Xiaomi has been making waves in the smartphone market with its affordable yet powerful devices. They recently launched its lineup with the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro, which offer flagship features at a fraction of the price.
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Table of Contents
Should You Buy the Xiaomi 13T or the 13T Pro
If you’re looking for a high-end smartphone experience that won’t break the bank, the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro are an excellent fit. Very little separates these two models, notably their processors, memory and storage options, and charging speeds.
So, which one should you get? If you’re the type of user who wants top-notch performance with the highest memory, storage, and charging speeds, the 13T Pro is a no-brainer. It’s a beast that rivals any flagship device regarding specs and features.
However, if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind sacrificing a bit of speed and storage, the Xiaomi 13T is still a great option.
Xiaomi 13T Dual-SIM 256GB ROM + 8GB RAM
Top 5 Key Features of the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro
- Both phones enjoy a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 1220 x 2712 pixel resolution and a refresh rate of 144Hz.
- Both phones have a triple-camera system with Leica lenses, allowing you to capture photos and videos in different modes.
- A 5000mAh battery that lasts more than a day of moderate usage. However, you get faster charging with the 13T Pro, rated at 120W, while the 13T only has 67W.
- The phones run Android 13 and Xiaomi’s MIUI 14, which offers a smooth and customizable experience.
- Both devices have powerful MediaTek chipsets that can handle any task or game without breaking a sweat.
What Is the Price of the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro in the UAE
The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro are available in the UAE through online and offline retailers. Since the models come with different memory and storage variants, there are a lot of price variations.
| Model and Variant | Price |
| Xiaomi 13T (8GB + 256GB) | AED 1799 |
| Xiaomi 13T (12GB + 256GB) | AED 1978 |
| Xiaomi 13T Pro (12GB + 512GB) | AED 2700 |
| Xiaomi 13T Pro (16GB + 1TB) | AED 4485 |
These prices are incredibly competitive compared to other flagship phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which can cost significantly more.
Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro Specifications
| Xiaomi 13T | Xiaomi 13T Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch AMOLED 1220 x 2712 pixel resolution 144Hz refresh rate Dolby Vision and HDR10+2600 nits peak brightness | 6.67-inch AMOLED 1220 x 2712 pixel resolution 144Hz refresh rate Dolby Vision and HDR10+2600 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | Mediatek Dimensity 8200 Ultra | Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ |
| Memory | 8GB or 12GB RAM | 12GB or 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear Camera | Main: 50MP f/1.9 with OIS Ultrawide: 12MP f/2.2 Telephoto: 50MP f/1.9 2x optical zoom | Main: 50MP f/1.9 with OIS Ultrawide: 12MP f/2.2 Telephoto: 50MP f/1.9 2x optical zoom |
| Front Camera | 20MP f/2.2 | 20MP f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K HDR10+ at 30fps1080p up to 120fps | 8K at 24fps4K up to 60fps4K HDR10+ at 30fps1080p up to 240fps |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000mAh 67W wired charging | Li-Po 5000mAh 120W wired charging |
| Operating System | Android 13, MIUI 14 | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm | 162.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 193 g | 200 g |
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro have similar design language and build quality. Very little separates these two; if you don’t know how to differentiate them, you’ll have difficulty telling which is which.
The phones are comfortable to hold but are admittedly on the larger side and can be hard to use with one hand. If you’re looking for a phone with a premium look and feel, these two will fulfil that.
Design Elements
The front of both phones features a large display with thin bezels on all sides. There’s a small punch-hole cutout for the front camera at the centre. The camera system is installed at the back in a rectangular module that protrudes slightly.
You can expect the usual set of buttons with the power and the volume rocker on the right side. The bottom houses the USB-C port, the speaker grille, and the SIM card tray that holds up to two nano-SIM cards.
Ergonomics and Handling
Since the phones come with curved edges, they’re comfortable to hold using one hand. However, they’re also fairly large, which can make them unwieldy for those who have smaller hands.
The button placements are well-thought-out, giving you easy access to the power button and volume rocker on the right frame. An under-display fingerprint scanner is also fast and reliable for unlocking your phone.
Display
If a feature of the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro stands out, it’s the 6.67-inch AMOLED screens. Let’s take a closer look.
Size and Resolution
The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro screen sizes and resolutions are virtually identical. Both models come with a 6.67-inch display that covers the entirety of the front side of the phones and is lined with thin bezels.
The screen has a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, translating to a 450 ppi pixel density, allowing a high level of detail and clarity for just about any content.
Refresh Rate
Since both models come with the same panels, they have a 144Hz refresh rate, which sets them apart from other devices. Most smartphones, even flagship ones, max out at 120Hz, and Xiaomi is kicking it into another gear.
Brightness and Contrast
As for brightness, the screen can produce up to 2600 nits at peak brightness so that you can see it even under direct sunlight. The contrast ratio is also high, thanks to the AMOLED producing deeper blacks and more vibrant colours.
Most smartphones, even flagship ones, max out at 120Hz, and Xiaomi is kicking it into another gear with 144Hz.
Performance
Performance is another key feature when choosing a smartphone, and the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro do not disappoint. Let’s find out why:
MediaTek Dimensity Processors
One of the first aspects where the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro differ in their chipsets. They use silicon from MediaTek, with the 13T sporting a Dimensity 8200 Ultra, while the 13T Pro gets the beefier Dimensity 9200+.
