Xiaomi has always been known for making value mid-range smartphones, but the company has really stepped up its game lately by introducing some absolutely premium phones. And get this – these phones are giving the likes of Samsung and Apple a run for their money, and in some cases, even outperforming them. Last year’s Xiaomi 12S Ultra was one such device, featuring a camera system like no other.
The Chinese tech giant is now ready to bring another Ultra model to the market, and this time it won’t just be limited to China. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is all set to launch on April 18 and from what we’ve heard, it’s going to be an absolute beast when it comes to the camera. Can’t wait for the official launch? Here’s everything you need to know about this highly-anticipated smartphone.
Design & Display
In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of trends in camera styling, and it seems Chinese flagships launching in 2023 have settled for a round camera module. For instance, the OnePlus 11 and the recently launched Vivo X90 both sport a circular camera module. Even Honor and Oppo have jumped on the bandwagon with the same camera design on their flagship devices. Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship won’t differ much either.
From what we’ve seen in leaked renders, the handset will get a circular camera module like its predecessor but this time there won’t be any bar accompanying it. There will be four cameras on the handset aligned in a somewhat squircle manner with the Leica branding in the center. It will likely have a soft leather-like finish on the rear.
Talking about the display, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will likely feature a curved panel with a center punch hole cutout for the selfie camera. The E6 AMOLED LTPO display will measure 6.7 inches E6 and offer a Quad HD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will also have all sorts of HDR support, including DolbyVision. It will likely boast a 10-bit panel, capable of rendering 1 billion color gradations.
Cameras
The Xiaomi-Leica partnership has definitely helped the Chinese company step up its camera game, and the recent Xiaomi 13 Pro is the latest example of that. The upcoming Xiaomi 13 Ultra will only take things to a new level with its four-camera setup on the back. It will retain the 1″ Sony-made IMX989 sensor with phase detect autofocus. Notably, the handset uses the sensor’s entire area for image capture.
In addition, the smartphone will use a 50MP Ultra-wide, 50MP 3.2X Zoom with f/1.8 aperture, and a 50MP Periscope with 5X Zoom and f/3.0 aperture. The handset is rumored to support variable aperture, allowing you to switch to a slower aperture if you prefer to have more of the background in focus. Xiaomi says the device will get some advanced noise-reduction features and better HDR capabilities. It could get a 32MP sensor for selfies.
Xiaomi is apparently so confident about the camera capabilities of the 13 Ultra that it could release a camera grip accessory for it. This accessory will make the phone look more like a camera and will feature a dedicated shutter button on the grip, enabling users to quickly take photos.
Other Specifications
The flagship smartphone will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. While there’s no info about the battery capacity, it is expected to support 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. In addition, the handset will be equipped with Surge G1 and Surge P2 chips for better charging and power management. Xiaomi also claims that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will last up to 60 minutes at 1% battery, however, in emergency mode.
The smartphone is expected to come with Android 13 OS and MIUI 14 preinstalled. Additionally, it is likely to be equipped with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a whopping 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. In terms of security, it will sport an under-display fingerprint scanner.
Expected Pricing
The exact pricing of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra will only be known after the official launch. However, a recent report revealed the handset will come in three configurations, such as 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage. These models could be priced at 6,299 Yuan (~$916), 6,799 Yuan (~$990), and 7,499 (~$1,090), respectively. The top-of-the-line 16GB RAM + 1TB storage trim may cost 7,999 Yuan (~$1,163).
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