Review of the Xiaomi 13T Pro

Ever since its founding in 2010, Xiaomi has produced smartphones that are regularly able to compete with the likes of Apple, Samsung, and other major players in the industry. We had the good fortune to get a Xiaomi 13T Pro, the Chinese company's next flagship handset, just before its official Berlin unveiling.

To put things in perspective, the Xiaomi 13 has been available for a little over a year; the 13T and 13T Pro are essentially an improvement over existing models. However, there are enough significant changes to set this iteration apart, such as the ongoing focus on cameras (a result of a partnership with Leica), and the replacement of the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ CPU with the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

Thanks to this revolutionary technology, the 13T Pro can now compete with industry titans like the Samsung S23 Ultra and the new iPhone 15 as one of the most potent and feature-rich smartphones available straight out of the box. Not to mention the device's elegant appearance, brilliant AMOLED display, and up to 12GB of RAM, which make it an excellent all-arounder. Continue reading to find out whether we believe this to be among the top Xiaomi phones available.

Cost and accessibility

There are many merchants selling the Xiaomi 13T Pro, which comes in Alpine Blue, Meadow Green, and Black color variants. The various sizes and approximate retail costs are shown below.

• 12GB RAM and 256G memory – £649
• 12GB RAM and 512GB memory – £699
• 16GB RAM and 1TB memory – £799

Specifications

Attributes

Although the Xiaomi 13T Pro's cameras are its primary selling point, it is by no means a one-trick pony. This device's MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ CPU provides strong performance for all of your gaming demands, and its long battery life allows you to play for hours on end without needing to pull out your charger wire. It's a "all-rounder," as I like to call it, with all the features you need for work and pleasure.

All the essentials are included: a stunning CrystalRes AMOLED display that allows you to work on the move in any condition, dust- and water-resistant technology, and a plethora of customization options to tailor the device to your specific requirements. For example, even though I have trouble with bright screens, I never once had eye strain while testing the device thanks to the automatic adaptive brightness option and some adaptive brightness capabilities for reading.

I won't go into too much depth about the cameras here since it will be covered in the following part, but they are very amazing. I believe that amateur and semi-professional photographers who are tired of carrying about boxes of lenses in order to capture a good picture may find a viable option in this, one of the few smartphones I've had the pleasure of using. Not to mention the abundance of editing options for both still photos and videos. Since this is a gaming website, we must discuss the 13T Pro's gaming performance. To put it simply, it's amazing. For those who spend endless hours playing mobile games, the AMOLED screen, integrated cooling plate, and MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ make this one among the best smartphones available right now. With the addition of Dolby Vision HDR10+ graphics and Dolby Atmos audio to an already remarkable feature set, you effectively have a portable entertainment center that can stream film and games at very high definition.

Photography

A significant factor in the Xiaomi 13T Pro's remarkable performance is its camera. The maker offers a three-camera combination that covers all the bases, from intricate portrait pictures to breathtaking panoramics, in collaboration with Leica, one of the most known camera manufacturers in the world. As seen by the image of my adorable dog below, it works well for your regular photos as well.

The choice between the "Leica Vibrant" and "Leica Natural" settings is presented to you when you initially load the camera to begin shooting images. There is a noticeable difference between the two: the "Natural" option provides the most realistic photos, as one would think, while the "Vibrant" option does exactly what it claims it does, adding a little bit more vibrancy to the photos you capture with the feature. You may easily switch between the modes in the upper-left corner while you're shooting pictures.

To go a bit more technical, the 13T Pro has three Leica-equipped cameras: a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and a 15mm ultra-wide camera. Additionally, there is the "Master-lens" system, which allows users to choose from a variety of Leica lens-inspired styles, such as the more realistic "documentary" style and the stunning "soft focus" option for portrait photography.

The 20MP front-facing camera isn't nearly as good as others we've seen in other smartphones, and it lacks the ability to switch between the two modes. It does, however, still have all the picture editing features found on the more powerful rear cameras, and it's still powerful enough for a few selfies.

Design

The Xiaomi 13T Pro's design is all you might hope for in a contemporary smartphone. The camera lip is positioned high enough up the rear panel to never get in the way, and the device's straightforward button layout on the right side makes it simple to lock and control volume. It's also the perfect size and weight to feel comfortable in one hand. It's not creating the wheel, but since the fundamentals are already in place, why should it?

