After only six months of launch in June of this year, the eagerly anticipated Redmi 12C update has finally arrived. The Redmi 13C 5G is its name, and curiously, Xiaomi has also chosen to keep a 4G version of the device, which may be less expensive. The new Redmi 13C 5G is still an entry-level device from the brand, as its name makes obvious, but it now has 5G connectivity.The launch was exclusively covered by Gadgets 360 in advance.
Additionally, there is a new hardware and design language, some of which appear to be modeled after the Redmi 12 5G, which is positioned firmly at the bottom end of the low-cost smartphone market. Here are my initial thoughts after using the upgraded Redmi 13C 5G for a few hours.
It is immediately apparent that the Redmi 13C 5G adheres to a more modern design concept than that of more current models, such as the Redmi 12 5G, which was unveiled in August of this year. The Redmi 12C’s basic plastic look and feel are no longer there. Although the 13C 5G’s frame and rear screen are still composed of polycarbonate, it has a more contemporary look thanks to its flat sides and flat
This rear panel, although made of plastic, is quite the looker. It has this unique finish which Xiaomi calls its Star Trail Design. It shows two separate patterns, one with running lines, which seems to move when you tilt the phone off-axis. The second is a more familiar sparkle or shimmer. These give the phone a dual finish of sorts. While its colour remains the same, it’s nice to see Xiaomi get creative with an entry-level device.
Unlike the 12C, which had an IP52 rating, Xiaomi states that its Redmi 13C 5G is splash-resistant and offers dust protection without giving it an official IP rating.
Despite its flat and chiselled appearance, I did find the phone quite large, but that’s probably down to its 6.74-inch, 1,600 x 720 pixels LCD panel. It’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which is the same as on the Redmi 12 5G. There is a U-shaped display notch at the top and a thick bezel at the bottom, which differentiates it well from the budget Redmi 12 5G, which has a hole-punch cavity for its selfie camera and appears more premium. The display, too, has gotten an upgrade, now managing a 90Hz maximum screen refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, which could be useful to gamers.
