Test Xiaomi 13 Ultra: the design and quality of a real photophone with a touch of power

The average light level measured at 1094 cd/m2 is more or less the same as that of all other high -end smartphones in our comparison. Remember that the screen will remain perfectly readable in all light conditions. Reactive screen, perfect colors, high brightness, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra screen all the high -end smartphone boxes.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra test: a smartphone that is aptly named

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the most upscale member of the Xiaomi 13 series and is based on the characteristics of the Xiaomi 13 Pro who preceded it. In France, the smartphone is offered to 1499 € For the version with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory.

A nice product difficult to handle

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a beautiful baby 163.2 mm long, 74.6 mm wide and thick of 9.1 mm. The balance displays a weight of 227 g. Unfortunately, The distribution is not homogeneous and the device leans forward once in hand. The fault in part to a particularly imposing photo block but nothing surprising when you know that it lists four 50 megapixel sensors including a 1 inch type sensor.

The smartphone is available in black or green, with a nice vegan leather finish on the back. The slices are made of aluminum and the one on the right accommodates the on/off button as well as the volume controls. A first speaker grid rubs shoulders with a USB-C port on the device of the device. The second audio output on the opposite.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra opted for A large curved screen of 6.73 inches marked with a hallmark welcoming a unique front camera.

Note that the smartphone is certified IP68 For its protection against water and dust. The front panel is covered with a drink Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

A superb screen in all conditions

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has A LTPO AMOLED slab which makes us enjoy a well contrasting image with a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz. The screen has a definition of 1440 x 3,200 pixels for 522 ppi.

The colorimetry part is controlled. By default, the smartphone is calibrated in the “original pro color” mode which is supposed to reproduce realistic colors thanks to colors calibration. The “original” mode which is in the advanced parameters of the “Color Scheme” section is softer for sensitive eyes. All modes can be customized long and wide. You also have the possibility of letting the device adjust the colorimetry as a function of ambient light by activating “adaptive colors”.

Finally, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra screen is very bright But it can also considerably lower its brightness when you are in darkness.

And I put the sound back

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra does not integrate No mini-jack port. Helmet or wired headphones must go through a Jack to USB-C adapter which is not included with the smartphone. Being compatible with the Bluetooth 5.3, The latter allows you to connect a wireless device.

Xiaomi’s flagship also has two speakers whose positioning leaves something to be desired since they can easily be blocked during a gaming session. They nevertheless broadcast A balanced stereo sound with a few high volume distortion tips.

A monster of power

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra embeds A Qualcomm SOC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 12 GB of RAM. This is the same configuration as the pro model and just like him, he panics the counters of our usual benchmarking tools.

The user experience is up to our expectations with a fluidity constantly at the rendezvous. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra goes from one activity to another without showing the slightest sign of weakness. The Chinese brand markets a single version with 512 GB of internal memory and the device cannot receive a microSD card. With such a capacity, it remains able to store a good number of video game titles. And it’s A very good playmate capable of delivering an excellent rendering. Beware, however, to the heating.

A fairly heavy overlay

Android 13 is at the helm with, as an overlay, Miui 14. This latest version is pretty chick in new features. There are some adjustments to the widgets and a further customization of the home screen.

But Xiaomi does not correct the main defects of its interface. The latter is notably too busy in Bloatware, these preinstalled applications that you will have to delete manually.

Another point, the settings menu is quite bad. Navigation by gestures for example appears in “additional parameters”. We would also have liked to access the unlocking part directly from the “Security and confidentiality” menu. Finally, to activate the lateral shortcutbar, you have to go to “additional parameters” then to “floating windows”. A small obstacle course in short. And it’s a shame when we see All available personalization options.

An impressive photo part

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is also a particularly complete photophone on paper. There is Four 50 megapixel rear cameras, developed in collaboration with Leica. The main one uses A 1 inch Sony type sensor (IMX989) combined with a variable opening lens f/1.9 – f/4.0. This allows users to better control their renderings, especially with regard to the depth of field.

