we expected the kick-off of MWC 2023 how entertaining this week is going to have us, and the Xiaomi 13 series has been in charge of breaking the ice. Thus, you are probably wondering if this generational change is deserving of such prominence. The answer to that question is really subjective, since it depends on the personal tastes and preferences of each one, but after giving a first review of its specifications and its images, and if this is a preview of what awaits us this week, I must say that the Barcelona fair aims to shine with its own light.
Actually, two of the members of the family have already known them since mid-December, which was the moment chosen by the brand to present the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, although at that time they debuted exclusively on the Chinese market, so we were still waiting for its worldwide release (or at least to reach our country). The only model of which we still do not know its specifications is the Xiaomi 13 Lite, although in reality it should speak in the past tense, since they have finally been published by Xiaomi. So, let’s start by reviewing the specifications of the two top of the range and seeing those of the “small” of the family.
Xiaomi 13 series: technical specifications
| xiaomi 13lite | Xiaomi 13 | xiaomi 13 Pro | |
| Screen | AMOLED 6.55-inch FullHD+ (2,400 x 1,080 dots, 20:9), up to 120 hertz, up to 1,000 nits, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | AMOLED 6.36-inch FullHD+ (2,400 x 1,080 dots, 20:9), up to 120 hertz, up to 1,900 nits, Pro HDR Display, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | AMOLED 6.73-inch WQHD+ (3,200 x 1,440 dots, 20:9), up to 120 hertz, up to 1,900 nits, Pro HDR Display, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| SoC | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8 gigabyte LPDDR4x | 8 or 12 gigabyte LPDDR5x | 12 gigabyte LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 128 or 256 gigabyte UFS 2.2 | 256 gigabyte UFS 4 | 256 or 512 gigabyte UFS 4 |
| connectivity | 5G, WiFi 6, NFC, geopositioning, USB-C | 5G, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, geopositioning, USB-C | 5G, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, geopositioning, USB-C |
| Battery | 4,500 milliamps with 67-watt fast charging | 4,500 milliamps with 67-watt fast charging | 4,820 milliamps with 120-watt fast charging |
| OS | Android 12 with MIUI 14 | Android 13 with MIUI 14 | Android 13 with MIUI 14 |
| main chamber | Three elements: wide angle (86either) Sony IMX766 50 megapixel f/1.8, ultra wide angle (119either) Sony IMX355 8 megapixel f/2.2, macro (82either) 2 megapixel f/2.4 | Three elements: Leica 23mm 54-megapixel f/1.8 wide-angle, Leica 75mm 10-megapixel f/2.0 telephoto, Leica 15mm 12-megapixel ultra-wide f/2.2 | Three elements: Leica 23mm 50-megapixel f/1.9 wide-angle, Leica 75mm 50-megapixel f/2.0 telephoto, Leica 14mm 50-megapixel ultra-wide f/2.2 |
| Frontal camera | Two elements: ultra wide angle (100either) 32 megapixel f/2.4, 8 megapixel depth sensor | Wide angle (89.6either) 32 megapixel f/2.0 | Wide angle (89.6either) 32 megapixel f/2.0 |
| Dimensions and weight | 159.2 x 72.7 x 7.23 millimeters, 171 grams | 152.8 x 71.5 x 7.98 millimeters, 189 grams | 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.38 millimeters, 229 grams |
As you can clearly see from the first glance, on the one hand we have the 13 Lite model and on the other the 13 and 13 Pro, which share an important part of their specifications. So, we’re going to review them that way, first the most basic model, and then the other two together.
xiaomi 13lite
Finally The rumor that we echoed a few weeks ago has been confirmed and which pointed out that this 13 Lite would be the first smartphone with Android that would have a Dynamic Island in the style of the iPhone 14 Pro. And it is precisely in that location where we find one of the most striking novelties of this model, but already We will get to that by reviewing its photographic section, which is one of its strong points.
The first thing we see of this Xiaomi 13 Lite is its generous screen, built with a panel 6.55-inch AMOLED with FullHD + resolution, more specifically 2,400 x 1,080 points in a 20: 9 aspect ratio. Its refresh rate can scale up to 120 hertz, its brightness peak is 1,000 nits, with a standard value of 500 nits and, to guarantee image quality, it is compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. And you can rest easy if it falls to the ground, since its screen is protected with Gorilla Glass 5. Its image quality is complemented by the sound quality, since it is compatible with Dolby Atmos.
Once inside we find a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, a SoC presented in May of last year and aimed at the intersection of the medium and high ranges, and which integrates a CPU made up of four Kryo cores at 2.4 gigahertz. It is accompanied by oreight gigabytes of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 or 256 gigabytes of UFS 2.2 storage. As you can see, we do not find state-of-the-art elements, but they are capable of offering very good performance with a fairly contained price.
