Xiaomi 13 Ultra Professional Photography Kit Impressions
After launching on the Chinese market, Xiaomi recently released its flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, to the international audience. When I reviewed the phone, I said that it “feels more like a camera that doubles as a phone than the other way round” with its professional-grade camera lens. Xiaomi doubled down on this aspect as it has a special photography kit dedicated to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.
We’ll take a look at this Xiaomi 13 Ultra Professional Photography Kit in this impressions piece. However, this add-on is not available on the official global Xiaomi website at the time of writing but can be found via third-parties at around $200 and comes with the following items:
When the Xiaomi 13 Ultra first launched, I was immediately drawn to the green leatherette variant; and having it featured on the photo kit was a pleasant surprise. The kit comes with a special phone case of that colour and a separate handgrip that mounts on the case. There’s also a lens protector that I wish was included in the core package of the phone as the lens is quite scratch-prone. Also included is a support for 67mm filter rings so that you can further tune your shots to your liking.
It’s very easy to set these accessories on the phone itself and you can remove the handgrip whenever you want if you prefer the phone with a more sleek profile. Once attached, the module stays on firmly through a latch system between the grip and the dedicated phone case. There is no wobble to be seen and the whole setup looks and feels like a single unit.
To use the grip, you’ll have to pair it to the phone via Bluetooth. It is compatible with the Xiaomi camera app, enabling you to focus, take shots and zoom with its dedicated shutter and zoom physical buttons. They are very responsive and deliver a satisfying feeling to use as these keys really add a welcome layer of physicality to the photography-taking experience.
Personally, I am terribly fond of the modular aspect and the look of the phone with the handgrip attached. It gives the Xiaomi 13 Ultra a singular look. While it does create an extra bump in the pocket (or might not fit at all if you have small pockets) and can be divisive, I’m personally a fan of more unique-looking phones; and the photo kit-equipped Xiaomi 13 Ultra does look unique.
However, the downside of keeping the handgrip on all the time is that it blocks the lower speakers, microphone as well as the USB-C port on the phone. I wish at least that the handgrip featured openings for these outlets, or at least share the USB-C connection.
To charge the handgrip module, you’ll have to plug it in to a charger with its own USB-C port. Your mileage will vary but you can save on the battery by only switching it on when in use. However, I could easily manage to get a few weeks' use of it while travelling and occasionally switching it on to take pictures.
While the kit is not cheap (it can cost as much as some phones), it is definitely a unique addition to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. As a fan of modularity in phones, seeing a dedicated camera mod on a flagship phone is an encouraging sign as this is a rarity on the market. I’d definitely recommend it if you want to give your Xiaomi 13 Ultra a unique look with added function and/or want to take your phone photography to the next level.
