Xiaomi 13 Ultra vs Xiaomi 12T Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Xiaomi consistently delivers impressive smartphones, and the 13 Ultra and 12T Pro are prime examples. But which one deserves your money? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall value to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers a superior camera system, brighter display, and newer chipset, justifying its higher price. However, the 12T Pro boasts incredibly fast 120W charging and a slightly more compact design, making it a compelling option for those prioritizing speed and affordability.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 13 Ultra Xiaomi 12T Pro
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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 75 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO-
Launch
Announced2023, April 182022, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 21Available. Released 2022, October 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in)163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional)Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 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)-
Triple-200 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p)8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, HDR
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audioTuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), 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 3.2, DisplayPort, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 100% in 49 min 10W reverse wireless120W wired, 100% in 19 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, BlueBlack, Silver, Blue
Models2304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG22081212UG, 22081212G
Price€ 797.98 / $ 389.69$ 208.76 / € 167.62
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 91h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 1032185 (v9) GeekBench: 4081 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

  • Superior Camera System
  • Brighter Display
  • Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset
  • Premium Build Quality
  • Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Higher Price
  • Slower Charging (compared to 12T Pro)
  • Larger Size/Weight

Xiaomi 12T Pro

  • Blazing-Fast 120W Charging
  • More Affordable
  • Compact Design (likely)
  • Solid Performance

  • Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Chipset
  • Less Impressive Camera
  • Lower Peak Brightness

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1207 nits, significantly brighter than the 12T Pro's 913 nits. While the 12T Pro boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term), the 13 Ultra's superior brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight. Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's camera system is its standout feature. While both phones offer excellent photo and video capabilities, the 13 Ultra's larger sensors, advanced image processing, and potentially more versatile lens options (likely including a periscope zoom lens - assumed based on Ultra branding) provide a noticeable advantage in image quality, especially in low light. The 12T Pro's camera is still very capable, but it doesn't reach the same heights.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the 13 Ultra is a clear performance winner over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12T Pro. The newer chipset offers improved efficiency and raw power, resulting in smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the 13 Ultra has more headroom for demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers a respectable active use battery life of 10 hours and 9 minutes, and an endurance rating of 108 hours. The 12T Pro has an endurance rating of 91 hours. However, the 12T Pro's 120W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing it to fully charge in just 19 minutes, significantly faster than the 13 Ultra's 35 minutes.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is ideal for photography enthusiasts and users who demand top-tier performance and a premium experience. The Xiaomi 12T Pro is a great choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a powerful phone with blazing-fast charging and a solid all-around experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra worth the extra money?
If you prioritize camera quality and top-tier performance, the 13 Ultra is worth the investment. However, if you're on a tighter budget and value fast charging, the 12T Pro is a compelling alternative.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offers superior gaming performance due to its improved efficiency and raw power.