In the ever-evolving realm of smartphones, Xiaomi stands as a prominent player, renowned for delivering high-quality devices. The Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro undoubtedly impress with their features and capabilities, but their premium status comes with a hefty price tag. It’s essential to ponder whether all those premium features are a necessity, especially with Xiaomi offering more budget-friendly options that may cater to your needs just as effectively.
Amidst this spectrum of choices, the Xiaomi 13T Pro emerges as a compelling proposition, striking a balance between affordability and top-tier specifications. Contrary to the common perception of affordability equating to compromise, the Xiaomi 13T Pro boasts hardware that can confidently challenge its pricier counterparts. At the heart of this device lies the formidable MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, rivalling the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of power and performance.
In addition, Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica has garnered attention, promising enhanced photography experiences for users. Last year, Xiaomi showcased its flagship models, the Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Ultra, each equipped with remarkable features. Now, the Xiaomi 13T Pro steps into the spotlight as a more budget-friendly alternative, showcasing a triple-camera system and the prestigious Leica branding.
Read on for our full review of the Xiaomi 13T Pro!
Specifications at a glance
- Android 13 w/ MIUI 14
- 6.67in, 1220×2712 OLED display, Gorilla Glass 5
- Adaptive 144Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset
- 12/16GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB non-expandable UFS 4.0 storage
- 5000mAh battery
- 120W wired charging
- 50Mp f/1.9 main camera
- 50Mp f/2.9 telephoto camera
- 12Mp f/2.4 ultrawide
- 20Mp f/2.2 front camera
- 5G
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Dual speakers
- From 162.2mm x 75.7mm x 8.49mm
- From 200g
Design and look
The Xiaomi 13T Pro epitomizes the classic premium smartphone design, seamlessly blending aluminum with either glass or eco-friendly vegan leather, depending on your preferred finish.
Distinguishing itself from the usual monochrome hues, the Xiaomi 13T Pro offers an array of color options, including the chic Meadow Green and striking Alpine Blue, providing a refreshing departure from the standard black and silver finishes. Of course, for those inclined towards the classics, a conventional Black finish is also available, which we received as our review unit.
Resembling its pricier predecessor, the 13 Pro, the Xiaomi 13T Pro echoes its design ethos. The ceramic back on the Black version, however, tends to be overly reflective, almost doubling as a mirror. This surface tends to attract fingerprints and dirt, making them more noticeable than they would be on a non-reflective back. Even the rear camera module, although not as prominent as in the Xiaomi 13 Pro, does not escape this issue and tends to accumulate marks, affecting the overall aesthetics. But slap on a phone case and all will be fine.
The Xiaomi 13T Pro impresses with its durability, surviving a couple of accidental drops on a table unscathed. The display is protected by robust Gorilla Glass 5, tested to withstand falls of up to 1.2 meters onto rough surfaces.
Additionally, the IP68 rating ensures complete protection against dust and allows for survival in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, promising longevity in appearance and functionality.
Weighing a commendable 206g for most models (with the exception of the Alpine Blue variant at 200g), the Xiaomi 13T Pro manages to maintain a reasonable weight despite its expansive 6.67-inch display. While the aesthetics could have seen some innovative tweaks, the transition from plastic to aluminum for the frame is a notable improvement. The placement and tactility of the power and volume buttons on the side are natural and satisfying.
At the bottom, the device features a tray supporting two SIM cards but lacks the provision for expanding on-device storage via microSD.
Display and speakers
The Xiaomi 13T Pro boasts a generous 6.67-inch AMOLED panel, standing among the finest displays in the smartphone landscape.
Much like the brilliance of OLED technology, anticipate a spectrum of vivid colors and profound blacks. While the resolution of 2712×1220 might not hit the zenith, it certainly upholds an admirable level of clarity and intricate detail. However, with a 20:9 aspect ratio, achieving complete one-handed usage can pose a challenge to some.
A significant enhancement over its predecessor, the 12T Pro, comes in the form of an impressive 144Hz refresh rate. Surpassing even the top-tier Xiaomi 13 Ultra, it’s surpassed only by specialized gaming phones.
Utilizing LTPO tech, the screen seamlessly transitions between 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, and 144Hz, depending on your activity, contributing to enhanced battery life. While the option for a fixed 60- or 144Hz is available, the dynamic version elegantly marries the best of both worlds.
Additionally, the display showcases an impressive maximum brightness of 500 nits, ensuring optimal usage even under the glaring sun during outdoor escapades.
Integrated within the display is an optical fingerprint sensor that was straightforward to set up and accurate for the most part.
The Xiaomi 13T Pro doesn’t compromise on audio either, presenting a dual stereo setup with speakers at the top and bottom. It’s a delightful departure from relying solely on the typically tinny earpiece, delivering robust music and crisp vocals.
