Xiaomi 13T Review – An impressive phone with an excellent camera for just £549.

The Xiaomi 13T was introduced on the finish of September alongside the Xiaomi 13T Professional and the brand new Xiaomi Watch 2 Professional WearOS smartwatch.

Priced at £549, the Xiaomi 13T is a compelling alternative for anybody searching for a top quality cellphone with out the expense related to flagship telephones. Specifically, this cellphone applies to anybody who needs a great-quality digicam.  

Specification

• Physique Dimensions and Supplies:
  • Dimensions: 162.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm
  • Show Materials: Gorilla Glass 5
  • Sturdiness: IP68 mud/waterproof (as much as 1.5m for half-hour)
• Show Options:
  • Further Options: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+
  • Brightness: 1200 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak)
  • Decision: 1220 x 2712 px
• Inside {Hardware}:
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Extremely (4 nm)
  • Processor: Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • 256GB storage with 8GB RAM
  • 256GB storage with 12GB RAM
  • Storage Know-how: UFS 3.1
• Software program:
  • Working System: Android 13
• Rear Digital camera Specs:
  • Foremost Lens: 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm, 1/1.28″, 1.22µm, with PDAF and OIS
  • Telephoto Lens: 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm, 1/2.88″, 0.61µm, with PDAF and 2x optical zoom
  • Extremely Extensive Angle Lens: 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 1/3.06″, 1.12µm
• Entrance Digital camera Specs:
  • Lens: 20 MP, f/2.2, (broad), 0.8µm
• Video Recording Capabilities:
  • Rear Digital camera: 8K@24fps, 4K@24/30, 4K/1080p@30fps HDR10+, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; 10-bit LOG, gyro-EIS
  • Entrance Digital camera: 1080p@30fps, HDR10+
• Battery Options:
  • Wired Charging: 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 42 min
• Connectivity Choices:
  • eSIM and Twin SIM functionality
• Miscellaneous Options:
  • Fingerprint Reader: Below show, optical

Design & Show

The Xiaomi 13T sports activities a modern bar design with IP68 mud and water resistance, which means it will probably stand up to unintentional dunks within the pool or sandy seashore journeys. Weighing 193g, the machine feels barely cumbersome in comparison with slimmer opponents, however its aluminium body and curved corners give it a cushty really feel within the hand.

Its show is a big 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED flat panel, boasting a 1.5K decision and 2712 x 1220 pixels format. With a refresh charge of 144 Hz, the smartphone guarantees {smooth} scrolling and enhanced gaming experiences. The show additionally helps HDR10+ video content material, delivering vibrant colors and sharp contrasts.

In brilliant circumstances, the show’s 2600 nits peak brightness ensures visibility. The show’s brightness is spectacular, as most telephones at this worth level would solely have half this peak brightness.

The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 safety, offering sturdiness towards scratches and unintentional drops.

The under-display fingerprint scanner is correct and quick, a lot better than the poor-quality fingerprint scanner on my outdated Pixel 6 Professional.

The color I used to be despatched is Meadow Inexperienced, which I feel is sort of engaging, it’s not gaudy like some telephones have been lately it is a little more fascinating than boring black.

Digital camera

One of many primary promoting factors of the Xiaomi 13T is that it’s outfitted with two high-quality 50MP cameras which can be co-engineered with Leica, which can be complimented with a 12MP ultrawide.

It’s fascinating that Xiaomi has chosen to make use of the identical digicam specification for each the usual Xiaomi 13T and the Professional mannequin. You’d usually get one good digicam, then one or two sub-standard choices, or a pointless low MP macro lens.

The digicam association features a 50MP primary digicam with a big 1/1.28″ sensor attaining a 1.22µm pixel measurement and PDAF and OIS.

Then there’s a 50MP 2x optical zoom telephoto digicam with a smaller 1/2.88″ sensor with 0.61µm and PDAF.

Lastly, there’s a third digicam for ultra-wide, however this can be a much less spectacular 12 MP digicam with a 1/3.06″ sensor and f/2.2, 15mm, 1.12µm.

There should not many telephones at this worth level with two high-resolution cameras. For instance, the brand new Pixel 8 has an incredible 50 MP  1/1.31″ primary digicam however no telephoto lens and a 12 MP ultra-wide that’s marginally higher than the Xiaomi 13T.

The first 50MP digicam captures detailed and vibrant photos and might deal with low-light situations a lot better than equally priced telephones.

The 50MP telephoto lens permits for high quality zoomed-in pictures, and it does an sufficient job. Contemplating it is just a 2x zoom lens and the sensor is inferior to the principle digicam, I’m left questioning if there may be a substantial amount of profit with this sensor. I feel a better zoom would have been helpful, leaving the principle digicam to deal with the 1x and 2x zoom.

I’ve all the time been a fan of utilizing ultra-wide cameras when travelling as they’re nice for capturing a wider discipline of view in cramped areas. It’s excellent for metropolis pictures or capturing spectacular scenic views. It’s, due to this fact, somewhat disappointing that many manufacturers neglect this digicam. The 12MP digicam on this does an OK job, it’s about nearly as good as anticipated. You’re greatest off sticking to the first digicam except you completely want to modify to one of many others.

The portrait mode of this digicam is fascinating. While you change to it, you’ve completely different choices referred to as the grasp lens system. This contains choices similar to 35mm documentary, 50mm swirly bokeh, and 90mm gentle focus. I discovered that the default possibility would typically have points with focusing, however the 35mm documentary possibility labored effectively once I was doing product pictures.

The 20MP front-facing digicam is adept at capturing crisp selfies and making certain clear video calls. It presents a considerable quantity of element, whereas the portrait mode furnishes a delightful diploma of background blur, which comes throughout as passable.

