DxOMark conducted a detailed assessment of the camera system on the latest Xiaomi 13 Ultra, comparing it with established flagships to gauge how it stacks up in real world photography and video performance. The analysis centers on the camera module itself and how it behaves across different shooting scenarios, offering a nuanced view of strengths and weaknesses that matter to mobile users who care about image quality, color accuracy, and practical usability. While the Xiaomi 13 Ultra shows promise in several areas, the DxOMark report places it in a broader context where other leading models remain ahead in the eyes of independent testing. The core takeaway is that the device delivers competent imaging hardware and software integration, but its overall ranking depends on what aspects of photography and videography a user values most and how those priorities align with what rivals already deliver.
Reviewers highlight that the 13 Ultra maintains exceptionally stable image quality throughout the complete zoom range, a trait that helps maintain consistency when subjects are at varying distances. In addition, the device demonstrates robust auto white balance across both stills and video, producing neutral tones that remain reliable under diverse lighting. Texture preservation stands out in many test conditions, delivering a pleasing balance between detail and noise, which translates to crisper textures in textures-rich scenes and patterns. Video autofocus also proves to be smooth and accurate, contributing to reliable focus performance when capturing dynamic subjects in motion. These positives reflect the hardware choices and software tuning that Xiaomi applied to the camera pipeline, and they position the phone well for everyday use and quick social sharing where consistent results matter.
Nevertheless, the evaluation identifies several notable drawbacks that impact the overall impression of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The shutter release experience is not instantaneous, with a measurable delay between pressing the shutter button and the capture event, which can be a hindrance in fast-paced moments such as street photography or action shots. Color saturation appears more pronounced in outdoor environments, occasionally pushing colors beyond natural levels and reducing rendering fidelity in certain scenes. In high dynamic range situations, there is a tendency for facial features to appear slightly compressed, which can diminish the perception of facial texture and individuality when lighting is challenging. When recording moving elements in video, the camera can introduce visible artifacts that disrupt the smoothness of motion and reduce overall video polish. These issues collectively contribute to a rating that reflects a mixed performance across different variables, rather than a uniformly excellent score.
On the results board, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra registers a total score that places it behind several top contenders in the field of mobile photography and videography. The device earns 140 points, positioning it fourteenth in the global ranking for image quality and video performance. It trails behind the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which scores higher, as well as the Apple iPhone 14 Pro in the same category, and is also outpaced by the Huawei P60 Pro. This comparison underscores how tightly the category is contested and how fractions of a point in testing metrics can separate flagship devices. For potential buyers weighing camera performance against price and other phone capabilities, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers a compelling package but with caveats that may matter depending on the user’s shooting style and expectations for color handling, autofocus latency, and video stabilization when subjects move quickly.
In the Russian market, ahead of its general release, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is positioned at a suggested retail price of 140000 rubles. The rollout plan, as discussed by industry editors, indicates that the first available configuration for local consumers will be a single memory option featuring 12 gigabytes of RAM paired with 512 gigabytes of built-in storage. Customers will have a choice of shell colors, with black and green variants highlighted as the primary aesthetics. This limited version approach affects perceptions of value, especially for buyers who weigh hardware capabilities such as RAM and storage against the camera performance framed by the ongoing DxOMark results and the competing devices already popular in the market. In markets where price-conscious decisions are common, the perceived tradeoffs between capture quality, processing speed, and long-term usability become central to the purchase decision. The review process itself emphasizes that while the Xiaomi 13 Ultra can meet many daily photography needs with reliability, serious enthusiasts and professionals may still turn to models that exhibit higher scores in both still and video tests or that deliver more consistent handling across challenging lighting conditions. The deposition of the device within the broader landscape demonstrates that Xiaomi has produced a credible flagship camera system, yet it also highlights opportunities for refinement in algorithms, shutter performance, and color management to close the gap with the very highest tier of competition.