{"id":60543,"date":"2023-12-22T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T02:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/?p=60543"},"modified":"2024-05-20T10:09:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T02:09:38","slug":"redmi-13c-as-the-must-consider-affordable-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/2023\/12\/22\/redmi-13c-as-the-must-consider-affordable-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"Redmi 13C as the must-consider affordable smartphone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Answer this quickly: Recommend an affordable smartphone that 1) does not look cheap, and 2) actually has good \u2013 even if not flagship \u2013 features. I, for one, am certain that, even though the smartphone market is oversaturated, you\u2019d still have a hard time naming any specific model.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then here comes Xiaomi\u2019s year-ending offering, the Redmi 13C, and suddenly\u2026 there\u2019s a unit worth checking out for satisfying the aforementioned requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIRST IMPRESSIONS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To start, it must be emphasized that Redmi 13C is sold from PhP4,999 (for the 4GB RAM + 128GB ROM version exclusively available from Shopee and Lazada), to PhP6,499 (for the 8GB + 256GB version). In between these two variants is the 6GB + 128GB that sells for PhP5,499.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordable comes to mind, yes, as you open a white with red box that contains: the Redmi 13C itself, SIM card ejector, cell phone charger and adapter, quick start guide + warranty card, and safety info (which, to be honest, you wish used bigger font to be readable). The glaring deficiency, for me, is the absence of earphones, which is a must-have considering the phone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In any case, the unit itself is\u2026 surprisingly better-than-okay looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redmi 13C measures 168 mm x 78 mm x 8.09 mm; meaning, you, basically, get a 6.74″ unit, bearing a MediaTek Helio G85 processor. Weighing 192 g, this truly light unit comes in Midnight Black (basically black, yes), Navy Blue, Clover Green, and Glacier White.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of the phone, you get the earlier-mentioned 3.5 mm headphone jack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the right side, there\u2019s the power button\/side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and the volume button. BTW, though the phone has fingerprint unlock, it actually also has face unlock (you\u2019d see these choices while setting up).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the left side: you get the dual SIM and microSD slot. The storage is expandable up to 1TB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And at the bottom: you have the mono speaker, mike, and the USB-C port.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Camera-wise, you get: the teardrop 8MP front camera; and at the back, the 50MP main rear camera, and the 2MP macro camera. Both the front and rear cameras can record full HD 1080P videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redmi 13C has a non-removable 5000 mAh battery, with 18-watt Power Delivery charging using a USB Type-C charger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True, Redmi 13C\u2019s overall aesthetic doesn\u2019t scream groundbreaking \u2013 e.g. the teardrop notch housing the front camera). But considering the asking price\/s, this should be expected, it has to be said. Besides, even out of the box, this smartphone has must-mention features \u2013 e.g. the matte finish that limits smudges while providing a comfy grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PERFORMANCE IN FOCUS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After turning on the unit, the initial setting up took around 3 minutes and 30 seconds (e.g. selecting language, entry of email account, et cetera<\/em>). But as soon as the smartphone is turned on, the first thing that strikes you is 6.74-inch IPS LCD screen dominating the front panel, which is as big as many flagship units out there. It has to be said, however, that this doesn\u2019t feel \u201cbig\u201d or \u201cheavy\u201d, thanks to its 192 g weight, and \u2013 it is worth mentioning \u2013 the 0.68mm reduction in thickness when compared to the previous generation, so that it now only measures 8.09mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, too, the bezels have been minimized for more screen real estate. At the bottom of the screen, however, it\u2019s still quite apparent, even if this doesn\u2019t obstruct the viewing experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xiaomi\u2019s PR mats stated that Redmi 13C has a 90Hz refresh rate to allow its users \u201csilky-smooth viewing and interactions\u201d, and for viewing comfort, is equipped with eye protection such as LCD display with DC dimming. The unit also reportedly received dual professional eye care certifications from T\u00dcV, including Low Blue. Now what do these really mean sans the PR talk? Well, with 720 x 1600 pixel resolution at 20:9 ratio and 260 ppi density, there\u2019s no pixelation here. Instead, you get a crisp screen viewing experience that \u2013 I\u2019d say thanks to the MediaTek Helio G85 octa-core processor, and yeah, the 90Hz refresh rate \u2013 doesn\u2019t stall or lag or whatever. This makes Redmi 13C more than suitable for general smartphone use.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This one\u2019s worth mentioning, though: Out of the box, Redmi 13C comes with bloatware, including Netflix; Lazada, Shopee and Amazon Shopping; FB; TikTok; and those games that you may not be into. Fortunately, you can trash them though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Software-wise, Redmi 13C uses MIUI 14.0.2, which is based on Android 13. This means that there\u2019s a short learning curve; use of the phone is easy since it actually feels familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key points to consider regarding Redmi 13C\u2019s performance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Deciding to do a movie marathon of loud-colored flicks (e.g. Tim Burton\u2019s Alice in Wonderland<\/em>, Chzhan Imou’s Hero<\/em>), the display wasn\u2019t bad at all, with the details accurate and vivid. Watching outdoors particularly on a sunny day can cause issues, but this still suffices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. I opened multiple windows (e.g. WordPress account of UpgradeMag.com, YouTube, Gmail, Yahoo!) at the same time, and\u2026 it actually surprised me that Redmi 13C didn\u2019t choke. Slight warming was noticed, however, even if it wasn\u2019t at all disturbing or work-interrupting. Meaning, yes, multitasking is possible somehow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. For gaming, casual\u2019s fine with Redmi 13C (e.g. word games, puzzles, Candy Crush), though moderate to heavy gaming (e.g. Genshin Impact) posed some challenge (e.g. frame drops, albeit occasional). Just remember that this isn\u2019t a gaming powerhouse, and so \u2013 knowing the limitations \u2013 Redmi 13C could still be fun on gaming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. With 5000mAh battery, Redmi 13C lasts over 24 hours on a single charge. It helps that if you are a battery-heavy user, this smartphone supports 18W fast charging, so that a full charge can be achieved in under two hours. This leaves you more time to actually use the unit, instead of spending too much time leaving it while charging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Nope, this isn\u2019t a 5G unit (though there\u2019s a 5G model available), but uses GSM, WCDMA and LTE for connectivity. I\u2019d have issues with this IF traveling overseas particularly in countries that are more advanced tech-wise; but locally, with many areas still not 5G enabled, the available connectivity is sufficient.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    ALL ABOUT THE CAMERAS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Many more affordable phones tend to sacrifice the front camera, but Redmi 13C\u2019s 8MP front camera is actually more than enough for use both for selfies, or when Zooming or video chatting. Equipped with a soft-light ring, the images are illuminated, which is particularly helpful when in darker locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the back is a triple-camera setup consisting of: the main camera (50MP), macro camera (2MP), and auxiliary camera (0.8MP). I took cityscape pictures along Taft Avenue in the City of Manila, focusing on the grimy aspects of edifices, and some things were noticeable, e.g.:<\/p>\n\n\n\n