Redmi started the year on a high when it launched the Note 13 series in India. In our review, we found the most expensive model in the series, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, with a large screen, a long battery life and an amazing design. Now, just four months after the launch, the smartphone maker has introduced a new variant of the phone – a special edition in collaboration with the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions Edition focuses on Argentina winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It includes a unique back panel, charging adapter and commemorative posters presented in a box with Argentina soccer stars Angel Di Maria, Emiliano Martínez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions Edition box
Special edition smartphones are a rare treat for Indian buyers. While other countries have tons of unique designs featuring popular TV shows, movies, sporting events and more, these are not as common in India. Recently, we've only seen the House of Dragon Edition of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro in 2022, the Genshin Impact Edition of the OnePlus 12R in 2023, and the Reserve Edition of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in 2024.
Due to their rarity, these smartphones also serve as unique collector's items for users, especially if they are fans of the partnering brand or event. Take me, for example. After using both Redmi Note 4 and Redmi Note 8 Pro, I already have a synergy with the series and the brand. But being a soccer fan and rooting for Argentina during the 2022 World Cup, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ becomes not only a phone, but also a piece of memorabilia.
However, it is important to make special editions because these phones are not intended for casual buyers but for die-hard fans of the collaborating brand. My concern for this review was only one: has Redmi done justice to one of the biggest moments in the history of my favorite football team?
Box and accessories Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ comes in a large box painted with the Argentinian blue and white stripes. It features the aforementioned three stars, an AFA logo and a badge highlighting Xiaomi India's 10th anniversary, which it celebrates this year. Opening the box reveals a large commemorative poster. In giant gold letters, the Redmi logo, birthday text and the Argentina logo can be seen in the background of an image of the team lifting the World Cup trophy.
On the back, you have another poster of the team at the top, the finals line-up and the team's historic achievements mentioned at the bottom. Even the bottom of the cardboard box features a football field. However, the company has not included any stickers for those who need it. This is a small oversight, but it could have meant a lot to die-hard fans.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions Edition
Apart from the smartphone, the box contains a customized 120W charging adapter with the same blue and white stripes, the AFA logo and a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable in a sky blue shade. Attention to detail has also been paid to the SIM eject tool, which has a football engraved on one side and AFA on the other. A standard black rubber case is also included, which may be redundant for those buying the phone due to its unique design.
Overall, Redmi's offerings in the box came across as a cohesive unit, with attention to detail given to each item. You don't just get a custom smartphone, you get a whole set to match!
But I have a concern. It might be complicated, but to me, the timing felt a little off with this special edition. The World Cup finals took place in December 2022. It has been almost a year and a half since then. Interestingly, the smartphone was launched two months before Argentina played their first Copa América match. Explaining the team's World Cup victory so late when its buzz has died down seems like an odd choice. However, I'm sure die-hard fans will appreciate that it has happened, even after a delay.
Design and screen of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G is the centerpiece of the company's offering. The basic design of the smartphone remains the same as the regular variant, and you can read more about it in our review. However, the rear panel has received a serious makeover. Unlike the Fusion Purple colorway with a vegan leather back, the special edition has a smooth metallic finish. Separated into two themes, the top half has a matte blue finish with Redmi and the AFA logo in muted gold colors. The camera lenses have also ditched their usual silver bezel on the left side for a muted gold finish.
The lower half of the back features the stripes of the AFA shirt worn by the Argentine players during the tournament. In the center, a large number '10' represents both the company's 10th anniversary in India and the iconic shirt number of team captain Leonel Messi. At the bottom, you get a special text for Argentina's World Cup win. On the side, the volume rockers and power button also feature the same matte blue finish.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ screen
The customization doesn't end there, though. Once you unlock the 6.67-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, you'll find two unique wallpapers. One shows the three football stars seen on the box of the device and another shows a football pitch with the AFA logo over it.
The app icons also appear in minimalist designs in white and blue, matching the theme. If you're not a fan, you can easily change it back to the regular icons in settings. Notably, there is no special loading animation.
Overall, I found the phone's design to be distinguished enough to steal a glance from time to time, but not tacky enough that I'd feel silly pulling it out in public. Balance is important for any special edition phone, as it's likely to be the primary device for many; Redmi has struck the right balance here.
The rest of the smartphone is the same as the standard variant and if you want to know more, you can check out our detailed [review](https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/reviews/redmi-note-13-pro-plus-review-4916214). But to refresh your memory, here are the specifications of the smartphone.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G specifications
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Under the hood, it is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC paired with a single 12GB RAM and 512GB inbuilt storage variant. The smartphone has a triple rear camera unit that includes a 200-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front, it has a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
Additionally, the Note 13 Pro+ has a 5,000mAh battery with 120W charging support and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Initial thoughts on the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G World Champions Edition
At the price of Rs. 34,999 (including an instant discount of Rs 3,000 on ICICI Bank Card payments), the World Champions edition of the smartphone costs the same as the standard variant, which is unusual for special editions.
This means you get all the features and specifications of the smartphone along with all the customization and design features of the special edition at no extra cost. If you're a fan of the Argentina national soccer team, or just a soccer fan in general, there's no real downside to this phone.
At the beginning of this review, we asked whether Redmi has done justice to this issue. In my opinion, the attention to detail, themed accessories, high-quality back panel artwork, and custom icons make for a thoughtful design that fans will likely appreciate.
