Design and Build Quality
The Redmi Note 13 Pro makes a strong first impression with its sleek, flat-edged design and premium glass back (Gorilla Glass 5 variant dependent on region), feeling surprisingly solid for its segment. Available in eye-catching finishes, it offers IP54 dust and splash resistance. The Realme 12 Pro+ counters with a distinctly luxury-inspired aesthetic, featuring a vegan leather back with a prominent circular camera module and gold-accented stitching, also rated IP65 for superior water resistance. Both feel more premium than the plastic-backed Samsung Galaxy A35, though Samsung’s phone boasts a robust IP67 rating. The Moto G84 opts for practicality with its IP52 rating and comfortable, curved plastic back, prioritizing ergonomics over outright flair. OnePlus Nord CE 4 continues the trend with a plastic frame and back but maintains a clean, modern look. Winner: Realme 12 Pro+ for its unique premium materials and superior IP65 rating, just edging out the Note 13 Pro’s glass sophistication.
Display
Redmi Note 13 Pro boasts a stunning 6.67-inch 1.5K (2712 x 1220 pixels) AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1800 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. This combination delivers exceptional sharpness, vibrant colors, deep blacks, and superb outdoor visibility. The Realme 12 Pro+ matches the 120Hz AMOLED tech and curved edges but uses a slightly lower resolution FHD+ (2412 x 1080) panel with 950 nits peak brightness – still excellent but less sharp. Samsung Galaxy A35 features a bright 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED (1000 nits peak) with 120Hz, leveraging Samsung’s display expertise for great color accuracy. Moto G84 offers a capable 6.55-inch pOLED FHD+ 120Hz display but peaks at 1300 nits. OnePlus Nord CE 4 uses a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED. Winner: Redmi Note 13 Pro decisively takes this round with its superior 1.5K resolution, industry-leading peak brightness, and premium Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
Performance and Hardware
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm), the Redmi Note 13 Pro provides capable mid-range performance, handling daily tasks, multitasking, and moderate gaming smoothly. Configurations go up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. Realme 12 Pro+ steps up with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in some regions or the Dimensity 7050 in others – both offer similar performance tiers to the Note 13 Pro. Samsung Galaxy A35 relies on the efficient but less powerful Exynos 1380, suitable for everyday use but less adept at sustained heavy gaming. Moto G84 utilizes the Snapdragon 695, a competent but older chipset, making it the slowest here for demanding apps. OnePlus Nord CE 4 packs a significant punch with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, offering noticeably better CPU and GPU performance than the 7s Gen 2, excelling in gaming and intensive applications. Winner: OnePlus Nord CE 4 for its superior Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, delivering the best raw performance and future-proofing in this group.
Camera Capabilities
Redmi Note 13 Pro features a standout 200MP main sensor (Samsung HP3, f/1.65, OIS) capturing impressive detail in good light, backed by an 8MP ultrawide and a functional 2MP macro. Low-light performance is respectable thanks to OIS and pixel binning. Realme 12 Pro+ counters with a potent 50MP Sony IMX890 (f/1.8, OIS) main sensor – smaller than 200MP but with larger individual pixels for better light capture – plus a unique 64MP 3x periscope telephoto lens (OIS) enabling strong optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide. Samsung Galaxy A35 offers a reliable trio: 50MP OIS main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, delivering consistent, well-processed shots typical of Samsung. Moto G84 uses a capable 50MP OIS main (with large 1/1.5″ sensor) and 8MP ultrawide, known for natural color science. OnePlus Nord CE 4 sports a 50MP Sony LYT-600 (OIS) main and 8MP ultrawide, leveraging OnePlus’s processing for vibrant results. Winner: Realme 12 Pro+ for its versatile triple-camera setup, combining a high-quality main sensor with the unique advantage of a stabilized periscope telephoto lens for superior zoom capability.
Battery Life and Charging
The Redmi Note 13 Pro houses a substantial 5100mAh battery, easily delivering a full day and often stretching into a second day of moderate use. Its 67W HyperCharge enables a full charge in approximately 45 minutes. Realme 12 Pro+ matches the 5000mAh capacity (expect similar endurance) and also supports 67W SUPERVOOC charging. Samsung Galaxy A35 boasts excellent efficiency from its 5000mAh battery, typically offering the longest runtime in this group due to the less power-hungry Exynos chip and software optimization, but charges slower at 25W. Moto G84 features a 5000mAh battery with 30W charging – reliable but unremarkable. OnePlus Nord CE 4 includes a large 5500mAh battery promising excellent longevity and supports 100W SUPERVOOC charging, reaching 100% in just 26-28 minutes. Winner: OnePlus Nord CE 4 for the unbeatable combination of a massive 5500mAh battery and incredibly fast 100W charging, though the Note 13 Pro/Realme 12 Pro+ offer strong all-day endurance with fast 67W top-ups.
Software and User Experience
Redmi Note 13 Pro runs Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS. It offers deep customization and features but comes with noticeable bloatware (pre-installed apps) and ads within system apps, requiring user effort to disable. Xiaomi promises 3 OS updates and 4 years of security patches. Realme 12 Pro+ uses Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0, similar to HyperOS in feature depth and customization, also suffering from bloatware and occasional ads. It matches Xiaomi’s update promise (3 OS, 4 security). Samsung Galaxy A35 shines here with One UI 6.1 (Android 14), offering a polished, feature-rich, and largely ad-free experience. Samsung leads the mid-range segment with a commitment to 4 major OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates. Moto G84 runs near-stock Android 13 (upgradable) with My UX, delivering a clean, bloat-free interface and timely updates (typically 1 OS, 3 security). OnePlus Nord CE 4 uses OxygenOS 14 (Android 14), known for its smooth, clean, and relatively bloat-free experience, promising 2 OS updates and 3 years of security patches. Winner: Samsung Galaxy A35 for its superior long-term software support (4 OS updates), polished One UI experience, and absence of intrusive ads/bloatware.
Price and Value for Money
The Redmi Note 13 Pro typically starts aggressively in the ₹25,000-₹30,000 range in India ($300-$350 globally), offering exceptional value for its display, build, and main camera. Realme 12 Pro+ positions itself slightly higher (₹30,000-₹35,000 / $350-$400), justified by its periscope zoom camera and design. Samsung Galaxy A35 commands a premium (₹30,000+ / $350+) primarily for its brand reputation, software support, and IP67 rating, though hardware specs are often beaten. Moto G84 sits as the most affordable (around ₹20,000 / $250), appealing for its clean software and reliable basics. OnePlus Nord CE 4 targets the ₹25,000-₹28,000 ($300-$330) segment, delivering outstanding performance and charging for the price. Winner: Redmi Note 13 Pro narrowly clinches this for delivering the most balanced high-end features (1.5K display, glass build, 200MP camera, 67W charging) at a highly competitive starting price point, making it the overall value champion.