© Lemon squeezer
In the collective imagination, it is difficult to remove the image of Xiaomias being the Chinese smartphone brand which offers many entry and mid-range options at good value for money. If the brand's sympathy capital is quite high for this reason, it seems that this is no longer enough for the manufacturer, who has decided to launch an ultra high-end whose exorbitant price is among the highest on the market.
Is its partnership with Leica to try to make it one of the best photophones on the market enough to justify a price such as the 1499.90 euros requested by Xiaomi for its 13 Ultra ?
Xiaomi put the little ones dishes in the big ones regarding the 13 Ultra! If it weren't so thin, at first glance it would pass for a camera rather than a smartphone. And it’s voluntary. The Chinese brand benefits from its partnership with the major photo brand Leicato use the visual identity of the models offered by the German manufacturer. The back of the smartphone is dressed in vegan leather with a relatively successful effect. If we find it a little hard, to the touch and lacking in relief, it will at least have the advantage of not showing any fingerprints, and to give confidence as to its durability over time.
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Another particularity of the rear part of the smartphone, it is asymmetrical, with a part including the’ impressive photo sensor which is raised. This does not interfere with the use of the Xiaomi 13 Ultraconcerning its ergonomics or weight distribution. This is even a rather intelligent point on the part of the Chinese manufacturer, given that, placed against a table, the enormous photo sensor will not rest entirely on this surface, risking scratching it. .
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The photo sensor, let's talk about it. While other manufacturers tend to integrate them perfectly into the shell of smartphones, Xiaomi has chosen to make it rather protruding, like the image of a camera. Ultimately a rather aesthetic choice, especially since it is topped with a beautiful golden edging for the most beautiful effect.
Obviously, the biggest interest of the Xiaomi 13 Pro lies in its photo part. Taking the usual pattern of current smartphones of 4 sensors, the Xiaomi smartphone uses the incredible Sony IMX989 sensor, the largest available on a smartphone, and which also equips the second best camera phone according to DxOMark, the Oppo Find X6 Pro. The difference is that Xiaomi has implemented a diaphragm, which allows you to modify the aperture, and therefore manage the depth of field. The other sensors are Sony IMX858. Together, they offer a smartphone that adapts to all situations, from ultra-wide-angle equivalent to 12mm, up to a telephoto lens equivalent to 120mm.
In ultra wide angle mode/© Presse-citron
Xiaomi has often had the bad habit of pushing the contrast of your photos a little too much, in order to make them more flattering to the eye. This time, the Leica Vibrant mode brings a slightly more natural touch to the photos. Whether in optimal lighting conditions or in more subdued interiors, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is comfortable everywhere.
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We will still note photos in macro mode which lack sharpness compared to what is done by the competition offering smartphones at similar prices. The front camera doesn't do too badly, provided you offer it optimal lighting conditions. If it is not the best cameraphone on the market in itself, this one comes very close.
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If there is something we weren't particularly expecting the Xiaomi 13 Ultra< /strong>, it's at the level of its speakers. There are two of them, these are certified Dolby Atmos. Whether on calls or listening to music, the two speakers work wonders. The sound offered is powerful, yet clear and distinct.
Only a very slight nasal touch is to be deplored in the highest power level. It's difficult to expect deep, powerful bass from a smartphone, but the Xiaomi 13 Ultra doesn't have much to be ashamed of on the subject. Overall, the smartphone surprises with its neat multimedia aspect.
With a 5000 mAh battery, it's hard to imagine fast charging. Fortunately, Xiaomi has equipped the 13 Ultra with a battery capable of handling 90 watts of charging. Besides, the charger is included with the smartphone, which is important to note in this day and age.
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Concretely, our test indicates that it takes 40 minutes to go from 20 to 100%, which is faster than what Samsung or Apple offer.
Without any exaggeration, Xiaomi's MIUI 14 overlay based on Android 13 is a real pain. The 13 Ultra is however equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the best current processor in the field of smartphones. Hardware-wise, Xiaomi's smartphone is almost flawless, except for its tendency to heat up a little too much for our taste. Where the problem lies is in the experience offered by the overlay from the Chinese manufacturer. Not having the latest Android features, we are however always blessed with bloatware, these useless applications installed without our consent, which we will then have to delete by hand.
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The menus and submenus of parameters also lack readability. The worst still remains the display of articles offered by the Mi Browser, on the smartphone's lock screen, activated by default.
Even if the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has arguments to put forward, it is difficult to say that the smartphone is the height of the price requested when we note its unpleasant software part and generally limited autonomy. It also suffers from comparison with a Samsung S23 Ultra or a iPhone 14 Pro Max, both being slightly cheaper. Their brands are also much more established in the very high-end sector.
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Wouldn't the 13 Ultra have been developed with the aim of premiumizing the brand, to then potentially get consumers used to paying more expensive smartphones Xiaomi? nbsp;? We will still salute the risk-taking and the know-how of the manufacturer in terms of materials. We also like the choice of partnership with Leica, in order to make it an excellent photophone, but also its high-end hardware which overall offers an excellent multimedia experience.
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