Redmi 14C 5G Review: Budget 5G Done Right?

Updated on 28-Jan-2025
Digit Rating 6.1
Build & Design
6.4
Features & Specifications
6.6
Performance
5.7
Value for Money
6.1
PROS:
  • Stylish design
  • Affordable
  • Decent performance for the price
CONS:
  • Low display brightness
  • Lags under heavy load
  • Scrolling experience not smooth
VERDICT:

The Redmi 14C 5G offers solid value in the budget smartphone segment, priced under Rs 10,000. With a sleek design, a large 6.88-inch display, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, and decent camera performance, it delivers a good experience for everyday tasks. Overall, it strikes a good balance between affordability and functionality, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers looking for a 5G phone.

The Redmi 14C 5G enters the budget smartphone segment with a promise to deliver modern features and 5G connectivity at an affordable price. Priced under Rs 10,000, it boasts an impressive design, a large display, and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, aiming to cater to users seeking value without breaking the bank. But does it live up to the expectations of budget-conscious buyers? 

In this review, we’ll explore the Redmi 14C 5G’s build quality, camera capabilities, battery life, and more to determine whether it strikes the right balance between affordability and functionality. If you’re considering this device, read on to see if it fits your needs.

Redmi 14C 5G: Build and Design

The Redmi 14C 5G showcases a design that balances modern aesthetics with practical functionality. Its glass-like back panel not only offers a premium feel but also features a shimmering concentric ring pattern, adding a touch of elegance to the device. The Starlight Blue variant, in particular, stands out with its eye-catching appearance. 

Despite housing a large 6.88-inch display, the Redmi 14C 5G maintains a well-balanced weight distribution, making it comfortable to hold and use. 

The power and volume buttons are placed on the right side. A 3.5mm headphone jack is situated at the top, catering to traditional audio preferences, while the bottom houses a mono speaker and a USB-C port for charging.

In terms of build quality, the Redmi 14C 5G feels solid and durable, capable of withstanding daily wear and tear. The design not only emphasizes aesthetics but also ensures practicality, making it a suitable choice for users seeking a blend of style and substance in a budget-friendly smartphone.

Redmi 14C 5G: Display

The Redmi 14C 5G features a 6.88-inch LCD display with an HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel offers decent colour reproduction, making it suitable for casual media consumption and day-to-day tasks. However, its limitations become noticeable when used in challenging lighting conditions. 

In my testing, using a Lux Meter, the display showcased a peak brightness of just 448 nits. This can be frustrating for users who frequently use their phones outdoors, as the screen struggles with visibility under direct sunlight. However, this is common for a phone under Rs 10,000.

It is important to note that despite the Redmi 14C 5G’s 120Hz refresh rate, which theoretically should provide smooth scrolling, the scrolling experience isn’t as fluid as expected.

Despite these shortcomings, the Redmi 14C 5G’s display performs well for its price range. 

Redmi 14C 5G: Performance

The Redmi 14C 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, which is designed to handle day-to-day tasks like browsing, social media, and light multitasking with ease. Paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the phone offers decent headroom for casual users. For a device priced under Rs 10,000, the performance is more than satisfactory for most basic operations.

In benchmarking tests, the Redmi 14C 5G scored 4,37,485 points on AnTuTu, 920 points in the Geekbench single-core test, and 2,153 points in the multi-core test. These scores stand up well against those achieved by similarly priced devices, showcasing the phone’s capability to compete in its segment. While not a powerhouse, it provides a solid foundation for everyday usage.

However, the phone does show its limitations when pushed harder. When multiple heavy apps are opened in the background, some lag can occur. This is expected at this price point and should not come as a surprise for users seeking an affordable 5G smartphone. 

Overall, the Redmi 14C 5G delivers respectable performance for its price. 

Redmi 14C 5G: Camera

The Redmi 14C 5G is equipped with a 50MP main camera, complemented by a secondary depth sensor. For selfies, it offers a 13MP front-facing camera. In well-lit conditions, the main camera captures images with decent details. However, the colours sometimes look washed out in the pictures, and portraits often appear oversaturated, which might not appeal to everyone.

In low-light scenarios, the camera’s performance diminishes, resulting in images with noticeable noise and reduced clarity.

Well, I am impressed with the front-facing 13MP camera. In well-lit conditions, it captures great selfies, considering that this phone is priced under Rs 10,000.

In summary, while the Redmi 14C 5G’s camera system performs adequately in optimal lighting, it faces challenges in low-light conditions and may produce oversaturated portraits. Considering its budget-friendly price point, the camera capabilities are reasonable, but users seeking balanced colour reproduction may need to explore higher-tier options.

Redmi 14C 5G: Battery & Charging

The Redmi 14C 5G is equipped with a 5,160mAh battery, which is a standard offering in this price range. In my testing, the phone took approximately 105 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%, which is slightly slower than the average for modern smartphones in this segment. While not the fastest, the charging time is still acceptable for a budget device.

In terms of battery performance, the Redmi 14C 5G holds up well for everyday tasks. During a 15-minute session of Call of Duty: Mobile, the battery dropped by around 5%, which is a reasonable figure considering the demands of gaming. GPS navigation for an hour consumed about 5% of the battery. Streaming Netflix for half an hour resulted in a 3% drop.

Overall, the Redmi 14C 5G’s battery life is sufficient for a full day’s use with moderate activities.

Redmi 14C 5G: Verdict

With its sleek design and features, the Redmi 14C 5G stands out in the under Rs 10,000 segment. The large 6.88-inch display, while not perfect, offers a decent viewing experience for everyday tasks and media consumption. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset provides adequate performance for light multitasking and casual use, although it shows signs of lag when pushed to its limits.

The camera system performs well in well-lit conditions, capturing decent details but oversaturated portraits. For selfies, the 13MP front camera is surprisingly good, especially for a phone in this price range. The 5,160mAh battery ensures the phone can last a full day with moderate use.

Overall, the Redmi 14C 5G offers a well-rounded package for users seeking value without breaking the bank. While it has its limitations, particularly in display brightness and camera performance, it strikes a good balance between affordability and functionality. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 5G phone under Rs 10,000 and a stylish design, the Redmi 14C 5G is definitely worth considering.

Ayushi Jain

Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds.

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