itel RS4 vs Redmi 13: Battle of the ₦200,000 phones

How did I come about the inspiration to do a battle of the 200000 naira phones? The answer to that is easy. Two phones in the price mark arrived in the market, in quick succession, and I had to take an upclose look to see which had more to offer.

I love what itel did with the RS4. It is solid value for money and a big step forward for the brand. And when the Redmi 13 arrived and I had a look at the specs, I was sold on it, too. It offers real value for money, just in a different way from how the itel RS4 does.

Because this comparison is based on the ₦200,000 price point, this comparison strictly involves the variant of each device that is sold at that price point. That means we are comparing the itel RS4 8/256GB, which costs ₦201,300, with the Redmi 13 6/128GB, which costs ₦199.600. That is a ₦1,700 difference in price. Very insignificant. They are both 200000 naira phones.

itel RS4 vs Redmi 13: The comparison

Helio G99 has about 30% better performance than Helio G91. Coupled with 8GB RAM, against the Redmi’s 6GB RAM, the itel RS4 is clearly the more capable performer in terms of smooth operation. Note, though, that the Redmi 13 launched with Android 14 while the RS4 runs v13.

Looking at the screens, the Redmi 13 has a bigger screen, higher resolution, and Gorilla Glass protection. That makes it a much better display than that of the RS4 which is limited to 720P resolution and no protection. While the latter has 120Hz refresh rate, overall, it is a less capable display than what exists on the Redmi. As a matter of fact, the lower resolution of the RS4’s display is the one big sore point of that phone for me.

As far as photography is concerned, the Redmi 13 has the better specs on paper. But does it perform better in real life? I am itching to do a camera shootout comparison and finding out. But I shall express my suspicion towards the end of this article.

As far as batteries are concerned, the 30 mAh difference in battery capacities of both of these 200000 naira phones is insignificant. I will sure take the itel RS4’s 45W charging over the Redmi’s 33W. Both are decent fast charging standards, but I will always prefer whichever does it faster, all other things being equal. But things are hardly equal here.

For example, the IP53 splash and dust protection of the Redmi 13 is a serious extra that gives it more value when compared to the itel. It also has a more premium build, thanks to the glass back panel.

But then, the RS4 has stereo speakers, while the Redmi 13 is left with a mono speaker. You do know how much I prefer stereo speakers.

My choice

The itel RS4 is optimised for gaming at the entry-level, and it sacrifices some other things to achieve that. The Redmi 13 looks like it is optimised for a premium build and feel at the entry-level, and it sacrifices a different set of features for that. I also suspect that photography will be better on the Redmi. Note that this is a suspicion; I have not compared the cameras yet. So, take it with a pinch of salt for now.

If I had to pick one of these two 200000 naira phones right now, it will be the Redmi 13, and for certain reasons. The biggest reason I choose the Redmi is the better display: I can’t deal with a 720p display like the RS4 has. It has to be at least 1080P, and the Redmi meets that requirement. If the itel’s display were 1080p, it would likely be my choice.

Likely, because there is something about the combination of Gorilla Glass protection on the screen, the glass back, and the water/dust protection of the Redmi 13, that is alluring and seducing, for me. There is that pull. Don’t blame me; I have been spoilt by premium experiences.

But then, I am also not much of a gamer. The itel RS4 beats the Redmi hands down in terms of performance and charging speed. So whether you are a gamer or not, if you want a 200000 naira phone that runs smoother than the competition and that charges really fast, the itel RS4 is it. Over to you. Which of these two 200000 naira phones is your choice?