

Samsung HP3 main sensor

Like most of the photos I take in my studio, photos taken by the Samsung HP3 are underexposed and the colors are too cool. That's not to say that this will be the case for photos taken outdoors. These photos are mainly useful for observing the camera's behavior under artificial light and seeing the level of detail in similar conditions

I had to resize the images taken in 200 million pixels because the files weighed more than 50Mb per photo. Suffice it to say that using this mode will quickly fill your phone's memory, as well as your cloud storage space if you have one

Let's zoom to 100 to see the level of detail:

Smartphones are not yet capable of zooming through a physical zoom, but this phone's digital zoom allows you to get very close to the image. There is some loss of detail, but this would make it possible to read a distant sign. The New York N is 17 pixels on the base photo. The one on the zoom is 143 pixels, so the difference is absolutely enormous

The photo with the banknotes shows the level of detail the sensor is capable of reproducing, and it's a success. The level of detail is excellent, and all the banknotes are legible well beyond 100% zoom

Secondary sensor: Sony IMX 355

I often feel like a parrot when testing studio photography, because I'm often testing the same sensors found in a multitude of phones. This is clearly the case with this Sony IMX 355, but as you probably haven't read my previous tests, I'm going to repeat the same conclusions, sorry for those of you who read my tests regularly. This ultra-wide-angle sensor is capable of some very interesting things. It's much more faithful to colors, exposure is a little better and the level of detail for a sensor of this type is above average. There are, of course, some distortions, but this is normal for this type of sensor, especially for photos taken so close to the subject

Center sharpness is above average for a sensor of this type, but it doesn't reach the level of Samsung's main sensor, and that's no problem, since that's not the main purpose of this type of sensor. Here too, colors are more natural than those produced by the Samsung sensor. The outdoor test will undoubtedly restore the color balance between these two cameras

Photo: technical test

I was inspired by industrial technical tests to create my own technical test to evaluate the technical quality of a camera. This test is an objective assessment of a camera's ability to render a scene correctly.

I test the following elements:
- centre sharpness, peripheral sharpness
- colour fidelity based on 24 reference colours
- level of chromatic aberration
- dynamic range (ability to capture dark and light areas without loss)
- distortion

The technical evaluation may differ from the subjective evaluation as the feeling of a photo will be influenced by the processing provided by each manufacturer.

Samsung HP3 main sensor

Secondary sensor: Sony IMX 355

Outdoor photo quality

Samsung ISOCELL HP3

The sky was cloudy with some clearing when I went to take photos with this phone. These are pretty ideal conditions for evaluating the camera's ability to produce good photos. As I'm testing the Redmi Note 13 at the same time, I'll be able to compare the two phones, but I also had my Samsung Galaxy S24 in my pocket to see if the difference in quality is significant

Let's start with a photo where the sun was present

Redmi Note 13 Pro

Redmi Note 13

The first thing I notice is the difference in tone. The Redmi Note 13's tonality is too warm, and the whole photo seems to be bathed in a brownish atmosphere, whereas the Redmi Note 13 Pro's colors are brighter and more accurate. The exposure level is also different. The shutter speed of the Redmi Note 13 was 1/640 and that of the Pro was 1/800, yet this version is better exposed than the other.

If I increase the difficulty with a photo taken without sunlight..

Redmi Note 13 Pro

Redmi Note 13

Samsung Galaxy S23

When light conditions are less good, the tone is different again and here it's clearly the Samsung that comes out on top. The sky once again has a slightly mauve tone for the Redmi Note 13 Pro, while the tone is brown again for the normal version. The Samsung produces a better-exposed photo, with a minimum of color in the sky and foliage, whereas the other two lose realism. The level of detail seems fairly similar on the 3 phones, but if I zoom in I can see quite marked differences. The Redmi Note 13 has an over-aggressive sharpening treatment that causes white outlines to appear around branches. The Redmi Note 13 Pro is less aggressive, but I can see some noise around the arms. Here too, Samsung comes out on top

