Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Vs. Redmi 12 5G: Which is the Better Budget 5G Phone To Buy?

Xiaomi launches several models every month or so, especially in its budget Redmi series. With the latest addition Redmi 13C 5G, the affordable 5G phone, we decided to compare it with another budget 5G phone from the same brand, the Redmi 12 5G, to explore the areas of difference. Ultimately, if you are confused between the two, this Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G should be able to give you a proper answer that you can rely on.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: Price in India

Coming to the price, the Redmi 13C 5G, the latest addition to the offering, costs INR 10,999/- for the base 4+128 GB. Its mid variant of 6+128 GB retails at INR 12,499/- – while the highest version at 8 + 256 GB sells at INR 14,999/-.

On the other hand, the Redmi 12 5G retails at INR 11,999/- for its base 4+128 GB, the middle is on sale at INR 13,499/- with 6+128 GB configuration and the final 8+ variant 256 GB is on sale at INR 15,499/-. -.

The Redmi 12 5G price is slightly higher as you have to shell out INR 1,000 more than the Redmi 13C 5G.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: design and display

We had to compare the two in terms of design. Redmi 12 5G follows in the footsteps of its predecessors and features a punch-hole cutout paired with thick bezels that wrap around the screen. On the other hand, the Redmi 13C 5G uses a U-shaped notch which sticks out a bit given the aged design and not to mention slightly thicker bezels than the Redmi 12.

Both phones have a sleek design with a glass-like finish on a plastic back. The colors available for the Redmi 12 5G are Moonstone Silver, Pastel Blue and Jade Black, while the Redmi 13C 5G opts for Startrail Green, Black and Silver.

In terms of specifications, the Redmi 12 5G sports a 6.79-inch 90Hz IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1080 × 2460 pixels and a typical peak brightness of 550 nits. On the other hand, the latest Redmi 13C 5G sports a 6.74-inch 90Hz IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels and 600 nits from HBM.

The two displays are distinct in terms of PPI, at 396 and 260 ppi, respectively. This makes the Redmi 12 5G a much better choice if you want to enjoy crystal clear photos and videos where the Redmi 13C 5G had some cutoffs for obvious reasons. I would still give a preference to the Redmi 12 5G over the 13C given the impeccable display and choice of processor to back it up.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: performance

The Xiaomi Redmi 12 5G is powered by Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 while the Redmi 13C 5G sticks to a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, both of which are octa-core chipsets, however, the performance falters here.

For starters, the SD 8 Gen2 uses a 4nm process while the D6100+ uses a 6nm process which ultimately makes the former slightly powerful in many cases. However, both chipsets were announced at the same time, making them almost comparable. On AnTuTu 10, we obtain scores of 426,209 and 414,159 points respectively where the Snapdragon takes over although with a little margin.

On Geekbench 6, Snapdragon scores 927 points in single-core and 2138 points in multi-core. On the other hand, Dimensity scores 735 and 1942 points respectively, where again, the first takes over. The SD4 Gen 2 is made by industry leader TSMC, while the Dimensity 6100+ uses Samsung's foundry that has battled issues on its Exynos series so we can tell the problems. could also spreads across the Dimensity line.

Overall, Snapdragon has the edge in performance and sustained performance, making it a clear winner. Both devices feature UFS 2.21 storage, although Snapdragon takes the lead thanks to its LPDDR5 support instead of LPDDR4X on the Dimensity chipset.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: Camera

In terms of specifications, both devices come in a dual camera setup. The Redmi 13C 5G uses a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor with a focal length of 28mm, the same as the Redmi 12 5G. However, the auxiliary lens of the two is poles apart at 0.08MP and 2MP respectively. However, we've seen a lot of auxiliary sensors and we won't give them any importance given that they only serve an aesthetic purpose. Additionally, the Redmi 12 5G uses a larger 8 MP selfie camera while the 13C 5G chooses a 5 MP selfie shooter.

Well, given that both use the same 50MP sensor, there shouldn't be much difference, even if you think otherwise. Daytime shots are decent, both from the front and rear cameras. Night and low-light photography is grainy, but what else can you expect for a phone under INR 15,000, right?

Both Redmi phones are aimed at casual photography and you could hit the jackpot with the right lighting, such as in the early hours of the morning or before sunset. However, night photography is average and in line with any phone in the same budget segment. You can still get decent photos if there is enough lighting in the scene, such as shooting indoors at night.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: Battery

Battery wise, both feature the same specs, namely a 5,000mAh battery paired with 18W fast charging support. We were able to get through the day without any issues or fear of power outages on the 'device. You can enter Day 2 with the same charge, because 5,000 mAh is a huge size.

Both will take around 2 hours to charge using their full capacity. However, the distinction lies in the charger that comes in the retail box – the Redmi 12 5G comes with a 22.5W charger while the Redmi 13C 5G sticks to a 10W adapter. This means that you will need to buy an 18W charger for 13C 5G if you decide to use it.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: Connectivity Features and Beyond

We had to go all-in and so this takes into account all other features and specifications not mentioned above. It turns out that there is no difference between the two in this context. Both feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual-band AC Wi-Fi, GPS, USB-C 2.0, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and virtual proximity detection. The Redmi 12 5G has an additional IR port, but that's it.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G vs Redmi 12 5G: Verdict

Finally, we come to the end of our comparison between the two budget 5G phones – Redmi 13C 5G and Redmi 12 5G. Overall, the latter, aka the Redmi 12 5G, is a worthwhile purchase considering it's powered by a Snapdragon processor in addition to faster RAM, a better display with a small punch-hole notch and supplied with a 22.5 W charging adapter instead of 10W (on Redmi 13C 5G).

Additionally, the Redmi 12 5G costs just INR 1,000 more than the Redmi 13C 5G, meaning it is affordable for the general public. However, if you don't want to shell out that big premium and can instead compromise with a lower quality screen, an additional purchase for a charging adapter, and a comparatively less powerful chipset, be our guest and choose the Redmi 13C instead 5G.

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