Xiaomi 13 Pro: Impressive Camera, But Can It Stand Out In A Saturated Market?
After using the Xiaomi 13 Pro for a week, I've been pleasantly surprised by some aspects of the flagship smartphone, while being simultaneously disappointed by a few things.
At first glance, the Xiaomi 13 Pro left me underwhelmed, but after using it for a week, I was surprised by some of its features. We'll delve into the Xiaomi 13 Pro's design, battery, and camera capabilities in this review while assessing where it stands when compared to recent flagships from OnePlus and Samsung.
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Design and Performance
If you're expecting a radical Android redesign from Xiaomi, you will most definitely be disappointed. The 13 Pro's design is uninspired; and from the front, it looks no different from the OnePlus 11 5G or any other Android device in the flagship price range. The only thing separating the Xiaomi 13 Pro from its competitors is the camera tie-up with Leica, which we'll talk about later.
With dimensions of 162.99mm x 74.6mm x 8.38mm and weight of 229 grams, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is a joy to hold... if you have a case on. Without the case, the phone's plasticky back not only makes it look cheap (I used the Ceramic White variant) but also makes it prone to slippage. If you're one with sweaty palms, you might want to skip this phone. This issue may be fixed by slipping on a case, for in terms of performance, the Xiaomi 13 Pro gives you the proper flagship experience and feels premium to use.
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I just wish Xiaomi were doing more to separate itself from what its sister brands are doing with their flagships in terms of design, and may be some more interesting colour offerings might help.
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The front screen is beautiful for browsing, watching films, and multitasking. No complaints there - the WQHD+ dynamic display is supported by the flagship standard 120Hz refresh rate to deliver a smooth and highly responsive experience.
Also read: OnePlus 11 5G Delivers Impressive Flagship Performance On A Budget
Multi-tasking ahoy!
Over a week, there was zero lag throughout the experience, which is a big deal considering I didn't close any apps even once, but that's just how powerful the Snapdragon 8 gen 2 chipset really is!
You can jump from games to social media to the camera quite quickly, once you get used to the MIUI experience, of course. When I first started using MIUI 14, I was frustrated by the two app stores constantly fighting for updates - to Xiaomi's credit, even Samsung does that, albeit not as persistently.
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Once you cut the clutter, disable a few stock apps, customise the phone according to your needs, the little annoyances quietly fade into the background and its strengths start to appear.
For instance, searching for an app is so easy. If you use an app for everything, this will come in very handy. As opposed to most Android UIs that prefer to keep the search bar on the top, the MIUI has it at the bottom, just like in iOS - and I absolutely love the speed it adds to my multitasking needs.
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Camera
Just like most flagships, the triple camera system on the Xiaomi 13 Pro from Leica can cover a series of focal lengths - be it ultra-wide angle (14mm), wide-angle (23mm), and telephoto shots (75mm). The main camera comes with the gigantic 1" IMX989 sensor and the impressive floating telephoto lens can bring clarity and crispness to far-off shots.
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Enter, the much-awaited Leica camera. When I first started using it after spending time with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, I set myself up for disappointment. But the camera is extremely smart - and delivers not only in terms of quality but also when it comes to shutter speed, processing, and its ability to retain the "pop" in colours.
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Also read: Everything About Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Screams 'Extra' And Rightly So!
1x / Indiatimes
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There are some minor noise issues that prevent Xiaomi 13 Pro from living up to its "Pro" moniker but nothing that can't be fixed with a few software updates. If you love Macro shots, nothing comes close to what Xiaomi has done on the 13 Pro and the portrait shots are also much better than what one sees on the OnePlus 11 5G and compare favourably to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as well.
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It's important to note here that the phone delivers a great camera experience at ?79,999 for the 12GB+256GB variant and not over a lakh rupees, which is far from what many of its competitors can say.
Battery
With 120w fast-charging capabilities and a 4,820 mAh battery, the phone can last you an entire day with moderate to somewhat heavy use.
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If you're glued to your device and game a lot, you might have to juice it up for the second time, which is not really an issue with Xiaomi's phenomenal charging speeds that fully charge the device in less than 25 minutes. Xiaomi recommends using the charger-in-the-box to get the maximum out of this device's charging capabilities. Mind you, the phone will heat up during fast-charging, as expected. But this heat doesn't replicate during usage.
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My verdict
If you're looking for an extremely versatile and high-performance camera without having to shell out over a lakh rupees, this is the right phone for you. Fast-charging capabilities and top-notch specs make the Xiaomi 13 Pro a formidable flagship this year... but a part of me just kept wanting more... may be from flagship smartphones in general, if not from Xiaomi 13 Pro - especially in terms of design. With latest offerings from Samsung and (somewhat) OnePlus also carrying a similarly great camera experience, choosing a phone based primarily on camera needs just got harder for 2023 buyers!
Are you planning to invest in a flagship this year? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
I live for all-things-technology - gadgets, novel climate solutions, and startups that are changing the game. In my leisurely hours, you can find me binge watching science fiction films, writing poetry, or dancing to pop anthems.
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