Xiaomi is not the first manufacturer of smartphones to market smartphones with variable opening objectives. Samsung has ahead of it with the series Galaxy S9, before abandoning it in the following generations. But the S9 had a much smaller sensor.

In addition to this module, the 13 Ultra relies on an ultra-angle (122 °; f/1.8) which is also used to make macro photo. The other two offer respectively A 3.2X optical zoom (equivalent to a 75 mm focal length; f/1.8) and 5.2x (equivalent to a 120 mm focal length; f/3.0). All three are IMX858 and all sensors benefits from optical stabilization. As on the 13 pro, Xiaomi invites us to choose between vibrating Leica mode and Authentic mode.

Let’s start with the main sensor. We can blame him for a slightly cold rendering, but he is more realistic that in some competitors who favor excessive saturation. The shots are not lacking in details, Whether in terms of reliefs or skin textures. The reproduction of the lights is also successful, Even in low light. Indeed, the main sensor of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra manages to highlight the darkest areas without falling into excess.

Test Xiaomi 13 Ultra: the design and quality of a real photophone with a touch of power

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone surpasses the Xiaomi 13 Pro by offering an even more advanced technical configuration with 4 back photo sensors and an cutting -edge image processing, also having a more enduring battery. Based on an assumed camera design with a resumption of the textured aspect of digital devices, he wants to offer a photo experience as qualitative as possible the brand having collaborated with Leica, to benefit from excellent performance for the life of Every day as well as for games without forgetting the quality of its screen inherited from the pro version. We were able to try it for a while and here are our impressions.

Main technical characteristics:

• 6.73 inch AMOLED screen, 1440×3200 pixels 1-120 Hz
• Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• 12 GB of Extensible RAM
• 512 GB of non -extensible internal storage
• Quadruple photo sensor 50+50+50+50 megapixels
• 32 megapixel front sensor
• Fingerprint reader under the screen
• 5000 mAh battery compatible charging 90 watts, 50 watts wireless load and inverted
• Operating system: Android 13 with a MIUI 14 software overlay

Design

The design of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is, like the pro version, particularly remarkable. Indeed, if it is not the finest mobile of the plateau, far from it with its 9.06 mm profile against 8.4 mm for the Xiaomi 13 Pro, this version is distinguished by its “device photo “. He takes up the textured coating of the digital reflex cameras, thus not sliding between your fingers when taking it in hand. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is not a small model. It is larger than the Xiaomi 13 Pro but less wide than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It is however lighter than its South Korean competitor since it offers a weight of 277 grams against 233 grams. Remember that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is 240 grams. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is still quite unbalanced and do not hesitate to take it in both hands.

Indeed, in his back, there is a imposing block of optics which is part of a circle exceeding the rest of the back device. Besides, as for Take the codes of the designs of cameras a little more, Note the slight dropout to present a slightly thicker part than the other, at the level of the circle. To return to balance, in portrait mode, the mobile tends to go back if you do not hold it high enough with one hand. Otherwise, the grip is excellent and we appreciate the rounded profiles. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra competes with the Honor Magic5 Pro, recognized for the quality of its photos and its design, in particular but also the Google Pixel 7 Pro which offers very beautiful photos also. These last two are lighter than the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and the Mobile Honor also has a large circle at the rear but is not as unbalanced as the Smartphone Xiaomi.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is offered in black or green. This is the first version we were able to try. The photo sensor block is also black with a golden border as if to bring a small touch of class. Aesthetically, the mobile is very successful and clearly inspires the high end. As its rank requires it, it benefits from an IP68 certification meaning that it is completely waterproof to water as well as dust.
On the right profile, there is the button to stand up and double button to manage the volume. On the upper profile, there are two microphones, a speaker as well as a infrared transmitter. This element is present on all the mobiles of the brand, as well as their cousins, the Poco allowing to transform the phone into a universal remote control. It’s extremely practical and can make life easier. Finally, on the lower profile, There is a second speaker, The USB-C connector, a third microphone and the SIM card drawer. This can contain two simultaneously but does not accept a micro SD memory card to extend the internal storage capacities of the phone. Unfortunately, The smartphone is not compatible with ESIM technology. The chassis is made of metal revealing the antennas which are installed on the whole of the mobile.

