Watch first images from the 1-inch phone camera menace that promises to destroy iPhone and Galaxy S23 Ultra

If there is one phone that has the advanced camera technology, the hardware chops and the marketing clout to actually beat the Galaxy S23 Ultra, iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 7 Pro, this has got to be it.

Last but not least, you also have an ultra-wide lens, and all of these cameras are covered by Vario-Summicron branding by Leica, where the Vario part signifies a zoom lens and the Summicron part signifies that this is the best possible lens quality.

Xiaomi 13 Pro Main Camera Samples

These official samples shot on the Xiaomi 13 Pro suggest this camera goes a step beyond the current mainstream flagships like the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Pixel 7 Pro.

This powerful 1-inch type sensor impresses in various conditions, but photos just stand out in low light. The 23mm f/1.9 lens has a fast enough aperture and a wide look that makes it very versatile.

The first picture actually depicts the bartender making a firework cocktail. This effect is achieved by sprinkling cinnamon powder and is captured beautifully by the Xiaomi 13 Pro. ​​​​

Xiaomi 13 Pro 75mm Telephoto Shots

It’s interesting that the Xiaomi 13 Pro goes with a 75mm focusing distance for its telephoto camera, which is about 3.3X zoom over the main shooter.

And it’s not the only one: the majority of phone makers in China switch their flagships to telephoto lenses with 2X to 3.5X zoom, which seems to be the sweet spot and the trend for 2023.

For Xiaomi, this is a change from the 12S Ultra which was equipped with a 5X zoom telephoto camera. We imagine this new shorter zoom range is just more versatile as people are just more often using zoom levels in that range, plus we imagine it can be used for portrait mode shots as well, unlike a long-range 5X or 10X zoom cam.

It’s no coincidence that we start the gallery above with this night time barbershop shot. One advantage of such a zoom lens is that it can actually be used in low light conditions. Some zoom cameras like the 10X zoom shooter on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example, simply cannot be used in dim conditions, as they require more light.

Xiaomi 13 Pro: Close-up Photos with new Telephoto Lens

And here is a demonstration of that incredible 4-inch zoom capability of this new telephoto lens.

You can really get some photos that few people would guess are coming from a smartphone.

You have an excellent amount of detail and with this zoom lens, you inevitably get some separation with a creamy, blurred background that adds to the artistic value of the photos.

Xiaomi 13 Pro: Design and Specs

Okay, we’ve talked cameras, but what is the Xiaomi 13 Pro all about?

It’s a flagship phone of course and here is a quick summary of the specs:

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the first Qualcomm chip to support LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, and the storage alone will deliver a marked improvement in speed. UFS 4.0 is quoted to bring a huge leap in read/write speeds, plus it allows the actual chips used to be smaller. Expect double the speeds compared to UFS 3.1, with UFS 4.0 reaching up to 4,200MB/s for read and 2,800MB/s for write. This type of flash memory is said to be the biggest upgrade in the field in the last three years.

Additionally, Xiaomi CEO confirms there will be a ceramic model, pictured above. It is a beautiful “field green” color and ceramic has the advantage of being more scratch resistant than regular glass. It is a rarity to see anything different from glass in mainstream flagships, so this is one extra feature that shows just the level of care that went into making this product.

Finally, this white model is expected to feature toughened glass, if you prefer this more classic design choice. We love the clean white color, gives the phone a very pleasing esthetic.

Xiaomi does not sell its phones in the US, and we doubt that will change any time soon, but of course it will be possible to import the phone for those who are extra curious.