Xiaomi 13 Ultra Review: Bigger, Better & Coming to Europe

Worth When Reviewed

Unavailable within the US

Xiaomi has launched overkill Extremely variations of its flagships for the previous couple of years, however the 13 Extremely marks a sea change for the corporate in two respects. 

Firstly, that is the one Extremely up to now to be promised a global launch – we don’t know precisely when or the place but (and it virtually definitely received’t embody the US), however the 13 Extremely will launch exterior of China. 

Secondly, that is additionally the primary Extremely I feel folks actually ought to think about shopping for. Not simply due to its world availability, however as a result of for as soon as this cellphone represents a well-rounded (albeit OTT) characteristic set.  

This can be a compelling uber-flagship to rival Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Extremely, as an alternative of a gimmicky concoction meant solely to flex the muscular tissues of Xiaomi’s R&D division. In the event you can afford to drop greater than a grand in your subsequent cellphone, this actually ought to be one of many handsets you think about. 

Design & construct 

• Monumental, sloped physique 
• Colossal rear digital camera module 
• Vegan leather-based end 

Let’s get the plain out the way in which: this cellphone is large. And its digital camera module feels, impossibly, even greater. It’s outlandishly, distractingly giant, and routinely sparks questions when folks spot me utilizing the 13 Extremely. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

I don’t hate the large digital camera, however it’s definitely an announcement. Xiaomi has truly tried to minimise the impact by sloping the again of the physique up in order that the cellphone as a complete is thicker across the digital camera, barely masking how a lot it protrudes. 

I used to be frightened this might make the cellphone uncomfortably top-heavy, and it’s a bit, however total the burden is surprisingly well-balanced. In actual fact, at 227g, this feels heavy however not unduly so – it’s a number of grams lighter than both the S23 Extremely or iPhone 14 Professional Max, and is about the identical dimension as these telephones total. 

Mainly, it’s large, however so are its rivals – simply know what you’re getting your self into. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

One differentiator is that every one three colors of the 13 Extremely – white, black, or olive inexperienced – include a vegan leather-based end. That is one of some touches Xiaomi has taken to emulate the aesthetics of basic SLR cameras, and I’m a fan. The grippy end makes the cellphone simpler to carry – essential when it’s this dimension – and provides welcome sturdiness given its excessive worth level. 

The cellphone’s body is comprised of aluminium, and combines flat sides with rounded corners to maintain it comfortable within the hand. Gorilla Glass Victus on the show and an IP68 ranking full the construct, making this one of many hardest flagships round. 

Lastly, biometrics are dealt with by a fingerprint sensor constructed into the show, plus a face unlock possibility supplied by the punch-hole selfie digital camera. Each work properly. 

Display & audio system 

• Spacious 6.73in display screen 
• LTPO OLED with 1-120Hz dynamic refresh charge 
• Punchy, crisp stereo audio system 

Given the cellphone’s sheer dimension, it’s no actual shock to see a display screen to match it. The 6.73in panel right here is among the many largest you’ll discover, making this as well-suited to productiveness as it’s to gaming or streaming motion pictures. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Show high quality impresses too: Xiaomi has used LTPO OLED show tech, which permits the display screen to dynamically scale its refresh charge from a peak of 120Hz all the way in which all the way down to 1Hz. That nets you the advantages of easy scrolling and animations when wanted, and battery boosts from the display screen slowing down when it could actually. 

That is paired with a crisp 1440 x 3200 decision to provide a show that basically is among the many finest you’ll discover. Nearly all the pieces seems good on this panel, and if for some purpose it isn’t to your pleasing then Xiaomi has included a wealth of color profiles and settings that will help you fine-tune your content material. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

The stereo audio system are virtually pretty much as good. With one down-firing and one top-firing the stereo impact is stable, however extra importantly there’s loads of quantity and a surprisingly open soundscape, with extra sonic separation than I’m used to out of a cellphone. 

This received’t exchange your favorite Bluetooth speaker, however it’ll do the job in a pinch, and packs sufficient energy and readability to soundtrack video games and TV reveals. 

Specs & efficiency 

• High-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip 
• As much as 1TB storage and 16GB RAM 
• Wonderful networking 

The 13 Extremely is, to no-one’s shock, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On the time of writing that is the newest and best chip you will get in an Android cellphone, and Xiaomi is out-paced solely (and really barely) by the customized over-clocked model of the identical chip present in Samsung’s Galaxy S23 line. 

Paired with as much as 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM for the cellphone’s Chinese language launch (although this will likely range when it comes out internationally) the cellphone actually flies. This can be a whole powerhouse, which may drive the newest Android video games or multi-task with ease. 

Benchmarks inform the same story. That is up there with essentially the most highly effective Android telephones round on the CPU-focussed Geekbench take a look at, and holds tempo with its rivals on the graphics-heavy GFXBench scores, regardless of packing a excessive decision show, which tends to sluggish framerates. 

