Buyers might find it challenging to choose between the Redmi 13 5G (review) and the iQOO Z9x (review) in the sub-Rs 15,000 category. Both are performance-focused smartphones, with the Redmi 13 5G starting at Rs 1,000 more than its counterpart. Additionally, the Redmi 13 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE chipset, supported by up to 8GB of RAM. In contrast, the iQOO Z9x features the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC and also comes with up to 8GB of RAM. Here’s a quick comparison of their benchmark tests and gaming performance to help you decide which device is better.
| Smartphone | Redmi 13 5G | iQOO Z9x |
| Processor | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE | Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 619 | Qualcomm Adreno 710 |
| Memory | up to 8GB RAM, 128GB storage | up to 8GB RAM, 128GB storage |
AnTuTu
AnTuTu provides an objective analysis of a smartphone’s CPU and GPU performance: the higher the score, the better the performance. The Redmi 13 5G achieved a score of 4,45,212 on the AnTuTu test, while the iQOO Z9x scored 5,52,168. While in this test, iQOO Z9x has emerged as a clear winner, keep reading to find out if the iQOO smartphone outperforms its counterpart in real-world tasks such as gaming.
Winner: iQOO Z9x
Geekbench
Geekbench scores indicate how quickly a smartphone can complete various tasks, such as opening and closing apps. The iQOO Z9x should perform well with multi-threaded apps, thanks to its higher score of 2,735 on Geekbench’s multi-core test. The Redmi 13 5G should excel for basic apps, given that it achieved a superior score of 952 in the Geekbench single-core test.
Winner: Tie
CPU Throttling
To test the smartphones’ capabilities under intense load, we ran a Burnout test on both. The Redmi 13 5G throttled significantly to 49.2 percent from its peak performance in the test. The iQOO Z9x, in contrast, performed much better, with just a 19 percent drop from its peak performance.
Winner: iQOO Z9x
Gaming
Despite being budget offerings, both smartphones can run graphically demanding titles with identical graphics settings. We played BGMI and Call of Duty for half an hour each on the Redmi 13 5G and the iQOO Z9x. The iQOO smartphone demonstrated better thermal efficiency, with its temperature increasing by approximately 10 degrees, whereas the Redmi 13 5G registered a roughly 17-degree increase after playing both games.
Winner: iQOO Z9x
Verdict
The iQOO Z9x stands out as the superior choice for performance-focused users. The handset consistently outperforms its counterpart across benchmarks and real-world tasks despite the Redmi 13 5G’s better single-core performance. The iQOO smartphone’s higher AnTuTu score, better multi-core performance in Geekbench, and superior CPU throttling results indicate a more robust performance. Additionally, its excellent thermal efficiency during gaming makes it a more reliable option for extended use.
Smartphones tested by: Ujjwal Sharma
