Xiaomi 13T Smartphone in review

More affordable and almost as good. If the Xiaomi 13 proves to be too expensive for your budget, consider exploring the more affordable Xiaomi 13T. It is similarly well-equipped and closely rivals the flagship in terms of performance. With a 6.67-inch display, the device features a remarkably bright AMOLED screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate, complemented by a triple camera system enhanced by Leica, featuring 2x optical zoom. Additionally, the Xiaomi 13T offers an impressive 5-year update support.

Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

The Xiaomi 13T adheres to the design language of its predecessors, featuring narrow display edges, rounded corners and edges, a punch-hole selfie camera, and impeccable finishing. This design is consistent with its sister model, the Xiaomi 13T Pro. The front of the device is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 5, safeguarding the 6.67-inch AMOLED display. While the display-to-surface ratio stands at a respectable 87%, it falls slightly short of the Xiaomi 13T Pro (89.2%) and some other flagship smartphones.

As an IP68-certified device, the Xiaomi 13T is available in three color variants. The black (Black) and green (Meadow Green) options feature a glossy glass back, prone to fingerprints. Opting for the blue variant, known as Alpine Blue, results in a back cover made of artificial leather. This choice has a minimal impact on the dimensions and weight. With the glass back, the Xiaomi weighs only 0.43 lb.

      Xiaomi 13T Pro       Xiaomi 13T       Xiaomi Poco F5       Sony Xperia 10 V       Google Pixel 8       Samsung Galaxy S23       DIN A6 {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_341352’).checked = false;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_342308’).forEach(element => {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_342308’).checked = false;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_338005’).forEach(element => {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_338005’).checked = false;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_338988’).forEach(element => {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_338988’).checked = false;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_341849’).forEach(element => {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_341849’).checked = false;document.querySelectorAll(‘#showDeviceSize_335208’).forEach(element => {element.classList.add(‘hideEl’)});document.getElementById(‘showDeviceSizelabel_335208’).checked = false;return false;” title=”hide all”>❌

The Xiaomi 13T is exclusively available in a single memory variant, featuring 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage. Its comprehensive set of features includes Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, an OTG-capable USB-C port, and an always-on display. Additionally, the device is equipped with an IR blaster for convenient remote control of compatible devices such as televisions.

It’s worth noting that the Xiaomi 13T’s USB-C port, while versatile, doesn’t fully align with the smartphone’s premium-class positioning, as it operates internally at USB 2.0 speed. In a copy test using the M.2 SSD Samsung 980 Pro in the Asus ROG Strix Arion Case, the USB port achieves a relatively low transfer rate of 41.4 MB/s. This is a characteristic shared with the Xiaomi 13T Pro, which also features USB-C 2.0.

The Xiaomi 13T operates on Android 13, complemented by Xiaomi’s proprietary MIUI 14 user interface. The software suite includes several third-party applications such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, all of which can be uninstalled to tailor the device to individual preferences. Following the setup process, approximately 222 GB of the 256 GB storage on our test device remains available.

One notable aspect is Xiaomi’s commitment to a lengthy update period for the Xiaomi 13T. Similar to the Xiaomi 13T Pro, the test candidate is promised 4 Android OS updates and will receive Android security patches for 5 years. This extended software support places Xiaomi in line with Samsung, providing buyers with added planning security.

The smartphone delivers reliable Wi-Fi performance with its support for WiFi 6. When connected to our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the smartphone achieves peak speeds of around 920 MBit/s in both transmit and receive directions. The transmissions exhibit stability, with minor drops observed only during data transmission. For users seeking even higher Wi-Fi speeds, considering the Xiaomi 13T Pro, which supports Wi-Fi 7, may be a preferable option.

In terms of mobile network connectivity, the Xiaomi 13T supports 5G, albeit without mmWave. Its frequency capabilities cover all essential bands for 4G in Europe. This suggests that the Xiaomi 13T should also offer good reception in non-EU countries.