The fingerprint reader is installed under the screen. It is ideally positioned, 3.5 cm from the lower edge, which avoids gymnastics of the thumb to identify its owner. Professor and effective, we have found nothing to complain about on this element that has always closed the road to other fingers than those of our tester. Note that he is possible to measure the heart rate of a user from the fingerprint reader, such as Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12t Pro, for example.
The sound proposed by the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is stereo, which is always a good thing. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the music produced by the device. Indeed, the sound is imbued with a certain dynamism with an appreciable tonal balance. There are a few bass attempts and you can enjoy clear voice, perfectly intelligible, even at low volume.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is Wi-Fi 6th compatible, For the best performance today with the support of 5G networks, the NFC as well as Bluetooth. Like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, it will be able to go to Wi-Fi 7 When the corresponding update is available.

A very beautiful screen on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, even brighter than on the pro version

While the screen of the Xiaomi 13 Pro takes the screen of the Xiaomi 12 pro but more bright, on paper, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers similar characteristics. It displays a maximum definition of 1440 x 3200 pixels which can be lower, to limit the consumption of the battery and increase the autonomy. The screen is 6.73 inches diagonally with curved side edges, without chromatic drift observed. Recall that the Honor Magic5 Pro screen offers the 4 curved sides. This allows you to offer an excellent grip. The brand claims maximum brightness of 2,600 cd/m² against 1900 cd/m² for the Xiaomi 13 pro. These measurements are made in the brightest mode which does not offer the best color fidelity.
The screen is of the LPTO type which means that it is possible to automatically vary the refresh frequency between 1 and 120 Hz, Depending on the application in use in order to find the best compromise between fluidity of scrolls and energy consumption. As on the Xiaomi 13 pro, the touch sampling rate is 240 Hz, which is not exceptional, but may be sufficient in the games. To have more, you have to look at the Gaming smartphones, more specialized in this field and offering better responsiveness. The Xiaomi 13 Uitra screen is compatible with formats HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, For platforms that offer them. The display surface is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus technology, against Victus 2 on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Xiaomi offers free replacement up to 6 months after the date of purchase.

The brightness offered by the Xiaomi 13 Ultra screen is completely satisfactory to use the device in full sun, outdoors and it is also very pleasant, not tiring when it comes to using it in the shadow. A reading mode is offered to limit eye fatigue. There are 3 colored diagrams: lively, saturated, original colors (pro) and an advanced parameter menu allows you to choose the range of colors used between original, P3 or SRGB. Note the possibility of activating a function that adapts the colors, depending on the ambient lighting. The definition can be set over 1080×2400 pixels so as not to consume too much or on 1440×3200 pixels for better readability. It is possible to adjust the refresh frequency on the automatic mode or to block it on 60 or 120 Hz, if necessary. Thanks to its processor, the device can optimize the rendering of images and videos thanks to artificial intelligence. We can in particular count on the function Super resolution to improve videos, IA improvement in IA and IA HDR improvement to manage the dark and clear areas of the photos.

Android 13 with an overlay and some installed applications

Exactly like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone is animated by the Google Android 13 system with a software overlay MIUI version 14 At the time of our test. The security update dates from early May while updating the Google Play system dates from the beginning of June which is quite recent and thus makes it possible to be as protected as possible. Of the 512 GB available on our test model, after the necessary updates, The system occupies just over 30 GB, as on the Xiaomi 13 Pro.

