Top 5 Best Redmi Note Phones to Buy in Kenya Right Now
Redmi, a sub-brand of Xiaomi, has become increasingly popular in Kenya in recent years. This is mainly due to its affordability and ability to offer premium features at a low price point. According to Redmi's General Manager Wang Teng, the brand has sold over 420 million units in the last 10 years.
Now, let’s discuss which Redmi phone is best for you based on camera, performance, and affordability. There is no particular order or rank.
Top 5 Redmi Phones in Kenya
Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G came with many features at a very affordable price. Let's start with the display which you don’t see in many midrange devices, it is a 6.67-inch display with 1080 by 2400 pixels paired with a fast dynamic 120Hz refresh rate
The display features an AMOLED screen that provides high contrast, making it ideal for watching videos with deep blacks. It is safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, making it resistant to scratches and drops from certain heights, and there is an optical under-display fingerprint scanner.
The phone's display reaches a peak brightness of 1300 nits, making it usable under direct sunlight. Additionally, the slim bezels provide a full view of the screen when watching videos.
The phone has a nice boxy design, it is rated IP54 against dust and water resistant. It has dual stereo speakers, an IR blaster to control your electronic devices, and a headphone jack.
The cameras on the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G are quite impressive. It features a 200MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 2MP macro lens. The 200MP main camera allows you to zoom in on photos even after they have been taken. The details are crisp, but if you zoom in too much, the image quality may degrade.
I found the default 12MP to take really good photos which are a bit vibrant and social media-ready. The ultrawide camera isn’t the best I have seen but it gets the job done with good detail and the macro camera is good for close-ups but found it to be a gimmick and not that impressive.
The phone's processor is the Mediatek Helio G99 Ultra. Xiaomi added "Ultra" to the name because they modified it to support 200MP and to work efficiently on the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G.
Officially, the G99 only supports 108MP. I found the phone's performance to be good with no complaints, however, if you game with it for a prolonged period, the phone tends to get a bit warm. Overall, its performance is good thanks to its more efficient 6nm architecture.
It comes in 5 storage variants which include 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, and 512GB 12GB RAM. The battery is 5000mAh and supports up to 67W, and the good part? It comes with a charger inside the box.
The selfie camera takes good photos in well-lit conditions. However, both the rear and front cameras can only record at 1080p 60 fps and 30 fps respectively. At this price point, many phones, like the Samsung A25 5G, can record at 4k. You can read our full review of the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G.
Redmi Note 13 5G
The Redmi Note 13 5G is designed for users specifically seeking a 5G-enabled phone. To begin, let's discuss the display, which measures 6.67 inches and boasts a resolution of 1080 by 2400. This phone features an AMOLED display, allowing for vibrant, punchy colors and deep blacks when watching videos.
The maximum brightness is only 1200 nits, which is significantly lower than that of the competition. However, it should still be visible under direct sunlight. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, making it drop and scratch-resistant at certain heights. Additionally, the slim bezels will provide a nice viewing experience.
The phone's construction is quite robust with a boxy design reminiscent of the iPhone. It is rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, protecting it from rain, but it should not be submerged in water or used in the shower.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Mediatek dimensity 6080 a 6nm architecture for efficiency and longer battery life, and since it’s a dimensity chipset you get 5G connectivity.
When comparing the two chipsets, the Mediatek G99 and Dimensity 6080, there are some differences. According to the Nano Review, the Mediatek G99 performs 16 times better in floating-point computation and has a 5% higher GPU frequency.
On the other hand, the Dimensity 6080 has a 9% higher CPU clock speed and shows a 4% better Antutu score. However, in real-life usage, I don’t think there will be any noticeable difference.
The phone is available in different storage configurations, including 128GB with 6GB RAM, 256GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 12GB RAM, and 512GB with 12GB RAM.
The battery has a capacity of 5000mAh and comes with a 33W charger inside the box, which many smartphone manufacturers are not including even at this price point, *coughs* Samsung.
It has a 108MP camera an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP depth sensor. The 108MP should take better pictures given the slightly better processor, the 8MP ultra should be clear also and the 2MP should take good close-up photos but don’t expect much detail.
