Redmi 13C 5G review: interesting idea and decent execution

In a year when most tech products became more pricey, Xiaomi stunned customers with yet another inexpensive 5G smartphone. Its latest Redmi 13C 5G costs just Rs 10,999 (beginning price, 4GB + 128GB), and it even outperformed my Rs 79,900 Apple iPhone 14 Plus (review) in a 5G performance test in limited places. It is also one of the few Android phones in the market with up to 256GB of internal storage, which, believe me, maybe a boon in the long run.

Aside from 5G capability and increased storage capacity, the Redmi 13C 5G is essentially a no-frills gadget. It has a 50MP primary camera, which is solely useful for numbers. Its 6.74-inch display only supports HD+ (1,600 x 720 pixels) resolution and features an archaic waterdrop-style notch. Furthermore, 18W charging is compatible, however, the box only provides a 10W charger.

REDMI 13C 5G KEY FEATURES

Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C 5G deserves credit for helping to bring 5G to the public. It’s also a good alternative for individuals who value battery life and performance. Having said that, you may want to limit your expectations, particularly in terms of cameras and the operating system experience. Notably, the Redmi 13C 5G’s main opponent is its sister, the Redmi 12 5G, which has a more powerful chipset for a slight price premium.

REDMI 13C 5G UNBOXING

The Redmi Note 13 5G retail packaging contains only a USB-C-to-A cable, a 33W powered adapter, and a dark grey protective case. We’re curious why Xiaomi chose to sell its latest models with such black casings instead of transparent ones.

The Note 13 also has a thin protective film added, which works well as a scratch shield but is also a dreadful smudge magnet.

CAMERA

The Redmi 13C 5G comes with a dual camera configuration on the rear. This consists of a 50-megapixel primary camera and a VGA sensor. On the front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The 5-megapixel sensor takes colorful, realistic photos without unduly smoothing the skin. However, it struggles in low-light circumstances, reducing selfie image quality. On the bright side, the front camera performs admirably in portrait mode for a smartphone in this price bracket.

Now we’ll move to the primary camera. The Redmi 13C 5G’s images contain apparent noise. In well-lit areas, it produces extremely saturated photos. As a result, the images appear orangish or pinkish. Furthermore, the photos I took with my phone seemed drab. Despite these constraints, I believe the camera is functional, albeit with space for development.

I liked the portrait mode on this smartphone. Its ability to identify edges and subtly blur the backdrop is extremely excellent considering its budget. Surprisingly, it gets a decent blur depth even without a dedicated depth sensor. However, there are cases where edge detection fails, resulting in blurred edges in a few portrait images. Although this occurs infrequently, it should be acknowledged.

In low-light photography, the Redmi 13C 5G falls short, which is reasonable given its pricing point. It suffers in low-light situations and smoothes images excessively. However, the ‘Night Mode’ is a good solution when there is little light at night. However, be cautious because it tends to experiment with colors and exposure. The same goes with the portrait mode in low light, making it difficult to snap high-quality portraits.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

The Redmi 13C 5G is similar to the Redmi 12 5G, having a flat-edge design and huge cutouts on the back for the rear cameras. The front looks unusual because of a waterdrop-style notch and thick bezels, which should be a thing of the past by 2024. Fortunately, the plastic frame feels robust, and the back has a wonderful glass-like surface. For this review, I received the Startail Green model. The Redmi 13C 5G is available in Startail Black and Silver color variants.

The glittery decorations on the back are not my favorite feature, and I prefer a more simple style. However, after cross-checking the design with various coworkers and family members, their views were generally divided. As a result, I’m sure some of you prefer a more flashy look. Everyone agrees on the Redmi 13C 5G’s sheer size. With a gigantic 6.74-inch display, it dwarfs the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The lack of a protective container in the box can make maintenance difficult.

There is also no infrared transmitter, which was formerly a popular feature on Redmi smartphones. Other common connections and buttons, including as a 3.5mm headphone jack, remain unchanged on the Redmi 13C 5G. A physical fingerprint scanner is built into the side power button. The scanner’s performance can be hit or miss. My review mostly missed the mark. Once the Redmi 13C 5G is unlocked, viewing content on the tall screen is a unique and enjoyable experience. The 6.74-inch display is ideal for reading WhatsApp messages, news, and social networking. The video playback experience may vary depending on the type of user.

For entry-level smartphone consumers, the Redmi 13C 5G’s HD+ display with a refresh rate of 90Hz may suffice. However, Xiaomi could have considered a full HD display for those migrating from earlier devices, of which I predict a significant number. I evaluated the LCD by watching movies and shows on YouTube and Netflix, respectively. Videos on YouTube appeared sharp at high resolution, while Netflix playback required optimization. Naturally, the shadows and black areas aren’t as deep as on an AMOLED panel. The entire viewing experience is likewise subpar, as the Redmi 13C 5G lacks stereo speakers.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The Redmi 13C 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+. This chipset features two performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six efficiency cores clocked at 2.0GHz. In addition, the Redmi 13C 5G has up to 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (we tested the highest variant).

Performance and gameplay go hand in hand, so let’s begin there. I played Call of Duty: Mobile with high graphics settings. It performed nicely on the Redmi 13C 5G and didn’t lag once during our tests. Surprisingly, the smartphone does not overheat when executing performance-oriented tasks like gaming, benchmarking, navigation, and so on.

The Redmi 13C 5G’s operating system is based on Android 13 and features the MIUI 14 skin. And I believe this should be changed not because of faults, but because of the bloatware. The smartphone includes unwanted programs and advertisements. Even the lock screen contains numerous commercial adverts for apps such as games and news. However, it is not something that can be. Furthermore, I conducted some benchmarks on the Redmi 13C 5G, and this is how it compares to its predecessor.

The smartphone did not stutter while running basic apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Google Pay. To summarize, if you require a smartphone for everyday use with 5G connectivity, the Redmi 13C 5G should be on your shortlist.

Buy it if...

• The rear panel is of high quality, with a smooth finish similar to glass.
• 5G speeds on a budget. The Redmi 13C 5G even reached 790Mbps.
• Long battery life per charge.

Don't buy it if…

• Camera performance is average, particularly in low-light circumstances.
• The kit includes a 10W charger, and the charging time can be up to two hours.
• The Redmi 13C comes with several pre-installed applications.

FULL SPECIFICATION