Navigation by gestures through menus and applications is possible. During the configuration, we have the choice of the launcher to offer an interface that brings together all the applications in a virtual drawer or presents them on the home pages. The multitasking manager always presents applications aligned vertically (in the sense of height) rather than horizontally on all other smartphones. We appreciate having several functions present there, much more than on the other overlay. It is thus possible to activate floating windows, surface or in -depth cleaning tools of the system, launch a safety analysis or finally access the parameters to manage applications. A search engine is also present to analyze applications, registered documents, contacts, etc.

As on all the other mobiles of the brand, sliding the finger from the left side of the punch of the front photo sensor, we draw the notifications and by making the same gesture from the right side, we make the shortcuts appear as well as the screen light management tool. Among the special functions, in addition to sidebar and floating windows, It is also possible to enjoy a Second secure space To protect prying eyes certain applications or documents. A front camera assistant is also available to provide additional features with the sensor installed at the front of the device.
The smartphone is delivered with Several preinstalled applications : Booking.com, Facebook, files by Google, Getapps, LinkedIn, Netflix, Opera, Snapchat, Solitaire, Spotify, Tiktok or WPS Office. Of course, there are also MI (music, video, browser) applications as well as those of Google. Like the brand’s other mobiles, but also the Poco models, advertisements arise when installing an application or launch of some of them, for example. Very regularly, notifications, not always relevant arise. It’s a bit unpleasant, let’s be honest, but there are methods so as not to see them.

Performance at the rendezvous, but a slight overheating also

Like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, to function, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It is also the same processor which is at the heart of the Honor Magic5 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Pro while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a distinct version of the chip, specially optimized to offer increased performance, especially for certain features. Even with the “classic” version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers excellent performance. He is associated with 12 GB of RAM which allows him to run many applications in background tasks and to be able to come back extremely quickly. As on the Xiaomi 13 pro, we can add 3, 5 or 7 GB of additional virtual RAM, if applicable. The option is offered in a menu which, in our view, is not the best chosen because they are available within the additional settings function. With such a configuration, the smartphone reacts extremely quickly. Applications launch with a disconcerting velocity And we go from one to the other in no time. The animations are performed with extreme speed. During our test phase, we have not noticed any slowdown. The mobile has always been responsive and ready to respond to the least of our requests.
There is no problem playing video games With the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers, indeed, the possibility of displaying the best graphics while not sacrificing playability.
Like all other smartphones tested, we have submitted it to several performance measurement tools of which here are the main results (cold). Subject to the test, the telephone temperature remains moderate. This is due to the integration of elements to limit overheating.
The use of the processor is rather regular, which is always a good thing.

What’s worth in photography ?

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is compatible with the Wideline L1 standard, therefore able to read content with high definition quality from the different streaming platforms. It is compatible with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision video formats to appreciate the films and series offered via certain services to their fair value. It is specified in the Netflix application. He Supports VP9, ​​AVC-High, HEVC and AV1 codecs.
For photos and videos, Xiaomi still has its partnership with Leica. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is equipped with 3 sensors against 4 here. The latter has a 1 inch Sony IMX989 sensor with variable opening with not 2 other Sony IMX858 sensors but 3 other Sony IXM858. The first is dedicated to ultra -wide angle shots opening to f/1.8 while the other two offer focal lengths Equivalent of 75 mm and 125 mm for 3.2x and 5x optical zooms. We can count on the profocus function which allows to keep the sharpness on objects or characters in motion. Thanks to the partnership with Leica, we are entitled to the two photographic styles: Authentic Leica and Vibrating Leica. Filters are also applicable as well as filigranes like Leica. Authentic Leica mode makes it possible to obtain a natural colorimetric rendering as we could benefit from it with a leica summicron optics. The Leica Vibrant mode offers, for its part, bright colors while being realistic.
The camera application interface is classic. We are entitled to several options at the top of the screen, in particular with the possibility of activating HDR mode, artificial intelligence and the two Leica modes. The Google Lens option is also available. Below, there is the framing area with immediately accessible zoom levels: 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3.2x and 5x. To go further, just make a movement of the fingers. Several shooting methods are available: documents, video, photo, portrait, night and more. In this last menu, there are other modes: 50mp, panorama, short film, slow motion, accelerated, long exposure, supermoon, fast photo and fashion director. It is possible to customize the interface by moving one of these modes with the others to access them faster, if necessary.

