Xiaomi’s sub-brand, Redmi, recently launched the Redmi 13 5G and its pricing places it against the CMF Phone 1. The Redmi 13 5G comes with a similar design to the Redmi 12 5G while the CMF Phone 1 has a modular (sort of) design.
The former starts at ₹13,999, while the CMF Phone 1 starts at ₹15,999. So, is it worth spending the extra to get the CMF Phone 1 or should you save some money and get the Redmi 13 5G instead? Let us find out in this detailed comparison.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Price
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: the price. The Redmi 13 5G starts at ₹13,999 for the 6/128 GB variant, while the CMF Phone 1 starts at ₹15,999 for the same 6/128 GB configuration. Notably, the Redmi 13 5G includes a charger in the box, whereas the CMF Phone 1 will set you back an additional ₹799 for a charger.
The Redmi 13 5G also comes in a 8/128 GB variant that costs ₹15,499 and so does the CMF Phone 1 which costs ₹17,999 for the same 8/128 GB variant. Again, the CMF doesn’t come with a charger in the box.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Design and Build
Now, since this is a CMF phone, we cannot skip the design part. The Redmi 13 5G looks very similar to the Redmi 12 5G, so there’s not much to talk about in terms of design.
The Redmi 13 5G has a glass finish on the rear and is available in three colors: Hawaiian Blue, Black Diamond, and Orchid Pink. It features a dual-camera array on the back and a ring flashlight.
The CMF Phone 1, on the other hand, is infinitely more interesting. It boasts a modular design, allowing you to replace the back cover with another color of your choice.
The design is also unique, with the ability to attach accessories like a lanyard, phone holder, or even a wallet at the back. The CMF phone has a plastic build all around, but should feel solid in the hand.
Both devices come with a mono speaker and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. They also feature a USB Type-C 2.0 port. The CMF Phone 1’s design is very unique and offers a lot of customization, making it a standout choice.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Display
When it comes to the display, the Redmi 13 5G sports a 6.79-inch LCD display with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and a peak brightness of 550 Nits. Unfortunately, there’s no support for HDR here.
The CMF Phone 1, on the other hand, steps it up with an AMOLED display. It features a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED LTPS display that can dynamically switch between 60 Hz and 120 Hz.
This display offers a resolution of 1080p, HDR support, and a peak brightness of 2000 Nits, with typical brightness of 500-700 Nits. Additionally, it boasts a higher PWM frequency of 960 Hz compared to the Redmi 13 5G’s display.
The bezels on both devices are relatively similar in size, but the CMF Phone 1’s OLED display clearly stands out. It has superior brightness, HDR support, and, more importantly, higher contrast.
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Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Performance
The Redmi 13 5G is equipped with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE processor, an enhanced version of the standard 4 Gen 2. This processor features 2x 2.3 GHz A78 cores and 6x 1.95 GHz A55 cores, making it a decent but not the most powerful chip in its segment.
On the other hand, the CMF Phone 1 packs the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chipset, which significantly ups the game (compared to the 4 Gen 2). This chipset includes 4x 2.5 GHz A78 cores and 4x 2.0 GHz A55 cores, clearly making it more powerful than the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE found in the Redmi 13 5G.
Both devices come with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, but the CMF Phone 1 seems to have higher storage scores, which means that it could be using UFS 2.2C. Both devices are limited to 128 GB storage.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Battery and Charging
In the battery and charging department, it’s kind of a tie because the Redmi 13 5G comes with a 5,030 mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. Similarly, the CMF Phone 1 is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and also supports 33W fast charging.
However, the Redmi 13 5G has a slight edge because it includes a charger in the box, whereas the CMF Phone 1 does not. As I mentioned before, you’d have to spend an extra ₹799 to get a charger for the CMF Phone 1.
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Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Software
The software part is quite interesting. The Redmi 13 5G comes with HyperOS 1.0 based on Android 14 (this is the successor to MIUI) out of the box. It will receive two years of major OS updates and four years of security updates.
The CMF Phone 1, on the other hand, runs on Nothing OS based on Android 14—Nothing OS 2.6, to be precise—and it will get two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
When we talk about the software experience, HyperOS is not the cleanest. You will encounter ads and bloatware shipped with the device, which can be quite annoying if you don’t know how to turn them off.
