Xiaomi x Leica
Shutterbugs are delighted with the launch of Xiaomi 13 Pro in Singapore
When NXT had an exclusive review of the Xiaomi 12S series a few months back, we were impressed with the Leica camera system. Thankfully, the new Xiaomi 13 series is available for sale in Singapore in March and carries over the design elements that make the Xiaomi 12S Ultra an outstanding smartphone.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro camera system comprises three separate Leica Vario-Summicron lenses: a 23mm wide-angle main camera with an ultra-large 1-inch IMX989 sensor, a 75mm floating telephoto camera, as well as a 14mm ultra-wide angle camera, that covers focal lengths from 14mm to 75mm. First seen on Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the IMX989 sensor is the largest sensor ever incorporated into a smartphone.
The Leica influence is evident with the choice of two Leica modes – authentic and vibrant. There are also simulations of four Leica portrait lenses – 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/0.95, 75mm f/1.25 and 90mm f/2.2. You can apply Leica-tuned filters to elevate the images into expressions of premium art.
As you adjust the zoom across the entire range, the camera view switches from one lens to the other seamlessly. The image stabilisation is efficient in keeping the video shots stable even at an extended zoom range. With aperture sizes between f/1.9 and 2.2 among all three lenses, the image quality is consistent across the optical zoom range, capturing high dynamic range, superb light-capturing capabilities and fast responses. Vibrant images with distinct contrast and defined textures reveal fine details without excessive sharpening or undesired pixelations. Exposure is generally more conservative to prevent highlight clipping, and shadow areas achieve good detail. The camera hits a maximum hybrid zoom range of 70x, which is not as far-reaching as the 120x on the 12S Ultra. Images at the extreme end are soft and not something that Leica would be proud of, so I would recommend not shooting at the extreme end.
Besides the premium camera specs, every component screams being the best. IP68 waterproof and dustproof, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 522 PPI display supporting Dolby Vision and Pro HDR, 8K video recording, 120W wired HyperCharge to achieve full charge in only 19 minutes. The best part? The 120W GaN charger is included in the package.
The MIUI feels organic and responsive with subtle levels of haptic responses that make you feel the controls are mechanically operated. It also offers more customisation, like the ability to adjust the home screen icon sizes and choose the stock Android or MIUI control centre style. It is also intuitive enough to remove the clock display on the status bar when you have a clock widget on the home screen.
Rating: 4.5/5
We Say: The Xiaomi 13 Pro produces authentic-looking Leica images. Fancy owning a Leica camera for less than S$2000? Here is your chance!
From S$1,599 (12GB/256GB)
mi.com/sg
Technical Specifications
Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Operating System MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Memory LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0 Storage, 12GB ROM, 256/512GB RAM
Display 6.73” AMOLED 120Hz WQHD+ 3200 x 1440, 522 ppi
Rear Cameras 23mm f/1.9 Leica 50 MP wide-angle main camera, 75mm f/2.0 Leica 50MP telephoto camera, 14mm f/2.2 Leica 50MP ultra-wide angle camera
Front Camera 32 MP f/2.0 in-display selfie camera, 1.4μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel size, 89.6° FOV
Connectivity 5G NSA and SA, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
SIM Type Dual SIM + eSIM
Water Resistance IP68
Battery 4,820mAh, 120W HyperCharge, 50W wireless charge
Dimensions 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.38mm
Weight 229g
