The Xiaomi 13 Lite is the entry-level option in the newly-released lineup. As the most affordable model in this trio, we tried it out at the brand event in Barcelona to see what it’s all about.
How does it look?
Boy, oh boy.
The first thing you’ll notice, without a doubt, is the “Dynamic Island” design found in the latest iPhone 14 Pro models. It’s a little strange since Apple has used it to signify their “best of the best” devices, while the upper-range Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro are equipped with cut-outs for the front-facing cameras.
The unit we were able to tinker with here was the “Lite Pink” version, which was classy and minimalistic. It’s not a hot pink that’s going to draw everyone’s attention, but it’s cool to the eyes and is aesthetically pleasing.
Save for a clean line of Xiaomi branding, a sizeable camera module resides in the top left portion of the device. There are two camera sensors enclosed in the largest circle, while the third finds itself on the other side. A dual-LED flash and “50-megapixel” branding adorn the bottom portion. Overall, this is the distinguishing feature of the back panel since everything else flies under the radar.
Is the display any good?
This Xiaomi 13 Lite uses a 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that comes with a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Even without delving into the numbers, the colors are punchy and vibrant all around. HDR 10+ support assures users that the color palettes will be well-represented in any form of media consumption on this panel.
On the spec sheet, it is indicated that this is capable of 1920Hz PWM dimming which should be a treat for your eyes in dimly-lit environments. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test this on the showroom floor but at the very least we were able to confirm that everything remained legible in bright conditions.
With Dolby Atmos support, this smartphone is a content-consumption beast.
How is it to use?
We didn’t have the luxury of time to install applications and do all sorts of things on the showroom floor. What we can say is that scrolling through the UI and opening default apps on the device were effortless. This is an effective marriage of a well-optimized UI and a reasonably-powerful processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.
Are the onboard optics any good?
Once again, our testing ground was on the showroom floor where the lighting was overwhelmingly present in any way, shape, and form. Based on our initial testing, it’s what we’ve come to expect from the tried-and-tested Sony IMX766 camera.
The 50-megapixel main sensor is adept at capturing whatever details are necessary in the shot. We can expect more or less the same performance with other phones sold with this sensor. Meanwhile, the 119-degree ultrawide lens as well as the macro camera are passable.
These will definitely be good enough for posting on social media or website use, especially for shots taken in ideal conditions. However, those who can foresee taking snapshots mostly in dimly-lit circumstances might have to rethink this a little more.
How much is it and would we buy one?
The Xiaomi 13 Lite is the most affordable among its band of brothers, starting at 499 Euros (approx. PHP 28,904 at the time of posting).
It’s a well-rounded device that fuses together a simple yet breathtaking design, decent internals, and a proven camera system. It’s obvious that it’s meant to be mildly inferior to its significantly more-expensive siblings, but the compromises here aren’t dealbreakers.
