Pro here, pro there, pro everywhere! What does it really mean to be a PRO phone? And another question remains: Should you only get the Pro variant smartphone? Because this, my friends, is the Xiaomi 13, which is currently my favorite Android device right now, and here are 5 reasons why you SHOULD get it and 2 reasons why you probably NOT!

 

1) COMPACT SIZE

The first reason would be the size of the phone. Now, this little guy may be compact, but it does pack a punch! And let me tell you, I’m not the only one who thinks so because I’ve spoken to creatives and business people alike, and they all agree that a smaller-sized smartphone can be just as mighty.

And while some people do prefer a smaller phone like the iPhone 13 Mini or Google Pixel 7, while I did review those phones and use them daily, the Xiaomi 13 has surely stolen my heart… or my pocket.

Now, I gotta say that the glossy white finish is giving me LIFE! I mean, sure, the Flora Green version I got during my first impressions video is unique, but there’s something about this sleek white look that screams premium. And with its sleek and compact form factor, it’s like having a tiny work of art in the palm of my hand.

The phone’s frame is also a HUGE plus too, it’s like the phone was tailor-made to fit in my hand as well, giving me that same satisfying grip I get from my trusty iPhone 14 Pro Max. And with the ability to reach all corners of the screen with just one hand, I’m multitasking like a pro! And this means I can text on one hand and eat a sandwich on the other.

Speaking of using the phone in one hand, because of how the phone is built and how it has a perfect weight to it. Taking photos with one hand? No problem, my friend. This little guy stays put like a champ without slipping and sliding like a greased watermelon.

Speaking of a watermelon, the good news is that the phone is IP68 dust and water resistance rated as well, which is something you wouldn’t expect from a Xiaomi phone or even a non-Pro variant of the smartphone.

Now, since I always carry two phones with me all the time, which is one iPhone and one Android phone. And since the iPhone 14 Pro Max is already pretty hefty, I prefer my Android phone of choice to be light, and with this Xiaomi 13, I  feel like I’m carrying around a feather. Maybe not a feather, but you get the point.

 

2) SCREEN 

The screen size was indeed the following reason that I loved the phone, and I was a bit worried at first, given my not-so-pleasant experience with the screen quality on the Google Pixel 7. But let me tell you that this little guy did not disappoint.

With the perfect 1900 nits of peak brightness, I had no trouble using it on the sunniest of days. And speaking of brightness, the automatic brightness on the phone was as good as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra because Samsung always does a fantastic job with their automatic brightness adjustments and of course the screen quality. And speaking of which, it also uses the high-quality E6 OLED panel as well.

And this 6.36-inch AMOLED Display had more uniform bezels compared to the more prominent chin on the Pro variant, as seen in my first impressions videos, which indeed made me appreciate the phone even more when consuming videos on YouTube, Netflix, and also on Disney+.

Also mentioned in my first impressions video, the Xiaomi 13 has Widevine L1 playback specifications on Netflix, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio too, which is crazy to think for a phone of this size and price.

But I know what you might be thinking: “But what about the resolution?” Sure, it may not have the higher WQHD+ resolution of its Pro sibling, but let me tell you, it didn’t feel any less sharp. And this 120Hz refresh rate screen is as smooth as butter.

So with all these amazing movie playback specs in a phone within this size and price point, the only thing missing is a bag of popcorn to go with it.

 

3) CAMERA PERFORMANCE

The third reason is the excellent camera performance on the phone. Just to mention the specs very quickly, the phone comes with a Leica Vario-Summicron 50 MP IMX800 1/1.56 inch sensor main camera, a 10 MP telephoto lens, a 12 MP Ultra-wide lens, and the front camera is a 32 MP camera.

Now sure, the Xiaomi 13 Pro has a bigger 1-inch sensor which in return gives you a more natural shallow depth of field, but to be honest, when I took pictures on the phone, it felt like I was using the Pro all the time if it wasn’t for the watermark, I could barely even tell if it was on the non-Pro variant.

