Redmi 13C 5G: Redmi 13C 5G: First impressions

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi has launched its latest affordable smartphone series in India. The latest Redmi 13C lineup includes two models — the Redmi 13C and the Redmi 13C 5G. The Redmi 13C succeeds the Redmi 12Csmartphone which was launched earlier in March. The 5G variant of the latest smartphone is available in three different RAM and storage configurations — 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB.The base model is priced at Rs 10,999 while the top model carries a price tag of Rs 14,499.Redmi 13C 5G also comes in three different colour options — Starlight Black, Startrail Green and Startrail Silver. The smartphone is now available for pre-order and will go on sale starting December 12.
We have received the 8GB variant of the Redmi 13C 5G smartphone which comes in the Startrail Silver colour. We have also done initial testing and here are our first impressions about the phone.
Design
The smartphone features a plastic body and a plastic frame which is good enough considering its price. However, the plastic doesn’t affect the look and feel of the smartphone. The lightweight smartphone also offers a nice in-hand feel. The phone’s back panel also has a shimmering design which reflects light. The phone’s size also allowed for one-handed usage. Redmi 13C 5G’s build also seemed sturdy enough to withstand minor bumps. The display panel also comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass layer to protect it from accidental falls.
Display
Redmi 13C’s 6.74-inch Dot Drop display was able to produce vibrant colours and had a good touch response. The 90Hz refresh rate on the panel also offered a smooth experience. The screen also features multiple eye protection technologies to reduce strain. The display also offers up to 600 nits of peak brightness which is good enough for outdoor situations. Both movies and games looked good on the smartphone’s screen.
Camera
The smartphone has a dual rear camera setup which includes a 50MP AI-enabled primary camera and a secondary unit. For selfies and video calls, the Redmi 13C features a 5MP front-facing camera. The performance of both the main and selfie cameras looks satisfactory. The smartphone was able to produce near-real colours and stable videos. Redmi 13C also offers multiple camera modes for night photography, portrait mode and more for various situations. More details about the camera will be revealed in the full review.
Performance
Setting up the phone is quite easy and the overall performance is also satisfactory. The Dimensity 6100+ 5G-enabled chipset backed with 8GB RAM also seemed to do a decent job as we didn’t notice any lag or stutter during the initial testing. The smartphone was able to run apps as well as games smoothly.

The Redmi 13C smartphone runs Android 13-based MIUI 14 skin and the UI design even seems quite user-friendly. Xiaomi’s MIUI skin offered a fluid experience but the smartphone comes with several unwanted pre-installed apps which are also known as bloatware. The 256GB storage of the smartphone is good enough for most users, however, the Redmi 13C also supports a microSD card for users to expand the phone’s storage up to 1TB.
Battery
The smartphone packs a 5000mAh battery which can easily last more than a day with normal usage. Redmi 13C also supports up to 18W fast charging, but the adapter that came inside the box can only deliver 10W. Using the in-box adapter, the phone takes well over two hours to get fully charged.

What we think

Considering the smartphone’s price, it seems to be a good choice in the affordable segment. During our initial testing, the phone offered a decent overall performance. To know more about our experience with the Redmi 13C and make an informed decision before buying the phone, it’s advisable to wait for the full review.