Xiaomi partnered with Leica starting last year ushering in a new era of their photography capabilities. The collaboration with Leica successfully catapulted the name of Huawei from just a phone manufacturer from China to a world powerhouse. Through the Xiaomi 12S series, collaboration with Leica began but strangely all three devices under this series were not offered to the global market.
Many also complained because they longed for the Leica system on Xiaomi devices. This dream ended with the global launch of Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro. We got early access to the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro around two weeks early. All we can say is that after reviewing the Xiaomi 13 Pro we are now in awe of Leica.
SPECIFICATIONS
Samsung Xiaomi 13 Pro
6.73″OLED LTPO screen
WQHD+, 120Hz, Dolby Atmos
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor For Galaxy (4nm)
1 X 3.2 GHz Cortex X3 chip
4 X 2.8 GHz Cortex A715
3 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Adreno 740 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 256GB /512GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.9, 1″, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
50MP f/2.0 (Telephoto 3.2X optical)
Selfie Camera 32 Megapixel f/2.2
4820 mAh battery
120W wired charging
50W wireless charging
10W reverse charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / eSIM / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM 5699 (12/256GB)
RM 6699 (12/512GB)
RM 7199 (12/1000GB)
SCREEN
The 6.73″ screen is of the OLED LTPO type that supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The refresh rate changes dynamically between 1 – 120Hz automatically depending on the needs of the application. Using Android's built-in FPS display feature, we can see the Xiaomi 13 Pro's LTPO screen does indeed work as advertised. In the Google Photos app it stays at 1Hz when no scrolling is done and increases to 120Hz when COD Mobile is activated.
This is the best screen we've ever seen on a Xiaomi device. Not only does movement appear smooth without ghosting issues, it also does not display the frame drop issue that has haunted Xiaomi devices for a long time. As a result the use of the device is on par with our experience using the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Galaxy S23 Ultra. No quality compromises here.
The screen also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision display. Xiaomi is one of the few Android manufacturers that supports both of these HDR formats. Personally we prefer Dolby Vision's color tones which look more cinematic. Although the device has not been officially launched globally during the review period, Dolby Vision content can be streamed from Netflix without any issues. Well done Xioami for getting the device confirmed earlier.
Colors are good, bright and vivid. Viewing angles are also satisfactory for a variety of content. Under the sun the screen can still be read comfortably. Our only issue was the curved sides which as you know caused the video to overflow to the side and cut off. It would be great if the flat Xiaomi 13 screen was also used on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The time has come to retire the curved screen of the smartphone.
FINGERPRINT SCANNER
The fingerprint scanner is built under the screen at a high enough position to make it easy to scan the left and right thumbs even if the device is used one-handed. It is of the optical type that quickly unlocks the device. But if the finger is slightly wet or dirty it starts to be a little problematic. This is the only drawback of the fingerprint scanner system used by Xiaomi. Samsung for example has long used ultrasonic systems that are faster, less problematic and have a larger scan area.
This scanner also has a secondary feature as a pulse scanner. Just place your finger and the heart rate will be read in about 15 seconds. The readings are fairly accurate consistent with the readings on the smart watches we wear on the wrist.
DESIGN
In the full review video we've published above, Fahim says the Xioami 13's design is a bit boring as it looks quite basic. There are no gradient colors, back panels with LED lights, color changing panels, interesting patterns or colors that stand out from the rest. We do not agree with Fahim's opinion because we are from a group that prefers minimalist designs.
What's the point of a bombastic design like Poco F3, ROG Phone 6 or P50 Pro vegan leather edition because at the end of the day the device will also be packed in a durable frame. The majority of users are using the framework now because of repentance after the device fell a thousand cracks.
The design of Xioami 13 in our opinion is more function than style. We love it because there is no waste. If the frame is bought without the guilt of a beautiful hidden back panel.
The sturdy metal sides are matched with a glass panel on the back and Gorilla Glass Victus on the front. The back panel because it is made of glass is very easy to get dirty, especially on the black unit that was received for review. The back is dominated by a large square camera bump.
This bump, although large, does not make the device feel less stable in the hand. It is not "head heavy" like our experience using the Xiaomi 12S Ultra last year. Because of its large and flat size, the device can be placed relatively flat on the table. All the lenses are placed behind a large glass panel that protects them from any scratches.
The power button and metal audio knob are placed on the right side in a comfortable position. Above there is an infrared emitter, a microphone hole and a grille for speakers. Moving down there's a nano dual-SIM tray, a USB-C charging port and another audio grille to complete the stereo audio system. Nothing is placed on the left side of the frame.