Though it's getting more and more common in the market, you may be prickly and gripe about the absence of an audio input jack. Although I think the overall appearance is a bit lacking in inventiveness, the contents more than make up for it. However, it seems like a well-built piece in every other area; nothing seems out of place or intrusive.

Show

The 13T Pro's CrystalRes AMOLED display provides dependably sharp images whether you're watching movies on Netflix or lounging around Honkai Star Rail. Even better, you can see the smallest details in your images before selecting which ones are most deserving of being shared on social media thanks to the excellent cameras and display clarity.

When contrasting the display of the 13T Pro with an iPhone 14, for example, you can clearly see that the screen has more depth in terms of color, ranging from lighter tones to grays and blacks. Additionally, there is an adaptive reading mode that you may enable on to avoid any bothersome headaches if, like me, you find yourself studying weird things far into midnight. With the option to choose between a "classic" reading mode and a "paper" reading mode, which gives backdrops a paper-like texture to further lessen eye strain, this feature further demonstrates the amount of customization the 13T Pro offers.

Battery

If you charge your Xiaomi 13T Pro at least once every couple of days, you should never have to worry about it running out of power thanks to its huge 5000mAh battery. I may have never reviewed a phone where, after inadvertently keeping it on standby for a few days, I haven't even seen the charge drop below 20%. It is there and ready for use if you need it.Fast charging is also possible. The device just would not let go of any charge, so it took me some time to test it thoroughly. However, after using the right tools and plugging it into a mains power supply, I managed to time a complete charge in less than twenty minutes. Even for 2023, such rates are rather good, competing with far more costly products from other manufacturers that primarily advertise their ability to charge quickly. This is simply one more arrow in the excellent quiver of the 13T Pro.

Achievement

Not a single mobile game can even come close to matching the 13T Pro's capabilities thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ CPU; it can handle whatever you throw at it with ease. If the user wanted to, Xiaomi may sell this phone as a dedicated gaming phone, but it certainly could, with features like Asphalt 9's fast-paced pandemonium and Honkai Star Rail's endlessly furious graphics.Everything you see on screen looks and functions amazing because to the collaboration between the CrystalRes AMOLED and the most advanced CPU available. Returning to my iPhone after spending so much time with the 13T Pro made the games seem a bit monotonous, particularly in terms of color, and Honkai's animations were not quite as powerful. You really are receiving the newest and best performing technology available, considering the price range, and no compromises have been made to the whole product to enable such solidity.The addition of the upgraded 5000mm(2) VC stainless steel soaking plate, which serves as a coolant device to disperse any possible heat emanating from the phone, is another highlight of the overall performance. Similar to the visual quality, the 13T Pro is unfazed by anything. Even after hours of intense gaming with the gadget charged, it never feels hot in your hands.

Is the Xiaomi 13T Pro a good purchase?

Overall, with a far better camera than most of its rivals, the Xiaomi 13T Pro provides a premium Android smartphone at a cheaper cost than many of them. It's not innovative, but it does all the things a top smartphone ought to, rather than attempting to push the envelope. It takes a little over fifteen minutes to completely charge, has an excellent camera, and has the brightest display I've seen in a smartphone during my evaluation period.The one conceivable problem I have with the 13T Pro is that if you're not too worried about the camera's strength, it could find it difficult to stand out in a crowd. However, it's difficult to find any problems with Xiaomi's most recent flagship, which comes with competitive pricing and more internal storage than you might expect. This serves as a reminder that when shopping for a new smartphone, it's always worthwhile to look beyond Samsung and Apple, especially when this brand offers

Substitutes

After reading this, if you still feel the Xiaomi 13T Pro isn't for you, we've included some recommendations for similar devices below. Security fixes for five years and up to four versions of Android upgrades are provided.

and iPhone 15 ProShould you not be fond of the Android operating system, the iPhone 15 Pro is a clear substitute. However, if I had to choose between the two, I would probably go with the Xiaomi. Even though they are both brand-new, the 13T Pro costs a significant amount less.

S23 Ultra

SamsungSamsung's own flagship smartphone, the S23 Ultra, may be an additional option. With no stylus option on the Xiaomi device, the decision between the two is mostly based on personal taste. But, the 13T Pro is far less expensive than the flagship Samsung, so it really comes down to how much you're prepared to spend on a smartphone that you know will still be useful in a few years.