When it comes to cameras, Leica is all about focal lengths
Xiaomi has become a regular player in the Qualcomm stakes, announcing flagship phones with the latest flagship Snapdragon SoC and flagship cameras famously blessed with the touch of legacy imaging company Leica. But with the all-new Xiaomi 13 series, the manufacturer seems to be narrowing its focus with two devices and ramping up the prestige by placing them in a higher price bracket.
In addition to the usual glass and metal, buyers will be treated to a so-called “SKIN” micro-ceramic surface that capitalizes on the soft feel and ensures that the back of the device won’t chip or discolor over time. It’s IP68 rated, but that’s not a good substitute for long-term use when evaluating these claims.
The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro stick to the script on the mechanics. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset takes center stage here with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS4.0 storage. Both phones get the same configurations: 8/128, 8/256, 12/256 and 12/512. The 13 has the smaller footprint of the pair with a 6.36-inch 1080p OLED display running at up to 120 Hz. The 13 Pro moves up to 1440p across 6.73-inches.
After a dalliance with Samsung sensors in the 12 series, Xiaomi returns to Sony on the 13s: the 1/1.49″ IMX800 sensor we saw on the Honor 70 leads the Xiaomi 13 with maximum output of 50MP photos and 8K24 video, while; the huge 1″ IMX989 as seen on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra this summer will be stepped up and transferred to the Xiaomi 13 Pro with better low-light performance, achieving similar results with a sensor sensitivity that increased by 72%. The Pro is also blessed with a 50MP sensor for the telephoto (~75mm equivalent) and ultra-wide (~14mm) units. The Xiaomi 13 gets a 10MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultrawide. The main sensors have enhanced HyperOIS, while the telephoto lenses have standard OIS. Both have a 32MP selfie camera.
The marketing around optics in this cycle focuses on shooting at specific focal lengths, especially promoting Leica’s Professional Master Lens filter packs for successfully simulating classic looks at 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm.
With a cable, Xiaomi Surge charging can fill the Xiaomi 13’s 4,500mAh battery at rates of up to 67W, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s 4,820mAh battery can take up to 120W. The phones also support the company’s own 50W wireless charging standard, as well as Qi at 10W.
Regardless of how you charge them, they are claimed to last the longest of any premium Xiaomi device to date with larger vapor and copper cooling systems and efficient energy use. MIUI 14 (presumably based on Android 13) should play a big role in shrinking the firmware and aim to reduce app processes.
The Xiaomi 13 starts at ¥3,999 (~$575) while the Xiaomi 13 Pro goes from ¥4,999 (~$720) to ¥6,299 (~$905). They will be available in black and white, as well as pastel Wilderness Green and Mountain Blue. Limited edition Xiaomi 13 devices in the 12/512 configuration will feature bolder colors such as Flaming Red, Sapphire Blue, Hurricane Yellow, Jungle Green and Cement Ash. Sales will begin in mainland China on Wednesday, December 14.
The company is also out with a new Xiaomi Watch S2, Xiaomi Buds 4, Xiaomi Sound Pro room speaker, Xiaomi Router 10000 for WiFi and another attempt at a NUC-like with the Xiaomi Mini PC, featuring Intel’s 12th generation Core i5- Processor.