New Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G: Stylish Design Meets Affordable 5G, but Lacks in Key Performance Areas

The Redmi 13C from Xiaomi is designed to provide a robust 5G experience along with an appealing design and solid battery performance. Its large screen enhances the experience for media consumption as well. The aesthetics of the phone are not just visually pleasing; it is also resistant to dust and splashes. This makes the Redmi 13C 5G an ideal entry-level smartphone for those transitioning from basic phones focused on battery longevity, or for individuals making their first smartphone purchase after years of utilizing feature phones. With these factors in consideration, let’s explore whether the Redmi 13C 5G meets the essential needs of such users.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Price in India

The Redmi 13C 5G is priced starting at Rs. 10,499 in India. For this price, you receive 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is essentially entry-level hardware to ensure the software functions smoothly. It’s noteworthy that the device includes 128GB of storage, which should adequately satisfy most smartphone users’ app needs at this price tier. Additionally, a more future-ready option with 6GB RAM is available, priced at Rs. 11,999.

Among the three options, the 6GB RAM variant stands out in terms of value, as it allows for better multitasking and app retention. Finally, there’s also an 8GB RAM version with 256GB of storage available for Rs. 13,999. While this price is reasonable, competitors such as Samsung offer compelling alternatives.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Design

The design of the Redmi 13C 5G is sleek, featuring clean lines and flat edges. Its rear and frame are constructed from polycarbonate, giving it a sturdy feel despite being plastic.

Equipped with a 6.74-inch display, it includes a water drop-notch at the upper part for the front-facing camera. Although its overall design is modern, the notch might seem outdated once the screen is activated.

The rear of the Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G appears mint green from a distance

 

While many higher-end smartphones provide expansive displays, they typically feature slim black bezels. The Redmi 13C 5G, as a budget offering, does not incorporate such design elements, resulting in a bulkier feel that can be cumbersome to operate one-handed. Its weight at 192 grams is also relatively hefty; however, this is standard for its size.

I tend to favor subdued designs as opposed to flashy rear finishes, yet the Startrail Green option (similar to the Startrail Silver) has a nice understated quality. It gives the back panel a dynamic look with delicate lines that shimmer when exposed to light at various angles. In normal lighting, it presents as a flat, solid green. If animated rear designs aren’t your taste, Starlight Black presents a more muted alternative.

Under bright light, subtle running lines become visible across the device

 

This minimalistic design affords some protection against splashes and dust, although Xiaomi does not officially endorse these specifications on their website. Thus, I advise against submerging this phone in water or using it in rainy conditions.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Specifications and Software

Powering the Redmi 13C 5G is a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, commonly found in slightly pricier budget smartphones. This chipset isn’t tailored for high-performance tasks; rather it is efficient for daily app usage and provides reliable 5G connectivity. Furthermore, it supports a variety of 5G bands (both NSA and SA) and dual-band Wi-Fi for effective home internet access, along with Bluetooth 5.3 for connecting to TWS earbuds or other devices. GPS functionality is standard, so mapping applications will operate without issues. The device houses a 5,000mAh battery and comes with a 10W charger included. Additionally, it supports microSD expansion up to 1TB for users needing additional storage. Finally, there’s a fingerprint sensor for secure access, which performed reliably throughout the review process.

The Redmi 13C 5G comes pre-loaded with a variety of third-party applications and games

 

A significant drawback, even at this price range, is the overwhelming number of pre-installed apps. There are several duplicates—two web browsers (Chrome + Opera), two gallery apps (Gallery + Photos), and two file managers (File Manager + Google Files), among others. While these can be uninstalled to declutter, it may be confusing for first-time smartphone users. Also, numerous annoying notifications from apps like GetApp, Game Center, and the Theme Store could detract from the overall software experience.

This phone runs on MIUI 14, based on Android 13. Despite being a budget device in 2024, the software feels somewhat dated. The UI reflects the typical MIUI style, which hasn’t aged well, although the upcoming HyperOS update is expected to enhance the experience.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Performance

In terms of performance, our experience with the 8GB RAM + 256GB variant was smooth without any noticeable lags. Applications remained in memory adequately, but we couldn’t evaluate the 4GB base variant during the review.

