February 26, 2023, 10:12 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
In December 2022, Xiaomi announced a new smartphone, which soon appeared on the domestic Chinese market. Now, the Xiaomi 13 series, including the standard model, a Pro version, and a Lite variant, is coming to Germany, as the manufacturer announced at MWC 2023. TECHBOOK was on site.
Under the motto “Behind the masterpiece,” Xiaomi presented its Xiaomi 13 Series in Europe on February 26, 2023, at the MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona. The focus is clearly on the two flagship models, the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The Chinese manufacturer also offers a scaled-down version with the Xiaomi 13 Lite. Unlike the previous year, the company did not introduce a new X model.
Overview
What the new Xiaomi 13 series offers
The Xiaomi 13 itself features a 6.36-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz. The Pro version, on the other hand, has a 6.73-inch AMOLED display (3200 x 1440 pixels).
Inside the smartphones, Qualcomm’s high-end chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, is at work. This chip is also used in a slightly modified version in Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series. The Xiaomi 13 offers several firsts. Not only is it, along with the Pro version, the first Xiaomi phone with a Leica camera, but it also marks the first Xiaomi smartphone with an IP68 certification. While dust and water protection is now standard with other manufacturers, Xiaomi devices, based in Beijing, previously lacked this feature.
The extremely narrow bezel of the devices, measuring 1.61 millimeters, is striking. The battery capacity, however, is average at 4500 mAh and 4820 mAh (Pro).
The Lite version also features an AMOLED display, but it measures 6.55 inches (2400 x 1080 pixels) and offers only 128 GB of internal storage, compared to the 256 GB of the flagship models. However, the Xiaomi 13 Lite is significantly cheaper at 499 euros compared to its siblings, priced at 999 euros and 1299 euros, respectively.
In cooperation with Leica, the camera is the star
Since many details about the Xiaomi 13 Series were already known due to its earlier release in China, there were few surprises at the European launch at MWC 2023. Camera enthusiasts, however, will be pleased that the models are now available here. In the smartphone manufacturers’ arms race, Xiaomi is partnering with Leica for the camera. Due to the tightening of sanctions against Huawei and the resulting decline in smartphone sales, Leica lost a long-term partner in Europe. Xiaomi is now filling that gap.
The collaboration with Leica is particularly noticeable in the standard and Pro models of the Xiaomi 13. Both variants come with a triple camera with optical lenses. The Xiaomi 13 features an optical zoom range of 0.6 to 3.2, a wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle camera, and a telephoto lens. The Xiaomi 13 Pro also offers wide and ultra-wide-angle lenses, along with the so-called floating telephoto camera.
While most lenses only have a movable lens group, the camera of the Xiaomi 13 Pro has a second lens group that can be shifted independently of the focus element. These lens groups are generally needed to focus the image accordingly. The new system, brought by Leica, allows focusing on objects just 10 centimeters away from the lens. Additionally, the Pro version offers a 50-MP sensor in the main camera, which, thanks to special modes and bright lenses, is supposed to allow high-quality images even at night.
In terms of software, Xiaomi has also upgraded the camera. The 13 (Pro) allows switching between two modes or styles: the Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look. Additional Leica-specific features include a corresponding watermark or the sound of a Leica camera shutter.
According to the manufacturer, the Xiaomi ProFocus Engine also improves shooting speed and enables both the user and the smartphone to automatically focus on specific moving subjects.
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Prices and availability of the Xiaomi 13
Starting March 8, the presented products will be available for purchase in Germany. The pre-sale phase begins on February 26 and runs until March 12, 2023. During this period, customers will receive the Instant Photo Printer 1S set from Xiaomi with their purchase.
The regular Xiaomi 13 is available in Black, White, and Flora Green with storage options of 8 GB + 256 GB for 999.90 euros. The Xiaomi 13 Pro, however, costs 1299.90 euros with 12 GB + 256 GB in Ceramic Black and Ceramic White. The price of the scaled-down Lite version of the Xiaomi 13 is 499.90 euros. It is available in Blue, Pink, and Black, each with 8 GB + 128 GB.
Also at MWC, the Chinese manufacturer introduced the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro, and the Electronic Scooter 4 Ultra.