Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra represent the pinnacle of smartphone engineering from two of China’s leading tech giants. This comparison isn’t just about specs; it’s about contrasting philosophies – Huawei’s push for self-sufficiency with its Kirin 9000S chipset versus Xiaomi’s reliance on Qualcomm’s proven Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. We’ll dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a refined software experience, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a more predictable and optimized experience, coupled with a class-leading camera system. However, the Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s Kirin chip and unique design appeal to those seeking a statement piece and supporting Huawei’s technological independence.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, September 252023, April 18
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 28Available. Released 2023, April 21
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 79 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.11 x 0.32 in)163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight242 g or 246 g (8.54 oz)227 g (8.01 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1260 x 2720 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~440 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 114.4 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120HzLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9000S (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910 MP4Adreno 740
OSHarmonyOS 4.0 (China)Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional)
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9 or f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.8, 75mm (telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.0, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Triple48 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR Vivid, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR Vivid1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging88W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 20W reverse wireless90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 100% in 49 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, RedBlack, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, Blue
ModelsALN-AL102304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG
PriceAbout 1550 EUR€ 797.98 / $ 389.69
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)

Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate

  • Unique and eye-catching design
  • Huawei’s independent chipset development (Kirin 9000S)
  • Fast 88W wired and 50W wireless charging

  • Potentially less optimized software experience
  • Kirin 9000S may exhibit more thermal throttling
  • Limited information on camera capabilities

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system with large sensors
  • Powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Mature and refined software experience

  • Less distinctive design compared to the Mate 60 RS Ultimate
  • Wireless charging is slower than some competitors
  • Relatively high price point

Display Comparison

While both phones undoubtedly feature high-quality displays, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1207 nits, suggesting a superior outdoor visibility experience compared to the Mate 60 RS Ultimate (brightness data unavailable). Both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life. However, without detailed color accuracy data for the Huawei, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra appears to have a slight edge in display quality based on available metrics.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is widely regarded as a mobile photography leader, and its hardware supports this claim. While the Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s camera specs are not detailed, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s focus on large sensors and advanced image processing is a key differentiator. The Xiaomi’s system likely prioritizes natural color reproduction and dynamic range, while Huawei historically leans towards more saturated and stylized images. The absence of detailed camera information for the Mate 60 RS Ultimate makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s reputation and hardware suggest a clear advantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) benefits from a more mature manufacturing process, offering better thermal efficiency and sustained performance. Its octa-core configuration, featuring the Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, provides a significant performance advantage over the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s Kirin 9000S (7nm). The Kirin’s Taishan architecture, while innovative, is likely to exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load. The Snapdragon’s LPDDR5x RAM further contributes to faster data transfer speeds, enhancing overall responsiveness.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra delivers a solid 10:09 hours of active use, and an endurance rating of 108 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Mate 60 RS Ultimate offers competitive charging speeds (88W wired, 50W wireless), the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s 90W wired charging (35 minutes to 100%) and 50W wireless charging (49 minutes to 100%) are comparable. The Mate 60 RS Ultimate also offers 20W reverse wireless charging, while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra provides 10W, offering a slight convenience advantage to Huawei users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate if you need a phone that stands out with its unique design and are willing to embrace a potentially less polished software experience in exchange for supporting Huawei’s independent chipset development. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Ultra if you prefer a consistently high-performing device with a world-class camera system, a mature software experience, and reliable access to Google services.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S in the Mate 60 RS Ultimate suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm manufacturing process and the Taishan architecture, the Kirin 9000S is more likely to experience thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process. While Huawei has implemented cooling solutions, sustained high-performance tasks like gaming may lead to reduced clock speeds and frame rates over time.
❓ How does the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s camera perform in low-light conditions compared to other flagship smartphones?
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra excels in low-light photography thanks to its large sensor size and advanced image processing algorithms. It captures exceptional detail, minimizes noise, and maintains accurate colors even in challenging lighting scenarios, consistently ranking among the best low-light performers in the smartphone market.
❓ Is the 20W reverse wireless charging on the Mate 60 RS Ultimate useful for charging accessories like earbuds or smartwatches?
While 20W reverse wireless charging is present, it's primarily a convenience feature. It's sufficient for topping up smaller accessories like earbuds or smartwatches, but it won't rapidly charge larger devices like another smartphone. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's 10W reverse wireless charging is similarly suited for small accessories.