The main lenses were amazing, and thanks to the combination of Leica and Xiaomi’s image processing, you won’t miss the 1-inch sensor bokeh look at all because it still looks stunning.

Then the Ultrawide lenses are one of my favorites as well, capturing a perfect focal length and sharp from edge to edge without any barrel distortions.

As I predicted, I enjoyed using the Leica Vibrant all the way when I was using the phone to take photos. 

I also found myself using the 35mm Black and White Mode, which made me appreciate Black and White photography even more.

Selfie photos on the phone were always consistently good, and that was really lovely to know, as it was a hit or miss on the last generation Xiaomi 12.

The nighttime selfie photos were really amazing, and the rear was also perfect, properly balancing the shadows and highlights like how a flagship smartphone should.

Shooting videos on the phone was also really great, and while it can go up to 8K 24 fps, I was really enjoying the 4K video on the rear lenses during the day and also at night, as it had one of the best quality for its segment, and the image stabilization was excellent too.

And while I’m still annoyed with the fact that Xiaomi maximizing their front video recording only up to 1080p but still overall, it was looking really great with high dynamic range when taking videos on the front camera.

 

4) BATTERY

As for the following reason that you should get this phone is the battery life. Now I know what you might be wondering. Are you serious, Adam Lobo? Are you saying that a small-sized smartphone like this has great battery life? 

Well, believe it or not, it is TRUE! Even with such a small form factor, Xiaomi has managed to fit in a 4,500 mAh battery, which is REALLY good for its size.

And combined with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset, it does a very good job on the overall battery management of the phone.

I got an average of 6 hours and 20 minutes of screen on time, when I was at 10% battery with dark mode turn on, and that was even more screen on time which I got compared to the larger Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, yeap!

Then with the included 67W power brick in the box, I was getting an average of 38 minutes charging the phone from 0-100%, which was another plus.

And while it can charge up to 50W wireless charging, I usually just plug in it to charge only when I am at 10% battery, grab a quick coffee and chill, and I am good to go!

Now before going into the final reason why you should get the phone, let’s go into the negativity zone, shall we? Because here are two reasons why you should probably NOT get this phone!

 

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Cons #1 –  DURABILITY

The first would be its durability. While having an IP68 rating is surely a huge reason to get the phone in terms of durability, but you see, this Non-Pro version only has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, while the Pro variant has a way better Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and let’s not forget about the Ceramic finish on the phone, which makes it even more durable. 

Of course, if you’re the type of person who treats their phone like a newborn baby, then maybe this Non-Pro version will suffice. But I highly recommend that you be extra careful for those of you who have extreme butterfingers. Because let’s face it, no one wants to live with a cracked screen on your brand-new phone.

 

Cons #2 – SOFTWARE

Number 2 would be the software experience because this is always a sort of love-hate relationship. They’re like that one friend who always makes you work harder to really understand them. Surely, there are some great improvements in behind-the-scenes optimizations, but let’s be honest; the real struggle for most people is MIUI.

Because if you’re used to Samsung’s One UI or OnePlus’s OxygenOS, navigating through MIUI 14 is almost like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded for first-timers, as it can take some serious getting used to.

But hey, if you’re a tech reviewer or someone who is used to a Xiaomi phone, then you’re probably thinking: “MIUI 14 is totally fine; what’s the big deal?” Well, according to MANY non-Xiaomi users, the software experience can make or break the deal. And that is why I am hoping for a total revamp in MIUI 15!

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5) PRICE

Then going into the last and the most obvious reason that you should get the Xiaomi 13 is, of course, the price. Let’s face it; great flagship phones are getting very expensive. You could either buy a new phone or pay rent this month. But with the Xiaomi 13’s affordable price, you don’t have to choose between having a roof over your head or having a brand-new phone.

The Xiaomi 13 starts with a price of RM3,499, undercutting the regular S23 by RM400, doubling the storage to 256GB.

And compared to the Pro variant, it starts at RM4,599, which is surely a lot more, if you do the math of course. And considering the great performance and quality of this phone, just save your money and buy the Xiaomi 13 instead.