Xiaomi 13 Ultra review

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 nearly actually gained’t embody the US), however the 13 Extremely will launch outdoors of China. 

Secondly, that is additionally the primary Extremely I believe folks actually ought to take into account shopping for. Not simply due to its world availability, however as a result of for as soon as this telephone represents a well-rounded (albeit OTT) function set.  

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

Design & construct 

• Huge, sloped physique 
• Colossal rear digicam module 
• Vegan leather-based end 

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

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

I used to be anxious this might make the telephone uncomfortably top-heavy, and it’s a bit, however total the load is surprisingly well-balanced. The truth is, at 227g, this feels heavy however not unduly so – it’s a couple of grams lighter than both the S23 Extremely or iPhone 14 Professional Max, and is about the identical measurement as these telephones total. 

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

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One differentiator is that each 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 traditional SLR cameras, and I’m a fan. The grippy end makes the telephone simpler to carry – necessary when it’s this measurement – and provides welcome sturdiness given its excessive worth level. 

The telephone’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 score 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 choice supplied by the punch-hole selfie digicam. Each work properly. 

Display & audio system 

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

Given the telephone’s sheer measurement, it’s no actual shock to see a display 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 films. 

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

That is paired with a crisp 1440 x 3200 decision to supply a show that actually is among the many finest you’ll discover. Nearly every thing appears to be like good on this panel, and if for some motive it isn’t to your pleasing then Xiaomi has included a wealth of color profiles and settings that can assist you fine-tune your content material. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

The stereo audio system are nearly nearly 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 telephone. 

This gained’t substitute 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 exhibits. 

Specs & efficiency 

• Prime-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 telephone, 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 telephone’s Chinese language launch (although this will differ when it comes out internationally) the telephone actually flies. This can be a complete powerhouse, which might drive the newest Android video games or multi-task with ease. 

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

As for connectivity, there aren’t any actual surprises right here. 5G comes as commonplace, bolstered by Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC, which means every thing is as much as the newest requirements. 

Digicam & video 

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

The digicam array is undoubtedly the primary motive to purchase the Xiaomi 13 Extremely, and the world the place it has the very best declare to trumping its rivals. Funnily sufficient, it’s additionally the world the place the telephone shares most in widespread with the extra reasonably priced Xiaomi 13 Professional, however the Extremely takes issues up a stage or two. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Let’s begin with the primary digicam. 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 might hit ten totally different speeds. As an alternative, the 13 Extremely can solely soar between a quick f/1.9 setting or a gradual f/4.0, however that’s nonetheless extra variability than nearly any telephone on the market. 

The quick f/1.9 setting allows extra mild, making it very best for indoor photographs, low-light, and different areas the place mild ranges are more likely to be the difference-maker. In contrast, the f/4.0 aperture is extra helpful for landscapes and group photographs, because it has elevated depth of discipline and may maintain extra of the body in focus. You possibly can select to change manually, or simply let the telephone determine.

For this evaluate I’ve stored the aperture in auto mode, testing the telephone’s means to change apertures and take advantage of its monumental primary sensor. 

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

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

Dominic Preston / Foundry

It helps that the 13 Extremely’s primary digicam is backed up by a superb supporting forged. All three of the opposite rear cameras use 50Mp sensors, and in reality 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 will possibly to the primary digicam more often than not. But it surely’s additionally the lens that’s proved most liable to battle in difficult lighting situations, doubtless as a result of it’s the one one which lacks optical picture stabilisation, blowing out the intense lights in that Flaming Lips present. 

The 2 zooms – 3.2x and 5x, although the app additionally affords a digital 2x zoom choice by default – impress extra. Element is superb, and dynamic vary even impresses on the shorter of the 2 – uncommon for any telephoto. Each dealt with low mild confidently too, retaining outstanding 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 question helped by the same sensors – and you’ve got top-of-the-line all-round rear digicam setups in any telephone. 

Listed here are some samples working by means of each default setting: ultrawide, primary digicam, 2x zoom with the primary digicam, 3.2x zoom, and eventually 5x zoom:

As for the entrance, issues are easier: there’s a 32Mp selfie digicam in a single punch-hole. Pictures are vivid, 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 desire to stay to 4K. The selfie digicam can’t even deal with that although, capping at 1080p@60 – hardly a deal-breaker, however another excuse to look elsewhere if you happen to 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 measurement is that there’s area to squeeze in a beneficiant 5000mAh battery. 

Even with all of the telephone’s energy, the result’s a telephone that comfortably lasts a full day, and should make it by means of two – although at a push, and provided that you’re a light-weight consumer.

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 fee and determination enabled although, so extra conservative customers might squeeze somewhat extra out of it, and even energy customers ought to discover this a full-day telephone.

Nonetheless, take a peek on the battery finish of our benchmarks above and also you’ll see that rival flagships are likely to final somewhat longer, which I’d say is true from my time with the telephone. 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 just’ll want to purchase a Xiaomi wi-fi charger – in any other case you possibly can 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 transient, as a result of it comes with an enormous caveat: I’ve been reviewing a Chinese language model of the Xiaomi 13 Extremely, which is extra restrictive than you could be used to, and never absolutely consultant of the telephone’s doubtless world model. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Wherever you purchase it, the telephone will ship with Android 13, working 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 possibly can sideload Google onto the machine – trickier than earlier than, this took me about half an hour, particularly as you need to maintain combating by means of apps and notifications in Chinese language to get there. 

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

Dominic Preston / Foundry

It’s additionally nonetheless unclear how lengthy Xiaomi will assist the telephone 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 12 months of safety patches. Once more, I’ll replace this with full world particulars when now we have them. 

Worth & availability 

For now, the Xiaomi 13 Extremely is just accessible in China, the place it begins from ¥5,999 (round $870/£690/€790). In case you don’t wish to anticipate a global model, you possibly can import it now from Giztop from $1,099. 

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

Dominic Preston / Foundry

When it does launch worldwide, anticipate pricing to be increased 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 the very best Android telephones to scope out the competitors, or the very best Xiaomi telephones for different choices from the Chinese language firm. 

Verdict 

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

The show and digicam 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 digicam, but when they give you the results you want then the 13 Extremely hardly places a foot improper. 

I’ll await the telephone’s worldwide launch and Western pricing to difficulty 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 machine language to English there are sudden 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 digicam with OIS and variable aperture (f/1.9 or f/4.0) 
  • 50Mp, f/2.8 telephoto digicam with OIS and three.2x optical zoom 
  • 50Mp, f/3.0 telephoto with OIS and 5x optical zoom 
  • 50Mp, f/1.8 ultrawide digicam 
  • 32Mp, f/2.0 selfie digicam 
• IP68 
• Gorilla Glass Victus show 
• 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1mm 
• 227g 
• Android 13 with MIUI 14