REVIEW XIAOMI 13 Lite - 500 cucuzze aside is a show
Personally I'm an avid supporter of mammoth smartphones, with dimensions and weights not exactly within everyone's reach, but when I held the new ultra-thin and light smartphone, Xiaomi 13 Lite, in my hand for the first time, all my certainties on the device preference colossals have begun to falter, because it is undeniable that the featherweight offered by the device subject of this review has allowed me to live a new technological experience. If I have just intrigued you a little, continue reading this review and discover Xiaomi 13 Lite with me.
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unboxing
Certainly a paragraph dedicated to unboxing, or the contents of the sales package which is configured in a white color and written printed on all sides, cannot be missing. Inside the sales box we find the following equipment:
- Xiaomi 13 Lite?
- Pin for removing the SIM tray;
- Quick guide, warranty card and safety information;
- Plastic protective film for the display (already pre-applied);
- Transparent silicone protective cover;
- Cable for USB Type-C charging and data transfer;
- Wall power supply with European socket and 67W max output.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Having made the basic knowledge of the smartphone, the sensation to the touch is definitely one of the best I've experienced in all my "humble" career as a reviewer even if the back cover is not made of glass but rather of polycarbonate with a curved 3D design, available in colors Lite Pink, Lite Blue or Black, which makes it easier to grip and increases the overall premium look. Good treatment in general against fingerprints and dirt that are hardly noticeable on this terminal.
Also on the back we find the bump camera which houses 3 optics and the dual tone LED flash, with a style that stands out from past generations. We could in a certain sense define the 13 Lite as a compact device, naturally compared to the competition, thanks to dimensions of 159,2 x 72,7 x 7,23 mm and a weight of only 171 grams which overall make the ergonomics one of the many strengths of this Xiaomi 13 Lite. The comfort of use and the sensation of a featherweight are difficult to describe, but without a doubt they overshadow any defect… and here I gave you a little spoiler.
The profiles are made of polycarbonate, where we find the volume rocker and power button on the right side, while the left profile is completely devoid of elements. The lower one houses the speaker, the USB Type-C port for charging, data transfer and OTG support (no video output), primary microphone and SIM slot. In this regard, Xiaomi 13 Lite offers a tray in which you can only insert 2 SIMs in nano format or without the possibility of expanding the integrated memory by means of a micro SD. A real shame, considering that Xiaomi 13 Lite also offers the possibility of enabling an E-SIM, so a slot could have been dedicated to the micro SD.
We find full compatibility with the new generation 5G networks, of which unfortunately I cannot tell you the performances because this technology does not arrive where I live, but I can tell you that Xiaomi 13 Lite is quite performing even with virtual operators who generally limit the speed of navigation in download and upload. For example, with Very Mobile I have always been able to benefit from the 4G+ signal with peak speeds that have not made me regret not being able to benefit from the new 5G standard.
I didn't mention the presence of additional speakers before and this is because the smartphone in question doesn't offer stereo sound but I can say that the listening that comes from it is pleasant and high volume without distorting at the highest levels. The bass is slightly subdued compared to the rest of the medium and high frequencies, but overall the sound experience is pleasant, also due to Dolby ATMOS technology. It is necessary to mention the excellent functioning of the brightness and proximity sensor, which work very well, therefore we will have no problem in bringing the smartphone to the ear, abandoning the fear that with the cheek we will touch who knows which buttons in call. In fact, a physical sensor is integrated on Xiaomi 13 Lite.
Finally, the IR transmitter and the second microphone for the reduction of ambient noise are located in the upper profile, therefore no 3,5 mm jack, therefore having to resort to an adapter (to be purchased separately) or TWS headphones, if you want to benefit from the listening to music isolated from the rest of the world.
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DISPLAY
We have finally reached the front of this Xiaomi 13 Lite, where a large 6,55-inch display stands out in 20:9 with AMOLED technology and Full HD + resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 glass. The panel used moreover, it supports True Color, HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision technology as well as a 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate. All this translates into a color rendering that is highly faithful to reality, so much so that we could use the smartphone for photo editing with programs such as Photoshop Express or Lightroom, even in direct sunlight due to the excellent readability given by the wide brightness of the panel itself which is expressed with a peak brightness of 1000 nits.
Specifications that excite not only on paper but precisely in the use we make of our smartphone every day, such as watching TV series and films, videos on YouTube, etc. also counting on the support for Widevine L1 DRMs, also recognized by the Amazon Prime streaming platform Video. In any case, the enjoyment in viewing multimedia content is at the highest levels and the degree of immersion is full, also due to the frames reduced to the bone. Xiaomi has gone all out on this panel, equipping it with a 100% DCI-P3 sRGB gamut color profile and 402 ppi. For a greater experience, we can then count on the comfortable on-screen gestures and take advantage of the software customizations made available by MIUI 14, as well as the Always On Display mode (although it is castrated in just 10 seconds and to unlock it completely you have to resort to a small geek trick). The only disturbing element, so to speak, is the presence of the central punch hole capsule, a sort of Dynamic Island but without functionality, in which the dual selfie camera is inserted which also has a dual flash positioned on the upper frame, to guarantee selfies high quality nights.