The photos we were able to take with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra are very beautiful and particularly detailed. Indeed, the main variable opening sensor produces images with bright colors and excellent precision. The contours of objects are very good. We are also entitled to a very good dive with a particularly homogeneous and extremely pleasant rendering.
During views at night, the colorimetry is a little more delicate, but we appreciate the ability of the device to light the dark areas, without spoiling the details and without too much noise. We appreciate the rather soft treatment which is applied to the images produced under these conditions. Ultra-angle photos also benefit from very good colorimetry with beautiful exhibitions.

Zoom is very appreciable and stabilization is satisfactory. The result compared with the Google Pixel 7 Pro is less clear with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The zoom at 120x is really unusable here even if we can recognize the application of a certain contrast, but slightly less pronounced than on the mobile google or on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The independent DXOMARK laboratory awarded the score of 140 Be as much as the Google Pixel 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra against 146 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max and 147 for the Google Pixel 7 Pro while at the time of writing these lines, it is the Huawei P60 Pro which is considered the best photophone in the world by dxomark.

Finally, note that for the video part, the device is capable of filming with a maximum ultra HD 8K definition at 24 images per second (30 images per second for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) and we appreciate the possibility of capturing scenes at Dolby vision format up to ultra HD at 60 frames per second, this time, which is far from being common and allowing to appreciate its content on the compatible screen.

Good autonomy but a slow load

The integrated battery within the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is 5000 mAh Against 4820 mAh for the Xiaomi 13 Pro but offers the same capacity as that of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Google Pixel 7 Pro while the Honor Magic5 Pro uses a unit of 5100 mAh. We were able to hold a day and a half with a single load for a rather moderate use. It’s pretty satisfactory. For the load, the ultra version offers a maximum power of 90 watts Against 120 watts supported by the 13 pro. This results in the possibility of going from 20 % to 54 % in 15 minutes with the power supply provided in the box. Note, like all high -end mobiles, the possibility of recharging it wirelessly and using the inverted load, if necessary.

Box contents

Smartphone Xiaomi 13 Ultra comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, a power supply, a black plastic protective shell and an extraction tool for the SIM card drawer.

Our opinion

Far from being the best value for money on the market, the Xiaomi 13 ultra clearly relied on its photo capabilities but ultimately does not manage to offer better than competition despite a most advanced configuration. The photos are of excellent quality, in different circumstances. We also appreciate the very strong brightness of its screen, curved, very well refreshed and which also knows how to limit itself in the darkness. The performances are indeed there and the appreciable autonomy. Its design is remarkable but it is necessary to take into account the fact that it is relatively heavy, like most high -end mobiles however, and slightly unbalanced. It remains to have the budget because it is one of the most expensive mobiles on the market, excluding folding model.

Opinion of Internet users

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Xiaomi 13 Ultra test: what is the high -end smartphone of Xiaomi worth ?

With its Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the brand wants to show its know-how in high-end smartphones. To achieve this, Xiaomi pushes all the sliders as much as possible by betting on a technical sheet without compromise and a photo partnership with Leica to make it the “ultimate photophone”. Promises ? Here are some answers thanks to the first tests carried out by our 01LAB.

01net’s opinion.com

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

• + Unique design
• + IP68 certification
• + Perfect screen
• + Advanced performance
• + Very versatile camera block

• – Video reading autonomy
• – The front camera
• – Perfectible quality of videos
• – The price

Writing note

Note published on 07/05/2023

Technical sheet

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

System	Android 13
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Size (diagonal)	6.73 “
Screen resolution	524 PPP

See the full file

After an ultra Xiaomi 11 which made a little too much and an Xiaomi 12s ultra which was not marketed in Europe, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra arrives in our regions to put everyone in agreement. With this smartphone, the Chinese brand has clearly in the viewfinder of smartphones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the iPhone 14 Pro Max, to name a few. A product that wants to be uncompromising and is offered at a high price: € 1499.90.

