Review Verdict: While it looks very identical to the Redmi 12 that arrived in the Philippines last year, the Redmi 13 stands out in the budget segment for having the best main camera performance at its price point.
Pros
- Better main camera performance
- Better charging speeds
Cons
- No ultra-wide camera
- Almost similar to the Redmi 12
Roughly a year after we got the Redmi 12 in the Philippines, Xiaomi brought over an updated model with the Redmi 13. Despite looking almost similar, the Redmi 13 sacrificed the ultra-wide camera for a more capable 108-megapixel main camera–along with the right processor to support it. Are these upgrades enough to convince you to get the Redmi 13?
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Design
Comparing the Redmi 12 and Redmi 13 side-by-side, they have the same design language. The only key difference is that the Redmi 13 has larger camera modules–which is necessary since the 108-megapixel main camera has a physically larger sensor than the 50-megapixel one used on the Redmi 12. There’s no ultra-wide camera here, so the other circle is occupied by the LED flash.
Like the Redmi 12, you’re also getting the same glass back and plastic frame on the Redmi 13, along with an IP53 rating. The same goes for the button and port layout, which also means you still have a headphone jack and are still stuck with a single speaker–a decision that left us puzzled since the Redmi 10 did have stereo speakers.
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Display
Being practically similar to the Redmi 12, you’re also getting the same 6.79-inch IPS panel on the Redmi 13, which also comes with a Full HD+ resolution, 90hz refresh rate, and thick bezels that are further emphasized by that thick chin.
Despite those thick bezels, we appreciate that Xiaomi uses a decent panel on the Redmi 13–that includes a serviceable brightness range that’s usable outdoors and good color reproduction especially when watching videos.
Compared to other budget phones in the market, the Redmi 13 has one of the better displays especially if brightness and color accuracy matter a lot to you. You also get Widevine L1 to enjoy your Netflix shows in Full HD, along with a headphone jack to make up for only having a single speaker.
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Cameras
Xiaomi decided to go for a different spin on the Redmi 13 by dropping the ultra-wide camera for a high-resolution 108-megapixel main camera–which explains the bigger bump in the back. The sensor used is the ISOCELL HM6, which is often used on several mid-range phones because of its proven performance even when you do 3x digital zoom.
At its default focal length, the photos we took using the Redmi 13 while we were in Mactan Island looked great even in low-light situations. There’s plenty of detail and decent management of highlights when shooting in low light–something that was lacking with the 50-megapixel sensor Xiaomi used on previous Redmi phones.
Even with utilizing the 3x digital zoom feature, we were getting good-quality photos that closely match the ones shot at the native 1x. Considering that the Redmi 13 is a budget phone, Xiaomi has made big improvements when it comes to camera performance–even if it meant dropping the ultra-wide camera.
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Internals and Battery Life
Powering the Redmi 13 is a Helio G91 processor, and the variant that’s arriving in the Philippines comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. The Helio G91 is essentially similar to the Helio G88 used on both the Redmi 10 and Redmi 12–only adding native support for 108-megapixel cameras.
The Redmi 13’s overall performance is almost similar to the Redmi 12, so don’t expect any big changes. It’s generally good for day-to-day use, and its gaming abilities is limited due to the Helio G91’s aging architecture.
You do get a slightly bigger 5030mAh battery with the Redmi 13, and we got a battery life of 10 hours and 7 minutes in PCMark, which is the same score we got with the Redmi 12. That’s below average for a 5000mAh battery, and that is caused by the dated 12nm process the Helio G91 uses. As a consolation, the Redmi 13 comes with 33w wired charging, which is faster than the 18w charging you get on the Redmi 12.
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Wrap-up and Conclusion
While the Redmi 13 feels more like an incremental upgrade over last year’s Redmi 12, Xiaomi’s decision to drop the ultra-wide camera for a better main camera is worth it, as it positions the Redmi 12 as one of the best budget phones in the Philippines if you prioritize camera performance.
Redmi 13 Review Philippines: Price
The Redmi 13 is priced at Php 7,999 for the 8GB/256GB variant.