Redmi 13 Challengers: Xiaomi completed ten years in India and marked the occasion by releasing a product that reflects the brand’s core philosophy of delivering more for a comparatively small price tag. Xiaomi released the Redmi 13 5G recently which screams Redmi in every way possible. The phone boasts an impressive spec sheet for a starting price of Rs 13,999 which is essentially how Xiaomi cemented its position in the Indian smartphone market. 


The phone comes with a large 6.79-inch FHD+ display (although it is LCD, not AMOLED), and runs on the very efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE processor with  6GB and 8GB RAM variants, and 128GB storage which is expandable using a memory card. 


Photography is handled by a 108-megapixel main camera on the back (accompanied by a very token 2-megapixel macro sensor) and a 13-megapixel selfie camera. Keeping all this running for a while is the task of a 5,030mAh battery with support for 33W charging, and there's a 33W charger in the box as well. The Redmi 13 5G runs on Android OS with Xiaomi's HyperOS on top.



All of this comes inside a pleasantly premium design with a glass back and a front protected by Gorilla Glass 3. This, no doubt, is an absolutely rocking spec sheet for the price but that does not make it immune to competition. 


For all its design beauty and spec muscle, the Redmi 13 5G faces tough competition from the following five devices:


iQoo Z9x: Spec Sheet Adds The Edge



Price: Rs 12,999


iQoo is a brand that has been very aggressive in the budget segment. It recently released the iQoo Z9x, and like the Redmi 13 5G, brings very good value-for-money functions and features to the table. The device comes with a 6.72-inch full HD+ IPS LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate along with a good speaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, which makes it a very good multimedia device for its price. 


This combination is backed by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor which is a step ahead of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE processor on the Redmi 13. You also get up to 8GB RAM with 128GB storage on the device. The camera department is spearheaded by a good 50-megapixel main sensor which is backed by a rather nominal 2-megapixel sensor while an 8-megapixel sensor on the front handles selfies and video calls. 


The phone not only runs on a bigger 6,000mAh battery as compared to the Redmi 13 but also brings 44W fast(er) charging support to the table. The phone comes with Android 14 out of the box, topped with iQoo’s FunTouchOS. It also has an IP64 rating and while it does not have a glass back, it does sport a very stylish design. 


Overall, the iQoo Z9x gives the impressive spec sheet of the Redmi 13 5G a run for its money quite easily. 



Motorola G64: Ticks All The Boxes



Price: Rs 14,999 onwards


The latest addition in Motorola's famous G series (which many credit with totally changing the mid-segment), the Moto G64 could be a massive headache for the Redmi 13 5G. One of the biggest highlights of the device is its processor - a MediaTek Dimensity 7025 processor which is a very efficient chip that will not only easily handle everyday tasks but can also help you tease some power-hungry tasks limits.  


A massive 6,000mAh battery with 33 W charging support is another major plus point of the Moto G64. The phone comes with a 6.5-inch full HD+  LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate on the front and has a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS ( a rarity at this price point) bundled with a decent 8-megapixel sensor on the back, and also comes with an impressive 16-megapixel selfie camera. 


Another highlight of the device is that it comes with a relatively clean Android interface out of the box, paired with features like stereo speakers, IP52 rating and a 3.5 mm jack. 


This is a phone that ticks many boxes, including some that the Redmi 13 misses.  



CMF Phone 1: Stands Out Like No Other 



Price: Rs 15,999


There is a new phone in town, and it is easily the most talked about in the budget segment. Nothing’s sub-brand, CMF recently launched its first phone, the CMF Phone 1 and the device has already grabbed a lot of attention. One of its biggest highlights is an AMOLED display which is rare in this price segment - the phone brings a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate to the table. 


This is backed by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, which should easily glide through everyday chores. The phone has a dual camera set up on the back – 50-megapixel and 2-megapixel, and there is a 16-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies and video calls. 


A 5,000mAh battery powers the phone and it comes with 33W fast charging support, although there is no charger in the box. 


The list of USPs also includes clean, uncluttered Android 14 with Nothing OS on top and the edgy design which allows you to unscrew the back (with a special screwdriver) and change the back of the phone, and even add accessories like a stand and a wallet to the phone. 


Yes, it misses out on some basics (a 3.5 mm audio jack, a charger in the box), but this is the phone in the segment for those who want to grab attention.



Samsung Galaxy M34: Solid Soldier



Price: Rs 12,999 onwards 


The Samsung Galaxy M34 5G might look like it belongs to the past thanks to the dated drop notch on the front but its spec sheet makes it comfortable in the present. The Galaxy M34 boasts a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate which in the best Samsung tradition is quite bright and vibrant. 


It is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos1280 processor and comes with RAM and storage variants of 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB, making it a solid performer that can handle a lot with ease. 


The phone brings a triple camera set up to the table with a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS and an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel sensor. 


This is topped with a 13-megapixel sensor on the front. A key feature of the  Galaxy M34 is its massive 6,000mAh battery which comes with 25W charging support, although there's no charger in the box. The phone runs on Android 13 out of the box with Samsung’s OneUI on top but it can be upgraded to Android 14. The phone also has a 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo speakers, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front, making it a mighty good overall package.


Poco X6 Neo: Competitive Cousin


Price: Rs 14,999 onwards 


Another enemy lurking on the Redmi 13 5G coast comes from its own parent company. Xiaomi’s Poco X6 Neo comes with a very competitive spec sheet which could be a big pain for the Redmi 13. 


The Poco X6 Neo features a 6.67-inch full HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. 


What's more, this one is an AMOLED display, something the Redmi 13 lacks. The phone brings a 108-megapixel sensor coupled with a 2-megapixel one on the back like its cousin but has a slightly megapixel-aly upped 16-megapixel sensor on the front. 


The Poco X6 Neo is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 which is a solid performer and while it runs on Android 13 and MIUI, it can be updated to Android 14 and HyperOS with ease. It has a 5,000mAh battery which comes with 33 W charging support, and a charger as well. The phone also brings an IP54 rating, and a 3.5 mm audio jack and while it does not have a glass back like the Redmi 13, its orange colour makes quite a statement without even trying. 


It could make the latest Redmi see red.