GadgetByte Nepal

Smartphones are depreciating assets, meaning their value drops the very moment you take wraps off your latest purchase. Knowing that you’re bound to ask yourself: Is it really worth spending a lot on an expensive phone, especially when it’s not gonna be worth anything extra in the next few years? Midrange smartphones fare a bit better in this regard and honestly, why spend more when you can get almost all the necessities in a phone half the price? With that philosophy in mind, we decided to pit Redmi’s Note 13 Pro+ against its flagship sibling the Xiaomi 14, and compare a thing or two.

Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus VS the Xiaomi 14

This year, Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, a phone packed with some premium features. It boasts a sleek and sturdy design, an IP68 rating, a good camera, and a display that rivals those of high-end models. These qualities have made it one of the top contenders in the best phones under 50,000 category in Nepal.

Xiaomi also launched the Xiaomi 14, considered the best phone under 1 lakh rupees in Nepal. As a flagship model, it boasts premium features, a robust and attractive design, an excellent display, a high-quality camera, and overall top-notch performance.

Specs Comparison

Design showdown: Not a clear winner here

Ok, let me clear things up here – there’s not much difference in the design of the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus and the Xiaomi 14. The first noticeable distinction is size: the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is larger and slightly heavier than the Xiaomi 14. But besides that, both phones feature a Gorilla Glass Victus front, a choice between a glass or silicone polymer back, and a premium aluminum frame.

Additionally, both have IP68 dust and water resistance. In terms of aesthetics, preference is subjective—some may favor the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, while others might prefer the Xiaomi 14. Personally, I lean towards the Xiaomi 14, but many of my friends prefer the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. Ultimately, both designs are equally impressive, and neither phone outshines the other in this aspect.

Display – Subtle differences

When comparing the display specs of the Xiaomi 14 and the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, the differences are subtle. Both phones offer impressive features like Gorilla Glass Victus protection, 10B colors, 120 Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ compatibility. These features are expected of the flagship Xiaomi 14 but are quite a rare find for a 50k phone.

However, the Xiaomi 14 stands out with its higher peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it more suitable for viewing HDR content. Having said this, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus provides a vibrant display and a very eye-pleasing experience but when I compared it with the Xiaomi 14, the highlights appear slightly overexposed compared, just slightly.

Regarding haptics and vibration, the Xiaomi 14 offers a more flagship-like experience than the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, although the latter’s haptics are still commendable. The Xiaomi 14’s LTPO display allows for a variable refresh rate down to 1 Hz when necessary, a feature absent in the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, which is limited to 60 Hz. Additionally, I felt that the Xiaomi 14 also boasts a faster touch ID.

In my experience, Xiaomi 14 is slightly ahead of the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus in almost every display segment but is it worth paying double? About that, let’s be real, NOPE!

Performance – Something to think about?

Now this is where it’s worth paying 1 lakh for Xiaomi 14 – but only if you are a gamer. If you’re not, then, you know what I’m about to say.

The Xiaomi 14 boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, making it the first compact phone to feature this top-tier chipset. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra, which despite its name, doesn’t quite live up to the “Ultra” hype. Yikes! According to Geekbench scores, the CPU in the Xiaomi flagship delivers roughly double the performance of the Redmi, and its GPU is about three times more powerful on paper. But what about the actual usage?

When it comes to normal everyday performance, there’s a slight difference between the two phones. Opening apps feels especially snappy on the Xiaomi 14 while the Note walks at its own pace. Given their price points, this is something that’s expected of the two and it’s not going to surprise anyone when I say that the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus feels a bit slow when pitted against the Xiaomi 14 if you can walk past that though both phones handle multitasking and everyday tasks smoothly, with no stutters and no slowdowns in sight.

Gaming 

However, the difference becomes significant during gaming. First, I played PUBG on the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus and it felt smooth and enjoyable. There was nothing I could complain about except for its curved display which sometimes led to accidental touches on the notification bar, a bit distracting.

But when I switched to the Xiaomi 14, the difference was immediately noticeable. And FYI, now you can play PUBG in 120 FPS. The touch response on the Xiaomi 14 was much faster, and the overall gameplay felt incredibly smooth. But!!! there was a drawback—the phone got extremely hot after just three games. Like, super hot!

Therefore, when it comes to gaming on the Xiaomi 14, I suggest playing at lower FPS settings to prevent the phone from overheating. I played at 90 fps which effectively controlled the temperature while gaming. I also tested Genshin Impact for about 30 minutes each on lower fps, and the phone didn’t exceed 41 degrees, which was impressive.

Ice Loop vapor chamber system in Xiaomi 14

Xiaomi claims they have included an Ice Loop vapor chamber system that offers three times the thermal efficiency of standard vapor chamber cooling solutions. However, the limitation seems to be the smaller chassis. This compact phone also struggles with extreme conditions like hotter climates.