As for connectivity, there are not any actual surprises right here. 5G comes as commonplace, bolstered by Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC, which means all the pieces is as much as the newest requirements. 

Digicam & video 

• Quadruple 50Mp rear digital camera 
• 1in primary digital camera sensor with variable aperture 
• 32Mp selfie digital camera 

The digital camera array is undoubtedly the principle purpose to purchase the Xiaomi 13 Extremely, and the realm the place it has one of the best declare to trumping its rivals. Funnily sufficient, it’s additionally the realm the place the cellphone shares most in frequent with the extra inexpensive Xiaomi 13 Professional, however the Extremely takes issues up a degree or two. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Let’s begin with the principle digital camera. This makes use of the identical 50Mp, 1in Sony IMX989 sensor discovered within the 13 Professional (together with telephones together with the Vivo X90 Professional and Oppo Discover X6 Professional), however ups the ante by including in a variable aperture. 

This isn’t as versatile because the variable aperture discovered within the Huawei P60 Professional, which may hit ten totally different speeds. As an alternative, the 13 Extremely can solely leap between a quick f/1.9 setting or a sluggish f/4.0, however that’s nonetheless extra variability than virtually any cellphone on the market. 

The quick f/1.9 setting permits extra gentle, making it supreme for indoor photographs, low-light, and different areas the place gentle ranges are more likely to be the difference-maker. In contrast, the f/4.0 aperture is extra helpful for landscapes and group images, because it has elevated depth of area and may preserve extra of the body in focus. You may select to change manually, or simply let the cellphone resolve.

For this evaluate I’ve stored the aperture in auto mode, testing the cellphone’s skill to change apertures and profit from its monumental primary sensor. 

As cellphone cameras go, that is fairly distinctive. In good lighting is predictably succesful, and its solely actual flaw is the frequent Xiaomi tendency for images to run somewhat too vivid and saturated – even when utilizing the extra muted ‘Leica Genuine’ photograph type over the default ‘Leica Vibrant’ (the digital camera firm has once more partnered with Xiaomi for this cellphone’s optics). 

It’s in low-light the place the cellphone actually excels, that combo of 1in sensor and quick f/1.9 aperture delivering among the finest live performance images I’ve ever taken with a cellphone, with somewhat assist from The Flaming Lips. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

It helps that the 13 Extremely’s primary digital camera is backed up by a superb supporting solid. All three of the opposite rear cameras use 50Mp sensors, and actually they even all use the identical Sony IMX858 sensor. 

The ultrawide is the least thrilling of the three. It’s succesful and competent, and sticks as shut as it could actually to the principle digital camera more often than not. Nevertheless it’s additionally the lens that’s proved most liable to wrestle in difficult lighting circumstances, seemingly as a result of it’s the one one which lacks optical picture stabilisation, blowing out the brilliant lights in that Flaming Lips present. 

The 2 zooms – 3.2x and 5x, although the app additionally presents a digital 2x zoom possibility by default – impress extra. Element is great, and dynamic vary even impresses on the shorter of the 2 – uncommon for any telephoto. Each dealt with low gentle confidently too, retaining exceptional crispness and even publicity even in trickier photographs. 

Throw in the truth that Xiaomi has fastidiously tuned all 4 cameras to colour-match properly – little doubt helped by the same sensors – and you’ve got among the finest all-round rear digital camera setups in any cellphone. 

Listed below are some samples operating by means of each default setting: ultrawide, primary digital camera, 2x zoom with the principle digital camera, 3.2x zoom, and at last 5x zoom:

As for the entrance, issues are less complicated: there’s a 32Mp selfie digital camera in a single punch-hole. Pictures are brilliant, and detailed – maybe somewhat an excessive amount of so, no-one must see such crisp photographs of my pores. There’s an array of magnificence choices after all, and a portrait mode with barely disappointing edge detection and an inclination to blow out the sky. It’s good, however not nice. 

Video choices are somewhat odd. The rear cameras can go as much as 8K at 24fps, although you’ll in all probability want to stay to 4K. The selfie digital camera can’t even deal with that although, capping at 1080p@60 – hardly a deal-breaker, however another excuse to look elsewhere in case you typically movie or {photograph} your self. 

Battery & charging 

• Sturdy battery life 
• 90W wired charging 
• 50W wi-fi charging 

One perk of the Xiaomi 13 Extremely’s dimension is that there’s house to squeeze in a beneficiant 5000mAh battery. 

Even with all of the cellphone’s energy, the result’s a cellphone that comfortably lasts a full day, and will make it by means of two – although at a push, and provided that you’re a lightweight person.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

I usually discovered myself going to mattress with about half the battery left, and if I pushed my luck the battery would get to single digits midway by means of day two. That’s with excessive refresh charge and backbone enabled although, so extra conservative customers might squeeze somewhat extra out of it, and even energy customers ought to discover this a full-day cellphone.

