H1: Xiaomi 13 Ultra Aims to Revolutionize Smartphone Photography
H2: The Importance of Smartphone Cameras
You could argue that focusing a large portion of a company’s R&D, marketing effort and keynote time on one aspect of a piece of tech is a little too much. In the case of smartphones, which are expected to be good at multiple things, and act as a replacement to a bunch of separate devices (calculators, flashlights, music players, handheld consoles, etc.), this heatmap is concentrated in the top half of phones, or in other words, the camera area.
H3: Why Phone-Makers Focus on Camera Features
The simple answer to why phone-makers focus so heavily on the camera of flagship phones really is that simple – phone cameras and their features are easy to market, and we live in the golden age of social media where taking and sharing photos and videos of us and everything around us is part of life.
H3: Xiaomi Aims to Reclaim “Real Phone Camera”
However, in this heated race to create the best smartphone camera for social media content, one phone-maker is trying to play by its own rules, and that’s Xiaomi. The latest example of the Chinese company’s attempt to reclaim the “real phone camera” back and make it cool again (like some ten years ago), is called the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.
H4: Early Look at Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Unveiled recently in China, the latest Ultra flagship is expected to hit the global market pretty soon. Here’s an early look at what this super-premium Android flagship might be capable of. Bear in mind we’re yet to test out the Xiaomi 13 Ultra for ourselves, so take these early impressions with a grain of salt. Our own review will be coming soon.
H4: Is Xiaomi 13 Ultra the Best Camera Phone of the Year?
That being said, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra might just be the best camera phone of the year! Might.
H3: Xiaomi Claims iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra Do Photography Wrong
Xiaomi 13 Ultra: iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra do photography wrong and Xiaomi isn’t afraid to call Apple and Samsung out. Xiaomi claims the 13 Ultra is a “camera phone – not a phone with a camera”, and I can agree!
H4: Leica’s Collaboration with Xiaomi
The company’s collaboration with German camera-maker Leica has reached a new peak point that Leica’s ex-partner Huawei didn’t manage to achieve. Leica’s style and experience in the world of photography is now written all over the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, proving cross collaborations can be truly fruitful and make a difference. It’s not “just marketing”.
H4: Camera-First Design of Xiaomi 13 Ultra
With the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Chinese brand made a phone that’s camera first and everything else second (that being said, everything else about the device is pretty remarkable too).
H4: Vegan Leather Finish and Aesthetic Design
The vegan leather finish, slight slope on the top back, and the very much not subtle curves in the frame seem to make this (big) phone that much easier to take photos and videos with. It’s a combination of aesthetic and functional design that draws inspiration from Leica’s compact cameras.
H4: Xiaomi’s Take on Camera Grip
The phone now comes with an added accessory that’s designed to bring your photo-taking experience to the next level. That’s if you’re ready to pay $100 to buy it.
H4: Physical Shutter Button and Zoom Lever
Reminiscent of the Nokia 1020’s camera grip (from 2013), Xiaomi’s take on the same accessory exudes a more polished and professional look. On top of offering a much better grip for extended photo sessions, it also adds a physical shutter button that (wait for it…) you can half-press to lock focus and fully-press to take the shot! The elaborate “case/grip” combo is full of pleasant surprises as it also utilizes a physical zoom lever.
H4: Xiaomi’s War on Artificial-Looking Photos
To the second point, Xiaomi says “enough is enough” – computational photography and “images” are cool but camera hardware and “real photos” matter more. The Chinese phone-maker openly called out Apple on stage, and the reason is the iPhone’s tendency to take very artificial-looking photos which misrepresent not only people’s features but also pets, as well as things around us. The same applies to Samsung flagships, by the way.
H4: Xiaomi’s Pro Mode
Aside from that, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra now allows you to select different styles of photography within the Pro Mode menu – if that sounds familiar is because Apple did something similar with Photographic Styles. However, unlike Apple’s “filters”, Xiaomi’s phone gives you a more comprehensive set of controls such as highlight, shadow, brightess, exposure, color, sharpness, focus, aperture (physical), ISO, shutter speed and more.
H4: Authentic Photography with Xiaomi
Xiaomi is now a self-proclaimed global ambassador of “authentic photography”, and isn’t afraid to openly and verbally call the likes of Apple out for turning “photos” into “images” (and that’s great).
H2: FAQs
Q1: What is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra?
Q2: When is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra expected to hit the global market?
Q3: Is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra the best camera phone of the year?
Q4: What is Xiaomi’s take on camera grip?
Q5: What is Xiaomi’s Pro Mode?
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