Xiaomi 13 Ultra review
MIUI 14 on Android 13
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra runs MIUI 14 based on an Android 13 core. That's the latest you can get on a Xiaomi phone, so the Ultra is receiving the flagship treatment as expected. It's a software package we already experienced on the 13 Pro, so there are not a whole lot of surprises either.
Our review unit is the Chinese version, so it's running the software that's specific to that locale, and that means some features differ from what the global branch is getting. Normally, if it's a China-only release, we'd go over the phone's software as is - that's what we did on the 12S Ultra last year.
In this particular case, however, we're in somewhat of a predicament since we know the 13 Ultra will be getting a global release with global software - eventually. So instead of going over the user interface of our review unit, we'd direct your attention to the 13 Pro's review to get a better taste of what to expect.
On top of that, there's also a dedicated detailed MIUI 14 on Android 13 walkthrough we just put together. In addition to showcasing Xiaomi's latest software, it outlines some of the differences between the Chinese and global versions, so it's going to be more informative than looking at our 13 Ultra in isolation.
Performance and benchmarks
Surprising no one, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 - Qualcomm's high-end chipset for 2023. It's the SoC we saw in the 13 Pro, as well as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Find X6 Pro, OnePlus 11, and many others.
You've probably already read this before - in the above reviews, no less, but the SD 8 Gen 2 has an octa-core processor with one prime core, four performance ones (further subdivided into 2+2), and three cores for less demanding applications, so it's a 1+2+2+3 setup. Or for completeness' sake - 1x3.2GHz Cortex-X3 + 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0GHz Cortex-A510 CPU cores.
The Gen 2 chipset offers 35% higher performance and 40% improved efficiency in the CPU department over the previous Gen and 25% and 45% performance and efficiency bumps on the GPU side of things (which goes by Adreno 740). It also has support for new, faster memory technologies (LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0). That's nice and all, but since you're likely comparing the latest phones to their equally latest rivals, those differences aren't all that important since most current top-tier devices have the same chip inside.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra exists in three memory configurations - 12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB (our review unit), and 16GB/1TB.
Starting our usual benchmarking routine with GeekBench, we're seeing that the 13 Ultra is a top performer under both single-core and multi-core loads. The differences aren't huge, but it's nice to see your phone towards the top of the charts.
GeekBench 6 (single-core)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
2000 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
1996 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
1987 -
Honor Magic5 Pro
1943 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
1913 -
ROG Phone 7
1857 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
1756 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
1532 -
OnePlus 11
1527
GeekBench 6 (multi-core)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
5556 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
5352 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
5323 -
ROG Phone 7
5254 -
Honor Magic5 Pro
5096 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
5085 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
5082 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
5077 -
OnePlus 11
5043
GeekBench 5 (single-core)
Higher is better
-
Galaxy S23 Ultra
1537 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
1490 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
1482 -
iQOO 11
1479 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
1477 -
ROG Phone 7
1397 -
vivo X90 Pro
1387 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
1359 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
1324 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
1166 -
OnePlus 11
1150 -
Honor Magic5 Pro
1130
GeekBench 5 (multi-core)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Pro
5087 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
5049 -
ROG Phone 7
4935 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
4927 -
OnePlus 11
4899 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
4896 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
4832 -
iQOO 11
4803 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
4759 -
Honor Magic5 Pro
4378 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
4300 -
vivo X90 Pro
4273
In an even more tightly spaced Antutu chart, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra does yield to the Find, but still manages to stay ahead of the Galaxy and the vivo.
AnTuTu 9
Higher is better
-
Oppo Find X6 Pro
1294797 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
1281666 -
iQOO 11
1281665 -
ROG Phone 7
1279196 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
1273764 -
iQOO 11 (1080p)
1272973 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
1268538 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
1241531 -
vivo X90 Pro
1228735 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
1218533 -
OnePlus 11
1140661 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
1039412
Going into the graphics benchmarks, nothing really changes - even in such a tough crowd, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra manages to either be on top, or right up there with the best.
GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
62 -
iQOO 11
62 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
61 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
61 -
OnePlus 11
61 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
60 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
59 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
56 -
vivo X90 Pro
55 -
ROG Phone 7
52 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
46
GFX Aztek Vulkan High (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
69 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
69 -
iQOO 11
69 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
68 -
OnePlus 11
68 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
68 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
67 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
58 -
ROG Phone 7
55 -
vivo X90 Pro
54 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
51
GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
129 -
iQOO 11
128 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
127 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
127 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
127 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
126 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
126 -
OnePlus 11
126 -
ROG Phone 7
125 -
vivo X90 Pro
105 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
104
GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)
Higher is better
-
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
224 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
222 -
iQOO 11
222 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
220 -
OnePlus 11
220 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
220 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
214 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
212 -
vivo X90 Pro
200 -
ROG Phone 7
194 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
182
GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (onscreen)
Higher is better
-
Galaxy S23 Ultra (1080p)
89 -
iQOO 11 (1080p)
89 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
86 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra (1080p)
85 -
vivo X90 Pro (1080p)
83 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
83 -
ROG Phone 7
81 -
vivo X90 Pro
65 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
54 -
iQOO 11
54 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
51 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
51 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
49 -
OnePlus 11
49 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
38
GFX Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)
Higher is better
-
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
98 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra (1080p)
97 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra (1080p)
95 -
iQOO 11 (1080p)
91 -
vivo X90 Pro (1080p)
82 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
78 -
ROG Phone 7
74 -
vivo X90 Pro
68 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
60 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
56 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
55 -
iQOO 11
55 -
OnePlus 11
53 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
52 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
39
GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen)
Higher is better
-
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
112 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra (1080p)
110 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra (1080p)
110 -
iQOO 11 (1080p)
110 -
ROG Phone 7
107 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
107 -
vivo X90 Pro (1080p)
93 -
vivo X90 Pro
74 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
67 -
iQOO 11
67 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
64 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
63 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
60 -
OnePlus 11
57 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
51
GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (onscreen)
Higher is better
-
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
164 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
162 -
ROG Phone 7
157 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra (1080p)
120 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra (1080p)
120 -
iQOO 11 (1080p)
120 -
vivo X90 Pro (1080p)
120 -
vivo X90 Pro
118 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
112 -
iQOO 11
112 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
108 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
103 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
91 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
60 -
OnePlus 11
60
3DMark Wild Life Vulkan 1.1 (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
-
Oppo Find X6 Pro
13360 -
vivo X90 Pro
13265 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
13106 -
iQOO 11
12738 -
Galaxy S23 Ultra
12241 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
12230 -
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
10533 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
10289
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
-
Galaxy S23 Ultra
3790 -
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
3750 -
ROG Phone 7
3745 -
vivo X90 Pro
3698 -
Oppo Find X6 Pro
3696 -
Honor Magic5 Pro
3684 -
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
3660 -
ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
3656 -
OnePlus 11
3594 -
iQOO 11
3514 -
Xiaomi 13 Pro
2939
With those high marks in all the benchmarks, you'd think that the 13 Ultra is good for a fast run or two, but it wouldn't be too fond of prolonged loads. In fact, it exhibited impressive stability in both the one-hour CPU throttling test and the 20-minute Wild Life stress tests in 3D Mark.
CPU throttling test • 3DMark Wild life stress test
Xiaomi has employed what they call a Loop LiquidCool technology (also dubbed Mi IceLoop) - the 'first landing of an aerospace-grade large toroidal cooling system on a smartphone'. It has a slit in the middle, which separates the channel with the hot vapor escaping from the SoC from the return channel with the condensed liquid going back, thus optimizing heat evacuation. Their data shows it to be 3x more effective than traditional vapor chambers.
What we'll say is that the phone does tend to heat up significantly on the outside when doing these torture tests. Realistically, that means that heat is being moved away from the components generating it - ultimately that's the point. It doesn't become hot enough that you can't hold it, so there's that.
Reader comments
- Aku
- 15 May 2024
- tZ0
Go custom dude.. So. Easy
- Jagganatha
- 03 Jan 2024
- 0F1
The 50Mp option for the still pictures is, as seen here, very good. I am hoping you post corrected samples from the RAW file options, and information about the Raw files qualities themselves as there are phones that in software edits appear devoid of...
- ILFforever
- 26 Dec 2023
- YQu
I believe there's a setting for it in camera>Audio settings>Smart noise reduction.