An impressive technical sheet

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is not in lace when it comes to showing the muscles through an impressive technical sheet. Qualcomm’s latest high -end chip is there, as is the 6.73 -inch Amoled XXL screen and its 120 Hz refresh rate.

The 5000 mAh battery and IP68 certification are expected on a high -end product, but the fast load of 90W and the charger included in the box are good surprises of which Samsung and Apple cannot boast.

But the salt of this phone comes from of course its impressive camera block which has four modules of 50 Mpx for a photo experience which promises to be very promising. We still test this part in depth and reserve our opinion for the final verdict of this test.

Our opinion on the “Premium” design of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra

With its 6.7 inch diagonal, its 9.1 mm thick, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a smartphone that imposes it. These 227 g on the scale make you not forget it in the pocket, but it remains lighter than the S23 Ultra (234 g) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 g). However, its 20: 9 format all in length offers a rather pleasant handling with a hand. The curved screen on the sides as well as the fine aluminum slices are also for many.

The “vegan” leather back (plastic) is very classy and particularly pleasant to the touch. But, the most striking element of design is obviously the huge circular camera block on which the different modules are arranged. The golden border which is all around shows that Xiaomi completely assumes the “photophone” side of the product, without trying to hide the sensors.

The back of the phone “climbs” to thicken just before arriving at the level of the camera block. This gives a little more “grip” to the product. Yes, the phone is much thicker on its upper part and no, it is no exception to being wobbly when used on a flat surface.

The distribution of weight is unfortunately not ideal. The camera block weighs clearly and we tend to want to keep the phone a little higher, for a better balance in hand. Unfortunately, the index quickly runs up to the camera block, leaving a few fingerprints in passing ..

The buttons on the right edge fall under the thumb, the fingerprint reader on the screen is very reactive and the phone is certified IP68, offering it excellent resistance to water and dust.

It is clear that the design of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is very successful, both to the eye and to touch. Its imitation leather back and its camera block make it a smartphone with a unique design that is inspired by that of Leica devices, while remaining singular.

A perfect screen

We will not go by four paths to qualify the screen of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra: he borders on perfection. Its 6.7 -inch diagonal and its definition of 3200 x 1440 pixels offer it a comfortable resolution of 522 ppp. Like any amoled screen, blacks are deep and infinite contrast. It benefits from LTPO technology which allows a dynamic refresh rate which goes from 1 to 120 Hz depending on the content displayed.

Screen: the XIOAMI 13 Ultra in the face of competition

Refresh frequency color loyalty (delta e 2000 average) screen brightness
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Color fidelity is exemplary with a medium delta e measured at 1.76. As a reminder, a score below 3 is considered very good and getting closer to zero is synonymous with excellence. In short, the default colors of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra are natural and perfectly calibrated.

The average light level measured at 1094 cd/m2 is more or less the same as that of all other high -end smartphones in our comparison. Remember that the screen will remain perfectly readable in all light conditions. Reactive screen, perfect colors, high brightness, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra screen all the high -end smartphone boxes.

Advanced performance

With a high -end snapdragon 8 gen 2 chip, 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage with a UFS 4 chip.0, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra presents itself as an extremely powerful smartphone. This is verified in use with an interface and a multitasking that offers exemplary fluidity.

On the Benchmarks Antutu and Geekbench, the smartphone plays elbows with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, equipped with the same chip. The two phones clearly play in the big leagues and should offer excellent performance to their users for many years. We are no less expecting on mobiles sold at this price.