Conversely, the CMF Phone 1 offers a clean experience with no ads or bloatware, making it a more appealing choice for those who prefer a clean and uncluttered software.
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Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Cameras
Now let’s talk about the cameras. The cameras on both the Redmi 13 5G and the CMF Phone 1 are quite interesting. The Redmi 13 5G has a 108 MP main sensor with a sensor size of 1/1.67” (Samsung HM6). Accompanying this is a 2 MP macro lens. For selfies, you get a 13 MP front camera with an aperture of f/2.45.
In contrast, the CMF Phone 1 features a 50 MP Sony IMX882 with a sensor size of 1/1.95” inches, which is smaller than the one on the Redmi 13 5G. It also has a 2 MP depth sensor, which is not very useful. For selfies, the CMF Phone 1 has a 16 MP front camera.
When it comes to video capabilities, the CMF Phone 1 can record in 4K at 30fps from the main camera and up to 1080p at 30fps from the front camera, with support for EIS.
On the other hand, the Redmi 13 5G can only record at 1080p at 30fps from both the front and rear cameras due to chipset limitations, and it lacks EIS support in video.
So, while the Redmi 13 5G might excel in still photography, the CMF Phone 1 offers superior video performance.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: Miscellaneous
Now, let’s cover some miscellaneous aspects of both devices. The CMF Phone 1 comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor, while the Redmi 13 5G opts for a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. In terms of storage, both devices offer expandable options, with the Redmi 13 5G supporting up to 1 TB and the CMF Phone 1 going up to 2 TB.
When it comes to durability, the Redmi 13 5G features Gorilla Glass 3 for display protection, whereas the CMF Phone 1 does not specify its glass protection.
Both devices are equipped with a single microphone. However, the Redmi 13 5G includes an IR blaster, a handy feature for controlling appliances, which the CMF Phone 1 lacks.
Redmi 13 5G vs. CMF Phone 1: At a Glance
| Redmi 13 5G | CMF Phone 1 | |
| Display | 6.79-inch LCD, adaptive 120 Hz, 550 Nits peak brightness | 6.67-inch Super AMOLED LTPS, 60-120 Hz, HDR, 2000 Nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE, 2x 2.3 GHz A78 + 6x 1.95 GHz A55, TSMC 4 nm | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G, 4x 2.5 GHz A78 + 4x 2.0 GHz A55, TSMC 4 nm |
| RAM | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128 GB UFS 2.2, expandable up to 1 TB | 128 GB UFS 2.2, expandable up to 2 TB |
| Rear Cameras | 108 MP main (1/1.67” Samsung HM6), 2 MP macro | 50 MP main (1/1.95” Sony IMX882), 2 MP depth |
| Front Camera | 13 MP (f/2.45) | 16 MP |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps (both front and rear), no EIS | 4K@30fps (rear), 1080p@30fps (front), EIS |
| Battery | 5,030 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 33W fast charging, charger included | 33W fast charging, charger not included (₹799 extra) |
| Software | HyperOS 1.0 (Android 14), 2 OS updates, 4 years security updates | Nothing OS 2.6 (Android 14), 2 OS updates, 3 years security updates |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | In-display |
| Build and Design | Glass finish, available in Hawaiian Blue, Black Diamond, Orchid Pink | Modular design, plastic build, customizable with accessories |
| Speaker | Mono speaker | Mono speaker |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| USB Port | Type-C 2.0 | Type-C 2.0 |
| Additional Features | Gorilla Glass 3, IR blaster, IP53 water-resistant | Unspecified glass, no IR blaster, IP52 water-resistant |
Which One Should You Buy?
Now, here comes the question: which one should you buy? The Redmi 13 5G will cost you ₹14,000 for the 6/128 GB variant. But if you can spend ₹2,000 extra on the CMF Phone 1, you get a much better display, a much better processor, a cleaner software experience, and an intriguing design.
If you are considering other options, you might look at the iQOO Z9 for around ₹18,000 or the Vivo T3. For something more premium-looking, the realme Narzo 70 Pro can also be considered. Which one is your choice? Let us know in the comments section below.
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