We could say the same about its connectivity, except in the cellular section, as we find 5G, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, along with NFC and compatibility with the main satellite positioning networks. Of course, it has a USB-C port for data, audio and wired battery charging, which has a capacity of 4,500 milliamps and allows fast charging of up to 67 watts.
As previously indicated, when talking about this Xiaomi 13 Lite, the brand focuses on its photographic section, stating that it is a device especially aimed at a younger audience, for which the photo and video functions are a key element. of smartphones. Thus, we find a main chamber composed of three elements: a wide angle (86either) SonyIMX766 50 megapixels with f / 1.8 number, an ultra wide angle (119either) SonyIMX355 8-megapixel f/2.2 camera and a macro lens (82either) of 2 megapixels with number f / 2.4.
For its front camera, the Xiaomi 13 Lite integrates two elements, which explain the adoption of the dynamic island and that, according to the company, significantly improve the quality of the images obtained with it. In the dynamic island of this Xiaomi we find an ultra-wide angle main sensor (100either) of 32 megapixels with f / 2.4 number accompanied by an 8 megapixel depth sensor that will surely be especially effective in capturing close-ups with the background out of focus.
The Xiaomi 13 Lite will go on sale in Spain during next march and its price will start from 499 euro.
Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro
We are now going with the two top of the range of this new generation, two smartphones that share part of their specifications, but are sufficiently differentiated from each other, and even more so from the 13 Lite. Let’s see what they offer by focusing on the differences between the two.
The first is found with the naked eye, that is, by looking at their screens. The 13 is 6.36-inch AMOLED with FullHD + resolution (2,400 x 1,080 dots with a 20:9 aspect ratio), while that of the 13 Pro uses the same AMOLED technology but scales up to 6.73 inches, its resolution is WQHD + (3,200 x 1,440 points and the same 20:9 aspect ratio as its series mates). Both models share their adaptive frequency of up to 120 hertzits compatibility with Pro HDR Display, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG and protection with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. To complete the audiovisual experience, they integrate two stereo speakers and are compatible with Dolby Atmos.
If the 13 Lite opted for a medium-high range SoC, the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro go much further in this regard, since they are built around Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets, the current top of the range from Qualcomm. We also see differences with the Lite model in relation to the generations of RAM memory and storage technologies, since they are committed to LPDDR5x (8 or 12 gigabytes on the 13 and 12 on the 13 Pro) for RAM and UFS 4 (256 gigabytes on the 13 and 256 or 512 on the 13 Pro). Thus, these are the configurations available and their prices in Spain:
- Xiaomi 13 8/256GB.: €999.99.
- Xiaomi 13 12/256GB: €1,099.99.
- Xiaomi 13 Pro 12/256GB: €1,399.
- Xiaomi 13 Pro 12/512GB (this model will not arrive, at least in principle, in Spain).
There is no difference between the two models in the connectivity section, where again we see next-generation technologies, even some that are yet to come on a practical level. Of course they have 5G cellular connectivity that is accompanied, in the wireless section, by Wi-Fi 7Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and satellite positioning, along with the more than standardized USB-C port for data, audio and charging.
Yes, we found another difference between the two models when analyzing their batteries. The Xiaomi 13 has a 4,500 milliampere with fast charging of 67 watts, that is to say, similar to that found in the 13 Lite, while the 13 Pro uses a 4,820 milliampere with 120-watt fast chargethat is, with a little more capacity, but above all much faster.
Full stop when reviewing its photographic sections, because at this point Xiaomi has relied on Leica to provide a first-rate photographic (and video, it is understood) experience:
Xiaomi 13
- Leica wide angle equivalent to a 23 mm with a resolution of 54 megapixels and number f / 1.8.
- Leica telephoto lens equivalent to a 75 mm with a resolution of 10 megapixels and number f / 2.0.
- Ultra wide angle Leica equivalent to a 15 mm with a resolution of 12 megapixels and number f / 2.2.
xiaomi 13 Pro
- Leica wide angle equivalent to a 23 mm with a resolution of 50 megapixels and number f / 1.9.
- Leica telephoto lens equivalent to a 75 mm with a resolution of 50 megapixels and number f / 2.0.
- Ultra wide angle Leica equivalent to a 14 mm with a resolution of 50 megapixels and number f / 2.2.
As you can see, the 13 Pro is a beast in this regard, since each of its three sensors has a resolution of 50 megapixels. There are no differences between the two in terms of the front camera, a wide angle (FOV: 89.6either) of 32 megapixels with number f / 2.0.
The Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro will arrive in Spain next March 8but it is already possible to pre-purchase them on the Xiaomi website.