On the front, there is a punch-hole cutout that houses the 16MP selfie camera. The photos taken should be clear and crisp, especially in well-lit conditions. However, video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps for both the front and back cameras, and there is no stabilization available.
Xiaomi has compromised on some features to offer 5G capability, but if 5G is your main priority, this is the most budget-friendly option in the Redmi lineup in Kenya.
Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G
The Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G is a strong contender among other upper midrange devices, the phone packs some beefy specifications at an affordable price only sacrificing a few features.
The display of the phone is pretty solid compared to the Note 13 5G. It has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1220 by 2712 or simply 1.5k and a max peak brightness of 1800, great for outdoor viewing. The display also houses the optical fingerprint scanner.
The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which means the screen can survive a drop of up to 1 meter.
It has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The display supports Dolby Vision and PWM dimming of 1920Hz. Additionally, the display houses an optical under-display fingerprint scanner.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by a snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor a 4nm architecture for efficiency. The processor is very capable when it comes to handling graphic-intensive games. It is paired with either 128GB 8GB RAM or 256GB 8G RAM 256GB 12GB RAM 512GB 12GB RAM, and 512GB 16GB RAM.
On the camera side of things, it has a 200MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a Macro sensor. The 200MP sensor captures stunning photos with crisp details when zoomed in.
The 8MP sensor is also good but nothing out of the ordinary, and the 2MP sensor is good for close-up photos, although you will rarely use it a telephoto camera would be the much better alternative.
At the front there is a 16MP main sensor that captures good shots as well, if you are in a dark environment the quality might not be the best. The phone can record videos up to 4k 30fps using the rear camera, however, the front camera video recording is cut at 1080p. There is also support for dual stabilization in both OIS and EIS.
The battery has a 5000mAh capacity and should last you an entire day or more depending on your usage. It comes with a 67W 3.0 PD charger and can charge from 0-100 in 44 minutes.
The build of the phone is very sturdy, it has a glass back, and at the top, it has a secondary microphone, and secondary speakers which are tuned by Doby Atmos and have an IP 54 rating against water splashes and dust particles. It also has a headphone jack, a rare feature to find in 2024.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note 13 pro+ is another upper midrange contender packing some serious specifications. The display is curved and very decent, however, some people don’t really like curved displays due to accidental touches.
It has an AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1220 by 2712 thus the display is very sharp when viewing content.
The AMOLED screen will provide a vibrant and immersive experience paired with Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus.
For security, it has an optical under-display fingerprint sensor. Although it may not be the fastest, it gets the job done. The screen is made of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus as well, which is shatterproof at heights of up to 1 meter. The screen's peak brightness can reach as high as 1800 nits under direct sunlight.
It features the Mediatek 7300 ulta processor with a 4nm architecture. This processor is highly capable and can handle any task, whether it's gaming or navigating through the user interface.
The phone is available in different storage configurations: 256GB with 8GB RAM, 256GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 8GB RAM, 512GB with 12GB RAM, and 512GB with 16GB RAM. Depending on the storage configuration you choose, the phone should be able to handle tasks with ease.
The camera is good as well at least according to reviews. It has a 200MP selfie camera an 8MP ultra wide and a 2MP lens. The 200MP takes good photos and 4x lossless zoom meaning you can zoom up to 4x while maintaining the quality.
At the front, there is a 16MP selfie shooter, it will take good photos if you are in good lighting. The rear camera can shoot videos up to 4k up to 30fps, unfortunately for the front-facing camera it can only shoot videos at 1080 up to 60fps.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has a battery capacity of 5000mAh, the battery should be decent depending on your usage, and if you are worried about your battery depleting fast, Xiaomi gives you a super-fast 120W charger that comes inside the box that will charge the phone from 0-100 in just 19minutes.
The design of the phone is solid, and the back of the phone is made up of silicone polymer which is basically leather, at the top you get an IR bluster for controlling your appliances, a secondary microphone, and a speaker unfortunately there is no headphone jack. At the bottom, you get a type-C port, speaker, and microphone.
The phone comes with Android 13 out of the box and it is set to receive 3 years of major OS updates and security patches up to 2028 to keep the phone running smoothly.