Nonetheless, take a peek on the battery finish of our benchmarks above and also you’ll see that rival flagships are inclined to final somewhat longer, which I’d say is true from my time with the cellphone. Nonetheless, when you’re previous the full-day mark, it hardly appears to matter.

When it’s time to cost it again up, you get the selection of quick 90W wired charging or wi-fi. This latter will work at as much as 50W speeds, however for something near that you simply’ll want to purchase a Xiaomi wi-fi charger – in any other case you may cost extra sedately on most traditional Qi chargers. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Over a wire, I topped up 48% of the battery in simply quarter-hour, and a full cost will take you somewhat over half an hour. That is, for what it’s price, the one space the place the cheaper 13 Professional comes out trumps: its quicker wired charging takes lower than half-hour for a full cost, so that you’re giving a tiny bit up by going Extremely.

Software program & updates 

• Runs Android 13 with MIUI 14 
• Three years of Android updates – in all probability 

I’m going to maintain this software program part temporary, as a result of it comes with a giant caveat: I’ve been reviewing a Chinese language model of the Xiaomi 13 Extremely, which is extra restrictive than you may be used to, and never absolutely consultant of the cellphone’s seemingly world model. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Wherever you purchase it, the cellphone will ship with Android 13, operating Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 on high. The Chinese language model doesn’t embody the Google Play Retailer, making putting in most apps irritating till you may sideload Google onto the system – trickier than earlier than, this took me about half an hour, particularly as you must preserve preventing by means of apps and notifications in Chinese language to get there. 

Until you intend to import the cellphone from China, you received’t have this drawback – Xiaomi’s worldwide model of MIUI after all consists of full Google assist, and runs as you’d count on. I’m not an enormous fan of MIUI, which is somewhat cluttered and clunky even at one of the best of instances, however I’ll attempt to replace this evaluate with ideas on the cellphone’s worldwide software program once I get the possibility to attempt a worldwide mannequin. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

It’s additionally nonetheless unclear how lengthy Xiaomi will assist the cellphone for, as there’s been no official announcement. Nevertheless, it’s more likely to comply with the identical dedication as the opposite Xiaomi 13 flagships: three Android model updates (so as much as Android 16) with a fourth yr of safety patches. Once more, I’ll replace this with full world particulars when we’ve got them. 

Worth & availability 

For now, the Xiaomi 13 Extremely is simply obtainable in China, the place it begins from ¥5,999 (round $870/£690/€790). In the event you don’t wish to await a global model, you may import it now from Giztop from $1,099. 

Xiaomi has promised that the cellphone will come out internationally within the “subsequent few months” after its March launch in China, which is anticipated to imply a launch throughout Asia and Europe – not North America. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

When it does launch worldwide, count on pricing to be larger than these transformed figures above – Chinese language costs are at all times decrease than worldwide equivalents, and a European launch is for certain to set you again greater than the £1,099/€1,299 the corporate is charging for the Xiaomi 13 Professional already. 

Check out our rating of one of the best Android telephones to scope out the competitors, or one of the best Xiaomi telephones for different choices from the Chinese language firm. 

Verdict 

The Xiaomi 13 Extremely is an distinctive cellphone in virtually each sense, a complete, well-rounded {hardware} proposition that solely dangers being let down by Xiaomi’s unsophisticated software program. 

The show and digital camera are among the many very best on the market, with sturdy efficiency and battery life to seal the deal. You’ll have to have the ability to dwell with (or higher, love) the chunky construct and chunkier digital camera, but when they be just right for you then the 13 Extremely hardly places a foot improper. 

I’ll await the cellphone’s worldwide launch and Western pricing to problem a remaining verdict, as a result of a lot hinges on how aggressively the corporate positions this S23 Extremely rival, given how costly its Professional mannequin already is. 

I’ll even be keenly awaiting a worldwide software program model. Utilizing an imported Chinese language mannequin is at instances an train in frustration – even after including Google in and setting the system language to English there are surprising apps and notification pops in Chinese language. 

Specs 

• 6.73in 120Hz LTPO OLED show (1440×3200) 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 
• 12/16GB RAM 
• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage 
• 5000mAh battery 
• 90W wired charging 
• 50W wi-fi charging 
• Digicam: 
  • 50Mp primary digital camera with OIS and variable aperture (f/1.9 or f/4.0) 
  • 50Mp, f/2.8 telephoto digital camera with OIS and three.2x optical zoom 
  • 50Mp, f/3.0 telephoto with OIS and 5x optical zoom 
  • 50Mp, f/1.8 ultrawide digital camera 
  • 32Mp, f/2.0 selfie digital camera 
• IP68 
• Gorilla Glass Victus show 
• 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1mm 
• 227g 
• Android 13 with MIUI 14