Faisal Ghaffar 
In the last few years, Xiaomi has introduced Ultra versions of its flagship devices, but they have been a bit overkill. However, the 13 Ultra is actually a change because it is the only one that is scheduled for international launch and it is also capable of rivaling the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Design and build
First and foremost, you will immediately notice that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is big and the camera module feels even bigger. But, surprisingly, the phone weighs just 227g, which feels heavy, but not overly so, as it is lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the S23 Ultra. It is available in three colors, which are olive green, black and white and all of them boast a vegan leather finish.
This gives the 13 Ultra a grippy finish, making it easier to hold. Aluminum has been used for making the phone’s frame and the sides are flat, but the corners are round to ensure it feels comfortable in your hands. The display uses Gorilla Glass Victus, which makes it a tough phone. As for biometrics, the display has a fingerprint sensor built in and there is also a face unlock option via the punch-hole selfie camera.
Screen and speakers
The screen of the 13 Ultra is 6.73 inch in size, which is one of the biggest you will find. The display quality is also impressive, as Xiaomi has opted to use the LTPO OLED tech, allowing the refresh rate to dynamically scale between 120Hz and 1Hz. Scrolling is pretty smooth and the animations are also good. It is one of the best displays in the market and the 1440 x 3200 resolution only adds to it.
The stereo speakers are also quite good, as one is top-firing and the other down-firing, which means they give a solid stereo effect. There is lots of volume and the soundscape is also surprisingly open. It also packs in clarity and power, which makes it quite a good addition.
Specs and performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has been used to power the 13 Ultra and it is the greatest and latest chip for Android phones today. The phone includes 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, which makes it a powerhouse. You can multitask easily and also play games without any hassle. In terms of connectivity, 5G is standard and there is also Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E and NFC.
Camera
The main reason to opt for the 13 Ultra is the camera. The main camera is 50Mp, as in the 13 Pro, and has a 1in Sony IMX989 sensor, but it comes in variable aperture. This allows it to jump between a slow f/4.0 setting and a fast f/1.9 setting. The latter is good for indoor shooting, as it gives more light, while the former is good for group photos and landscapes. The camera is quite exceptional, particularly in low light.
As for the other three rear cameras, they also have 50Mp sensors and also use the Sony sensor. The ultrawide is competent, but the two zooms are the most impressive. The front camera is a 32Mp selfie camera and it is quite crisp and bright.
The Verdict
In almost every sense, including battery, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra proves to be an exceptional device. But, international pricing has not been released as yet.