The display, measuring 6.74 inches and offering HD+ LCD quality, is not the sharpest in its category. While it performed sufficiently well with the Standard color scheme, I noticed a yellow tint at the lower half of the screen’s display indoors.

The Redmi 13C 5G’s display features a water drop notch and thick bezels around the screen

 

As an LCD screen, it lacks the ability to produce the deep blacks seen in AMOLED displays, which may lead to difficulty viewing darker scenes. Interestingly, competitors like the Samsung Galaxy M34 5G provide AMOLED displays at a similar price.

While the Redmi 13C 5G’s display is sufficiently bright in indoor environments, it struggles outdoors, especially under direct sunlight, resulting in a dim appearance and somewhat washed-out colors. For those who primarily utilize their phones outdoors, this might not be the ideal choice.

The 90Hz refresh rate contributes to smoother software animations and transitions, but it does not enhance performance in other respects, as most games operate at medium graphics settings. In contrast, video playback is capped at 60Hz without dropping to 30Hz.

I was pleased to discover Widevine L1 support, allowing for Full HD streaming quality, resulting in sharp and clear visuals. Nevertheless, the single speaker, while clear, lacks volume, often requiring maximum settings, which introduces distortion.

The bottom-firing speaker of the Redmi 13C 5G lacks sufficient volume for hands-free viewing

 

Battery life is commendable, thanks to the efficient processor, HD+ screen, and sizable battery, lasting over a day and a half. With casual usage, it could potentially stretch to two days. Although Xiaomi offers 18W charging, the included 10W charger is notably slow; it only achieves a 21 percent charge within 30 minutes, 40 percent in an hour, and requires 2 hours and 37 minutes for a full charge. Hence, purchasing the optional 18W charger would be advisable if you opt for this device.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Cameras

Images taken with the 50-megapixel primary camera in bright conditions do not exhibit much detail or sharpness, giving a soft look to scenes. The HDR functionality fails to balance highlights and shadows effectively, resulting in visible clipping in bright areas of photos.

The phone features two rear cameras, but only one is user-accessible

 

Utilizing 2X digital zoom exacerbates the issue, resulting in images that appear overly painted. Selfies taken with the 5-megapixel camera are mediocre, and the Portrait mode struggles with edge detection. Low-light photos, including those taken with the Night mode, are often inadequate.

Here’s a 2X digital zoom crop from the main camera (tap image to enlarge)

 

The second camera is solely utilized for depth perception in Portrait mode, but it does not perform well in edge detection either. Essentially, regardless of having dual cameras and a selfie camera, only one rear camera and one front camera are effectively usable.

Sample shots from the Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G: Top: Daytime photo from the primary camera, bottom: Low-light capture from the main camera (tap images to view larger)

 

Video recording maxes out at 1080p 30fps, yielding average quality with decent dynamic range and vivid colors. However, the detail level is low, the frame rate is unstable, and there is no stabilization, leading to shaky footage during panning.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Verdict

Xiaomi has undoubtedly made some sacrifices with the Redmi 13C 5G to provide 5G connectivity (often dubbed the “5G tax”) at a sub-Rs. 11,000 price point. This includes an excessively loaded and spammy software interface, disappointing camera quality (even for a budget device), and very slow charging.

Nonetheless, it does check several boxes in terms of aesthetics, media streaming (sharp visuals), battery longevity, and a smooth (albeit outdated) software experience. However, recommending it is challenging since devices like the Motorola Moto G34 offer a better experience with a smoother display, cleaner software interface (upgraded to Android 14), stereo sound, and faster charging, notwithstanding its average camera performance.

If you’re in search of more value and are willing to spend Rs. 13,999, the Samsung Galaxy M34 5G stands out as a substantial contender. It features a significantly enhanced high-resolution full-HD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, more current software with OneUI 6.0 (Android 14), superior camera capabilities, and a robust 6,000mAh battery.

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