Xiaomi 13 Ultra review

28 April 2023


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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • rKh
  • 04 May 2023

Isn't this GSM Arena?? The way things are going it looks more like a 'dslr arena'

I think people are going too far with their 'in depth knowledge' of professional cameras.

Agreed that the major highlight of the phone is the camera but the reference point should not be looking at the phone's camera in isolation vs professional cameras.

That defeats the whole purpose behind putting substantial amount of camera capability in a compact shell of a device that is also among industry leaders in most other aspects.

Do these professional cameras have the fastest mobile chip on the planet?

Do they have industry leading peak brightness of 2600 nits?

Do they have 10 bit, 120 hz screen? Can they run millions of apps that the phone can do with great efficiency.

Do they have under display fingerprint sensor, no to mention accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, color spectrum, barometer etc etc. Do they support 90w charging+ 50 watt wireless charging?

Yes, the phone has all those things, that too in a neat, compact package and it has a great camera setup that can give the dslrs a run for their money.

One must be blind to not see who's the clear winner here.

That too by miles.

    Anonymous, 03 May 2023cam is another league only if one knows how to utilize it p... moreTrue, but does it mean that smartphone is a better camera than the actual camera? No.
    Your comparison is like saying that Fiat 500 is a better race car than the current F1 bolid, just because 99% of people would not how to drive the latter, so would not finish even one lap, and therefore with Fiat 500 would have a better time. Does it mean that Fiat 500 is better than a race car? Nope, it only means that 99% of people do not know how to drive F1 bolid.
    So, does it mean that smartphone is a better camera than an actual camera only because most people will have better results with it? No, it only means that most people do not know how to/don't have time to use a proper camera.
    And I can agree with that, that if you give v good smartphone, like the correct one with 1' sensor, and a good camera like Sony A9 to the average consumer, ones taken from a smartphone will be more likable and more ready to use.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • 8N3
      • 04 May 2023

      Gizmochina camera review : these are the cons

      " Just because I say the Xiaomi 13 Ultra looks like a professional camera, doesn’t mean it can really replace one. The difference in their sensor area, aperture, and lens quality is still very large, so shooting at night can be very difficult. Often you can take a blurry picture. Do not get me wrong, even if the camera, taking pictures at night is actually not simple. If you learn to hold up the phone in advance and wait for the right time to press the shutter, as long as you do not zoom in, then you are actually able to take some good photos."

      " There are a few camera experiences that I feel Xiaomi hasn’t done well enough, the Pro mode doesn’t allow for continuous shooting, and the button to switch lenses with one hand is very far away. This made it very difficult to shoot on a rainy day when my other hand was holding an umbrella. Regardless of the mode, when the 13 Ultra detects a human face, it will automatically increase the exposure for you. I have not found a way to turn off this feature, which is really annoying to take pictures in crowded environments."

      Our pal keeps saying crap plastic lenses on phones are on pair with glass on cameras.
      😂🤣😅🤦🏻‍♂️

        Nick Tegrataker, 03 May 2023This is quite depressing if true. They can't just use ... moreJust reporting back after testing the 2.6x zoom. I can confirm for sure the first telephoto is a 2.6x zoom lens (60mm) om the Xiaomi 13 ultra. The telephoto is used from 2.6x (i checked with my finger over the lens to make sure). The periscope switches at exactly 5x. Curious I also tried the Xiaomi 13 pro. That is a 2.9x zoom (switches at 2.9x rather than 3.2x). The regular Xiaomi 13 is a 3x telephoto (switches at 3x exactly). I also tested the find x6 pro and Vivo x90 pro+ out of curiosity. The find x6 pro switches exactly at 2.7x as advertised. The vivo x90 pro+ switches exactly at 2x and 3.5x for its two zoom lenses. I also realised how difficult it is to judge zoom in the process due to the different zoom factors chosen. One will be better than the other depending on what zoom or hybrid zoom you choose. I don't think it's possible to conclude which is the best zoom. They also switch to high megapixel modes for certain zoom factors so even though Vivo only has a 3.5x periscope it seems to do better than the 13 ultra at hybrid zoom at least at higher zoom ranges e.g. Around 15 to 20x. Xiaomi is better from about 5-10x. Vivo is strongest overall from 2x-5x. Oppo has the strongest at its default telephoto length. The quality seems really good at 2.7x. 6x is also very good because I think it's switching to high megapixel mode there but 5x isn't as good as the other 2 (guessing it's not in high megapixel mode but not sure on that)

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • 3p7
          • 04 May 2023

          Anonymous, 04 May 2023So your friend bought a phone with features he does not nee... moreWhat features? All phones are same.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • m62
            • 04 May 2023

            Anonymous, 29 Apr 2023U should buy 13 Pro, i own one, my fried S23u and he said i... moreSo your friend bought a phone with features he does not need, then noticed another phone fits him more? The only one to blame there is your friend for not checking what's important to him before buying..

