Xiaomi 13 series launched globally: Proper Galaxy S23 rivals?

Xiaomi first launched the Xiaomi 13 series of flagship phones in China back in December 2022, offering premium features like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, fast wireless charging, an IP68 rating, and telephoto cameras.

It’s taken several months, but Xiaomi has finally launched the new phones in global markets as part of MWC 2023. Needless to say, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the star of the show here.

Xiaomi 13 Pro: Ticking several boxes

Buy the Xiaomi 13 Pro and you’re getting a 6.73-inch QHD+ curved OLED screen (120Hz, LTPO), a so-called “3D bio-ceramic” back, and thin rails. The phone also serves up a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 4,820mAh battery, 120W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging. The Chinese brand says you can expect a zero to 100% charging time of 19 minutes when using the bundled 120W charger.

The Pro model also brings a rear Leica-branded camera system, featuring a 50MP one-inch IMX989 main camera (with Xiaomi’s HyperOIS tech), a 50MP ultrawide shooter (autofocus, 115-degree field-of-view), and a 50MP 3x telephoto lens.

Other notable details include a 32MP selfie shooter, Bluetooth 5.3, dual stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 7, and MIUI 14 atop Android 13.

What to know about the vanilla Xiaomi 13?

Meanwhile, the standard model serves up flat edges, a flat 6.36-inch FHD+ OLED panel (120Hz, Gorilla Glass 5), and a glass back. You’re also getting a 4,500mAh battery, 67W wired charging, and 50W wireless top-ups. Expect a 100% charge in 38 minutes via the bundled wired charger.

Take a look at the back and you’ll find a Leica-branded triple rear camera setup too. However, you’re getting a 54MP IMX800 main camera (50MP effective resolution, 1/1.49-inch, HyperOIS), a 12MP ultrawide shooter, and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera.

Much like the Pro variant, Xiaomi’s standard phone also brings a 32MP selfie camera, Bluetooth 5.3, dual stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 7, and MIUI 14 atop Android 13.

What else did Xiaomi announce on the day?

The manufacturer also had a couple more products to reveal at its event, starting with the Watch S1 Pro. The new watch delivers a circular design with a stainless steel case, rotating crown, 1.47-inch OLED screen (480 x 480), and your choice of rubber or leather strap (with universal watch pin).

Don’t expect Wear OS here, as you’ve got the company’s custom MIUI Watch OS platform instead. Xiaomi is promising up to 14 days of “typical” usage via the 500mAh battery though, as well as a full charge in 85 minutes.

The Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro also brings a decent number of features, such as tracking for over 100 sports activities, heart rate and SpO2 tracking, AI noise cancellation for calls, NFC capabilities, and a built-in voice assistant.

We also got new true wireless earbuds in the form of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. These stand out by offering features like head-tracking audio (dubbed Dimensional Audio), LDAC codec support, six active noise cancellation levels (up to 48 decibels), dual device switching, and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

The earbuds are also capable of lasting up to nine hours on a single charge, while the charging case delivers up to 38 hours of usage. Expect wireless charging support for the case as well, just in case you don’t have a USB-C cable on-hand.

Xiaomi 13 series pricing and availability

In the market for the Xiaomi 13 Pro? You’ll need to pay a starting price of €1,300 (~$1,375) in European markets and £1,099 (~$1,315) in the UK for the 12GB/256GB model. The phone is available in Ceramic Black and Ceramic White color options.

Meanwhile, the standard Xiaomi 13 has a starting price of €1,000 (~$1,057) in EU or £849 (~$1,015) in the UK for the 8GB/256GB variant. Expect to find it in Black, White, and Flora Green colorways.

The Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro starts at £240 (~$286), while the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro will set you back £299 (~$358).