Late last year, Chinese consumer electronics brand Xiaomi cemented its relationship with Leica by launching its camera-focused 13 series smartphone. The 13 Ultra now joins the pack and takes the flagship spot.
Last year’s 12S Ultra model featured three rear cameras, including a 1-inch Sony sensor, while the 13 Ultra adds a fourth module. The 50-megapixel wide-angle main is based on Sony’s IMX989 1-inch image sensor, boasts a 23 mm focal length with a variable aperture switchable between F1.9 and F4.0, and is powered by the Leica Vario-Summicron Covered with glass. Plus, it comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for smooth execution and gun creativity.
Next to the circular camera island is a 75mm Leica telephoto that feeds an IMX858 1/2.51″ sensor through an F1.8 aperture and also benefits from OIS. Then there’s the 120mm Leica super-telephoto lens with the same Sony sensor, but with an aperture of F3.0. The IMX858 finally arrives with the 12 mm Leica Ultra Wide Angle, featuring a 122 degree field of view, autofocus, and support for macro photography.
A number of Leica photo styles and filters are included, allowing users to record 8K video at 24 frames per second using any aperture, and Dolby Vision is available for 4K video at 60 fps. The final piece to the camera puzzle lies in the 32 MP in-display selfie camera.
Xiaomi
6.73-inch, 3,200 x 1,440 AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers 552 ppi pixel density, 120 Hz adaptive refresh, 2,600 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and DCI-P3 colors region. There is also an in-display heart rate monitor.
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset supported by up to 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The 5,000 mAh battery supports 90 W fast charging when plugged in or 50 W fast charging wirelessly, and the USB 3.2 interface is fast enough to manage 4K DisplayPort video output at 60 Hz.
Xiaomi includes a toroidal cooling system that draws liquids to dissipate heat more than three times faster than traditional vacuum chamber designs, enabling stable 60fps 4K video recording. The handset also features a nanotech silicone leather back with antibacterial properties and meets his IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
The 13 Ultra is currently available in China, but there is no information on international availability at this time.
Product page: Xiaomi 13 Ultra