Last comparison in the same order

I find the same elements in this last comparison. The Redmi Note 13 produces photos that are too warm; it probably looks better on a backdrop like the one in this third photo, but the tonality isn't right. The Redmi Note 13 Pro produces a more saturated image with better dynamics, but is a little too dark. The Samsung achieves the best result with better saturation, exposure and dynamic range

Looking at the specifications of the Redmi Note 13 Pro, I was expecting an improvement on the previous generation, but I was a little disappointed. The Redmi Note 12 Pro had stepped into the upper mid-range with the Sony IMX 766 sensor, but here I find it returns to a more central mid-range position. It's capable of producing good photos if the light conditions are right, but it lacks one or two exposure notches when the light diminishes, and colors could have been a little more saturated.

Sony IMX 355

This little sensor always manages to surprise me. It's not the first time I've tested it, and every time it's the color rendering that surprises me. If I compare the photos taken by this Sony sensor with those taken by the main sensor, I find that it offers better color rendition and exposure. Sharpness is obviously less good and distortion is present, but it does a good job

Test photo / night

Not yet available / tested

Video quality

Stabilisation

The Redmi Note 13 Pro has stabilization that is able to erase almost all the vibrations caused by my footsteps. The correction is visible and the vibrations are still slightly visible, but the result is acceptable for a phone in this price range. If you switch to 1080p, these few vibrations will no longer be visible.

Video normale conditions

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is capable of filming in 1080p and 60 fps as well as in 4k 30 fps. This video was shot in 4k and 30 fps. Video quality is good, with color rendering better than that of the photo section, indicating that it's mainly a question of processing. Focusing is fast and the sensor doesn't move back and forth too much when the branches move. Exposure changes are slightly visible, but progressive enough not to create a break in the change of exposure.

Video low light

Not yet available / tested

External audio quality

This test is intended to give you an overview of the volume and sound quality during calls and when listening to music through the external speakers.

Audio quality / calls

Audio quality for calls is good, the sound is a little too high-pitched but perfectly audible. In-call volume is average, but as soon as the external speaker is used, the volume rises to above-average levels. The power of the external loudspeaker is also evident in the following audio test:

Audio quality / music on loudspeaker

The external loudspeakers are capable of delivering powerful sound at above-average volume. Sound quality is good, but bass sounds lack a little depth and treble is a little too pronounced, as is the case with most external speakers, there's nothing really exceptional here.

Audio quality (headphones)

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is able to reproduce most frequencies fairly faithfully, I see a gap on low tones that corresponds to the same gap as the Redmi Note 13, this gap is a little larger on high tones but without being alarming. The Redmi Note 13 Pro is capable of producing above-average sound power without generating any noticeable distortion. The sound produced by the Redmi Note 13 Pro is in every way similar to that of the POCO X6, which is to be expected given that they use the same hardware. Compared to the non-pro version, the pro version boasts a more powerful sound.

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.

Colorimetry

Before getting to the heart of the matter with my usual measurements, I'm going to start this test with a personal anecdote. My best friend had come over for dinner and had brought along his Samsung S24 Ultra and his old iPhone 13 mini to give me his impressions about the two phones. I'd never had the S24 in my hands before but I assumed it had to be the benchmark in a number of elements. To compare the two, we played the same YouTube videos and then as the Redmi Note 13 Pro was lying around on my desk, I thought it might be fun to test a €250 phone against top-of-the-range phones... in the end, it wasn't so fun after all, because out of the 3 screens, it was the Redmi that came out on top! To make sure I wasn't under the influence of alcohol, I showed the screens to several other people who were all of the same opinion...the Redmi was the best!

How is this possible? The S24 is badly configured (factory settings) and my Redmi was calibrated, which makes all the difference

I measured the colorimetry of the Redmi in "Intense" mode and obtained a dE of 3.56 with a white at 7.3 and a temperature of 7496k. White is therefore far too cold. I changed the settings to calibrate the screen correctly and the overall dE fell to 1.91 and the white fell to 2.3...and now the image is perfect. I've taken a screenshot so that you too can take advantage of these settings and have a very good quality image

In "natural" mode, the dE is also very low but you lose the benefit of an extended color space, as the phone switches from DCI P3 to REC 709. This will probably sound like Chinese to you, but you should know that DCI P3 offers wider color coverage

Once calibrated, the Redmi Note 13 Pro can hold its own against high-end phones! I just find that the sharpness processing is a little too forced, but I haven't found any settings to soften it

Brightness / Contrast

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is theoretically capable of exceeding 1000 cd/m², but I never managed to get that much brightness out of it. I obtained a level close to 500 cd/m², which should be sufficient in most cases but may be too little for exposure to strong light.

