It’s not every day we see a special edition smartphone from Xiaomi India. But when the brand decides to surprise customers in one of its biggest markets in the world, it ensures that it’s grand on a World Cup level.
The company has launched the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ “World Champions Edition” that dons the blue stripes of the Argentinian football team. The back highlights the number 10 prominently, which belonged to Argentinian football legends, including Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
The message with the exclusive Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is loud and clear: it’s a champion-focused edition from a brand that’s been championing the Indian smartphone market for the past ten years. It retains the specs of the original Redmi Note 13 Pro+ launched early this year.
Does it matter? Not really, as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is an impressive device on many fronts, and you can read more in our original review. The exclusive edition is an extension of the original for dedicated fans. Let’s see what makes the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions Edition special.
Table of Contents
Box contents
Because it’s a limited edition smartphone, Xiaomi is offering a custom box for a special unboxing experience. The box includes all the essentials but in a different avatar.
Firstly, the 120W charger dons the same blue colour as the smartphone with the text AFA (Argentine Football Association) – the governing body of football in Argentina. The charger and the smartphone have three stars and distinct years (1978, 1986, 2022) in gold to commemorate the years Argentina won the football World Cup. The box even includes a tiny poster of the 2022 World Cup-winning team, led by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and their captain, Messi.
Other things include a football-inspired SIM ejector tool, a blue charging cable, and a black silicone case.
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champion edition design and features
Xiaomi has decided to use a glass-like smooth finish for the special edition, unlike the vegan back on Redmi Note 13 Pro+’s Fusion Purple variant. Anybody who is an Argentina Football team supporter, particularly Messi or Maradona fan, would appreciate the number 10 inscription on the back. You will also notice the AFA logo next to the silver Redmi logo.
Overall, the in-hand feel of the smartphone is the same as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The curved display and the smooth finish of the back offer a premium feeling. The blue frame and gold rims around the triple camera also look pretty good, and even better if you’re a fan.
The smartphone also ships with a custom theme out of the box. The lock screen includes a still of Argentinian players, like Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo De Paul, and 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove winner Emiliano Martinez. The home screen bears the AFA logo. Most app icons are in blue to align with the overall AFA theme. There’s an option to change the theme as well.
While the smartphone successfully incorporates and celebrates the Argentinian football team theme, Xiaomi could’ve explored incorporating custom ringtones and sounds, which we often see in special edition smartphones. Some pre-installed wallpapers of Messi and other Argentina football players would’ve sweetened the deal.
Key specifications and price
In my review in January this year, I highlighted that the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers cutting-edge features at a competitive price point. These include Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection, an IP68 rating, 6.67-inch 1.5K resolution AMOLED curved display, and up to 512GB of storage. The camera experience and overall performance were reliable, with a 200MP OIS-enabled primary camera and a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC, respectively. The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ also boasts up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage for snappy performance.
All this you can expect from the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions editions as well, at the same price tag of Rs 34,999. The exclusive edition only ships with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.
However, the catch is that the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Champions Edition is still awaiting a software update. Currently, it ships with Android 13-based MIUI 14, though it’s promised to receive HyperOS soon. The HyperOS, which I reviewed on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, also requires some upgrades, as it’s just the early iteration. While MIUI 14 offers some nifty features (reading mode, floating windows), an upgrade, especially when Android 15 is around the corner, is imperative.
Verdict
Special edition smartphones can often be overpowering and overwhelming in terms of design, but that’s the nature of being a hardcore fan. For those Messi fans in India, and I am guessing it’s a sizable amount, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ World Champions edition will feel special, as it celebrates Argentina and particularly their captain’s most important moment in football.
While the exclusive edition does not offer a spec bump, the unboxing experience is truly worthwhile. If a special edition phone doesn’t matter too much, the original Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has many strengths and is worth considering in that price range.
