Xiaomi K90 Pro Max vs 13 Ultra: A Head-to-Head Battle of Snapdragon Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its superior battery endurance (10:09h active use) and refined camera system outweigh the K90 Pro Max’s raw processing power. However, gamers and power users will find the K90 Pro Max’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi K90 Pro Max | Xiaomi 13 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 23 | 2023, April 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 23 | Available. Released 2023, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Dragon Crystal Glass), aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or silicone polymer back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 77.8 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2608 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 116.6 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, 2560Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 16, HyperOS 3 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| - | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser 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) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, 115mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 8K@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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/3.44", 0.64µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, LHDC 5.0, ASHA, MIHC | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 22.5W reverse wireless | 90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 100% in 49 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7560 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Denim Blue, Lamborgini White | Black, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, Blue |
| Models | - | 2304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG |
| Price | About 500 EUR | € 797.98 / $ 389.69 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
Xiaomi Redmi K90 Pro Max
- Unmatched processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Faster 100W wired charging
- 50W wireless and 22.5W reverse wireless charging
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Battery life likely shorter than the 13 Ultra
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
- Excellent battery life (10:09h active use)
- Refined camera system optimized for both photo and video
- High peak brightness (1207 nits)
- Slower 90W wired charging
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1207 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the K90 Pro Max (brightness data unavailable). While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the 13 Ultra’s focus on color accuracy and calibration, typical of Xiaomi’s Ultra line, will appeal to content creators. The absence of PWM frequency data for the K90 Pro Max raises questions about potential flicker, potentially making the 13 Ultra a safer choice for users sensitive to screen flicker.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is positioned as a photography powerhouse, though specific sensor details are missing. Its 'Photo / Video' designation suggests a comprehensive camera system optimized for both stills and video recording. The K90 Pro Max’s camera specifications are currently unknown, but given its focus on value, it’s likely to feature a less sophisticated setup. The 13 Ultra’s image processing algorithms, honed over several generations, will likely produce more consistent and visually appealing results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of details on the K90 Pro Max’s camera system makes a direct comparison difficult, but the 13 Ultra is the clear frontrunner based on Xiaomi’s brand positioning.
Performance
The Redmi K90 Pro Max’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) represents a significant leap in mobile processing. Its octa-core configuration, featuring 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores, promises substantial gains over the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The 3nm process node of the 8 Elite Gen 5 should deliver improved thermal efficiency, but the K90 Pro Max’s aggressive clock speeds may still lead to throttling under sustained load. The 13 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while older, is still a powerhouse, and its 4nm process offers a good balance of performance and efficiency. The K90 Pro Max is geared towards maximizing benchmark scores and handling demanding tasks, while the 13 Ultra prioritizes sustained performance and stability.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving 10:09 hours of active use and an endurance rating of 108 hours. While the K90 Pro Max boasts faster wired charging at 100W (vs. 90W on the 13 Ultra), and adds 50W wireless and 22.5W reverse wireless, the 13 Ultra’s superior battery life mitigates the need for frequent top-ups. The K90 Pro Max’s 100W charging can reach 100% in a shorter time, but the 13 Ultra’s more efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to its longer runtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K90 Pro Max if you need uncompromising gaming performance, the absolute fastest processor available, and rapid 100W charging, and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Ultra if you prefer a more polished and versatile camera experience, longer battery life, and a flagship device with a proven track record of software optimization.