Review of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra: The best phone with a camera

Xiaomi went all out with the 13 Ultra, which feels more like a high-end camera with a few phone features. The quad 50MP cameras on the back provide the most versatile camera package of any phone on the market today, and all four lenses capture stunning photographs and movies in every condition. Combine that with an eye-catching design, cutting-edge hardware, ultra-fast charging technology, clean software with no bloat, and all the features you’d expect from a flagship, and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a phone unlike any other. Following up from the excellent Xiaomi 13 and even better Xiaomi 13 Pro, the 13 Ultra is the flagship of the brand’s 2023 lineup.

A glance at the rear of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra reveals the phone’s proposition. A large camera bulge indicates this is more of a camera than a phone. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is already one of the greatest camera phones on the market, so this Ultra has gone above and beyond to stand out. After using the item for an extended amount of time, I believe it lives up to its hype.

XIAOMI 13 ULTRA KEY FEATURES

Having said that, we should point out that Xiaomi handed us a version of the handset with China-specific software. So, while a global variant is expected to be released at some point, we have yet to touch or see one. For the sake of this assessment, however, this is irrelevant.

This is due in part to the fact that the 13 Ultra’s most significant features transcend regional software differences. We’re referring to the unique quad-camera configuration on the handset’s back. And you know it’s something exceptional when the 50MP 1-inch primary unit, unquestionably the star of the show, is joined by two telephotos and an ultrawide, each with its 50MP sensor. We are looking forward to beginning this camera part with both enthusiasm and trepidation. But everything happens in due time.

There’s a smartphone attached to that Leica-co-engineered miracle of a camera system, and it’s a true high-end one. With the latest Snapdragon, a cutting-edge high-resolution, high-refresh-rate OLED display, dust and water resistance, and rapid charging, it will be difficult to find something to complain about on the following pages. We had assumed the design would be that based on the images, but after seeing the handset in person, we’ve come to like it as well.

XIAOMI 13 ULTRA UNBOXING

The 13 Ultra’s presentation is identical to that of any recent Xiaomi Pro or Ultra. The black color is all that distinguishes it from the other models in the range, and the red Leica dot is the only splash of color on the cardboard.

Inside, you will find the phone, a 90W power converter, and a USB-A-to-C cord. A black snap-on case is also available, which falls short of the Ultra’s standard, but its utility should not be diminished by its less-than-premium appearance.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra Professional Camera Bundle, which costs CNY 1000 (€130) in China, is not included in the usual retail bundle. The kit includes a better phone cover, a separate right-hand grip, a filter adapter ring that allows you to screw on normal 67mm lens filters, a lens cap (or, more accurately, a camera system cap in this case), and a lanyard.

The whole package makes the Ultra look less like a phone and more like a tiny camera, and the hand grip helps it operate like one as well, with a two-stage shutter release button and a zoom control. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to test out this set of accessories.

CAMERA

The camera is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s main focus, and the phone comes equipped with impressive photography technology. It has four 50MP cameras on the rear, with the primary 50MP module using the Sony IMX989 sensor. This is the same 1-inch sensor used in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Pro, and Vivo’s X90 Pro, and it is incredible.

In an unusual twist, Xiaomi chose variables f/1.9 and f/4.0 for the primary lens, allowing users to significantly adjust the depth of field. This sensor features huge 1.6um pixels, OIS, and can shoot 8K video at 24fps and 10-bit Dolby Vision film.

Xiaomi’s other three 50MP cameras use the same Sony IMX858 module, with a wide-angle lens that provides a 122-degree field of view. You get two 50MP telephoto lenses with OIS: the primary f/1.8 telephoto has 3.2x optical zoom and the secondary f/3.0 lens has 5x optical zoom. The viewfinder allows you to zoom up to 120x using digital zoom, and while the results are still usable, they clearly lack detail.

Xiaomi is changing things up with the camera UI. The typical set of shooting options is laid out in a grid at the bottom, along with toggles for the various lenses, Google Lens, flash, HDR, and beauty effects. The Leica collaboration features red accents in the interface, as well as two shooting modes: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. You’ll need to choose one of these modes, which you may switch between using a separate toggle.

