There’s a brand new flagship smartphone range from one of the biggest names in the game, with Xiaomi unveiling the Xiaomi 13T Series, featuring both the 13T and 13T Pro devices, in Berlin. We were lucky enough to get an invite to the grand unveiling, with the Chinese manufacturer taking to the stage at the Verti Music Hall Berlin to show off the powerful new product range and officially release it into the world.
The Xiaomi 13T Series devices, the 13T and 13T Pro, are surely destined for our list of the best Xiaomi phones due to their impressive specs and features. With MediaTek CPUs, three high-quality cameras co-engineered with Leica, and a battery that takes less than 20 minutes to fully charge, there’s no wonder Xiaomi is making such a big deal about the launch, with these devices easily rivaling other powerful Android models from brands like Samsung and Motorola.
Available from retailers now in Alpine Blue, Meadow Green, and Black designs, the Xiaomi 13T Series devices are a pair of impressive all-rounder smartphones, though, as to be expected, the 13T Pro is a little bit more of a blockbuster. The 13T Pro supports up to 8K video recording at 24fps and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ CPU, boosting performance to levels that far surpass prior Xiaomi devices, not to mention other high-end Android phones on the market.
Much of the big reveal presentation concentrated on the relationship between Xiaomi and Leica, with the Chinese developer keen to build on its burgeoning reputation as a top-quality brand for smartphone photography. For both companies, the emphasis on the 13T and 13T Pro’s photography specialism is based on three principles; optics, aesthetics, and experience.
We also saw more of the two types of photography looks possible with both of the Xiaomi 13T Series phones, ‘Leica Authentic’ and ‘Leica Vibrant’. The ‘Authentic’ option does just what it says on the tin, offering a realistic representation of the image you’re looking to capture, while the ‘Vibrant’ option makes your pictures more vivid without endless filters and editing. However, if you do like a bit of editing, there are plenty of tools available on the device to enhance your images as you please.
For the special event, Xiaomi introduced notable photographer Dan Rubin, who described the new device as ‘like carrying a Leica in my pocket’. It’s clear that Xiaomi wants to make a show of its smartphone camera technology, and with some of the examples you can see in the stream above, it makes sense. The 13T Series features the closest recreation I’ve seen to professional photography technology in an Android smartphone and is sure to be a hit with amateur and professional photographers alike.
The 13T Series wasn’t the only new Xiaomi tech on show today, with the manufacturer also revealing the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Smart Band 8. The Watch 2 Pro is particularly impressive, combining a more traditional clock-face design with all the functions and features you want from a flashy bit of kit you can wear on your wrist, all made possible by Google Wear OS and Snapdragon W5 + Gen 1 technology.
There you have it, all you need to know about the unveiling of the Xiaomi 13T Series of new flagship smartphones, with both the 13T and 13T Pro now available to purchase from various retailers. While you’re here, be sure to check out some handheld gaming hardware with our list of the best portable gaming consoles.