Biometry

Not yet available / tested

Operating system

Not yet available / tested

Encoutered bugs

MIUI is an Android fork, meaning that the software is based on Android, but Xiaomi has added an overlay that has now reached version 14 (MIUI 14). What distinguishes MIUI from Android is its graphical interface and a few additional customization features. MIUI has come a long way in recent years, and although I think Xiaomi is still struggling with the format of its phones, MIUI has become a strong identity element. The interface is inspired by everything the others are doing, and it's not difficult to get the hang of

Overall, MIUI is a well-designed operating system, but the criticisms that can be levelled at it are the presence of unwanted applications and advertising. By unwanted I don't mean that these applications are dangerous, it's just that Xiaomi has pre-installed all sorts of applications such as games, booking.com, facebook.com... It's a business model where Xiaomi receives money to install these applications, but if you like to have a completely blank phone at start-up, you're missing out. Advertising is also part of Xiaomi's eco-system. I've never really had to suffer the presence of ads, but they exist in several forms on the phone. It's also part of Xiaomi's business model, the price you pay to get a complete phone at a lower price than the competition.

Accessories Redmi Note 13 Pro

Compare Redmi Note 13 Pro with the others

Test / Review conclusion

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a near-identical copy of the POCO X6, so my conclusion will partly repeat elements I already mentioned in my POCO test, but I'll start my conclusion with the most important difference. What distinguishes the POCO X6 from the Redmi Note 13 Pro is the photo part. Photo quality was clearly a weakness of the POCO X6, and knowing that the Redmi would feature a better sensor, I expected an improvement in this area. Is this indeed the case? Yes, without a doubt, but unfortunately the new sensor can't match the one used in the Redmi Note 12 Pro.

The POCO brand is primarily associated with performance, but by using the same hardware in the Redmi, this argument is automatically transferred to the Redmi range too. The Redmi Note 13 Pro offers a very good level of performance for a phone in this price range, it offers fluidity of use for all everyday tasks and will allow you to play any game in good conditions. It won't be able to overshadow phones designed for gamers, which are more expensive anyway, but it offers more than enough performance for the vast majority of users. I measured a slight drop in performance compared to the POCO X6, but nothing that would justify buying the POCO X6 for all that

The screen was a strength of the POCO X6, and this is also the case for the Redmi Note 13 Pro. This screen can clearly compete with the top of the range, especially after a few adaptations such as those described in this article. Color coverage is wide, brightness is good, contrast is good and it can go up to 120 hz

Among the other qualities of the Redmi (and it's the same on the POCO), there's the quality of headphone sound (powerful and no distortion), there's the quality of the wifi signal as well as download speed, near-perfect video stabilization and battery life

The weaknesses are also identical to those of the POCO, notably that of sensitivity to the mobile network, with both the POCO and the Redmi scoring below average. I also feel that the GPS accuracy could be better.

My conclusions may sometimes seem a little negative, but that's mainly because I'm trying to give a general overview of a phone's capabilities, so you have to evaluate these elements according to what's important to you.

Strengths

Performance

Screen quality

Sound quality

Wifi speed

Video stabilization

Battery life

Photo detail

Photo quality in sunlight

Weaknesses

GPS accuracy just average

Mobile signal down

Lower max call volume

Alternatives to this product

The most obvious alternative is the POCO X6, but after testing both, I don't see why you should buy the POCO unless the price difference justifies it.

The closest Samsung alternative is the Galaxy A54, which uses a better camera.

LAURENT WILLEN
Head of myself on this blog

I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.

My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.