Antutu: Xioami 13 Ultra in the face of competition

Antutu benchmark 9 score antutu benchmark 9 cpu antutu benchmark 9 gpu antutu benchmark 9 mem
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Geekbench: the XIOAMI 13 Ultra in the face of competition

Geekbench 5 multi-core score geekbench 5 single-core score
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

In terms of graphic performance, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra also shines with an excellent 3DMARK score and the best stability of our comparison of the day. Indeed, the Chinese brand’s smartphone manages to maintain 83.3 % of the performance of its SoC when it is strongly requested.

3dmark and temperature: the XIOAMI 13 Ultra in the face of competition

3dmark Wild Life Best Loop Score 3dmark Wild Life Stability Amplitude
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

The other good news is that this does not translate into excessive heating from the Xiaomi 13 Ultra over time. In our laboratory tests, we have measured an amplitude of temperature of 19 ° C, less than those of the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

We also played in Genshin Impact for 30 minutes with graphics on “medium” at 60 i/s. Under these conditions, the game is perfectly fluid and the smartphone does not heat excessively.

Autonomy: disappointment

At this stage of our test, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra resembles the perfect smartphone. Unfortunately, this table is tarnished by a disappointing autonomy. However, the phone is equipped, like most of its competitors, with a 5000 mAh battery. Qualcomm SOC is also well optimized, as the S23 Ultra has proven us.

Autonomy and load: the XIOAMI 13 Ultra in the face of competition

Capacity of battery autonomy in Video Video Polyvalent Autonomous Handling Time
Xiaomi 13 Ultra 5000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5000 mAh
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 4323 Mah
Honor Magic 5 PRO 5100 MAH
Google Pixel 7 PRO 5000 MAH

With only 10 h 52 minutes at our video autonomy test, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the worst student of this comparison. The observation is similar in versatile autonomy where the smartphone does better than the Google Pixel 7 Pro, but worse than the other three high -end smartphones competing.

In everyday use, this results in a large day of use with the screen set to the Full HD definition+. If you choose WQHD+, the battery will inevitably be more stressed.

Regarding the load speed, we continue our tests before pronouncing ourselves, but the 90W charger present in the box is already very promising.

A loaded interface

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra turned on Android 13 with the manufacturer’s MII 14 overlay. As we have repeatedly repeated in our Xiaomi smartphones tests, personalization is one of the strengths of the interface. You can choose from two navigation systems, three types of display for the home screen, but also two ways to present the notifications and the control center.

We also salute the absence of advertisements in native applications which has long been a signature of the brand. On the other hand, we still do not resolve to see so many partner applications preinstalled on a phone at 1500 euros: Netflix, Opera, YouTube Music, YouTube, Facebook, Tiktok, LinkedIn, Spotify, Snapchat, Booking, WPS Office, etc. Yes, you can uninstall them, but we would once again have gone well from this tedious step.

Photo: Xiaomi sees things big

As its huge camera blocks stamped Leica, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra counts on its photo qualities to convince. This “ultra” model takes up part of the photo configuration of the Xiaomi 13 Pro, while offering larger openings as well as an additional telephoto lens. Here is the complete configuration:

• Grand angle of 50 MP (Sony IMX989) 1 inch, 23 mm equivalent, variable opening between f/1.9 and f/4 (without landing).
• Ultra-large 50 MP (Sony IMX858), 12 mm equivalent, f/1.8 opening.
• Telephoto of 50 Mpx (Sony IMX858), 75 mm equivalent (zoom x3.2), f/1.8 opening.
• Second telephoto lens of 50 Mpx (Sony IMX858), 125 mm equivalent (zoom x5), f/3 opening.
• Modula front camera of 32 MP, 22 mm equivalent, opening f/2.

Great angle and ultra-large angle

The main module takes photos in 12.5 Mpx thanks to Pixel-Binning 4 in 1 technology. The variable opening does not offer a landing, but lets the user choose between three modes: f/1.9, f/4.0, or automatic. An interesting option for amateur photographers who like to have a little more control. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will also let you choose between the “vibrating” mode or the “Authentic” mode. We chose the first which offers more bright colors.

