Xiaomi’s 13 Pro at Rs. 80,000 May Sound Crazy, But It’s Not

Nowadays, smartphones are no longer the coolest tech around. That distinction has been claimed by generative AI like ChatGPT, which has raised alarms at Google’s Mountain View campus. So much so that Google’s co-founders have even been pulled back to examine the codebase. However, Google’s other major platform, Android, is home to millions of smartphones and might be experiencing its best few months compared to Apple in over half a decade. The latest Android phones boast extra oomph thanks to a mix of Qualcomm’s newest chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and some innovative mobile photography techniques from the likes of Sony and Samsung.

Xiaomi was recently the top player in the Indian smartphone market and ranked third globally. But it has faced a tough few years, particularly after the Chinese military’s skirmish with the Indian army. COVID-19 further complicated matters as it disrupted supply chains and fueled anti-China sentiment. The intensifying cold war between China and the US has also decimated Huawei’s smartphone business. Consequently, Xiaomi has lost market share in India and several key executives, including Manu Kumar Jain, who led its India operations from the start.

Nevertheless, Huawei’s loss proved to be Xiaomi’s gain. The company gained market share in regions where Huawei was strong, such as Europe and China. Xiaomi also partnered with the German photography giant, Leica. Their first phone, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, was a China-exclusive model featuring the new Sony IMX 989 sensor, showcasing the potential of this collaboration.

The Xiaomi 13 Pro surpasses the 12S Ultra, making it Xiaomi’s best phone in India. Priced at Rs. 80,000, it may be in iPhone territory, but that’s not as outrageous as it may initially seem.

The hardware justifies the price

The Xiaomi 13 Pro is undeniably an elite smartphone, packed with top-notch hardware. With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 12 GB of DDR5X RAM, and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, no corners have been cut. It’s on par with the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and even outperforms the iPhone 14 Pro in some aspects. The Qualcomm chip supports ray-traced games and is based on a more advanced 4nm fabrication process than the iPhone’s A16 Bionic chip. It also boasts faster RAM and memory. The phone feels incredibly responsive, and the improvements in MiUI 14 contribute to a premium experience.

The 6.73-inch LTPO E6 AMOLED display is stunning and reaches an impressive 1900 nits of brightness. It’s also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone’s rear features ceramic material, which is more durable than glass, and it comes with IP68 water and dust resistance. The dual speakers are loud and clear, and the polished rails evoke the feel of a Pro iPhone. The 4,820mAh battery lasts a full day, and the 120-watt fast charging capability allows for a full charge in just 20 minutes, outperforming both iPhones and Samsungs. It also supports 50-watt wireless charging, which is faster than its competitors.

Cameras steal the show

The Sony IMX989, the largest smartphone camera sensor at 1 inch, forms the backbone of the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s camera system. With a 50-megapixel resolution, 1.6um sub-pixels, and an f/1.9 aperture, it excels in low-light photography. It also features a Leica-designed 8-element lens that is exclusive to this phone. Even the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras on the Xiaomi 13 Pro boast a 50-megapixel resolution and all feature Leica optics. The telephoto lens even has a floating lens, allowing it to capture near-game-changing macro photographs.

Leica greatly influenced the camera app, particularly the calibration of the cameras and the portrait mode’s functionality. Thanks to the phone’s large sensor, there is ample natural blur in every shot. The portrait mode takes inspiration from Leica’s iconic rangefinder cameras, offering 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm modes that produce stunning, cinematic shots. Users can also toggle between two color palettes: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant.

The authentic mode closely resembles real life with enhanced contrasts, while the vibrant mode replicates more saturated colors. The photos have a unique look, as they are neither as neutral as an iPhone, nor oversaturated like a Samsung, nor overly contrasty like the Pixel camera. This Leica looks will likely appeal to many users. The flexible camera system captures astonishing shots in both daylight and nighttime conditions when used skillfully.

The phone can record 8K video at 24 frames per second and 4K video at up to 60 FPS. However, 8K recording is not very usable on this device, unlike the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which can shoot at 30 FPS. The 32-megapixel selfie camera does not receive any Leica tuning. Zoom enthusiasts may miss the 30x or 100x zoom capabilities found on phones like the Pixel 7 Pro or Galaxy S23 Ultra, but most professionals aren’t concerned with such extreme zoom.

Software Is Tardy

Xiaomi has worked on MiUI to make it better for a premium smartphone like the 13 Pro. It does come with lesser bloatware and provides a more straightforward experience. That being said, the software situation is still not up to the mark for a such premium smartphone. This is what drags the Xiaomi 13 Pro down. Phones like the Vivo X90 Pro, OnePlus 11, Samsung Galaxy S23, and iQOO 11 all usurp it on the software front.

In conclusion, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is a fantastic phone. It’s Xiaomi’s best offering and well worth the price, considering that it’s not manufactured in India and won’t sell in large volumes. In contrast, Samsung produces the Galaxy S23 Ultra in India, yet it costs Rs. 45,000 more than the Xiaomi 13 Pro, although it’s not Rs. 45,000 better in my opinion. It merely excels slightly in video recording, offers incredible zoom, and supports the S-Pen. If you don’t need all those features for Rs. 80,000, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is an impressive device. Its main drawback is that the Vivo X90 Pro, priced similarly, provides a marginally superior camera system.