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 is known as the Redmi 13C 5G and surprisingly, Xiaomi has additionally selected retaining a 4G mannequin of the identical, which could possibly 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 combo. Devices 360 completely reported in regards to the launch beforehand.
There may be additionally a brand new design language and {hardware}, a few of which appear to imitate the Redmi 12 5G, which is comfortably positioned on the decrease finish of the funds smartphone phase. I’ve spent a number of hours with the brand new and improved Redmi 13C 5G, and listed here are my first impressions.
Proper off the bat, it is easy to inform that Redmi 13C 5G follows a more moderen design philosophy that we have now seen on more moderen 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 remains to be made from polycarbonate for its body and rear display however will get a contemporary look with flat sides and a flat rear panel.
This rear panel, though made from plastic, is sort of the looker. It has this distinctive end which Xiaomi calls its Star Path Design. It exhibits two separate patterns, one with working strains, which appears to maneuver whenever you tilt the telephone off-axis. The second is a extra acquainted sparkle or shimmer. These give the telephone a twin end of kinds. Whereas its color stays the identical, it is good to see Xiaomi get artistic with an entry-level gadget.
The Redmi 13C 5G has this distinctive Star Trails Design, which seems to maneuver or animate when titled backward and forward
In contrast to the 12C, which had an IP52 score, Xiaomi states that its Redmi 13C 5G is splash-resistant and gives mud safety with out giving it an official IP score.
Regardless of its flat and chiselled look, I did discover the telephone fairly giant, however that is in all probability all the way down to its 6.71-inch, 1,600 x 720 pixels LCD panel. It is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which is identical as on the Redmi 12 5G. There’s a U-shaped show notch on the high and a thick bezel on the backside, which differentiates it effectively from the funds 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 refresh price and 180Hz contact sampling price, which could possibly be helpful to avid gamers.
Regardless of its look, there’s just one user-accessible digital camera on this gadget
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 loads extra RAM choices to select from.
There is 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 provide 1TB of expandable storage. All of those 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 gives a 50-megapixel main digital camera paired with a depth digital camera (which isn’t accessible by the consumer). 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 efficient factor, however it’s primarily based on Android 13. There are many preinstalled third-party apps, and it simply took a number of hours of use to grasp how a lot of a large number 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 by way of capability, which was 5,000mAh. Nonetheless, Xiaomi has managed to extend the charging speeds from 10W to 18W, which ought to be so much quicker. Nonetheless, Xiaomi continues to supply a 10W charger within the field. And sure, this additionally means that there is a Kind-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 telephone seem a bit dated regardless of its in any other case chiselled look
Positive, the Redmi 13C 5G looks like a well-rounded replace. However it’s all anticipated to indicate up with a better price ticket, which is one thing Xiaomi will reveal within the coming days. Fortunately, it should seem justified provided that the precise successor to the Redmi 12C is the Redmi 13C, which is the non-5G variant of the identical gadget.
On the time of writing, Xiaomi has not offered us with particulars about its customary Redmi 13C (4G) mannequin however did remark that it could 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 well worth the premium over the Redmi 12C or the 13C or whether or not it will get cannibalised by the funds Redmi 12 5G (Assessment) as a substitute.
