Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Demonstrates that Upgrading Comes at a High Cost
Xiaomi is known for its Redmi Note lineup, and the numbers speak for themselves over the years. The brand is now trying a different approach with Redmi Notes, especially with the Pro Plus name, which is really close to Rs 40,000 these days. The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has been in our spotlight since the device was announced, and when you scroll through its features, this feels like a solid option, and then you see the price tag attached to the product.
And that’s where things get interesting as the base Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus costs Rs 31,999 going up to Rs 38,999 for the highest variant. Now this is uncharted territory for Redmi Notes where you have a mix of OnePlus and Google Pixels. So does the new Redmi Note Pro Plus model live up to its premium strategy or does it fall short? We tested the phone for a few weeks and you will get an answer soon.
Shoutout Premium everywhere
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus scored high in the design department and the premium upgrades were evident while using the device. The glass finish is a matter of course these days, but the curved AMOLED screen and stylish design without compromising the battery are an underrated feature of the phone.
That’s not all, Xiaomi has got everyone excited thanks to the device’s IP68 rating, a first for the brand and even the segment.
The screen lights up brightly
The design is not the only plus point of the phone, as it is hard to ignore the quality that the device offers through the screen. The AMOLED screen offers a 120 Hz refresh rate, supports Dolby Vision and HDR. All these are perfect ingredients to give you a balanced color result, sharp content and pleasing to the eye.
Using the phone screen never felt unnecessary and we enjoyed watching videos or even playing games on it. The beauty gains muscle thanks to the Gorilla Glass Victus protection, which is another big move for a phone in this segment.
A performance that keeps you moving
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra chipset with up to 12GB of RAM and the 512GB RAM we received for review. The equipment is reliable in every way. It can handle multitasking with ease, it can manage game load with different settings and the cooling system takes care of heat transfer to keep it stress-free. MediaTek has done a good job managing the load on the 4nm chip, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus picks up the good parts and makes it work really well.
Speaking of software, Xiaomi lets us down by continuing to use Android 13 (we’re in 2024 now) out of the box, and there’s still no sign of HyperOS on the device. The old MIUI has bloatware, heavy animations, which has its fans, but we expect a lot more from a Rs 30,000 phone. Operating system updates are also limited to the phone, as Android 14 has not yet been released for the device.
A pro camera will do the trick
Xiaomi has again chosen a 200-megapixel main camera for the Pro Plus version, which did quite well with last year’s Pro model. The primary camera takes all the burden of image processing, and the details captured by the sensor show that Xiaomi has grown by focusing on imaging and camera IP technology.
Having said that, you will notice some oversaturation in images clicked in low light with details but colors were inconsistent. The other two cameras still divide opinion, especially the 2MP macro sensor, and it’s high time brands focus on quality over quantity, even if it’s the number of cameras they offer.
Battery sleeves included, 120 W Charging God-Send
The phone has a 5000 mAh battery that supports a wired charging speed of 120 watts. You can easily forget the battery size by looking at the dimensions and weight of the phone.
But the phone can easily last more than a day with average usage, which includes browsing the web, browsing social media apps, light gaming, music and more. With the 120W charger included in the box, you’ll get the phone back up and running in about 20-22 minutes, which is insanely fast and one of the many reasons people love fast charging.
Is Xiaomi making a convincing leap?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus includes many features that usually cover a premium device, but that’s where we’ve come in recent years. We never thought that a Redmi Note phone would cost more than Rs 30,000 but it is happening now. The phone’s design, display, main camera and overall performance make it a strong case. However, the software still lags, which can make or break the value of the phone. If Xiaomi wants to challenge the premium series, it needs to be updated from every angle.
