Redmi 12C Review: Entry-level smartphone for elderly
Introduction:
The Redmi 12C is a recently released, budget-friendly smartphone from Redmi. Priced at a mere RM599 for the 4GB + 128GB model, is it among the most affordable smartphone in the market now. Can the Redmi 12C, however, keep up with other competitors in the market and establish itself as a viable option, given that pricing is seldom the whole story? In this review, we analyse the Redmi 12C’s user experience, hardware, screen, camera, and audio in order to determine who the phone is intended for and whether it is a good buy.
Redmi 12C Overview:
Our first impression of the Redmi 12C is how light it is, weighing only 192g. When we are about to lift something, we make a subconscious visual evaluation of how much strength we need to lift the item up. Well, the initial evaluation we made for this phone was rather overpowering to the point where we nearly flung the phone.
The phone’s casing is built with a form of plastic that has a smooth and textured finish. At the back of the phone, there is even a unique finishing, giving the phone better grip and almost no smooth surface to stick to. On the top left side, where the camera island is located, Redmi opted for a single camera setup (the second camera hold is the depth sensor). The camera island size is kept moderate because there are just 2 lenses to accommodate.
What stands out is the little circle next to the depth sensor, which turns out to be the fingerprint sensor. By placing the finger print sensor here with plenty of texture feedback, it definitely helps the user search for the sensor area quickly.
Finally, around the phone, we have the standard volume rocker, lock button, a mono loud speaker below with a micro USB port (yes, in 2023, this phone is still using micro USB), and the classic 3.5mm audio jack. All these components are being built on top of a ring of plastic around the phone.
Redmi 12C Hardware:
The Redmi 12C is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G85 processor, RAM options of 3GB, 4GB, and 6GB, and storage options of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. With this, we can see the Redmi 12C is hardly a beast in terms of performance; rather than a roaring lion, it is more like a purring large cat. None the less, with this level of hardware, the Redmi 12C is still able to handle day-to-day operations.
It also has a 5000mAh battery, which gives it enough power to last all day. With no fast charging available on the phone, Xiaomi still bundled a 10W charger with the phone, which allow it to charge from 20% to 100% in just 3 hours.
The Redmi 12C is built with sturdy hardware, ensuring durability and longevity. It is equipped with a fingerprint sensor, which provides added security, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, making it Additionally, it features a dual-SIM card slot, allowing users to use two different SIM cards simultaneously.
Screen:
The Redmi 12C’s 6.71-inch display is brilliantly coloured. While the official channel stated that the screen displayed up to 70% of the NTSC colour standard, they failed to notify the user that this also translated into 98–99% of SRGB. While it’s not an HDR screen nor an AMOLED or IPS panel, the screen still produces vibrant images for viewing photos and videos.
The screen is very basic, set at 60 Hz, and without any faster profile, it would be unlikely to impress those who frequent gaming. But, for those who enjoy simple browsing and reading on their phone, the Redmi 12C does come with a dedicated reading mode, a mode that significantly reduces blue light for better comfort for the eyes and reduces eye strain and fatigue.
Camera:
The Redmi 12C features a single camera setup. Yes, there are two lenses at the back, but only the top lenses were used by the system to take pictures; the bottom lenses were only outfitted with 2-megapixel depth sensors, which doesn’t affect the imagining performance, at least not to my eye.
The sensor used by the camera is a 50-megapixel Samsung S5KJN1 camera with an f/1.8 aperture. This camera is very popular among entry-level smartphones, where multiple brands ranging from Xiaomi, Realme, Motorola, Samsung, and others have utilised it.
As for real-life performance, the camera performs well in good lighting conditions and produces decent images. The images produced have an easy-to-eye feel, with balanced colour and contrast giving them a true-to-life look. I do notice the lack of contrast in extreme situations; under direct sun and shade, the camera has a hard time producing a good exposure.
The night mode does come in handy; when used in low light, it generally produces less noise and a sharper image. Yes, looking at our example is hardly the best night image out there, but the night mode will work as intended.
Audio:
The Redmi 12C have the classic 3.5mm audio jack, but I do want to point out that the speaker is quite loud and clear. Xiaomi has cut no corners, and it genuinely sounds decent. The treble and midrange sounds are adequate, giving it a clear vocal profile that’s perfectly fine for simple YouTube watching or basic gaming too. Just don’t expect any form of bass coming out of the phone, as this is an inherent limitation of small phone speakers.
User Experience:
When testing this phone, I couldn’t help but imagine having an elderly person use it. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. With the bigger screen, it made it very user-friendly for elderly users, and with the extra screen space, it was easy to blow the font and UI up without feeling cluttered. The large screen also made it easier to zoom in for navigation or other purposes, and coupled with its light weight, it made it easier to use for those with visual or mobility impairments.
Redmi 12C Conclusion:
Overall, the Redmi 12C is feel like a tame phone that doesn’t have much to prove. Is it an excellent entry-level smartphone suitable for elderly users and can meet their demand with its sturdy hardware, user-friendly interface, and affordability.
Help us!
So here you go, our review on the Redmi 12C. If you agree with us and want to pick one up, do consider purchasing via the link below. The affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra, but will be a great help to keep our lights on here at HelloExpress.
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Redmi 12C
Overall, the Redmi 12C is feel like a tame phone that doesn’t have much to prove. Is it an excellent entry-level smartphone suitable for elderly users and can meet their demand with its sturdy hardware, user-friendly interface, and affordability.
Positive
- Affordable
- Large screen
- Good enough camera
- 5000 mAh
Negative
- Micro-USB port
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