Redmi 13C 5G First Impressions: Plenty of Upgrades!

The much-awaited improve to the Redmi 12C, which was launched simply six months in the past in June this 12 months, has lastly arrived. It’s referred to as the Redmi 13C 5G and surprisingly, Xiaomi has additionally selected retaining a 4G mannequin of the identical, which might be priced decrease. As its product identify clearly implies, the brand new Redmi 13C 5G nonetheless stays an entry-level providing from the model however provides 5G connectivity to the combination. Gadgets 360 completely reported concerning the launch beforehand. 

There can be a brand new design language and {hardware}, some of which appear to imitate the Redmi 12 5G, which is comfortably positioned on the decrease finish of the finances smartphone section. I’ve spent just a few hours with the brand new and improved Redmi 13C 5G, and listed here are my first impressions.

Right off the bat, it is simple to inform that Redmi 13C 5G follows a more recent design philosophy that we have now seen on newer fashions just like the Redmi 12 5G, which was launched in August this 12 months. Gone is the fundamental plastic look and really feel of the Redmi 12C. The 13C 5G continues to be made of polycarbonate for its body and rear display screen however will get a contemporary look with flat sides and a flat rear panel.

This rear panel, though made of plastic, is sort of the looker. It has this distinctive end which Xiaomi calls its Star Trail Design. It reveals two separate patterns, one with operating traces, which appears to maneuver while you tilt the cellphone off-axis. The second is a extra acquainted sparkle or shimmer. These give the cellphone a twin end of kinds. While its color stays the identical, it is good to see Xiaomi get inventive with an entry-level system.

The Redmi 13C 5G has this distinctive Star Trails Design, which seems to maneuver or animate when titled back and forth

Unlike the 12C, which had an IP52 ranking, Xiaomi states that its Redmi 13C 5G is splash-resistant and affords mud safety with out giving it an official IP ranking.

Despite its flat and chiselled look, I did discover the cellphone fairly massive, however that is most likely right down to its 6.71-inch, 1,600 x 720 pixels LCD panel. It’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which is identical as on the Redmi 12 5G. There is a U-shaped show notch on the high and a thick bezel on the backside, which differentiates it nicely from the finances Redmi 12 5G, which has a hole-punch cavity for its selfie digital camera and seems extra premium. The show, too, has gotten an improve, now managing a 90Hz most display screen refresh fee and 180Hz contact sampling fee, which might be helpful to avid gamers.

Despite its look, there’s just one user-accessible digital camera on this system

Inside, there’s an upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, which is a noticeable improve over the Redmi 12C’s dated MediaTek Helio G85 SoC. There are additionally a lot extra RAM choices to select from.

There’s a 4GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, a 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant and even an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, all of which supply 1TB of expandable storage. All of these variants additionally supply as much as 8GB of expandable digital RAM.

As for the cameras, issues seem to stay the identical as earlier than. Xiaomi affords a 50-megapixel main digital camera paired with a depth digital camera (which isn’t accessible by the person). So, that is nonetheless a single-camera expertise. Selfies are dealt with by an 8-megapixel front-facing digital camera.

The micro-USB port from the Redmi 12C has been up to date to a USB-C port on the Redmi 13C 5G

What appeared much less spectacular is Xiaomi’s method to software program for its entry-level smartphones. There’s MIUI 14, which is an effective factor, however it’s primarily based on Android 13. There are a lot of preinstalled third-party apps, and it simply took just a few hours of use to grasp how a lot of a multitude the software program is as I used to be continuously bombarded by spammy notifications from numerous preinstalled apps. There are additionally a number of preinstalled video games together with quite a few third-party apps.

The Redmi 13C 5G will get the identical battery as its predecessor in phrases of capability, which was 5,000mAh. However, Xiaomi has managed to extend the charging speeds from 10W to 18W, which needs to be quite a bit quicker. However, Xiaomi continues to supply a 10W charger within the field. And sure, this additionally means that there is a Type-C port on the backside as a substitute of a micro-USB port on the earlier mannequin.

The U-shaped show notch does make the cellphone seem a bit dated regardless of its in any other case chiselled look

Sure, the Redmi 13C 5G looks like a well-rounded replace. But it is all anticipated to point out up with the next price ticket, which is one thing Xiaomi will reveal within the coming days. Thankfully, it is going to seem justified provided that the precise successor to the Redmi 12C is the Redmi 13C, which is the non-5G variant of the identical system.

At the time of writing, Xiaomi has not offered us with particulars about its normal Redmi 13C (4G) mannequin however did remark that it might have a decrease decision selfie digital camera, amongst different minor modifications, versus the 5G mannequin. So, do keep tuned for our evaluation of the entry-level Redmi 13C 5G to search out out if it is definitely worth the premium over the Redmi 12C or the 13C or whether or not it will get cannibalised by the finances Redmi 12 5G (Review) as a substitute.