Xiaomi 13 Pro (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005171440152.html
Xiaomi’s latest flagship models have rolled out with the recent launch of the Series 13 line and the high-end model, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, promises a premium experience and the performance to match it. Let’s take a closer look at it in this review!
Packaging and contents
Unboxing the Xiaomi 13 Pro, you’ll find the following:
- Xiaomi 13 Pro smartphone
- USB-C cable
- 120W HyperCharge adapter
- SIM eject tool
- User manual
More specs details can be found below:
Hardware and content first impressions
As this is a high-end device that comes with a current premium price tag of €1,545 on the official AliExpress store, I was expecting to have some accessories included in the package but I was still holding my breath as some companies don’t even bother including chargers these days. Luckily, not only is a 120W charger included but there’s also a clear bumper and - at least in my unit - a pre-installed screen protector. I was relieved to come across the latter as it takes the load off the unnecessarily stressful task of applying the screen protector without trapped air bubbles or dust particles.
These accessories aside, I was impressed by the look and feel of the phone itself. The “3D bio-ceramic” back has a distinctive feedback to the touch that immediately identifies the smartphone as a premium product. It’s even a shame to have the bumper mask the phone’s external glory but a compromise has to be struck to protect the device while displaying it through the clear case.
Compromises have also been made in order to cram all of the shiny tech and 4820 mAh battery in the electronic slab. It’s not featherweight at 229g and not the slimmest smartphone you’ll get your hands on as it bears a thickness of 8.38mm. However, I can personally overlook these minor features given the overall package that the product delivers in terms of full-day use, fast charging and performance.
What I did mind, and I’m sure I’m not the only one, is the demise of the headphone jack. This is becoming an increasingly common feature of smartphones that favour a slimmer profile and USB-C connection. Xiaomi could have at least included a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter but such an accessory isn’t to be found in the package. So you’ll either have to find USB-C wired earphones or stick to earbuds; options which might not be convenient for everyone.
Performance as a daily driver
One of the biggest woes with smartphones these days is that of battery life. Even if they can reach one day of use, you’ll still need to recharge which can lead to some downtimes in online access. I am always impressed by Xiaomi’s solution to this problem which is that of HyperCharge. With the included 120W charger, the phone’s 4820 mAh battery can be fully juiced up in under 20 minutes. If you’re recharging from, say, 50%, it’s going to take even less time. It’s handy enough to just plug in the phone while you’re getting ready to go out and it’ll have enough power to provide you a whole day’s use. It essentially takes off the low battery worries and using such a charger always impresses me.
With the device juiced up, you’ll find in the Xiaomi Series 13 Pro a versatile daily driver. Surfing the net, watching videos or simply browsing pictures are simply visually gorgeous on the 6.73” AMOLED display. Playing videos is enhanced through the Dolby Atmos-enabled dual speakers which deliver crisp and booming audio. These are coupled with the 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate of the screen which delivers swift and responsive controls.
One of the major features touted with the Series 13 Pro is its co-engineered aspect with Leica. The high-grade Leica optical lens of the cameras output quality videos and pictures that are fit for social media posts as well as physical printouts for framing. This goes for close-ups (like the photogenic Robin pictured below) or landscapes.
These resized shots (due to the file size) don't do the actual ones justice
However, the main downside that I have with most, if not all, Xiaomi phones is that the Android-based MIUI OS is full of bloatware. A more trimmed down UI would be welcome and provide the user with more options to customise the device based on their preferences. There will surely be custom OS but the out-of-the-box experience feels bloated with the preloaded apps.
Gaming on the Xiaomi Series 13 Pro
With the high-end specs of the Series 13 Pro, it is a natural contender for a handheld gaming device. It even ranks in the top-tier on GeekBench with 1486 single-core score and 4988 multi-core scores with a CPU benchmark, and a compute benchmark score of 8824.
Android games/ports such as Portal and Half-Life 2 run fluidly on the system. Emulators also fare well on the device. With Gamecube via Dolphin emulator reaching a steady 30 fps on Twilight Princess, Ridge Racer on PSP via PPSSPP at 60fps and Shadow of the Colossus on AetherSX2 hitting 60fps with 2x Upscale Multiplier toggled.
Essentially, every game and established emulator that I threw at the device ran flawlessly on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. So it’s fair to consider it more than capable of Android gaming and if you prefer physical controls, you can pair it up with a Bluetooth controller.
However, if you are looking to hook the phone up with an external monitor or AR glasses such as the Nreal Air through the USB-C port to game on a bigger screen, you’d be disappointed. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s USB-C port does not support video output. It’s a shame as having the option to view the phone’s screen on a larger screen is always welcome. And when a high-end device such as the 13 Pro lacks such a feature, it feels like a let-down.
Wrapping up
The Xiaomi 13 Pro lives up to its marketing as a premium device as it offers a versatile package. It’s a gorgeous looking device that features an equally gorgeous display and outputs stunning pictures and videos. Packing the latest Snapdragon chip also makes it well suited for on-the-go gaming. Despite lacking video output over USB-C, it’s an easy recommendation if you’re looking for (and can afford) a well-rounded Android device that packs a premium look with the performance to match those looks.
Verdict
- Premium look and feel
- Gorgeous display
- Stunning shots with Leica lens
- Impressively fast 120W HyperCharge feature
- Included accessories
- Pricey
- MIUI bloatware
- USB-C does not support video output
- No headphone jack