Redmi Note 12 4G
The Redmi Note 12 was released in March last year and offered good specifications for the price. I have skipped the Redmi Note 13 because Xiaomi didn't make any significant changes from the Note 12 that would give you a reason to upgrade.
The Note 13 only made a few changes, including the addition of a display fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos, higher peak brightness up to 1800, a 108MP sensor, and an extra year of updates. If these minor updates aren't important to you, then you might want to consider the Redmi Note 12 instead.
It’s a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. The AMOLED screen provides an immersive experience when watching videos with vibrant colors. The display has a peak brightness of 1200 nits, which is sufficient for viewing under direct sunlight. The resolution of the phone is 1080 by 2400.
The phone's display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which is not the strongest out there, but it is good to have. However, it would be better to apply a glass screen protector.
The phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 685 processor, which is the same processor found in the Redmi Note 13. This processor uses a 6nm architecture and can handle your daily activities well. However, if you decide to play heavy games, the phone may experience lagging and become warm to the touch.
It has different storage, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 8GB RAM, however, I recommend going for the version with 6GB RAM or higher for better performance.
On the battery side of things, it comes with the standard 5000mAh battery. Battery usage will vary on how you use your phone. You get a 33W fast charger in the box which should juice up your phone from 0-100 in 70 minutes.
The phone’s camera is good but not the best. The rear cameras include a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro sensor. Photos taken with the phone 50MP are good but only in well-lit environments, I found when you take photos in a dark environment the pictures come out grainy.
The 13MP is good when the environment is well-lit, but it struggles when you take photos in a dark environment. Unfortunately, both the rear and the front cameras can only record videos at 1080P.
The phone has a sturdy build with a plastic back, matte finish, and glass front. It is rated IP53 against dust and water splashes, and the frames are made of plastic.
At the top, there is a secondary microphone, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. At the bottom, there is a speaker, a microphone, and a USB Type-C charging port. The power button also functions as a fingerprint scanner.
Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Redmi Note Phone
Redmi offers a variety of smartphones, each designed for specific users. To find the right one for you, consider a few key factors.
Processor, Please keep in mind that the processor is the most important factor to consider when buying a phone, especially a Redmi phone. It affects the day-to-day performance and the camera performance.
Different processors have different architectures. For example, a 6nm architecture is more efficient and conserves battery better compared to a 12nm chipset.
The camera has a significant impact on which Redmi phone you choose. It's important to watch reviews on YouTube and read blogs to make an informed decision about getting a phone with the best camera setup. Don't be misled by the megapixel count, as the camera quality is determined by the phone's processor.
Battery, In 2024, you'll want a phone with exceptional battery life and fast charging capabilities. Whether you're a heavy user or not, you'll expect the phone to last a full day on a single charge.
Additionally, you'll want the ability to quickly recharge the battery in just a few minutes using a fast charger. Many Redmi smartphones are already offering this feature, with some models providing up to 120W of fast charging, along with a high-capacity battery.
Display, Currently, there are Redmi phones available that offer AMOLED displays at a very affordable price. AMOLED screens help conserve battery life by enabling dark mode, and they also provide an immersive viewing experience with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Additionally, having a 120Hz refresh rate can be beneficial for smoother scrolling.
Price, price is very important when buying a phone and Redmi has phones ranging from KES. 10,000 to KES. 70,000 at least here in Kenya. It’s very important to know what you want in a phone, don’t buy an expensive Redmi phone just to watch YouTube videos and scroll social media, know what you want to do with the phone.
Where to Buy Redmi Phones in Kenya
If you've read this blog and are considering purchasing any of the mentioned Redmi phones, you can find them at select stores such as Phone Place Kenya, Jumia, and Safaricom stores. However, please note that you may not find the Redmi Note 12 as a brand-new device.
Conclusion
Redmi phones are popular in the Kenyan market due to their affordability and flagship-level specifications. You can choose from a variety of Redmi phones based on your specific needs, whether it's gaming, photography, or other requirements.
I encourage you to conduct thorough research before purchasing a Redmi phone, exploring various options, reading blogs, and watching YouTube videos to reach a well-informed decision.