Overall, the Xiaomi 14, priced at 1 lakh rupees, is clearly superior to the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. That said, it’s not that the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus can’t handle gaming—it can, but the Xiaomi 14 provides a noticeably better experience. The gameplay on the Xiaomi 14 feels much smoother, though you should avoid playing at super high FPS settings to prevent overheating.

If you’re an avid gamer, it’s worth investing more in the Xiaomi 14 for its superior performance. However, if you’re a casual gamer, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus performs perfectly fine and offers great value for the price.

Software and UI

The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has been impressive so far, and it still shines especially after the new HyperOS update. The phone now supports Android 14 with HyperOS, it initially launched with MIUI 14 based on Android 13—much like last year’s Redmi Note 12 Pro+ that came with Android 12 despite Android 13 being available. Moreso, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is set to receive updates up to Android 16, thanks to its 3-year software update policy.

 

The Xiaomi 14 also comes with the HyperOS but the good thing here is, Xiaomi has committed to providing 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. The HyperOS in both of these phones feels much lighter and more optimized than MIUI.

• You may also read the individual reviews:
  • Xiaomi 14 review: The best compact flagship phone
  • Redmi Note 13 Pro+ review: Almost a no-brainer

Camera

The Xiaomi 14 features a 50MP primary, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens with 3.2x zoom, and a front camera capable of 4K video at 60 fps, offering advanced features like Leica color modes and 8K recording.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, on the other hand, includes a 200MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro lens, with a 16MP front camera limited to 1080p video, and 4K video recording on the rear camera.

Daylight

When it comes to daylight performance, the Xiaomi 14 and the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus each have their strengths. The Xiaomi 14 features a 50MP Omnivision Light Fusion 900 primary sensor, which excels at maintaining details and dynamic range. However, its dynamic range processing can sometimes be too aggressive, leading to crushed shadows. The phone offers two color modes: Leica Vibrant, which produces vibrant colors similar to Samsung’s processing, and Leica Authentic, which provides toned-down colors but with occasionally excessive contrast.

In contrast, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, captures vibrant and pleasing photos with a generally good dynamic range. It handles contrast well, although highlights could use some improvement. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 offers more consistent results and versatile color modes, making it the better choice for daylight photography.

Ultrawide

In terms of ultra-wide lens performance, the Xiaomi 14 is clearly better than the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. The Xiaomi 14 captures good detail and highlights look better with better overall quality. However, it lacks optimization in edge and color handling.

On the other hand, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus delivers reliable shots but the overall quality is not in the same league. Details are often worse and the highlights don’t look as balanced as the Xiaomi 14.

Portraits

For portrait photography, the Xiaomi 14 stands out with its multiple focal lengths and effects, including an impressive 75mm Leica portrait mode that produces excellent background bokeh and well-processed skin tones. The black-and-white filter using the telephoto lens also delivers stunning results.

Meanwhile, we can only take 1X portraits from the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus which are inconsistent on top. Although they generally look nice with plenty of details, skin tones and background blur can be hit or miss, and the color science needs refinement too. Thus, the Xiaomi 14 provides a superior portrait photography experience.

Selfie

In the selfie department, the Xiaomi 14’s front camera impresses with its ability to shoot 4K videos at 60 fps and a wide field of view. Selfies are detailed and social media-ready. The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, with its 16MP front camera, produces good selfies with a pinkish tone and a bit of smoothening, though they lack the fine details of higher-end devices.

Video capabilities are limited to 1080p, which is a significant drawback compared to the Xiaomi 14’s 4K selfie videos. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 offers better selfies and front-camera video performance.

Nighttime

Low light and night images are kind of a mixed bag between the two smartphones. While you’d expect better clicks from a smartphone that costs more than twice as much, Xiaomi 14 often disappoints with its overexposed shots. The Note has its own faults too and I didn’t like the greenish tint present throughout most of its photos. Both phones click bright enough photos but I don’t think any is a clear winner in this case.

Battery

The Xiaomi 14, with its 4610 mAh battery, charges fully in 40 minutes using the included 90-watt adapter and offers about 5.5 hours of screen-on time. The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus features a 5000 mAh battery, providing a full day’s usage, and supports 120W fast charging, reaching 100% in just 20 minutes.

Xiaomi 14 Vs Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus: The Verdict

The Xiaomi 14 undoubtedly provides a superior overall experience with its flagship features, making it worth the higher price tag for those seeking top-tier performance, camera quality, and software longevity. However, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus delivers exceptional value for money, offering many flagship-like features at half the price.

If budget is a concern, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is a highly capable device that doesn’t disappoint. Therefore, while the Xiaomi 14 is better in many aspects, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus proves that a 50k phone can indeed hold its own against a 1 lakh phone, especially for those who prioritize value over top-tier specs. Hence, the 50,000-worth Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is NOT better than the 1 Lakh-worth Xiaomi 14 but it is definitely a better value than the Xiaomi 14.

Pros and cons of Xiaomi 14

Pros and cons of Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus