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For years, Xiaomi has consistently churned out devices that fit the bill, setting new standards and enhancing the smartphone user experience time and again. Its latest model, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, continues along this trajectory. However, it’s no longer an affordable device. Instead, it is a decently priced mid-ranger that now offers several features usually associated with high-end smartphones. I have been testing the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ for a while, and here is my take on the latest Redmi Note flagship.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ price in India (as reviewed): Rs 31,999.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is clearly the most unique-looking smartphone in the series. In fact, it looks a lot different from the more affordable Redmi Note 13 and the Redmi Note 13 Pro. The primary reason for this distinction is the curved display and the leather back panel, a first on a Redmi Note, which makes it look unlike any other Redmi Note, period.
Not just that, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is also IP68 rated, a feature that is often considered a luxury and is mostly seen on high-end devices. However, unlike a few years ago, the Redmi Note 13 Pro isn’t the only phone that offers these features. In fact, there are a handful of mid-range Android phones with an IP68 rating, and the leather back panel has also gone mainstream, even on phones priced around Rs 10,000.
Thanks to the vegan leather back panel, it does not attract fingerprints or smudges; however, it does get soiled fairly quickly, especially if you don’t use a case. Thanks to the IP rating, I just ran the phone under tap water, and it was back to its glory.
Features like a curved leather back panel, IP rating, and curved display definitely make the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ look a lot more premium than the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. However, it is not the only phone in this price range to offer these technologies. Overall, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ feels like a good upgrade, but there are other phones like the Realme 11 Pro+ (review), which are almost on par with the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and are available at a much lower price.
When the flagships are moving away from the curved display, more mid-range devices are now offering the same and calling it a novelty feature, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is one such smartphone, which is also the first Redmi Note smartphone to include an in-display fingerprint sensor, which works like any optical in-display fingerprint sensor found on most Android smartphones.
I personally feel a phone with a curved display looks modern and elegant, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is no different. Thanks to a curved finish and thin bezels, the device looks just as premium as any latest Oppo, OnePlus, or Vivo smartphone in this price range. In fact, from the front, it looks just like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the flagship.
By default, the display is set to vivid mode, which makes everything look a bit saturated, and one can easily switch to standard, which offers slightly muted but life-like colours. The 120Hz refresh rate also makes a lot of difference; however, at times, I did notice frame drops while scrolling through the UI and even while using the Instagram app.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has a triple-camera setup, which is similar to its predecessor with a 200 MP primary shooter (bigger sensor), 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2 MP macro lens, and maybe this could have been the right device for the brand to skip the macro lens, which takes below-average shots even in daylight. In fact, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max with a 5 MP macro lens is the best macro camera on the Redmi Note that I have tested so far.
Coming to the camera performance, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ takes a good shot. However, the images have a contrasty look, which makes them look slightly dull. However, the primary camera does capture a lot of details, while the ultra-wide-angle camera is pretty average but gets the job done.
Check out some camera samples from the Redmi Note 13 Pro+:
Xiaomi is known for offering the best-in-class performance with the Redmi Note lineup, and the Dimensity 7200 Ultra makes the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ a more capable smartphone than its predecessor, especially when paired with up to 12 GB of RAM. However, the Poco X6 Pro with its Dimensity 8300 Ultra at a much lower price shows the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in a bad light.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ isn’t the performance champ, and it is also not meant to be one. The phone did handle Real Racing 3 without any issues, and I also had no issues while playing more casual titles like Candy Crush Saga and Clash of Clans. I also tested BGMI, and the phone can easily handle the game with HDR graphics settings. Even if you are a gamer, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a good device to consider, but other devices like the iQOO Neo 7 Pro and the Poco X6 Pro outperform the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in gaming.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ ships with Android 13-based MIUI 14, and I had several issues with the software. I noticed constant lags in the UI, and there were plenty of bloatware apps, although most of them can be uninstalled. One thing that really bothered me was the ads within the default gaming mode called Game Turbo, which is an unacceptable experience.
Xiaomi India says that the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is HyperOS ready, which could solve most of these issues. However, in my testing, I felt that the software does need a bit of work, and the company should definitely cut down on ads and unnecessary notifications. The phone hasn’t got the update but we will test it when the update comes in.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ comes with a large 5,000 mAh battery with support for 120W fast charging, and it is the fastest charging phone that I have tested so far, which can be fully charged in under 25 minutes. The backup is good, and the phone can easily last for an entire day with around 6 hours of screen-on-time.
I tested the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with the Jio network and had no issue with that aspect. In fact, the audio calls were crisp, and even with the extended calling sessions (lasting over 2 hours), the phone didn’t show any form of heating.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ clearly deserves the best Redmi Note ever crown, period. However, it no longer enjoys the monopoly like its predecessors. Phones like the Realme 11 Pro+, Poco X6 Pro, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, and even the Motorola Edge 40 are as impressive as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, and some of these devices are much cheaper than Redmi Note’s latest flagship.
The set of features it offers makes the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ one of the most mature mid-range smartphones, and it is for those who want the best Redmi Note with top-tier features like an IP rating and fast charging. For those who want a phone with a great camera or performance, it is best to look elsewhere.