In the hand the device feels heavy but sturdy. There are no issues such as having bulky space that makes the device feel less premium. If you want to comment negatively, the sides are of the rounded type and do not follow the current trend of boxed sides.
Xiaomi may want to maintain their image of using the rounded side design for the past few years on the 13 Pro. If you're more into boxy sides, the Xiaomi 13 is a device that's more in line with your tastes.
All these components are placed in a body that passes the IP68 dust and water proof standard. In short the design of the device is not the most innovative or the most beautiful we have ever seen but it is comfortable in the hand. For most users, comfort is more important than aesthetic value.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE – MIUI 14
The operating system MIUI 14 with Android 13 is used unlike the Poco X5 Pro that was reviewed a few weeks ago. There are no drastic changes with MIUI 13 in terms of looks but there are significant improvements in software. Fahim has said in his Xiaomi 13 review that the design of MIUI has been quite static lately so not many changes have been made. The best example is that despite being based on Android 13, MIUI 14 does not support automatic device theme changes according to the selected background image color.
No more excessive ad issues on built-in apps. It no longer exists. Installed fat apps are also reduced with users being given the option to install them when the device is activated for the first time. Cellular problems and notifications that never arrived also did not go away. After several years of complaining, Xiaomi has finally resolved the issues that have so far thwarted their efforts to stand on an equal footing with Samsung, Apple and Huawei.
Among the interesting additional features is Memor Extension which adds up to 7GB of memory at a time. We feel the 12GB memory provided is enough but if the owner wants to add it there are options in the form of 3GB, 5GB, 7GB or just turn it off if not needed. Because this is a MIUI device, the standard features of using two same apps with different accounts, lock some apps from being used and Mi Remote is also provided.
Over the course of two weeks of testing the device, it felt fast, smooth, no issues installing apps and there were interesting feature additions. MIUI 14 with Android 13 is probably the best iteration so far. There is no shortage of this operating system when compared to Samsung One UI or Oppo ColorOS.
BENCHMARK – Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is used and it is the most powerful chip for Android devices to date. As mentioned above, the device is very smooth thanks to the 120Hz screen, 12GB LPDDR5X and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage on the device we reviewed. There is nothing negative we can say about the performance.
But how does Xiaomi 13 Pro compare to Galaxy S23 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy), OnePlus 11 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), Vivo X90 (Dimensity 9200) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (Apple A16 Bionic)
Scores recorded in popular benchmarking applications are as below. Xiaomi still blocks access to 3D Mark for use, so only Geekbench 6 and Antutu 3D tests can be done.
Geekbench 6
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1868/5272
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1922/5017
OnePlus 11 – 1495/4805
Vivo X90 – 1668/4000
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 2524/6317
Antutu 3D
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1,252,296
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1,171,384
OnePlus 11 – 1,104,135
Vivo X90 – 1,147,029
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Wild Life Extreme
Xiaomi 13 Pro – None
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 3247
OnePlus 11 – 3712
Vivo X90 – 3176
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
The scores recorded are comparable to other devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. But this is just a synthetic test. In actual use, there is no performance difference between the Xiaomi 13 Pro and the new S23 Ultra. Just as fast, just as amazing.
First performance is also fast. UFS 4.0 storage launches apps and apps as fast as on an iPhone 14 Pro. There is a difference of a few seconds to start COD Mobile for example compared to a device with UFS 3.1 storage.
The majority of games can be run at the highest graphics settings and resolutions. The first COD Mobile, for example, does not overheat after 4-5 rounds of online MP. Something quite alien to last year's flagship Android devices. It's clear that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has solved the overheating issue that plagued Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. For gaming enthusiasts, the device can run your favorite gaming not only faster but now at a temperature that doesn't burn your palms.
TELEPHONY And GPS
We were unable to connect the Xiaomi 13 Pro to Malaysia's 5G network as it was no longer supported during the review period. The network that can be tested is only 4G LTE + via Digi network with VoLTE and VoWiFi support. Two nano SIMs can be used simultaneously and there is also eSIM support. If an eSIM is used, only one physical SIM can be activated simultaneously.
Phone call quality is clear with no issues of disconnection for no reason. WiFi 6E networks can also be enjoyed if you have a modem that supports it. GPS performance like cellular network is also very satisfactory. Locations in the Waze and Google Maps applications are detected in less than two seconds. Driving in high-density areas can also be done without any distractions.