The biometric sensor is then inserted under the display for unlocking the device, which is reactive and quick in its function. Apart from the 3,5 mm jack, the only absence is given by an IPXX certification, although the company has been treating its devices with some anti-drop devices for some time, as well as equipping the SIM slot with a sheath that runs along the trolley flap. In any case, connectivity is complete, boasting precisely one 5G Dual, Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6, GPS, NFC and an excellent haptic vibration that makes typing on the screen pleasant and smooth.
HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE
Xiaomi 13 Lite is also loved for the excellent performance obtained thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, octacore with maximum clock at 2.4 GHz, production process at 4nm. The GPU is entrusted to the Adreno 644 supports 8 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of storage. Memories not of the latest generation, but highly performing and optimized so much that even the temperatures during the most agitated use are kept at bay, by means of a stainless steel chamber for heat dissipation. No slowdown or lag, which allow the 13 Lite to perform even in gaming, enjoying the latest generation titles without any renunciation from a graphic point of view.
In short, Xiaomi 13 Lite is a pleasant smartphone to use physically, thanks to small sizes and weights but above all for the reliability found, with a MIUI 14 Global but still based on Android 12 and the January 2023 security patch. I won't dwell on the software because the MIUI 14 although it is a novelty, in reality it does not bring who knows what benefits in terms of customization, which perhaps need to be updated. Unfortunately, I have to underline the presence of invasive advertising as well as the fact that as soon as it is turned on, the smartphone offers us the beauty of well over 20 more or less useful bloatware, such as Facebook or unknown games. Everything is solved with a simple uninstall, a waste of time that we could have avoided, however. There is also the RAM memory extension function, up to an additional 5 GB.
AUTONOMY
Instead, I want to spend a few positive words on the autonomy of the smartphone, guaranteed (despite the reduced thickness of the phone) by a 4500 mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging. Of course the autonomy depends a lot and varies on the use that each user makes of the smartphone, but overall the stressful day is always brought home, with a residual of 10/15%, while you can get full energy in just 40 minutes. However, wireless charging is absent.
PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO RETURN
We have therefore come to the photographic sector, an often hot topic for Xiaomi / Redmi devices. Well, even in this area the 13 Lite manages to make its way, counting on a triple rear camera, consisting of a 50 MP, f/1,8 primary lens, 4-in-1 Super Pixel, Sony IMX766 AF Contrast sensor, as well as an 2.2 MP ultrawide f/8 lens, FOV 119° and a 2 MP, f/2.4 macro camera with 4 cm autofocus.
I didn't like the lack of the possibility of using both the main and ultrawide cameras within the same video, while the maximum resolution obtainable from video recording reaches 4K 30fps, with the possibility of digital stabilization which performs its function very well. The dual selfie camera consists of a unit from 32 MP, f / 2.4 with FOV 100 ° and a secondary sensor from 8 MP, f / 2.28 used as a depth sensor, with the possibility of recording video stabilized via EIS.
Photos full of details in optimal lighting conditions, but even at night the rendering is quite professional, even if in certain circumstances the criticality of the sensor comes out, even if the management of shadows and lights is rather balanced. Even the 32 MP selfie camera, which can naturally also be used to unlock the smartphone via Unlock Face technology with excellent performance even in the dark, offers shots and video footage above expectations. For the more creative, there is no shortage of unique functions such as film and vlog effects, but also the useful TELEPROMPTER function.
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PROJECTED IMPACT
Xiaomi 13 Lite is not a camera phone, but in the reference range in which it is placed it is definitely one of the best and then everything, or almost everything, takes a back seat if we retrace the qualities I told you about. Lightness, stability and reliability of the software, performance close to those of devices considered top with prices to sell a kidney, excellent autonomy, WOW effect display etc.. Unfortunately the icing on the cake is missing, i.e. the price, which from the list is close to 500 euros approx.
At this price, perhaps you should think a little more before proceeding with the purchase, because at the same outlay you could grab a previous generation top of the range or in any case focus on something else. In short, Xiaomi 13 Lite is a smartphone to keep an eye on because as soon as it drops in price, at least under 400 euros, it is a device to be seized on the fly. In any case, I advise you to keep an eye on the many offers dedicated to technology that we often also publish on our channel Telegram offers.
In your opinion, at less than 300 could it make sense to buy it now (April 2024)?