Xiaomi 13 Ultra Review
Supreme Camera
The standout feature of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is its prominent camera module, which showcases four advanced lenses and the Leica branding. It boasts a 50-megapixel primary sensor with a 1-inch Sony IMX989 chip and a variable aperture ranging from f/1.9 to f/4.0. Complementing this is a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 5X optical zoom, a second 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.2X optical zoom, and both lenses are equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, the camera system includes a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens with a macro mode for detailed close-up shots.
The standout feature of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is its 1-inch camera sensor. Unlike the smaller sensors found in most smartphones, this larger sensor significantly enhances photo quality. It captures more detail and delivers higher resolution images. Additionally, the increased sensor size improves performance in low-light situations by allowing more light to be absorbed, and it offers superior dynamic range in scenes with high contrast. These benefits are clearly demonstrated in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s impressive camera performance.
Variable aperture technology, first introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S9, initially seemed like a gimmick. However, with the larger sensors in phones like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, it has become much more impactful. This feature allows the 13 Ultra to excel in various shooting scenarios, capturing expansive landscapes with sharp detail across the entire frame, and providing stunning close-up shots with a beautifully blurred background bokeh effect. As a result, the need for a dedicated portrait mode is diminished, showcasing the versatility and advanced capabilities of the camera system.
the Xiaomi 13 Ultra excels in delivering richly detailed images. Utilizing the default Leica Authentic style, it produces more natural colors compared to other Xiaomi models, like the Poco F5 Pro. For those who prefer more vibrant hues, there is an option to enhance color saturation. What stands out is the impressive depth of field, which adds a dramatic effect to outdoor photography. The automatic macro mode also performs exceptionally well with extreme close-ups, and Xiaomi’s night mode effectively handles low-light conditions. Overall, the quad-camera system consistently delivers excellent photos.
However, the 32-megapixel front-facing camera does have a drawback—it tends to overexpose selfies, and the portrait mode struggles with fine details like stray hairs. In general, selfies often look better when taken in standard mode.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra supports 8K video recording at 24 frames per second (fps) and 4K recording up to 60 fps. While 8K recording may not be essential for most users due to its large file sizes and limited perceptible quality improvement unless zoomed in, the 4K video quality is outstanding. The video stabilization effectively reduces shakes and walking movements, ensuring smooth tracking of subjects.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Key Specifications
Body: Dimensions: 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm; Weight: 227g. Features a Gorilla Glass Victus front, eco-leather back, and an aluminum frame. It is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes).
Display: 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with 1 billion colors, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak brightness for normal use), and 2600 nits (peak brightness). Resolution: 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 522 ppi.
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (SM8550-AB, 4 nm) with an octa-core processor (1x 3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x 2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x 2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) and Adreno 740 GPU.
Memory: Options include 256GB with 12GB RAM, 512GB with 16GB RAM, and 1TB with 16GB RAM, all using UFS 4.0 storage.
OS/Software: Android 13 with MIUI 14.
Rear Camera:
- Main Wide: 50 MP, f/1.9 or f/4.0, 23mm, 1.0-inch sensor, 1.6µm pixel size, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS.
- Ultra Wide: 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122°, 1/2.51" sensor, Dual-Pixel PDAF.
- Telephoto (3.2x optical zoom): 50 MP, f/1.8, 75mm, 1/2.51" sensor, Dual-Pixel PDAF, OIS.
- Telephoto (5x optical zoom): 50 MP, f/3.0, 120mm, 1/2.51" sensor, Dual-Pixel PDAF, OIS.
Front Camera: 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm pixel size.
Video Capture:
- Rear Camera: 8K at 24 fps, 4K at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60/120/240/480/960/1920 fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit recording (4K at 60 fps, 1080p).
- Front Camera: 1080p at 30/60 fps.
Battery: 5000mAh capacity. Supports 90W wired charging (100% in 35 minutes, advertised), 50W wireless charging (100% in 49 minutes, advertised), and 10W reverse wireless charging.
Connectivity: 5G support, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 (aptX HD, aptX Adaptive), NFC, Infrared port.
Miscellaneous: Under-display optical fingerprint reader, stereo speakers.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Display
Xiaomi's tradition of delivering top-notch AMOLED displays continues with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. This model features a 6.73-inch AMOLED screen boasting a 120Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels. It includes 1,920Hz PWM dimming, which is beneficial for users sensitive to screen flicker, and supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for enhanced image quality.
During testing in sweltering summer heat, the display maintained excellent brightness levels for outdoor use, reaching up to 1,300 nits in automatic mode and exceeding this brightness when viewing HDR content. The 13 Ultra also incorporates LTPO technology, which adjusts the refresh rate dynamically from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed.
One caveat is that Xiaomi does not enable the 120Hz mode by default; you will need to manually adjust this setting in the menu. The resolution is also set to 1080p initially, requiring a manual switch to QHD+ to fully exploit the screen's potential. Despite these adjustments, the display delivers outstanding color accuracy and contrast, standing out as one of the best screens available.
As usual, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers extensive screen customization options, featuring three color modes: Original Color Pro, Vivid, and Saturated. The Vivid mode adjusts the color balance according to the on-screen content, while the Original Color Pro mode was found to be the most suitable for general use. You can also fine-tune the color balance manually, choose warmer or cooler tones, and adjust colors dynamically based on ambient lighting conditions.
MIUI provides a well-rounded always-on display mode with plenty of customization options. You can select from various analog and digital clock designs, or create your own unique pattern.
Xiaomi has been a leader in stereo sound quality for its smartphones over the past three years, and the 13 Ultra continues this trend with a well-balanced audio setup. The sound output is both loud and detailed, with automatic channel switching based on the phone's orientation. The matching top and bottom speakers produce a dynamic sound experience, ideal for streaming media or gaming, with no noticeable issues in performance.
