Xiaomi Redmi 14C 5G Review: Features, Price, and Performance

Xiaomi Redmi 14C 5G:

Network Technology:

• GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch:

• Announced: January 6, 2025
• Released: January 10, 2025
• Status: Available

Body:

• Dimensions: 171.9 x 77.8 x 8.2 mm (6.77 x 3.06 x 0.32 in)
• Weight: 205 g or 212 g (7.23 oz)
• Build: Glass front, plastic frame
• SIM: Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
• Splash and dust resistant

Display:

• Type: IPS LCD, 120Hz, 450 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)
• Size: 6.88 inches (~112.4 cm², ~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution: 720 x 1640 pixels (~260 ppi density)

Platform:

• OS: Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, HyperOS
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm)
• CPU: Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
• GPU: Adreno 613

Memory:

• Card Slot: microSDXC (dedicated slot)
• Internal Storage:
  • 64GB 4GB RAM
  • 128GB 4GB RAM
  • 128GB 6GB RAM
• UFS 2.2

Main Camera:

• Single: 50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
• Features: LED flash, HDR
• Video: 1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera:

• Single: 8 MP
• Video: 1080p@30fps

Sound:

• Loudspeaker: Yes
• 3.5mm Jack: Yes

Comms:

• WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
• NFC: No
• Radio: Unspecified
• USB: USB Type-C 2.0

Features:

• Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass, virtual proximity sensing

Battery:

• Type: 5160 mAh
• Charging: 18W wired, PD

Miscellaneous:

• Colors: Stardust Purple, Starlight Blue, Stargaze Black
• Price: ₹9,999

The Xiaomi Redmi 14C 5G is a mid-range smartphone that offers solid performance, great user experience and 5G connectivity at an affordable price. Part of Xiaomi's popular Redmi series, the 14C 5G is designed for users who want the latest features, smooth performance and 5G benefits without paying a premium price. In this review, we examine the design, performance, display, camera system, battery life, software and overall value proposition.

Design and Finish :

The Redmi 14C 5G has a simple yet functional design approach typical of the Redmi series. The phone features a plastic back, which helps keep the cost down while still making for a relatively lightweight and durable device. The back has a matte finish that resists fingerprints, but smudges may be visible in some lighting conditions. The frame is also made of plastic, which feels good in the hand but doesn't feel as premium as a glass or metal phone. Still, the phone feels sturdy enough for everyday use.

The front of the device houses a 6.6-inch display with a small notch at the top that houses the front-facing camera. The bezels around the display are very narrow, giving the phone a modern look. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is conveniently integrated into the power button for quick and reliable unlocking. Overall, the design isn't groundbreaking, but it's clean and functional, meeting the expectations you'd expect from a mid-range phone.

Screen :

The Redmi 14C 5G's 6.6-inch IPS LCD display offers a resolution of 2408 x 1080 pixels, delivering a Full HD+ experience. While this isn't the highest-quality screen on the market, it's a display with good clarity and vibrant colors for everyday use. Brightness levels are adequate both indoors and outdoors, although visibility can be an issue in direct sunlight, as is common with LCD screens at this price point. One notable feature of the display is the 90Hz refresh rate, which offers a smoother experience compared to the standard 60Hz found on many budget devices. This improvement is especially noticeable when scrolling through social media feeds or navigating the user interface, making the interaction feel smoother. While not the super smooth 120Hz found on premium models, the 90Hz refresh rate is a nice feature that improves the overall user experience.

Performance :

Inside the Redmi 14C 5G is the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, designed for mid-range smartphones. This chipset delivers 5G connectivity, making the phone future-proof in terms of mobile data speeds. Paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM (depending on the model), the Redmi 14C 5G can easily handle common tasks like web browsing, social media, and light multitasking. Apps open quickly and switching between tasks is responsive.

For gaming, the Dimensity 700 offers decent performance, handling titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile at smooth frame rates at medium settings. However, this phone is not for avid mobile gamers, as it may not be able to handle graphically demanding games or high performance requirements. However, for casual gamers, the 14C 5G offers enough performance to enjoy most mobile games without too much fuss. Storage options on the Redmi 14C 5G include 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which should be enough for the average user. Additionally, the device supports microSD card expansion, so you can add more storage if needed. The inclusion of 5G connectivity is a big plus for users looking for faster mobile data speeds, making the device more future-proof than phones that only support 4G.

Camera system :

The Redmi 14C 5G has a dual camera setup on the back. The main camera is a 50MP sensor, making it a great choice for a mid-range device. In good lighting conditions, the camera can take clear, detailed images with decent color accuracy. However, in low light, performance is less impressive, as images tend to lose detail and become noisy.

The second camera is a 2MP depth sensor, which helps with portrait photography by providing a background blur effect, but doesn't significantly improve the quality of the shot. The phone's AI algorithms try to optimize the shot, but they're not up to the level of more expensive models when it comes to image processing.

For selfies, the 5MP front camera is good enough for occasional photoshoots and video calls. It produces good results in bright lighting, but can struggle a bit in low light, producing grainy, less detailed images.

Overall, the Redmi 14C 5G's camera system is fine for basic photography, but users who value premium photography features will not be satisfied. It's best suited for casual photography, such as snapshots and social media posts.

Battery Life :

The Redmi 14C 5G is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which is becoming standard on many mid-range smartphones. This large battery should get the phone through a day of moderate usage, including web browsing, social media, video streaming, and light gaming.

Battery life may decrease a little with intensive use, but it's still durable enough.

The device supports 18W fast charging, which means you can top up the battery relatively quickly. It's not as fast as the super fast charging found on some flagship models, but it's more than enough for a phone in this price range. Typically, it takes about 30 minutes to charge the phone from 0 to 50%, which is convenient for fast charging throughout the day.

Software :

The Redmi 14C 5G runs on MIUI 14, Xiaomi's custom Android skin based on Android 12. MIUI is known for offering a lot of features and customization options, such as theme personalization, gesture navigation, and a wide selection of keyboard shortcuts. However, it comes with pre-installed apps (often called bloatware) that some users may find unnecessary. Luckily, most of them can be uninstalled or disabled. MIUI generally offers a smooth experience, but can feel a bit choppy at times, especially when using the device for extended periods of time. Nevertheless, it is feature-rich and offers many tools to optimize and customize the user interface.

Conclusion :

The Xiaomi Redmi 14C 5G is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that offers 5G connectivity, decent performance, and long battery life at an affordable price. The 90Hz refresh rate display is a standout feature at this price point, and the 50MP main camera works well in bright lighting conditions.