CAMERA
A camera with a 1″ 50MP main sensor paired with a Leica lens is Xiaomi 13 Pro's bet in the Malaysian market. There are only a few devices with a 1″ sensor such as the Vivo X90 Pro and the Sony Xperia PRO-I. This is paired with a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.2 optical zoom. On the front a 32MP camera is used. Only the 1″ sensor has an OIS system for the best image stabilization.
In good lighting situations the pictures taken are bright, clear and sharp. Photos from the 200MP wide angle lens in particular have a very sharp image due to the technique of combining 16 pixels into one that is used. Last year there was an issue of color difference between wide angle and ultra wide angle lenses. The issue is still ongoing as you can see below. The 12MP ultra wide-angle photo appears darker even though it was taken at the same time and location. Also still there is a significant shutter lag.
The strength of the Xiaomi 13 Pro camera with Leica lenses lies in color. We shoot almost exclusively with the Leica Vibrant setting because colors appear more vibrant and images are brighter. With a 1″ sensor, detail on objects is sharper than a typical 50MP camera. Overall the image quality captured using the device's 1″ sensor exceeded our expectations.
No Leica if the monochrome gamba is not taken. Monochrome mode can only be used in Black and White 35mm portrait mode. A rather strange choice by Xiaomi taps on the previous Huawei device there is a dedicated Monochrome mode that allows us to change the strength of the bokeh after the picture is taken. Huawei-like Aperture mode is also absent.
As a die-hard user of the Huawei P and Mate series, the Leica camera system on the Xiaomi 13 Pro is less than satisfactory. We're used to the more options and freedom that Huawei's camera app provides. Hopefully in the next devices Xiaomi and Leica can fix the current weaknesses.
Here are pictures taken at zoom settings of 0.6x, 1x, 3.2X, 10x and 70x at twilight which is already quite dark. Captured image quality is good up to 3.2x only. At the 10x zoom setting, the image starts to look broken. When reaching 70x zoom, the captured image is unsatisfactory.
The viewfinder on the Xiaomi 13 Pro is stable even at the 70x zoom setting. Comparable to our experience on the S23 Ultra. But the zoom quality of the S23 Ultra is better up to the 30x setting. If super zoom is important to you, Xiaomi 13 Pro is not the best choice.
BATTERY
With a 4820 mAh battery, we managed to get almost 9 hours of SOT and it lasted over 12 hours on fairly heavy usage. If the device is used more conservatively, a SOT of almost 9 hours can also be achieved with the device lasting over 20 hours. In terms of performance it is slightly below the S23 Ultra but this is to be expected as this device is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery.
The battery life of the Xiaomi 13 Pro may lose to the S23 Ultra but in terms of charging it sweeps Samsung's flagship device clean. The battery can be fully charged in 30 minutes using the 120W charger that comes with every purchase. The S23 Ultra needs 75 minutes if the separately purchased 45W charger is used.
AUDIO
Audio from stereo speakers is aided by Dolby Atmos support. Both speakers fire to the sides to provide a balanced audio experience. Speakers are loud but not dynamic enough especially at high audio levels.
IN THE BOX
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Xiaomi 13 Pro.
1x Silicone frame.
1x 120W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Xiaomi 13 Pro is their best released device we have used so far. Fixed buggy software issues, no more ads and works pretty smoothly. Aided by very powerful processor specifications, sufficient RAM size and very fast storage. The camera system with Leica lenses is quite solid and will satisfy. For those looking for a device with a Leica lens, the 13 Pro is the best fit for your needs.
Previously, when talking about Xiaomi devices, we often heard people say "their phone is good but..". This year the deficiencies in terms of hardware and software have been successfully resolved. But this year's shortcoming lies in the rather expensive price.
In Malaysia it is sold at a price of RM 4599 for the model (12/256GB) and RM 5999 for the model (12/512GB). The Xiaomi 13 Pro is not the affordable device that has been Xiaomi's identity for a long time. Last year Xioami 12 Pro (12/256GB) was sold at a price of RM3899 which also made Xiaomi fans complain.
Are their fans willing to spend more for a Leica camera? Is there nothing more beautiful when using the Xiaomi 13 Pro? This is an answer that only users in Malaysia can answer. As we said at the beginning of this review, we're now in awe of Leica.
Pro
Comfortable, neat and beautiful minimalist design.
120Hz LTPO screen with Dolby Vision.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is quite powerful.
50MP main camera with 1″ lens
Leica lenses.
Excellent battery life with 120W charger.
Cons
Constraints on portrait mode when using the Leica system.
The screen is curved on the sides.
The sales price that jumped up compared to last year's model.
The Leica camera software is not as good as the Huawei camera app.