Xiaomi’s flagship phone lineup for 2023 has been finalized with the release of Xiaomi 13 Ultra, joining the existing models in Europe while some variations remain exclusive to Asia.

This comprehensive guide provides all the essential details about the Xiaomi 13 Series, including pricing, release dates, and key specifications.

Release Dates for the Xiaomi 13 Series:

The Xiaomi 13 Series was introduced in China on December 11, 2022, with the official launch of the 13 and 13 Pro models. The global launch of both phones took place on February 26, 2023, along with the introduction of the more affordable 13 Lite variant. While the Lite version went on sale immediately, the high-end models became available for purchase on March 14. The top-spec Xiaomi 13 Ultra, unveiled globally on April 18, is now available in Europe as of June 12, excluding the UK. However, if desired, these unavailable models can still be imported to the US and UK and are compatible with local SIM cards. European models also come with a full range of Google apps.

Pricing of the Xiaomi 13 Series:

The following are the prices of the Xiaomi 13 Series phones available in Europe:

Xiaomi 13 (8+256GB) – £849/€999

Xiaomi 13 Pro (12+256GB) – £1,099/€1,299

Xiaomi 13 Lite (8+128GB) – £449/€499

Xiaomi 13 Ultra (12+512GB) – €1499 (not available in the UK)

The Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Lite models are all available for purchase on Xiaomi’s UK site. The 13 Ultra can be purchased on Xiaomi’s site in France and Spain, while it may also be possible to import it to the US or UK through platforms like AliExpress. These prices position the Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Ultra as flagship devices, while the 13 Lite competes in the mid-range segment.

Specifications and Features of the Xiaomi 13 Series:

Let’s take a closer look at the specifications and features of each model in the Xiaomi 13 Series:

Xiaomi 13: The Base Model

The Xiaomi 13 showcases a revamped design, featuring a sleek, flat display and a glossy, straight-edged body that evokes memories of recent iPhone models. Furthermore, it proudly features an IP68 rating, ensuring protection against dust and water hazards.

While the Chinese market offers multiple color options (black, light green, light blue, grey, and white), the international model restricts the choices to black, green, and white finishes. Unfortunately, the alluring vegan leather variant in light blue is not available for the global audience.

Compared to its predecessor, the Xiaomi 12, the Xiaomi 13 has grown slightly larger, housing a 6.36-inch OLED display. Although similar to its predecessor, the phone’s display retains a 1080 x 2400 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for various HDR standards.

Not surprisingly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip powers the Xiaomi 13, complemented by 8/12GB of RAM and storage options of 128/256/512GB. While the 128GB models employ the slightly older UFS 3.1 storage standard, the higher-capacity versions utilize the faster UFS 4.0.

Equipped with a 4500mAh battery, the Xiaomi 13 offers support for 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

Turning our attention to the camera capabilities, we can observe a Leica-branded triple camera setup on the phone’s rear. The primary shooter is a 50Mp camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS, accompanied by a 10Mp telephoto camera with 3x zoom capability and a 12Mp ultrawide lens. Notably, the addition of the telephoto lens represents a significant leap from the previous model. Lastly, there’s a 32Mp front-facing camera for capturing stunning selfies.

Here are the complete specifications of the Xiaomi 13:

• 6.36-inch 120Hz OLED display (1080×2400)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 8/12GB RAM
• 128/256/512GB storage
• 4500mAh battery
• 67W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging
• Camera:
• 50Mp main camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS
• 10Mp telephoto camera with f/2.0 aperture and OIS (3x zoom)
• 12Mp ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture
• 32Mp selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture
• IP68 certified
• Dimensions: 152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0/8.1mm
• Weight: 185/189g
• Operating System: Android 13 with MIUI 14

Xiaomi 13 Pro: The Flagship

The Pro variant stands apart with its distinctive appearance. Notably, it showcases a curved display and body, resembling the style of previous Xiaomi flagship models.

In China, the color options for the Pro are limited compared to the regular 13, with choices of white, black, green, and light blue. However, for international markets, only white and black variants are available. Both versions feature a ceramic back instead of glass, although the light blue vegan leather option is exclusive to the regular 13. Like its counterpart, the Pro model possesses an IP68 rating.

Moreover, the Pro variant is notably larger than the standard 13, sporting a 6.73-inch display that utilizes LTPO technology. This allows for a dynamic variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz and offers a higher resolution of 1440 x 3200.

Under the hood, it shares the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset as the standard model and is launched with identical RAM and storage options.

The battery of the Pro variant is slightly larger, rated at 4820mAh, and integrates Xiaomi’s Surge G1 chip. This combination enables 120W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging capabilities.

While the display remains the same, the most significant enhancements in the Pro variant are found in the camera department, although initial observations might suggest similarities.

The primary lens still boasts 50Mp resolution but utilizes a larger 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, similar to the one found in the highly regarded Xiaomi 12S Ultra. Its aperture stands at f/1.9 and includes optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality.

The telephoto lens is also a 50Mp sensor, featuring a 3x zoom level and an aperture of f/2.0. Thanks to its new “floating” lens structure, it can focus on objects as close as 10cm away, making it exceptionally versatile compared to most telephoto lenses available.

