Review of Xiaomi Redmi 14C and Poco C75: Autonomous budget devices with large displays Contents

Redmi 14C and Poco C75 are practically identical models from different sub-brands of Xiaomi. Both devices are equipped with, although not the most advanced, atypically large screens. Additionally, the newcomers attract attention with original design, good battery life, and affordable prices. At the same time, the difference between the smartphones, if not accounting for cosmetic elements, comes down to the amount of RAM. Which of the two models is better and is it worth getting either of them at all? Let’s find out.

Appearance

Redmi 14C

Redmi 14C and Poco C75 are identical in size and are among the largest smartphones on the market. The devices cannot be called thick. However, in terms of length and width, each of them exceeds the parameters of an average budget phone by a few millimeters. Thus, if you have small hands, any of these devices may turn out to be awkward for you. Moreover, such a smartphone will not fit into every pocket.

Poco C75

Thick bezels around the screens and water-drop notches for the front cameras are typical attributes of cheap smartphones. At the same time, the newcomers stand out among most counterparts with a round bump for the rear cameras, resembling a wristwatch dial. You might have seen something similar on devices from another Chinese brand — Realme. How successful this camera design is, you can judge for yourself. But it should be acknowledged that the large round module in the middle of the back panel immediately attracts attention.

The device controls are standard. On the right side are the volume keys, as well as the power/screen lock button with a built-in fingerprint scanner. On the left edge, you can see the slot for the storage and SIM cards. At the bottom are the speaker holes and charging USB port, while at the top is the headphone jack.

Redmi 14C

The design differences between the models lie in the colors and materials of the casing. Thus, the Redmi 14C is available in black and white-blue versions with glass backs, as well as in a green variant with eco-leather on the back panel. While the glass instantly shows fingerprints, on the artificial leather they are almost invisible. The Poco C75 is sold in three versions: black, green, and gold. The last two are adorned with a wavy pattern that shimmers in the light. Unlike the Redmi 14C, all variants of this model are plastic.

The protection of the Redmi 14C against moisture and dust corresponds to an IP52 rating, which is normal for inexpensive devices. Simply put, the smartphone’s casing is almost impervious to dust and small splashes, but is vulnerable to contact with large amounts of water. The manufacturer’s website is silent about the protection of the Poco C75, but most likely, it is the same. There is also no information about the type and strength of the glass used in the devices.

Poco C75

Screen Parameters

The displays of the Redmi 14C and Poco C75 are clearly not the best in the budget segment, but generally correspond to the models’ prices. The first thing that catches the eye is their sizes. Most smartphones are equipped with screens with a diagonal of up to 6.7 inches. However, the manufacturer did not stop there and equipped the novelties with 6.9-inch panels. Such a screen contains a lot of information and is excellent for content consumption.

At the same time, the resolution of the displays is only 720 x 1640 pixels. For such large panels, this value is insufficient. As a result, upon careful inspection, the image may appear slightly blurry or pixelated. Even in the current price category, many devices have clearer screens.

Redmi 14C

The displays of the new models are based on IPS technology. Such matrices lag behind more modern AMOLED panels in terms of contrast and brightness levels, but overall they provide good color reproduction quality. Both screens support a wide range of shades and do not dim when viewed at an angle. When using smartphones in sunlight, the image becomes pale but remains readable.

The screens of the Redmi 14C and Poco C75 support a high refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. As a result, interface animations typically look sharp and smooth on them. However, the smartphones do not always have enough power to maintain the maximum refresh rate. Therefore, it occasionally drops, and movements on the screen become sharper.

Poco C75

Performance and Memory

Both newcomers operate on the Mediatek Helio G81 Ultra chip. Each model is sold in two versions with different memory capacities. The Redmi 14C is available in 4/128 GB and 8/256 GB variants, while the Poco C75 comes in 6/128 GB and 8/256 GB configurations. The devices support microSD cards, which can be used to expand the internal storage. However, the storage must be purchased separately.

The performance of the newcomers corresponds to their price. The interface and most applications on both devices work quickly enough to avoid discomfort. At the same time, some sections of the interface open with slight stutters, and resource-intensive applications launch with delays. Games, in particular, take a long time to load. By the way, the smartphones run all simple games without problems but have issues with advanced graphics. For example, in PUBG, it is comfortable to play only on medium quality settings, and in Genshin Impact — only on low.

Redmi 14C

Separately, it is worth mentioning the cheapest version of the Poco C75 with 4 GB of RAM. This option, as expected, operates more slowly. While lagging in the interface is not as pronounced, during gaming the smartphone noticeably stutters. So this option should definitely not be purchased by gamers.

The devices are sold with the pre-installed HyperOS based on Android 14. The interface may annoy with built-in advertising, but otherwise it is a modern and functional interface. Most likely, users of the new models can expect an update to the next version, HyperOS 2.0. However, knowing Xiaomi’s policy regarding budget devices, one should not expect long-term support for the system.

Poco C75

Camera Capabilities

On the rear camera setup of each smartphone, you can find as many as four modules. However, only one of them is a full-fledged camera. This is a 50-megapixel module with phase autofocus support. It is complemented by a depth sensor that serves to blur the background, and a flash. As the fourth module, the device listings specify an “additional lens” with a resolution of 0.08 MP without any other details. Most likely, this is yet another auxiliary sensor.

Redmi 14C

The main camera, as one would expect from this price category, is quite modest. Acceptable image quality can only be expected in ideal lighting conditions. The images come out reasonably sharp and detailed enough not to be embarrassing when viewed on a large monitor. However, the autofocus does not always keep up with the camera, which causes moving subjects to often appear blurry. Additionally, in poor lighting, the images become noisy, losing detail and color.

The maximum video resolution is 1080p at 30 fps. As with photography, the video quality strongly depends on lighting. Moreover, when the camera moves during recording, the image shakes and loses clarity due to the lack of a proper stabilization mechanism.

Poco C75

Each smartphone features a 13-megapixel front camera with support for video recording at a resolution of up to 1080p. This camera also does not offer anything special. However, for selfies and video calls, it should suffice for most users.

Connectivity, Sound, Batteries

Redmi 14C and Poco C75 are equipped with dual NanoSIM card slots. For storage, there is a full separate slot, not a hybrid one. So you can use two SIM cards and a memory card simultaneously. Additionally, both smartphones support Wi-Fi 5, NFC, and, unusually for budget devices, the latest version of Bluetooth — 5.4.

Redmi 14C

Regarding sound, everything is standard: a mono speaker and a 3.5 mm jack for connecting wired headphones. The speaker sounds loud, but at high levels, the sound loses clarity and starts to distort.

Despite the size of the displays, both newcomers show a good level of autonomy. Each of them is equipped with a capacious 5,160 mAh battery and easily lasts one and a half to two days of use under average load. On the other hand, charging time is not so rosy. Due to limited power—only 18 watts—it takes more than two hours to restore energy to the smartphones. Additionally, the power adapter is not included in the package; it needs to be purchased separately.

What do we have in the end

Like most budget models, the new Xiaomi devices feature modest cameras and relatively weak hardware. Furthermore, the Redmi 14C and Poco C75 are quite bulky. They also lag behind many competitors in terms of screen quality. Nevertheless, these models may be suitable for users who need a simple, autonomous smartphone with a large display and a low price tag.

If we have to choose between the two models, Poco C75 seems to be the more advantageous option. Its 128 GB version is only $5 more expensive than the comparable Redmi 14C variant, but it has more RAM and therefore operates faster. When comparing the 256 GB versions, Poco also pulls ahead as it costs less for the same specifications.