              zodiacfml, 04 May 2023sure, FF cameras show a difference but is pricey, unwieldy,... moreBut it like comparing apples to oranges. Of course, smartphones will give a more pleasant image in the instance, and when posting them straight from the device without any configuration, fiddling with options, or postprocessing I think 9/10 times a smartphone one will be better at first glance.
              And of course, a smartphone can do a lot of other things, like apps, calling, texting browsing stuff, etc.
              But when it comes to pure quality, and if someone knows how to handle the proper camera, there is no argument about quality output. I have A7 III and S23 Ultra, and the smartphone is not even close to being at the same level as my camera. But processing pictures from the camera takes time. So if you want to have instant ok results, you can go with a smartphone, if you need the best result you can get, you will go with the proper camera.
              The camera in the smartphone world is one of the things that a smartphone has, so that means it is a fraction of the cost of the whole smartphone, and therefore sensor has to be cheaper than one in the camera, and the lens has to be cheaper than in the camera.
              and with such small lenses as you have in the smartphone world, you have limited resolution due to the diffraction of the light. Some have posted here a good comparison of S23 Ultra, Vivo X90 Pro, and some cameras from Micro 4/3 World. And guess what? The camera is more detailed and the picture is just better.
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56gEYFEfSjc
              So yes, you need to pay more when you go with the camera, and you need to spend some more time with it to make it look good, as the camera is not applying that much processing (which for me is a good thing!) but does it mean that it is worse? Nope, just not for everyone.
              And the example that you have provided is with some tilt-shift effect (not via TS lens) from the camera applied.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • rKh
                • 04 May 2023

                S Yu, 03 May 2023>You can set the focus at three predetermined distances ... moreWhoa!!
                It seems like you have some knowledge about cameras and stuff.

                Can you please do a detailed check of Samsung's latest flagship's camera performance and whether it has something to justify the extra 300 Euros??

                Thanks in advance.

                  • M
                  • Max
                  • J5u
                  • 04 May 2023

                  There is noise visible on all sensors, except the main 1" camera.

                    • Z
                    • Zuzuz
                    • mA{
                    • 04 May 2023

                    Jesus, 03 May 2023https://500px.com/search?q=Birds&type=photos&sort=r... moreYour examples are extreme. If I give you a 3000$ combo you can't get those images either. For what you put as an example you need at least 5000$ gear (in mft world, in ff double it). No one in the right mind will go to catch those images with the phone, but street photography, a portrait shot, some landscapes can be done at very high level if the person has some knowledge. This smartphones surpass in term of quality anything from 10-15 years ago, but in photography classes/schools we still see photos from 50 years ago.
                    In conclusion: phones are excellent cameras and much more depends on what the person has between her ears

                      Wow, the phone equals or sometimes beat the ASUS ROG 7 Ultimate with the cooler that costs a lot more! Is ASUS sleeping? This Xiaomi shoots better images and videos, does not throttle as bad as the ASUS w/o cooler, for less price?👏

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • uJA
                        • 04 May 2023

                        S Yu, 03 May 2023>You can set the focus at three predetermined distances ... moreeverybody knows it is impossible for the 3 sub cameras to be as good as the main 1" sensor. If the tiny sub 1/2.5" sensors are as good, they might as well use it in the main camera. The key here is that the 3 sub sensors are newer generation and is performing better than the previous generation which is largely true. I would say with the combination of large aperture, they are performing quite close to a previous gen 1/1.8" to 1/2" sensors and even rival that of the Find X6P 1/1.56" in some situation.

                          SirArtur, 03 May 2023Mind you that most comparisons are made in perfect conditio... moresure, FF cameras show a difference but is pricey, unwieldy, weaker in video, does not do anything else.
                          but the reason my started in this thread is sample images from Canon R10 which DPreview posted recently to which I thought is just trash compared to Xiaomi. https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/6239540369/canon-eos-r10-production-sample-gallery/9522999664
                          The cheapest kit for Canon R10 is $900, same price as this Xiaomi in some markets.

                            • S
                            • S Yu
                            • iX3
                            • 03 May 2023

                            >You can set the focus at three predetermined distances (0.6m
                            What are you gonna hope to capture at 0.6m with a 0.8s lag? Weird settings. And the functions and operation of the camera system doesn't seem thoroughly examined. e.g. Is auto macro reliable? What's the MFD of the main module? Are there still silly "AI" filters that render distasteful colors, or, what are the characteristics of each of the filters?(e.g. "food mode")

                            >We also can't quite approve of the ever-present vignetting - just because we couldn't make lenses with no light fall-off towards the edges back then doesn't mean we have to emulate in processing now what is essentially a flaw in optical design.
                            Likely wrong. You'd better know what you're saying before making statements like that. Much digital correction is baked into even the DNG output of phone cameras, and that especially stands true for vignetting. Lenses for ILC faster than f/2 almost universally have strong vignetting (2+ stops). There's strong vignetting for FF lenses, equally strong vignetting for APSC and MFT lenses, and there's no reason why that shouldn't be the case shrunken down to an even smaller frame. If anything the size restraints are stronger which encourage designing lenses with strong vignetting, as they'll be able to advertise a larger aperture while keeping the size down. At night one would often notice that the corners from a phone's output are softer than they are in daylight(more so than the center), that's because there's stronger NR applied to the corners compared to the center to compensate for the stronger noise induced by falloff reduction. AFAIK the only way to ascertain the true degree of vignetting from a phone camera is to shoot a blank wall in single exposure DNG mode, pull up the exposure in post and try to estimate how much noisier the corners are compared to the center, adding that to the apparent falloff and you get the total vignetting, which should still exceed 2 stops.