You get a performance bump of around 50% if you get the 13T Pro model, as it’s better overall from single-core and multi-core performance. It’s also a similar situation regarding the GPU and gaming performance.
Memory and Storage Options
There are multiple Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro variants. With the 13T non-Pro models, you can choose between getting one with 8GB or 12GB RAM. As for storage, you only get the 256GB version.
However, when we move to the 13T Pro, you can choose between 12GB or 16GB of RAM and storage options that range from 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB.
Getting one with a higher memory means the phone can run more apps simultaneously without lagging or crashing.
Camera
One feature where there’s not much difference between the two models is the cameras. Both sport a triple camera system at the rear and a single front camera for all your selfies.
Leica Glass
Leica is a German company that specializes in optics and cameras. It’s famous for its high-end lenses and cameras that professional photographers and filmmakers use. Xiaomi has partnered with Leica to provide the glass lenses for the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro cameras.
The lenses give the camera’s image and video quality a distinctive look and feel, offering a more artistic and cinematic touch.
Rear Camera
The rear camera system consists of three sensors, namely the 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization. It also has a 12MP ultrawide sensor with a 120-degree field of view for those landscape and architecture shots. Finally, there is the 50MP telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom capabilities.
Front Camera
As with most phones, you can expect only one front camera, and the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro have a 20MP sensor located in a punch-hole cutout on the top centre of the screen. It can capture selfies and videos with excellent quality thanks to its wide aperture and high resolution.
Battery Life and Charging
Batteries are certainly important for smartphones, as they dictate how long you can use your device. The battery numbers for the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro look promising, so let’s take a closer look:
Capacity
The battery capacity is the same for the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro. They come with a Li-Po battery with a 5000mAh capacity that’s large and generous for a smartphone of this size. It should easily last more than a day with moderate usage, like browsing, messaging, calling, streaming, and light gaming.
Charge Speeds
The area where the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro take it to an entirely different level is in charging speed. The 13T has 67W wired charging capabilities, charging your battery in about an hour. However, the Xiaomi 13T Pro has 120W wired charging that will fully charge the batteries in only 15 minutes.
Xiaomi 13T Pro has 120W wired charging that will fully charge the batteries in only 15 minutes.
Software
We all know Android and that there are a lot of phones that use it. The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro come with Android 13 but also have Xiaomi’s custom interface called the MIUI 14 that adds features and customization options for your phone.
Xiaomi MIUI
The Xiaomi MIUI 14 on the 13T and 13T Pro gives it that minimalist design language, making the phone easy to look at and use. You can expect the usual Android features, but notable additions like a floating window, game mode, second space, and privacy protection exist.
Software Updates
Xiaomi promised to provide regular software updates to the 13T and 13T Pro for at least three years. You can expect Android 14, 15, and even 16, plus updates to MIUI up to the 17th iteration.
However, remember that Xiaomi’s software update schedule may not be as fast or consistent as Google’s or Samsung’s.
Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro Alternatives
The Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro are great phones that come with a ton of features. However, alternatives exist, especially if you’re looking for more mainstream phones. Here are some of them:
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Weight: 2102 | Thickness: 8.9mm | OS: Android 13 | Screen: 6.7” QHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Google Tensor G2 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: up to 512GB | Cellular: 5G, Nono SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 50MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 10.8MP | Battery: 5000mAh, 23W Wired charging
- Google's flagship Android vision
- Fantastic camera
- Good battery
- Not officially available in the UAE
- Scratches easily
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is the previous flagship of the Pixel line, which you can consider comparable in price to the Xiaomi 13T series. The Pixel offers a few advantages, like a better camera, smoother software experience, and faster updates. However, you won’t be able to enjoy battery and charging speeds as fast as the 13Ts.
The OnePlus 11 is a flagship phone quite similar to the 13T Pro in terms of price and features. It’s one of the phones that can match Xiaomi regarding charging speed. However, it does have a smaller display and a lower resolution.
Samsung Galaxy S23 128GB
Weight: 168g | Thickness: 7.6mm | OS: Android 13 (OneUI 5.1) | Screen: 6.1” 1080 x 2340 pixels, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: up to 256GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 50MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 3900mAh, 25W Wired charging
- Incredibly fast
- Small and Lightweight for 2023
- Reasonably priced
- Same camera as last year
- Max storage at 256GB
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the latest flagship from Samsung and does come with features that the Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro doesn’t have, such as wireless charging. However, it is a more pricier option and not the one to consider if you’re on a budget.
Summing It Up
The Xiaomi 13T and the Xiaomi 13T Pro are the two midrange-priced phones with flagship features in 2023. If you’re looking for phones with performance that can rival other premium phones in the market, the 13T and 13T Pro are the ones to get.
Since they’re not full flagships, there are some omitted features, like they don’t have wireless charging. The MIUI comes with its own bloatware that can turn people off. However, if you’re willing to overlook these, the 13T and 13T Pro are phones worth every dirham you spend.
Jian Bacallan
Technology Content Crafter. Helping you unbox the latest in tech trends, especially with laptops and mobile devices. A PC gaming enthusiast who loves to cook and is currently obsessed with sim games and pizza dough.
