Xiaomi has finally unveiled the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, a camera monster that packs some of the best technology we have seen on a smartphone. Sure, it is just an upgraded version of the Xiaomi 13 Pro, but the upgrades that it does bring are good enough to make it an entirely separate phone, to begin with.
Let's not waste time and get right into it. Xiaomi 13 Ultra's biggest selling point is its 50-megapixel main camera, the phone uses the 1-inch Sony IMX98 sensor. However, it is not any ordinary sensor as this one actually has a variable aperture. You can go from f/1.9 to f/4.0 using the sensor—a feature we also might see in the Galaxy S24 Ultra that will release next year.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra is a proof that smartphone manufacturers can no longer lazy around with their cameras
A larger sensor means that you are getting a lot more light, and with a variable aperture, you can effectively control how much light you can get. Sadly, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's camera can only go from f/1.9 to f/4.0. This means that the apertures that are in the middle are not available. Still, it is an impressive implementation that would result in the user being able to take some really nice pictures with shallow depth of field or pictures that are tack sharp, provided what your preference is.
On the back, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra also has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor for ultra-wide shots with a 122-degree field of view. There is a duo of 50-megapixel telephoto lenses, one at 75mm (2.5x) telephoto and the other at 120mm (5x) telephoto zoom. Both these sensors have a maximum aperture of f/3.0, and of course, the phone features Leica optics for those who are looking for them.
However, cameras are not the only selling point here. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra also brings a 6.73-inch 120Hz QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display, as rumored before, the display can go as high as 2,600 nits, making it the brightness display on any smartphone. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a choice of either 12 or 16 gigs of RAM, and storage up to 1TB. Powering the device is a 5,000 mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging support. Xiaomi has added USB 3.2, offering better transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be available in olive green, white, and black with a synthetic leather finish for those wondering about the pricing and availability. We do expect a global launch with €1,299 but at the moment, there are no details of the phone coming out of China.
