Redmi Note 13, Poco X5 Pro compared: Which phone you should buy under Rs 20,000?


Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 13 5G in India at a starting price of Rs 18,999 for a version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. A comparable memory trim of the Poco X5 Pro is currently selling at a lower price, Rs 16,999 to be more specific, on Flipkart. And so, obviously, that sets up the stage for a cage match between the two heavyweights, giving buyers more options to  look at and pick whatever it is that makes more sense to them.

Before diving into the specifics, you should know that the Poco X5 Pro is a phone from early last year at a starting price of Rs 22,999 and so, the price reduction is both expected and appreciated. If you are finicky about launch timelines and prefer buying “new” phones with latest hardware and software, this buyer’s guide isn’t meant for you. But if you are not that person, welcome aboard, to find out which phone— Redmi Note 13 or Poco X5 Pro— offers more value.

Without further ado, here’s a quick rundown of all that you need to know about the two phones and how they stack up against each other:

1. Both phones have a flat chassis made from plastic. The Redmi Note 13 is a bit slimmer and lighter (7.6mm versus 7.9mm, 173.5 g versus 181 g) and is IP54 rated. The Poco X5 Pro is IP53 rated. You get a side-mounted fingerprint scanner in both the phones.
2. You get a 6.67-inch flat AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate in both the phones. The Note 13’s screen can get a bit brighter (1,000 nits versus 900 nits) but the Poco X5 Pro can playback Dolby Vision content. Both the phones have a hole punch cutout at the centre and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
3. The Poco X5 Pro has the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G even as the Redmi Note 13 makes do with the Dimensity 6080.
4. The Poco X5 Pro has a more potent camera setup with a combination of 108-megapixel wide, 8-megapixel ultrawide, and 2-megapixel macro. The Redmi Note 13 has a 108MP main camera, too, but it is mated to a 2MP depth sensor.
5. While we’re on specifics, the Poco X5 Pro can record 4K videos (@30fps) even as the Redmi Note 13 tops out at 1080p @30fps.
6. Both phones have a 16-megapixel front facing camera with the Poco X5 Pro’s having a slight edge with up to 1080p @60fps video recording capability (the Note 13 can only do 1080p @30fps).
7. You get a 5,000mAh battery in both the phones. The Poco X5 Pro can charge faster at up to 67W. The Redmi Note 13 supports only 33W.
8. Elsewhere, the Poco X5 Pro has dual speakers. The Redmi Note 13 has a mono setup only.
9. The Redmi offers expandable storage through a hybrid slot, while the Poco doesn’t support it at all.
10. The Redmi Note 13 comes in 6GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/256GB configurations for Rs 18,999, 20,999, and Rs 22,999, respectively. The Poco X5 Pro 6GB/128GB variant comes in at Rs 16,999 making it a no-brainer over the Redmi Note 13. A version with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is listed for Rs 22,999 and while it is Rs 2,000 more than a comparable Redmi Note 13, the Poco X5 Pro packs enough quality of life improvements over it, to more than make up for it. And with the Poco X6 Pro (and Poco X6) coming, there’s an off chance, we might see another price revision down the line. But even without it, the Poco X5 Pro is a better buy.

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