                            As for the "stylistic choice", yes that definitely is the distinct German colors seen in Zeiss/Leica lenses from back in the 70's-90's that they're trying to emulate, and they're largely successful. There should be a slight purple tint, slightly stronger in the shadows, with a more "earthy" look in green and yellow colors. It goes great with certain styles, but definitely not too much sharpness. Strangely some modern bodies can compensate for...or rather "neutralize" this look, making everything lean yellow instead, which IMO is a waste of vintage glass. Though I appreciate the inclusion of this color mode, I don't know if it still works in DNG output. Theoretically, it could, as a baked in DNG profile.

                            Ultimately though, the auxiliary cameras don't seem to live up to the marketing, Xiaomi markets the specific sensor as somehow an exact match for the main module...but I don't see that from the results. Still, there's lack of comparison with other flagships this year to say for sure, and there's a conspicuous lack of coverage for that advertised stacked DNG. I definitely expect more from a GSMA review.

                              zodiacfml, 03 May 2023looking at just numbers or benchmarks, larger cameras defin... moreMind you that most comparisons are made in perfect conditions, and you are viewing photos in the video with compression applied. I cannot say that my S23 Ultra is even close to my Sony A7III in how the picture looks. Of course, for Instagram or Facebook, it is fine and it is hard to tell the difference, where you see them again after compression and in very small sizes. But only then. Even on the smartphone screen having them both side by side in the gallery you can tell the difference.

                                Jesus, 03 May 2023https://500px.com/search?q=Birds&type=photos&sort=r... morelooking at just numbers or benchmarks, larger cameras definitely better on output. Plenty youtube videos out there comparing Full frame vs the latest phones, difference is tiny.
                                if you restrict viewing size to a 4K monitor or smaller like on a phone, the difference is nothing. I used to shoot RAW and PP the images for better DR, correct white balance, sharpness, but no smartphones do all that once you capture the image and excluding the fact that you need an expensive, heavy prime or zoom lens on the digital camera just to beat the smartphone.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • rJQ
                                  • 03 May 2023



                                  I see a lot of people comparing the phone's camera setup with professional cameras. That's not a fair comparison.

                                  And by fair I don't mean that the dedicated cameras are too good to be compared with a phone with a good camera setup.

                                  I think it's the other way round. Remember it's a // phone // with a great camera set up. And I don't need to mention the other top of the line specs that are on offer.


                                  Such combo is great for someone who wants to take good pictures on the street on the go. A lot of journalists use such phones for their work.. Why... because of the package. They can take videos, edit them on the go, send them quickly with ease. There can be many such other use case scenarios. You are partying with your friends and you can take some really good pictures to remember the moment.

                                  I mean you can not just 'flash a dslr out of your pocket'.


                                  A fair comparison will be with the likes of Samsung which costs.. like.. 300 Euros extra??

                                    • S
                                    • S Yu
                                    • iX3
                                    • 03 May 2023

                                    Anonymous, 02 May 2023I believe the logo cutout on the case is used as a locking ... moreInteresting thinking...but the point stands about debris, it would require extra cleaning.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • uJA
                                      • 03 May 2023

                                      Jesus, 03 May 2023https://500px.com/search?q=Birds&type=photos&sort=r... moreand do you know how much effort those photographer made to capture these? The fact is, most people doesn't require a professional cameras, in fact you probably get a worse result from a average consumer using a mirrorless with 600mm lens, they aren't trained to do telephoto tracking/focusing, handling the weight and camera shake of such combo.. etc. Heck they might even not be using the correct settings to capture fast moving object.

                                      Nobody is saying a phone camera is better than a dedicated camera, at least not in absolute term. In relatively, most people will do better with a phone camera than a dedicated one. For average users who just want to capture what they see while walking on the street, a phone will fare way better. For anyone who need to do action/event/extreme tele/macro, of cos a camera will be better suited, but at the same time the effort to capture quality photos will also go up exponentially, with heavier gears, more settings etc.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • uJA
                                        • 03 May 2023

                                        Anonymous, 03 May 2023Hes not, u just never had dslr or mirrorless. People like u... morecam is another league only if one knows how to utilize it properly, for most of the consumer, a good modern flagship phone is more likely to produce better result. Pass an Arri to any consumer and you see the result feel like it is being shot by a kid who can't even walk straight. Phones have way more innovation and improvement than any professional cameras/video-cams to aid average consumer to achieve better result, AI, HDR, OIS, EIS, wind noise filter.. etc.

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