The other options are now easily available via a pull-down gesture, and include the flash, gridlines, AI-assisted features, macro mode, motion tracking, tilt-shift, timer, and other modes. You can also access the whole settings page through this overlay menu, which is a more elegant option than Xiaomi’s previous offerings.

You get a good range of shooting modes, as well as the option to shoot full-resolution 50MP photographs, and Xiaomi’s Pro mode is one of the best in the business. There is a Director mode, which enables unique use cases and allows you to connect external tablets to use as a viewfinder, similar to the Filmic feature.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

I’m sure it will divide opinion, but the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s design has piqued my interest.

The rear is coated in what Xiaomi refers to as ‘antibacterial nanotech silicone leather’, which is essentially faux leather or vegan leather. It has a rough finish that provides more grip while also preventing fingerprints and smudges from appearing.

The rough finish is surrounded by flat metal sides, and while the silicone leather does not flow well into the sides, I actually prefer the unusual two-tone finish chosen by Xiaomi. Three colors are available: green (the version shown in these photographs), black, and white, all with the same finish.

The phone’s sides are flat, giving your fingers more area to sit comfortably when holding it horizontally and snapping pictures, although there is a distinct hump beneath the large camera system. Some will dislike how large and prominent the camera is here, but I like it, and it helps the Ultra stand out in a sea of somewhat drab Android devices.

However, having such a huge camera module comes with several drawbacks. For starters, finding a comfortable location to lay your fingers beneath it is, to say the least, challenging. It’s difficult to prevent smearing the camera with your fingers, and it’ll be uncomfortable to handle. Even after almost a month of using this phone, it does not feel natural. It also does not lay flat on a desk, instead wobbling around.

It’s a heavy phone at 227g, and it feels weighty, but reassuring. It’s also beautifully polished, with precise cuts and a truly luxurious feel.

While the camera remains the focal point, the fundamentals have not been neglected. The phone is IP68 rated, with Gorilla Glass Victus covering the front display. The 6.73-inch display is nearly identical to the one on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, with a maximum brightness of 2600 nits in specified use circumstances and the option to dynamically drop the refresh rate to 1Hz to save power.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, which has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and plenty of RAM and storage, is a powerful device. Thermals have also improved significantly over the subpar Xiaomi 12 Pro, thanks in part to a new liquid cooling plate in the phone, but this is primarily down to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency.

The phone’s 5,000mAh battery provides outstanding endurance. The majority of this phone’s assessment period coincided with my vacation in Shanghai and Seoul. This meant that I used my phone a lot more than usual, as I was out for 12-14 hours a day, utilized GPS to get around, and took a lot of photos and videos. Despite frequent use, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra managed to get through the day with plenty of battery life. I never had to take out my charger or portable battery pack.The phone’s 5,000mAh battery provides outstanding endurance. The majority of this phone’s assessment period coincided with my vacation in Shanghai and Seoul. This meant that I used my phone a lot more than usual, as I was out for 12-14 hours a day, utilized GPS to get around, and took a lot of photos and videos. Despite frequent use, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra managed to get through the day with plenty of battery life. I never had to take out my charger or portable battery pack.

Charging may be done at 90W with the bundled charging brick or 50W wirelessly using Xiaomi’s proprietary fast charger. Without a normal Qi charger, charging speeds are likely to be closer to 20W. I only tried the cabled fast charging, and I was able to charge from 0 to 100 in just over 30 minutes.

Buy it if...

• One-of-a-kind design with IP68 rating.
• Excellent OLED display with QHD resolution, dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and 1 billion colors.
• Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos compatibility.
• Excellent battery life.
• Loud stereo speakers with excellent audio quality.
• Excellent performance and temperature handling, with outstanding stability.
• The most versatile smartphone camera money can buy (except for selfies).

Don't buy it if…

• Selfie camera produces average quality still images and lacks autofocus and 4K video.
• Low-light video is slightly underexposed, with softer than optimum 60fps footage.

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