Ultra-large-angle photos: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

The ultra-large-angle module captures quality shots, with a perfectly adjusted white balance and a good restitution of details in the center of the image. In the angles, the distortion is mastered, but we can see an effect of vagueness appeared due to a loss of details.

Grand-angle photos: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

The main module (Grand-Angle) borders on perfection with bright colors, an HDR mode that leads to shadow zones without doing too much and a balance of whites with small onions, as the clouds of a brilliant white can testify.

Grand-angle photos, close plan: Xiaomi 13 ultra left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

Macro photos are provided by the ultra-large-angle which manages to restore a very good level of details while applying an aesthetic background blur, even if it cafes a little on the petals at the bottom.

Zoom

Photos Zoom Optique X2: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

The two teleoofjects of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offer three levels of optical zoom: x2, x3.2 and x5. In these three scenarios, the Chinese brand smartphone is exemplary. Colorimetric continuity is ensured and the level of detail is preserved, to the point of being able to read inscriptions on the barges in the distance.

Photos Zoom Optique X5: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

Photos Zoom Optique X10: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

We have also tested the X10 zoom, which is this time digital. Unsurprisingly, the result is less convincing than a telephoto dedicated to this exercise as can offer the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The result is completely correct provided you don’t have fun zooming a little more in the image.

Portrait and selfie

Photo in portrait mode: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

With the different portrait modes signed Leica, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra allows you to express its creativity. The phone simulates several focal lengths such as “35 mm documentary” or “75 mm portrait”. The photo above was taken with the default portrait mode.

The rendering is unfortunately not always convincing. The fault of a hazardous clutch and a very artificial background blur.

Photo selfie from the Xiaomi 13 Ultra: Without Portrait mode on the right, with on the left.

The egoportraits captured with the 32 MP selfie camera restore the skin shades and the colors, but tend to be overexposed in good light conditions. In addition, the clipping of the portrait mode sometimes encounters some difficulties, as you can see on the back of the t-shirt pass.

By night

Night photo: Xiaomi 13 Ultra on the left, Sony Xperia 1 V on the right.

At night, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is doing very well, but does not impress. The break time is logically extended when the light is missing, to restore a maximum of details. The result is satisfactory, nothing more. Some competitors are much more comfortable in this exercise.

Video

The phone is able to film up to 8k to 24 fps for a “cinema” rendering. In the example above, in 4K to 30 i/s, there is effective stabilization, but also the presence of artifacts at the level of the sky which creates a very aesthetic block effect.

Xiaomi 13 ultra radar synthesis

The above graph sums up the results of Xiaomi 13 ultra technical tests Made by our 01LAB. The gray area represents the average of the results of other smartphones between 1000 and 2000 € that we have tested in the past 12 months.

Price and release date of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The Xioami 13 Ultra is available for sale in France in a single configuration with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. The smartphone is sold at the recommended price of € 1499.90 on the brand’s official website, but also at many online resellers. Two colors are offered: black and green.

Technical sheet

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

System	Android 13
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Size (diagonal)	6.73 “
Screen resolution	524 PPP

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• + Unique design
• + IP68 certification
• + Perfect screen
• + Advanced performance
• + Very versatile camera block

• – Video reading autonomy
• – The front camera
• – Perfectible quality of videos
• – The price

The verdict of the test

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

After several days in his company, we can say that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a concentrate of the brand’s know-how in terms of ultra-priemium smartphone. Design is a real success, the screen is superb and the performances are there.

In photo, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra impresses. The main camera module takes pictures close to perfection and its telephotive modules allow you to zoom in by keeping an excellent quality level. We regret that the front camera and the video part are not of the same level.

Autonomy is good, but we stayed on our hunger concerning its endurance in video reading. We can also pest against the presence of too many default applications, which is not really justified on a phone of this caliber.

Finally, the question of price remains. At € 1499.90, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is clearly not intended for everyone, but only to wealthy technophiles. The Chinese brand will probably not sell pallets, but sends a strong message to competition: it is now necessary to count with Xiaomi on the very high -end.

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