Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro vs Pro+: Which is the better buy?

Xiaomi has been shaking up the smartphone market by making phones that are both cheap and full of features, especially with its Redmi Note series.

The company’s 2024 Redmi Note 13 range is no different, especially when it comes to the two most premium models. The Redmi Note 13 Pro offers a lot for just £339, so is it worth paying £110 extra for the Redmi Note 13 Pro+?

Here are all the key differences between them, which should help you decide which is right for you. However, there are plenty of great alternatives in our round-up of the best mid-range phones.

Differences between Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro & Note 13 Pro+

Both the Redmi Note 13 Pro and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ showcase Xiaomi’s expertise when it comes to a sleek and durable design.

They’re both available in Midnight Black and Aurora Purple colourways, while the Pro+ swaps the regular Pro’s Ocean Teal for the Moonlight White finish.

The Note 13 Pro maintains the same look and feel as its predecessor, yet introduces upgrades such as Gorilla Glass Victus on the front for enhanced durability. Its slim profile and balanced weight contribute to a comfortable grip, while you’ll also notice the subtly redesigned rear camera module.

Meanwhile, the Note 13 Pro+ stands out with a premium feel and a two-tone design that balances elegance and functionality. It boasts similar durability enhancements, including an aluminium and glass build and Gorilla Glass Victus on the screen.

Additionally, the Pro+ variant boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, compared to the IP54 of the standard Pro model, providing added durability and peace of mind.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro and Pro+ both have 6.67-inch AMOLED screens with 120Hz refresh rates. The displays have a solid 1.5K resolution (1220 x 2712) and slim bezels, making them look like premium devices. However, the pre-applied screen protector can affect white tones in some environments.

While the refresh rate can adjust automatically, the default dynamic mode on both phones simply moves between 60- and 120Hz. It means there’s no LTPO tech for dropping all the way down to 1Hz to conserve battery life.

Within the display on both phones is an optical fingerprint sensor, though its placement and reliability is less than ideal.

Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support provide adequate sound quality, though only the Pro gets a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The only other difference on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is that its screen is curved rather than flat, though which you prefer will be down to personal preference. The curved design on the Pro+ doesn’t have a significant effect on the viewing experience.

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 13 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, whereas the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ opts for the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra processor.

Both chipsets promise smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming, but the Pro+ variant boasts a higher RAM capacity of 12GB LPDDR5, potentially offering a slight edge in multitasking capabilities. The standard Pro offers only 8GB LPDDR4X, at least in the UK.

There is also a difference in the amount of available storage: the 13 Pro has 256GB of UFS 2.2, while the 13 Pro+ offers 512GB of UFS 3.1.

In our Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the Redmi Note 13 Pro scored 2872 points. Surprisingly, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ did worse, only scoring 2596 points. So based on the raw data, it seems that the Redmi Note 13 Pro performs better at handling multiple tasks simultaneously compared to the Pro+.

In day-to-day use, however, the Redmi Note 13 Pro can sometimes slow down when first switched on, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ powered through all the usual tasks and always seemed to have plenty of power in reserve, even for gaming.

In the camera department, both devices offer a whopping 200MP main sensor, ensuring crisp and detailed shots in most lighting conditions.

Additionally, you get an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro lens on both models, catering to different shooting scenarios. Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the 16MP front-facing camera on both devices, capturing clear and vibrant images.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro features a significant upgrade in its main camera, although it produces a 12.5Mp by default for reduced file sizes. The camera produces decent results overall, with good detail and natural colours, but images may lack crispness, especially in lower lighting. Portrait mode relies on software and tends to struggle with accuracy.

The ultrawide and macro cameras offer mediocre quality, while the selfie camera performs well. Video quality is decent at 1080p/60fps, benefiting from OIS (optical image stabilisation) on the main lens.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ also captures 12.5Mp shots by default, with only a small benefit to image quality at 200Mp. In general, you can get some impressive photos in good lighting conditions, with strong detail and dynamic range.

However, colours may appear oversaturated, and the night mode can introduce quite a lot of noise. Portrait mode struggles with subject-background separation, resulting in inconsistent background blur.