Overall, the Xiaomi 13T Pro delivers on the media consumption front.
Performance
The Xiaomi 13T Pro takes a different route from the common trend seen in Android smartphones, which predominantly utilize Qualcomm chipsets, particularly the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in most flagship devices. Although Xiaomi’s decision to go with MediaTek for the 13T Pro might initially seem like a step down, it’s anything but.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9200+ stands as their most potent chip to date, confidently standing on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On our use, performance is nothing short of exceptional.
With frequent web browsing, messaging, emailing, and social media scrolling, the device exhibited zero hesitations or slowdowns, even during swift transitions between these activities.
While not primarily designed for gaming, it effortlessly handled some of the most resource-demanding games available on the Google Play Store. Furthermore, the impact of the high refresh rate display was palpable, even if not hitting the 144Hz mark.
For activities such as photo/video editing or split-screen multitasking, the 13T Pro demonstrated abundant capabilities.
Cameras
The Xiaomi 12T Pro made waves with its impressive 200MP sensor, making the 50MP main sensor on the 13T Pro appear somewhat diminished, at least on paper. However, in reality, the camera’s prowess is about much more than just the megapixel count, and the main sensor proves its mettle by consistently delivering excellent results across various conditions.
In well-lit environments, the images captured are vibrant, detailed, and maintain a well-balanced composition. The HDR performance is commendable, striking the right balance without over-processing the images. Furthermore, Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica brings forth the Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic modes, offering the choice between vibrant imagery and colors that stay true to life.
This trend continues as light diminishes, with the main sensor adeptly absorbing ample light to illuminate scenes, even in near-dark settings and effectively brightening low-light images without compromising on detail.
Turning the phone around, you’ll discover a 20MP front-facing camera, more than sufficient for engaging in video calls with friends. With HDR and Night mode support, it allows for creative selfies as well.
Shifting the focus to video capabilities, the 13T Pro allows shooting in remarkable 8K at 24fps. However, the default 1080p at 30fps serves most users perfectly well. It offers ample detail for everyday use, and the optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main lens ensures relatively steady footage even while on the move.
Here are some photos taken on the Xiaomi 13T Pro:
In well-lit spaces, photos are vibrant and full of details while focusing sufficiently on the subject.
In darker settings, details aren’t lost:
More photos taken on the phone:
Battery life
The Xiaomi 13T Pro impresses with its robust battery life, even with the blazingly fast 144Hz refresh rate, courtesy of the substantial 5000mAh cell.
The phone reliably lasted through a standard day starting at 8am, involving intermittent activities like texting, music playback, and social media scrolling. By around 11:30 pm, I typically had a commendable 40% battery life remaining.
Should the need for a quick recharge arise, the Xiaomi 13T Pro offers a rapid solution with its remarkable 120W fast charging technology, with the 120W charger conveniently provided in the box. During testing, a full charge was achieved in an astonishingly brief 28 minutes, reaching 58% charge within just 15 minutes.
Notably, the Xiaomi 13T Pro does not support wireless charging, offering only wired charging. Given the swiftness of wired charging, the absence of wireless charging might not be a major concern, but some users may still miss the added convenience of this feature.
Pricing and availablity
The Xiaomi 13T Series is available in three colours (Alpine Blue, Meadow Green and Black), and will be available for pre-order from 30 September – 6 October via Xiaomi Stores and partner stores.
The Xiaomi 13T Pro comes with two storage variants:
| 12GB+512GB (exclusively online at the official Xiaomi store on Shopee) | SGD 949 |
| 16GB+1TB | SGD1099 |
The Xiaomi 13T (12GB+256GB) will be available at SGD699.
Shoppers can enjoy special offers when they pre-order any Xiaomi 13T Pro or Xiaomi 13T models from 30 September to 6 October, while stocks last.
Every purchase of Xiaomi 13T Series will also receive a premium package which includes a free screen replacement (within six months upon purchase) worth SGD 99, a 100GB cloud storage on Google One for 6 months, 3-month access of YouTube Premium, and 1+1 year of extended warranty on the new premium devices.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 13T Pro stands out as an excellent smartphone, featuring a robust triple camera system. The main camera excels, offering impressive results, while the 2x telephoto and ultra-wide-angle cameras add versatility to the imaging capabilities.
The phone’s hardware is remarkable, especially considering its reasonable £649 price tag. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, elevates the user experience, whether for gaming or movie-watching.
Performance is commendable, offering a smooth daily experience, and battery life meets expectations – its 120W fast charging technology is impressive.
Overall, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is a clear improvement over its predecessor, the 12T Pro.
