Getting the Redmi Note 13 5G: A Sub-$1000 Phone with Many Issues, But What More Can You Ask For?

Recently, a family member’s phone became too outdated, so we decided to get a new one. Since she was previously using a Redmi Note series phone, I chose to stick with a relatively newer model from the same Redmi Note lineup. Staying with the same brand means she can continue with familiar system usage habits without additional learning costs.

Note 13 or 14?

• The current Redmi Note series has reached the 14 model.
• In principle, buy new rather than old, just make choices based on cost considerations.

Here I chose the 256GB version. The 14 costs around 1,000 yuan, which I felt was too expensive, so I downgraded to the 13. After all, upgrading from 13 to 17 in the future is no different from upgrading from 14 to 18. With national subsidies, the 8GB+256GB Midnight Black 5G phone ultimately cost 849.51 CNY.

For target users who aren’t sensitive to new vs. old models but are budget-conscious, I personally think there’s no need to pursue the latest model.

Phone Accessories

1. It comes with a bundled protective case, which has decent quality. No need to buy another case for now.

   

2. The bundled screen protector is not good, poor quality, so you need to buy a separate one. I bought the following style:
   • Flashmo Compatible with Redmi Note13 Pro Tempered Glass Screen Protector Note13 [Enhanced Double Anti-Fingerprint] 2-pack, priced at 18 CNY.

Besides these, I haven’t purchased any other accessories currently.

User Experience

After using it for several days, I think this phone has the following pros and cons:

Pros

1. Build Quality: For a phone in the sub-1000 yuan price range, I think the build quality is good enough, and it’s quite light at 187g. It’s slightly lighter than my iPhone 16 Pro, which I find heavy when using with a case.
2. Battery Life: It can easily last 1 day or 1.5 days of actual use, thanks to the 5000 mAh battery.
   • In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro only has 3582mAh. The saying “only iPhone users have battery anxiety” really makes sense.
3. Volume: I think it’s loud enough. At least family members say the music volume is loud, and the audio quality is decent. If family members want better audio quality when listening to music outdoors, besides the phone itself, they can choose to buy a JBL Bluetooth speaker, which only costs around 100 yuan.

Cons

1. Camera Quality: The rear camera photography is quite average, but considering the price point, it’s understandable. However, the advertised 100 megapixels feels deceptive when you look back at the image quality, especially since even iPhones don’t have such high pixel counts.

2. Pre-installed Software: After turning on the phone, I found a screen full of apps - it’s like buying a phone and getting a bunch of apps for free. Fortunately, most can be uninstalled, but it takes time to clean up. For elderly users who don’t know how to delete them, they might face issues like storage occupation, data consumption, and potential scams.

   

These two shortcomings are common issues among most domestic manufacturers. They want to reduce prices while maintaining profits, so they compromise in these areas.

Additional Information

Let me supplement some information about whether this phone supports certain features to avoid confusion.

Wireless Charging

Redmi Note does not support wireless charging.

SD Card

Redmi Note series phones support SD card storage expansion.

Xiaomi HyperOS

The phone supports upgrading to HyperOS. From my brief usage, I don’t notice much difference from the previous system except for cosmetic changes - I’d need deeper usage to feel the differences.

Final Thoughts

These are my genuine experiences using the Redmi Note 13. Overall, for a sub-1000 yuan phone, meeting basic usage needs is sufficient.

Suitable Users:

• Users with low phone requirements
• Budget-conscious users
• Elderly family members or backup phone needs

Purchase Recommendations:

• If you prioritize camera experience, consider increasing your budget for other models
• Remember to clean up pre-installed software after purchase