The ultrawide lens offers a wider field of view but sacrifices image quality, while the macro lens is ineffective and there’s still no telephoto option. Selfies from the front-facing camera are pretty good, though.

Overall, there are no major differences between them. Both phones excel in capturing subjects directly in front of the them but fall short in other scenarios.

When it comes to battery life, the Redmi Note 13 Pro edges slightly ahead with its larger 5100mAh battery compared to the 5000mAh battery on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. However, the latter compensates with blazing-fast 120W wired charging, whereas the Pro supports only 67W wired charging.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro can go from completely dead to 47% battery in just 15 minutes, and up to 87% in only 30 minutes. It takes just 10 more minutes to fully charge it.

Meanwhile, the Pro+ model goes from 0 to 73% in the same 15 minutes, and it fully charges in under 30 minutes.

This speedy charging is possible thanks to the turbo charger that Xiaomi includes with both phones. While there’s no wireless charging, this isn’t unexpected given the price of the phones.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro and Pro+ run on MIUI 14, based on Android 13, which may disappoint some users expecting the latest Android 14 version.

MIUI offers a mix of features, including split notification and quick settings panels reminiscent of iOS. However, navigating the OS can be cumbersome due to bloatware and cluttered settings.

Xiaomi’s software update policy promises at least two years of security updates, but flagship devices from other manufacturers may offer longer support.

Overall, while MIUI has some useful features, users may find it less user-friendly compared to competitors like Motorola, Samsung, and Google.

Both phones come equipped with other features such as dual-SIM support, 5G connectivity and an IR blaster. However, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ gains an upper hand with its support for Wi-Fi 6, offering faster and more reliable wireless connectivity compared to Wi-Fi 5 on the Redmi Note 13 Pro.

Price & availability

The Redmi Note 13 Pro model available in the UK has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and costs £339 at full price via Xiaomi and Amazon.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is priced at £449 in the UK, offering 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s also available from Xiaomi and Amazon.

While Xiaomi doesn’t officially sell in the US, international models may be found also on Amazon. Neither phone is being sold on contract, so your best bet is to get it outright and then pair with a SIM-only deal.

Verdict

Choosing between the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boils down to your priorities and budget.

If you want a curved display, faster charging and superior water and dust resistance, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ might be the ideal choice for you.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a flat display, headphone jack and want to save some money, the Redmi Note 13 Pro is a compelling option.

Ultimately, both devices offer a great range of features for their respective price points.

Specs

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro:

• Android 13 w/ MIUI 14   
• 6.67in AMOOLED 120Hz flat display 
• Underscreen fingerprint sensor  
• Gorilla Glass Victus (front only) 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM  
• 256GB UFS 2.2 non-expandable storage  
• 200Mp, f/1.65 main camera with OIS   
• 8Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide camera   
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro camera  
• 16Mp, f/2.4 front-facing camera   
• Dual stereo speakers  
• Dual-SIM   
• 5G   
• Wi-Fi 5  
• Bluetooth 5.2  
• IP54  
• USB-C
• IR blaster
• Headphone jack   
• 5100mAh battery   
• 67W wired charging   
• 161 x 74 x 7.98mm   
• 187g 
• Midnight Black, Aurora Purple, Ocean Teal

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+:

• Android 13 w/ MIUI 14    
• 6.67-inch AMOLED 120Hz curved display  
• Under-screen fingerprint sensor   
• Gorilla Glass Victus front, glass back 
• MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra 
• 12GB LPDDR5 RAM   
• 512GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable storage   
• 200Mp, f/1.65 main camera with OIS    
• 8Mp, f/2.2 120˚  ultrawide camera    
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro camera   
• 16Mp, f/2.4 front-facing camera    
• Dual stereo speakers   
• Dual-SIM    
• 5G    
• Wi-Fi 6   
• Bluetooth 5.2   
• IP68 
• USB-C 
• IR blaster 
• 5000mAh battery    
• 120W wired charging    
• 161 x 74 x 7.98mm    
• 204.5g 
• Midnight Black, Aurora Purple, Moonlight White