Xiaomi Redmi 12C Review: Gaming On A Budget Takes A New Level
INTRODUCTION:
Xiaomi has achieved being one of the top smartphone brands in the Philippines because the mobile brand knows very well to focus on the entry-level and mid-range market as much as it does on the flagship segment. From producing camera-centric affordable mobile devices, Xiaomi's Redmi welcomes a new thrust in providing economic smartphones that can deliver an outstanding mobile gaming experience on a budget. Enter the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. Does this device, with a price tag of as low as Php5,499, have what it takes to be called a gaming smartphone? Let's check it out.
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| Xiaomi Redmi 12C Review: Gaming On A Budget Takes A New Level |
PHYSICAL:
It's noticeable how smartphone brands have veered away from giving their entry-level smartphones a cheap-looking physique. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is yet another testament to this. The unit we have for testing is in Graphite Grey, which has a matte, textured back that is resistant to smudges and fingerprints. Its form factor is mostly made of plastic, it may not feel premium, but it definitely has a solid build quality. Yes, it fell twice accidentally during our shoot and still works just fine.
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| Graphite Grey |
The bezel size is one thing we didn't like about the overall look and design of the Xiaomi Redmi 12C. The bezels are pretty noticeable, especially when the screen is turned on. But hey, it is an entry-level phone, so that shouldn't be the source of disappointment.
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| Rear-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor |
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor which does an excellent job of unlocking the device in just a matter of seconds. Subjectively, we like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor better than one that's located at the rear part as it's more accessible. But that's just us.
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| Volume and Power Keys |
The smartphone's volume rockers and power button are on the right side.
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| Card Tray |
On the left cheek of this smartphone is its SIM tray, which carries two Nano SIMs and a memory card slot for up to 1TB storage expansion.
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| Loudspeaker, MicroUSB Port, MIcrophone |
At the bottom is where you'll find the primary microphone, speaker grill, and micro-USB port, while the top has the 3.5mm audio jack. It would have been better if the Xiaomi Redmi 12C had a USB Type-C port since it's touted as a gaming device, and it's a known fact that USB-C is a lot better than micro-USB when it comes to charging.
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| 3.5mm Audio Jack |
Meanwhile, the top holds the 3.5mm audio jack, which is quite a delight to see these days.
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| Retail Package |
The retail package is as simple as it gets; aside from the unit itself, the box contains the 10W charger, MicroUSB cable, ejector pin, and paper documents. There is no case included nor a pre-installed screen protector.
See Also: Xiaomi 13 with Leica Camera System and Snapdragon Gen 2 Launches in PH for Only Php44,999
DISPLAY:
A gaming smartphone should be able to deliver an immersive experience to the users. One way to achieve this is through a competitive display which, fortunately, the Xiaomi Redmi 12C has. Its 6.71-inch screen in 720 x 1650 resolution with up to 500 nits of brightness showcases just the right amount of detail, sharpness, and color accuracy. You also won't find any issues using it outdoors as it comes with the ideal brightness levels complemented with decent viewing angles. Long story short, the Xiaomi Redmi 12C, considering its price point, delivers a fair game in the display department.
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| 6.71-inch HD+ IPS Display |
There's no Gorilla Glass protection on the Xiaomi Redmi 12C, and the smartphone does not come with a pre-installed screen protector film out of the box too. So, if you don't mind shelling out money, we suggest installing tempered glass or plastic film just to ensure it's duly protected from unwanted dings and scratches.
SOFTWARE and PERFORMANCE:
With up to 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage combination, it's no surprise that the Xiaomi Redmi 12C is a capable daily driver. If you're heavy on multitasking using various apps for social media and productivity, a busy workday is a breeze with this smartphone.
Redmi's MIUI 13 on top of Android 12 also provides a neat feel and an intuitive experience. There are some bloatwares that come with the Xiaomi Redmi 12C out of the box, but you can always easily uninstall these apps if you don't need them.
"Entry-level" remains the operative word for the Xiaomi Redmi 12C when it comes to gaming. Yes, it is considered a gaming-centric device because of its Helio G85 budget gaming chipset, but keep in mind that this smartphone falls under the affordable segment, so it's on you if you're expecting too much from the level of performance it can give. On paper, this device comes with a combination of a 2.0GHz Cortex-A75 octa-core processor and a Mali-G52 MC2, which can be considered a strong point given its price tag.
The Helio G85 chip has been in the market for more than 2 years now; it powers the likes of realme Narzo 30A and Infinix HOT 10s, which were released way back in 2021. It may be old, but it can still handle games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact on moderate settings without any stutter, but when heavy graphics are applied, there's an apparent slowdown.
Mobile Legends fans might find playing the game on the Xiaomi Redmi 12C a delightful experience since the smartphone can bring flawless performance even with the phone's highest possible settings with this game.
Is the Xiaomi Redmi 12C also a decent choice of device for Netflix binge-watchers and K-drama fans? The answer: is yes. As mentioned earlier, the viewing angles on this device are decent, and it also helps that its loudspeakers are good enough. Even with the volume set at 80%, sound cracks are barely audible.