Moreover, the smartphone helps HDR10+ video recording for as much as 4K at 30fps, making certain your movies are as gorgeous as your pictures.

Efficiency and Benchmarks

Below the hood, the Xiaomi 13T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Extremely chipset, which is paired with an octa-core (8 cores) 64-bit 4nm processor. The machine additionally options an Arm Mali-G610 GPU, making certain {smooth} graphics efficiency throughout gaming or video streaming.

I’ve performed a extra detailed evaluation of the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Extremely and the way it in comparison with the Dimensity 8100 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Relying on the benchmark, there may be not an enormous distinction in efficiency with Dimensity 8100, with solely a 4% uplift in a single core efficiency for the Dimensity 8200-Extremely.

For the 3DMark Wildlife Stress check, the Xiaomi 13T with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Extremely achieves a rating that’s 19% increased than the Realme GT Neo 3 with the Dimensity 8100. Nevertheless, the GPU specification isn’t that completely different. The distinction within the rating may simply be how the 2 manufacturers optimise the chipset.

When it comes to reminiscence, the smartphone comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and as much as 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This mixture ensures {smooth} multitasking and ample space for storing to your information and apps. The Professional mannequin makes use of quicker UFS 4 storage.

The general consumer expertise is improved because of the 144Hz show. The mixture of the chipset and this quick charge ensures all the pieces runs ultra-smooth.  

General, I’ve been greater than have more than pleased with the efficiency of this cellphone, and I’d fortunately use it as my full time cellphone.

Not likely a criticism, however in my benchmarking publish, I highlighted that the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ on the Xiaomi 13T Professional would have considerably higher efficiency, just like the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Xiaomi 13T Professional ought to be £100 extra, and I felt that it will be value spending that for the improved efficiency.

Battery and Charging

Powering the Xiaomi 13T is a substantial 5000mAh battery. This guarantees a full day of utilization on a single cost, even with heavy use. I did discover that I wanted to recollect to cost it each evening, whereas I discovered that I may squeeze virtually two days out of my Honor Magic5 Professional.

As for charging, the machine helps Xiaomi’s highly effective 67W quick charging expertise. With this, you may get a full cost in simply over 40 minutes, lowering the time it’s important to wait to your cellphone to energy up.

It’s disappointing that there is no such thing as a wi-fi charging, however Xiaomi clearly wants to verify there may be sufficient distinction with the Professional mannequin to justify the value soar.

Android 13 & MIUI 14 UI

The Xiaomi 13T runs on Android 13, overlaid with Xiaomi’s customized MIUI 14 consumer interface (UI).

I don’t thoughts MIUI 14; I’m not the type of one that has very sturdy emotions concerning the completely different variations of Android.

However, there are some annoyances with this:

• There appears to be much more bloatware than competing choices. It’s not terrible, however it’s pointless. You possibly can uninstall lots of them.
• Xiaomi has a few of its personal apps you can’t take away.
  • I’m not eager on the Safety app, or the way it scans each set up, however you may disable this automated scan. Equally you may toggle off most of the different capabilities.
  • I additionally discovered GetApps to be fairly annoying, it makes an attempt to be an alternative choice to Google Play and might get pestered to make use of it.

For the Xiaomi apps, you may successfully disable them by:

• Go to settings
• Faucet search
• Enter “authorization & revocation”
• Flip off GetApps or no matter app you need

As soon as the bloatware is eliminated and the Xiaomi apps are prevented from pestering me, the general software program expertise is great.

Value and Various Choices

The Xiaomi 13T is priced competitively at £549, making it an reasonably priced alternative for these in search of a high-performing Android smartphone.

The Xiaomi 13T Professional presents a considerably superior chipset, extra RAM, quicker storage, superior WiFi 7 (vs 6), and quicker charging with 120W hypercharge. At launch, it was acknowledged that you possibly can get the 12+256G mannequin for £649, which I felt was effectively value over the usual Xiaomi 13T. Nevertheless, on the time of writing, solely the 12+512G mannequin is offered at £699, which can clearly be more durable to justify shopping for.

The Nothing Cellphone (2) begins at £579 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It has a superior chipset with final yr’s flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm). It has 50MP major digicam utilizing the 1/1.56″ Sony IMX766 after which a 50MP ultra-wide with a 1/2.76″ sensor measurement. I feel the nice ultra-wide is extra helpful than the nice 2x zoom on the Xiaomi 13T. This then has a smaller battery and slower charging, but it surely has wi-fi charging. It additionally has a decrease IP score of IP54.

The OnePlus Nord 3 is value contemplating at a cheaper price level of £499 with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s just like the Nothing Cellphone (2) however doesn’t have the flamboyant design and makes use of a low-quality 8MP ultra-wide lens. It has a bigger battery and faster-wired charging however lacks wi-fi.

The Pixel 8 is £699, and on paper, it’s an inferior cellphone except the Google Tensor G3, which ought to be extra highly effective. Nevertheless, Google has superior software program and many individuals regard it extremely. The Pixel 7 could also be value contemplating at £599.

Realme all the time used to have good various choices however not one of the lately launched telephones appear to be accessible within the UK, together with the Realme GT5.

General

The Xiaomi 13T is a strong Android smartphone that provides wonderful worth for its worth. It supplies top-tier efficiency because of the Dimensity 8200-Extremely, a vibrant and {smooth} show, and a formidable digicam setup.

If I had a most price range of £600 to spend on a cellphone, I feel the Xiaomi 13T and Nothing Cellphone (2) are the 2 greatest choices you will discover proper now.

Final replace on 2023-10-10 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API