Xiaomi 13 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13 Lite: The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi's lineup offers compelling options at different price points. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra aims for flagship dominance, while the 13 Lite targets a more accessible market. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you determine which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the clear winner for power users and photography enthusiasts, boasting a superior chipset, camera system, and faster charging. However, the Xiaomi 13 Lite offers excellent value with a stylish design and solid performance for everyday tasks, making it a great choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 13 Ultra Xiaomi 13 Lite
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, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 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 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO-
Launch
Announced2023, April 182023, February 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 21Available. Released 2023, March 08
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in)159.2 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm (6.27 x 2.86 x 0.28 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)171 g (6.03 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)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 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 (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 644
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOSAndroid 12, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional)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-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (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)4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Dual-32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.3, (depth)
FeaturesHDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm-
Video1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
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), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
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
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 wireless67W wired, 100% in 40 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, BlueBlack, Lite Blue, Lite Pink
Models2304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG-
Price€ 797.98 / $ 389.69About 180 EUR
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 93h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -28.5 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 534143 (v9) GeekBench: 2936 (v5.1), 2434 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

  • Exceptional Camera System
  • Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Blazing-Fast Charging (90W)
  • Bright and Vibrant Display
  • Premium Build Quality

  • High Price
  • Large and Heavy Design
  • Potentially Complex Camera Features

Xiaomi 13 Lite

  • Stylish and Lightweight Design
  • Good Battery Life
  • Affordable Price
  • Fast Charging (67W)
  • Excellent Value

  • Mid-Range Performance (Snapdragon 7 Gen 1)
  • Less Capable Camera
  • Lower Brightness Display

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 1207 nits, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. The 13 Lite's 938 nits is still respectable, and its 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term) suggests deep blacks. While both offer vibrant colors, the Ultra's higher brightness gives it a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra's camera system is its standout feature, likely featuring a larger sensor and more advanced image processing capabilities. While the 13 Lite's camera is capable, it doesn't match the Ultra's versatility and image quality, especially in low light. Expect better zoom capabilities and overall detail from the Ultra.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the 13 Ultra is a powerhouse, significantly outperforming the 7 Gen 1 in the 13 Lite. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and superior gaming performance on the Ultra. The 13 Lite handles everyday tasks well, but struggles with demanding games at high settings.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings. The 13 Ultra's active use score of 10:09h and endurance rating of 108h are excellent. The 13 Lite's endurance rating of 93h is also very good. The 13 Ultra's faster 90W wired charging (35 minutes to 100%) and 50W wireless charging provide a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is ideal for photographers, gamers, and anyone demanding top-tier performance and features. The Xiaomi 13 Lite is perfect for users prioritizing a sleek design, good battery life, and a more affordable price tag without sacrificing essential features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra worth the extra cost?
If you're a serious photographer or gamer, the 13 Ultra's superior camera and performance justify the higher price. Otherwise, the 13 Lite offers excellent value.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the two phones?
The biggest difference is performance. The 13 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset provides significantly faster speeds and better overall performance compared to the 13 Lite's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.