Benchmark results of the Xiaomi Redmi 12C are as follows:
- Antutu - 209,152
- Geekbench Single-Core - 419
- Geekbench Multi-Core - 1,222
- Geekbench Compute - 553
- PC Mark Work Performance 3.0 - 8,507
- PC Mark Work Storage 2.0 - 13,878
- 3D Mark Wild Life - 765
- 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test - 765
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme - 189
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test - 189
- 3D Mark Sling Shot - 1,829
- 3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme - 1,410
Take note, though, that we have the 4GB + 128GB variant for this review, and we can say that it is pretty much capable. However, for the 3GB + 32GB version, please be realistic and lower your expectations when opting for this one. But we believe it will do just fine, especially when the RAM extension is enabled.
Also Read: Xiaomi 13 Pro with 50MP Triple Leica Camera System Unveils in PH for Only Php59,999.
CAMERA:
On the camera bump of the Xiaomi Redmi 12C are two rear shooters, composed of a 50MP primary and a 0.8MP for bokeh or depth.
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| 50MP Dual-Rear Camera |
The photos produced by the Xiaomi Redmi 12C are alright in quality as well as sharpness and details are acceptable. However, there are times when images appear to be dull and less color accurate. Common to most smartphones at this price point, shooting in well-lit environments isn't a problem, but when it comes to night photography, visual noise and lack of clarity on photos are very much evident. Thankfully, it has a night mode, which is a plus point considering the price tag of this device, and it helps improve image quality.
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| 5MP Front Camera |
Upfront, the Xiaomi Redmi 12C has the dated water drop notch that conceals its 5-megapixel front camera. Those fond of taking self-portraits will appreciate the Xiaomi Redmi 12C as it gives pleasant selfies with impressive clarity and sharp details, whether in an indoor or an outdoor setting. Yes, we were impressed with the selfie snapper and even thought it had a higher resolution.
Here are photo samples we took using the Xiaomi Redmi 12C.
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| Playground, Normal Zoom |
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| Playground, 2x Zoom |
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| Catwalk, HDR Off |
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| Catwalk, HDR On |
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| Selfie, Normal |
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| Selfie, Portrait |
The videos are pretty okay, too. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C can capture 1080p video quality at 30fps. This should be enough for casual video recordings to post on social media.
BATTERY:
What's a gaming smartphone with mediocre battery life, right? With the 5,000 mAh battery of the Xiaomi Redmi 12C, this isn't a problem. With moderate usage with light gaming on the side, this device can last up to a day and a half.
This smartphone also supports 10W charging. Charging the device for 30 minutes gave us 23% of battery life, which is pretty good for its price point. We waited for another two hours and 10 minutes more before the Xiaomi Redmi 12C got fully charged.
FINAL WORDS:
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| Xiaomi Redmi 12C |
The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is made to give your money's worth with all the mentioned features. This smartphone takes gaming on a budget to a whole new level. The Xiaomi Redmi 12C retails in the Philippines for as low as Php5,499 and is available in Graphite Grey, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, and Lavender Purple.
How much is the Xiaomi Redmi 12C in the Philippines?
- The Xiaomi Redmi 12C Price Philippines is Php5,499 for the 3GB+32GB version, Php6,499 for 4GB+64GB, Php7,499 for Php4GB+128GB, and Php8,999 for 6GB+128GB variant.
- Get yours via Lazada at https://bit.ly/xiaomistorephils or via Shopee at https://bit.ly/xiaomiofficialstorephs.
When will be the Xiaomi Redmi 12C available in the Philippines?
- The Xiaomi Redmi 12C is now available in the Philippines.
Xiaomi Redmi 12C Specs Philippines:
- Dual nano-SIM, dual standby, supports 4G/LTE connectivity
- 6.71-inch HD+ (1650 x 720 pixels) IPS LCD
- Dimensions: 168.8mm x 76.4mm x 8.8mm
- Weight: 192 grams
- MIUI 13 based on Android 12
- Octa-core (2x2.0GHz Cortex-A75 + 6x1.8GHz Cortex-A55) CPU, ARM Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 12nm chipset
- 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM; Up to 5GB RAM extension
- 32GB/64GB/128GB eMMC 5.1 internal storage, expandable via MicroSD card via a dedicated slot
- 50MP f/1.8 PDAF main + 0.8MP depth dual rear cameras with LED flash, 1080p video recording at 30fps
- 5MP f/2.0 front camera, 1080p video recording at 30fps
- Multimedia player
- FM Radio
- 3.5mm audio jack
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth v5.1
- NFC
- GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
- MicroUSB 2.0 with OTG function
- Sensors: fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, light, proximity
- Battery: 5,000mAh lithium-ion polymer, non-removable, 10W wired charging
- Colors: Graphite Grey, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, or Lavender Purple
- Xiaomi Redmi 12C Price Philippines: Php5,499/Php6,499/Php7,499/Php8,999