Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G hands-on review

Introduction

The Redmi 13 5G is a variant of the Redmi 13 we have already looked at in a detailed review. You probably won't think much of it, considering the only difference in the name is the addition of the 5G, but there are some major differences lurking underneath that title.

Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G • Xiaomi Redmi 13

For starters, the Redmi 13 5G has the same basic display as the Redmi 13 but instead of 90Hz it refreshes at a much more pleasing 120Hz. The 5G model also comes with faster UFS 2.2 storage over eMMC 5.1 storage.

But the biggest difference by far is that the 5G model runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset instead of the MediaTek Helio G91 on the non-5G model. The Qualcomm chip is almost in a different tier of performance compared to the G91, which should be interesting to look at in the performance section.

Aside from that, the two phones are identical. That makes this a somewhat straightforward affair, as the thing we are most interested in looking at is the performance difference. So let's get on with it, then.

Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G specs at a glance:

• Body: 168.6x76.3x8.3mm, 205g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back; IP53, dust and splash resistant.
• Display: 6.79" IPS LCD, 120Hz, 550 nits (HBM), 1080x2460px resolution, 20.5:9 aspect ratio, 396ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE (4 nm): Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Adreno 613.
• Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
• OS/Software: Android 14, HyperOS, up to 2 major Android upgrades.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, f/1.8, 0.64µm, PDAF; Macro: 2 MP.
• Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 5030mAh; 33W wired, 50% in 30 min (advertised).
• Connectivity: 5G; Hybrid Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.0; NFC; FM radio; Infrared port; 3.5mm jack.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); Virtual proximity sensing.

Unboxing

The Redmi 13 5G has similar packaging as the Redmi 13. The only difference is that our Indian review unit came with charger, as is standard practice for Xiaomi devices in India.

The charger, in particular, is a 33W unit, which is the same charging level supported by the non-5G model. This means both models should theoretically have the same charging speeds, although we will confirm the same later.

The packaging also includes a clear soft silicone case. The case is a bit difficult to attach and remove and recesses the power button a bit too much. However, for a free case, it's decent quality, provided it doesn't yellow with age.