Xiaomi Redmi 13C Review: Budget Phone Falls by The Wayside

For probably the most half, Xiaomi’s Redmi vary of barely cheaper telephones makes an excellent impression. However for the Redmi 13C, it’s much more blended.

It’s a very low-cost mannequin, costing simply £129 at full value, making it probably the most inexpensive telephones I’ve examined all 12 months. There’s additionally a extra high-end Redmi 13 5G in some markets, but it surely’s not out there within the UK.

Listed below are my ideas after testing the telephone.

Missing energy, however a giant display

if there’s one factor the Redmi 13C lacks, it’s computing energy. Launching apps, scrolling by means of net pages and switching between lively apps could be very gradual at occasions.

Above all, the graphics efficiency is weak, a lot in order that it even appears to have an effect on some 2D purposes, the place animations and refresh charges undergo. So regardless that you solely get a 720p display to run, it’s not one thing you need to play video games on.

The display is massive in dimensions, a whopping 6.74 inches, so there’s a touch of pixelation once I take a look at it up shut. The display is simply reasonably vibrant, has a average color gamut and there are clear shifts in white level and distinction at small deviations in viewing angle.

The 90 Hz refresh price is welcome, although. It provides a greater move to the picture – when the efficiency retains up, that’s.

Mattias Inghe

Mattias Inghe

Mattias Inghe

With vast bezels, the scale of the cell phone aren’t very best, both.

A well-built, flat plastic body matt plastic on the again give a stable impression, however it’s each an angular and comparatively heavy handset, which signifies that consolation suffers. Most individuals might want to change to a two-handed grip to deal with display navigation.

Along with the all-black mannequin I examined, the Redmi 13C can be out there in navy blue or clover inexperienced finishes. The black one I examined is something however ugly, both.

That’s one factor I admire about most fashionable finances telephones: they don’t look low-cost, at the least from a distance.

Triple rear cameras…kind of

There may be three cameras on the again of the Redmi 13C, however you possibly can solely shoot with two of them: the 50Mp foremost lens and a 2Mp macro.

I captured passably sharp and well-balanced footage in full daylight. Not excellent, however respectable contemplating the worth.

Nonetheless, in low-light environments, the outcomes are questionable. There’s no nuance by any means within the darkest areas, whereas pictures develop into noisy and missing intimately.

The third sensor is a depth-of-field assist lens for the principle digital camera, making it simpler to get a shallow depth of area when taking pictures portraits.

This characteristic additionally works effectively general. Given its inexpensive value, you shouldn’t anticipate something superb, but it surely’s definitely not dangerous. Nonetheless, some picture stabilisation for video would’ve been good, whereas the main target and automated flash mode work in surprising methods generally.

Xiaomi’s HyperOS interface that sits on prime of Android 14 is full of options, although it has its personal method to many issues that may take time to get aware of.

You possibly can arrange and personalise most issues, but it surely’s not all the time simple. Xiaomi likes to place in its personal apps as an alternative of or alongside Google’s, and most of them I can do with out.

Mattias Inghe

Mattias Inghe

Mattias Inghe

Rather a lot to maintain observe of

There’s additionally plenty of third-party bloatware right here, together with apps just like the Opera browser. But it surely’s not as a lot because it first seems.

Two folders on the house screens comprise “options” for apps and video games that don’t obtain till the primary time you faucet them. So, it provides a messier impression than the fact.

Sadly, Xiaomi solely guarantees one era replace: to Android 15. Whether or not there’ll be extra after that continues to be unknown.

Battery life is appropriate, however not so good as many of the finest finances telephones. Average efficiency can imply low power consumption, and a decrease decision display that can be not very vibrant ought to have the ability to save power.

Sadly, it’s by no means that long-lasting, with between 8 and 13 hours of use in a day earlier than it’s time to recharge. Even then, you’re restricted to only 18W wired speeds, and there’s no assist for wi-fi charging.

Different small weaknesses of the telephone embody its lack of stereo audio system and comparatively low quantity from the out there speaker.

You additionally solely get Wi-Fi 5, which is now an outdated customary. It’s quick sufficient for many on a regular basis duties, however the additional vary of Wi-Fi 6 or greater would’ve been nice.

Value & Availability

When paying full value within the UK, the Redmi 13C prices £129.

It’s out there straight from Xiaomi and through Amazon within the UK, and there are sometimes reductions. Like all Xiaomi telephones, it’s not out there within the US.

There are additionally no choices to purchase the telephone on contract, so that you’ll should get it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal. See the perfect choices within the UK under.

Must you purchase the Xiaomi Redmi 13C?

Most likely not. The Redmi 13C is reasonable, however too many compromises have been made to achieve its inexpensive value.

As a substitute, go for one of many different choices in our greatest finances telephones information, all of which supply extra in your cash.

Specs

• Android 14 w/ HyperOS 
• 6.74-inch IPS LCD 90Hz show  
• Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85
• 4/6/8GB RAM 
• 128/256GB storage (expandable through Micro-SD)
• 50Mp, f/1.8 foremost digital camera with auxiliary lens
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digital camera   
• 8Mp, f/2.0 front-facing digital camera    
• Mono speaker
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Twin-SIM    
• 4G    
• Wi-Fi 5  
• Bluetooth 5.3
• USB-C 
• 5000mAh battery    
• 18W wired charging    
• 168 x 78 x 8.09mm
• 192g
• Midnight Black, Navy Blue, Clover Inexperienced