The Redmi 13 marks Xiaomi’s latest foray into the budget smartphone market, combining solid performance and a feature-rich experience.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Accelerated SoC is powered by up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which can expand up to 1TB using a microSD card.
The Redmi 13 also features a unique memory expansion option that allows users to increase the RAM capacity up to 13GB by allocating phone memory, thereby enabling smoother multitasking and better app management.
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Design and display
The Redmi 13 sports a 6.67-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it an ideal choice for smooth scrolling and gaming. Its bezel-less design and Corning Gorilla Glass protection provide a modern look and strengthen durability.
The 120Hz refresh rate enhances the viewing experience, offering better responsiveness and a more fluid interface than devices with lower refresh rates.
Camera and imaging
A 108MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens lead the Redmi 13’s camera setup. In well-lit conditions, the camera captures vibrant colours and excellent details.
There’s also a dedicated 108MP mode for even higher-resolution shots.
However, the camera struggles slightly in low-light scenarios, with softer images and noticeable graininess. The front-facing 13MP selfie camera offers good detail retention but tends to smoothen facial features, which might not appeal to all users.
Performance and Gaming
The device’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset provides reliable performance for everyday tasks and light gaming. It handles apps, web browsing, and video streaming efficiently. In gaming tests, the Redmi 13 performed satisfactorily with titles like Call of Duty Mobile and Real Racing 3, delivering stable frame rates. However, the device tends to heat up during continuous gaming sessions, affecting performance.
Unique features and software
One standout feature of the Redmi 13 is its built-in IR Blaster, which enables users to control various home appliances like TVs and ACs directly from their smartphone—a feature rare in its price category.
Additionally, the phone debuts Xiaomi’s new HyperOS, based on Android 14, providing a cleaner interface and multiple smart features, such as floating windows, second space, and virtual memory extension.
The Redmi 13 further offers two years of OS updates and four years of security patches, ensuring long-term software support.
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Battery life and charging
The phone runs on a 5,030mAh battery and features 33W fast charging.
The included 33W charger gets the gizmo from 20 percent to 100 percent in about one hour and 26 minutes. Although the charging speed is good, it lags behind a closely related model, the iQOO Z9x.
The Redmi 13 is a perfect buy for smartphone users on a budget.
It has a well-rounded set of features, a high build quality, and the updated MiUI 13. Of course, it has slight issues regarding low-light performance and sustained gaming, but for a mid-tier smartphone, Redmi 13 is still a contender with features such as expandable RAM, IR Blaster, and long-term software updates.