The ultrawide lens remains unchanged from the previous year, offering a 50Mp resolution, an aperture of f/2.2, and autofocus capabilities. Lastly, the 32Mp selfie camera is identical to the one found on the regular 13 model.

Here are the complete specifications:

• 6.73-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED display (1440×3200)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• 4820mAh battery
• 120W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging
• Camera:
• 50Mp, f/1.9 main camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.0, 3x telephoto camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide camera
• 32Mp, f/2.0 selfie camera
• IP68 rating
• Dimensions: 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm
• Weight: 227g
• Operating System: Android 13 with MIUI 14

Xiaomi 13 Lite: The Budget Model

During the global launch event, Xiaomi introduced the 13 Lite, the third model in the 13 series, with a considerably lower price compared to the 13 and 13 Pro. While it does come with downgraded specifications, it still presents itself as a competitive mid-range phone. One notable feature is its 6.55-inch 120Hz OLED display, which maintains the same resolution as the regular 13.

However, there are inevitable compromises. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset, coupled with a maximum of 8GB of RAM, offers lower performance capabilities. Additionally, the device houses a slightly smaller 4500mAh battery. The most apparent trade-offs can be observed in the camera department, where the main sensor is downgraded to 50MP, accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens. Regrettably, the absence of a telephoto lens is notable, although the device does feature a 32MP selfie camera. Despite retaining the glass back, the Xiaomi 13 Lite weighs a relatively light 171g. For international users, Xiaomi offers a range of vibrant finishes to choose from, including blue, pink, and black, although a vegan leather option is still unavailable.

Here are the complete specifications:

• Display: 6.55-inch 120Hz OLED (1080×2400)
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB/256GB
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Wired Charging: 67W
• Main Camera: 50MP, f/1.8
• Ultrawide Camera: 8MP, f/2.0
• Macro Camera: 2MP
• Selfie Camera: 32MP, f/2.4
• Dimensions: 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4/8.7mm
• Weight: 171g
• Operating System: Android 13 with MIUI 14

Xiaomi 13 Ultra: The Ultra Model With An Unique Perspective on Smartphone Photography

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra takes a distinctive approach compared to its counterpart, the 13 Pro. The differentiating factor lies primarily in the rear cameras, which are ingeniously housed within a large, rounded module.

Retaining the impressive 50Mp, 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor found in the 13 Pro, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra elevates the camera capabilities further by incorporating a variable aperture feature. This innovative addition enables users to seamlessly switch between f/1.9 and f/4.0, granting them the power to dynamically adjust the depth of field based on the specific scene. Such versatility in aperture offers precise control over the lighting conditions, a rarity among smartphones.

In addition to the main camera, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra now has a 50Mp telephoto lens. The inclusion of a new f/3.0 camera, alongside the existing f/2.0 sensor with 3x optical zoom, extends the optical capabilities to an impressive 5x zoom before digital zoom comes into play.

Meanwhile, the 50Mp ultrawide camera and the 32Mp selfie camera remain unchanged. Other aspects of the phone, including the display and processing power, also remain largely unaltered, apart from the option to upgrade to 16GB of RAM and/or 1TB of storage.

Notably, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra houses a slightly larger 5000mAh battery, albeit with a capped charging speed of 90W instead of the previous 120W. Additionally, it stands as the only phone in the Xiaomi 13 series to feature a vegan leather back, available in elegant color options of Black, White, or Olive Green.

Let’s delve into the detailed specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra:

• 6.73in 120Hz LTPO OLED display (1440×3200)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 12/16GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage
• 5000mAh battery
• 90W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging
• Camera:
  • 50Mp, 1-inch main camera with OIS and variable aperture (f/1.9 or f/4.0)
  • 50Mp, f/2.8 telephoto camera with OIS and 3.2x optical zoom
  • 50Mp, f/3.0, telephoto with OIS and 5x optical zoom
  • 50Mp, f/1.8 ultrawide camera
  • 32Mp, f/2.0 selfie camera
• IP68
• 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4/8.7mm
• 227g
• Android 13 with MIUI 14

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra stands as a testament to Xiaomi’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of smartphone photography. With its exceptional camera features, advanced specifications, and unique design elements, this device offers a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts and tech-savvy individuals alike.

What about Xiaomi 13S?

Waiting for the release of Xiaomi 13S later this year? Unfortunately, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has confirmed that there won’t be any half-year ‘S’ updates for the Xiaomi 13 series phones. In a Weibo post, Lei Jun explicitly stated, “Mi 13 currently has no plans to make a half-generation upgraded version. Don’t wait for Xiaomi 13S.” This announcement clarifies that while future Xiaomi flagships might still receive updates, there won’t be any in 2023.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the release of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra in Europe has marked the completion of Xiaomi’s flagship phone lineup for 2023. While the price of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra may be high compared to its competition, it offers an array of camera-centric features, including a variable aperture, and dual telephoto lenses. The Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Lite models also provide impressive specifications and options for different budget ranges. Overall, Xiaomi continues to push the boundaries of smartphone photography with its 13 series, offering a compelling choice for photography and tech enthusiasts.