It utilizes dual-band GNSS for accurate positioning. It supports various satellite navigation services, including GPS (L1, L5), Galileo (E1, E5a), Glonass (L1), Beidou (B1, B1c, B2a), and QZSS (L1, L5). Whether indoors or outdoors, the smartphone rapidly acquires a positioning signal in tests, determining the user’s location with an impressive accuracy of up to 1 meter.

In a practical test during a bike ride, the Xiaomi 13T demonstrated its excellent location capabilities when compared to the Garmin Venu 2 fitness smartwatch. The results were convincing, showcasing the smartphone’s precise tracking of the distance traveled, making it well-suited for everyday navigation tasks.

The phone provides dual SIM functionality along with the option to substitute one of the two nano SIM cards with an eSIM. It supports VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and Wi-Fi calls, offering versatile connectivity options.

In terms of voice quality, the Xiaomi smartphone performs admirably. During calls to both mobile and landline networks, voices are transmitted with clarity and distinction, even in hands-free mode. Additionally, the device’s noise suppression feature works reliably, contributing to an overall positive calling experience.

Under controlled lighting conditions, the main camera demonstrates a commendable imaging performance. The Delta-E color deviations, reaching up to 21.23, are relatively significant. In particular, green tones are occasionally rendered much brighter than the reference colors of the ColorChecker color chart. Despite having only 1 lux of residual light, the Xiaomi 13T is still able to display the test chart, albeit with a noticeable level of blurring.

With a refresh rate reaching up to 144 Hz and a dynamically adjusted sampling rate of up to 480 Hz depending on the content, the Xiaomi 13T delivers an exceptionally smooth content display. The device exhibits no noticeable delay between input and response, ensuring swift app switching, even with multiple applications open simultaneously.

Biometric authentication is facilitated through the optical fingerprint reader integrated into the display, offering quick and reliable performance. Additionally, 2D facial recognition is available for authentication, providing a rapid but less secure alternative.

* … smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

Screen flickering / PWM detected	120 Hz
The display backlight flickers at 120 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 120 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18683 (minimum: 5 – maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The AMOLED display of the Xiaomi 13T is finely calibrated at the factory. Transitioning from the default Vivid color scheme to the Original Color (the third option being Saturated), ensures that colors and grayscale are within the optimal range. For users who prefer the Vivid and Saturated color modes, there is the additional option to customize the color display by selecting the desired color temperature.

Display Response Times

↔    Response Time Black to White
1.14 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined	↗ 0.571 ms rise
	↘ 0.527 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.8 ms).
↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
1.27 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined	↗ 0.6 ms rise
	↘ 0.6655 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (34.3 ms).

The AMOLED display, known for its stable viewing angles, performs exceptionally well outdoors. Its high brightness reserves allow for easy readability of content even in direct sunlight. Additionally, a sunlight mode is available, adjusting the brightness in response to strong ambient light to further enhance visibility.

The MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra, an advanced CPU specifically designed for Xiaomi with an enhanced camera ISP, is a variation of the otherwise identical MediaTek Dimensity 8200 and is the processor used in the Xiaomi 13T. An Imagiq 785 image processor handles the processing of camera data.

Manufactured using a 4 nm process, the MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra features eight cores divided into two clusters. The first cluster comprises an ARM Cortex-A78 performance core clocked at 3.1 GHz, along with three additional ARM Cortex-A78 performance cores operating at 3 GHz. The second cluster houses four ARM Cortex-A55 power cores running at 2.0 GHz.

While the Xiaomi 13T may not match the SoC performance of its sister model, the Xiaomi 13T Pro, it still demonstrates commendable synthetic benchmark results. The Mediatek Dimensity 8200-Ultra performs similarly well to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, found in devices like the Xiaomi Poco F5. The Google Tensor G3 in the Google Pixel 8 also achieves a comparable level of performance.

For graphics calculations, the Xiaomi 13T uses the ARM GPU Mali-G610 MP6, providing the smartphone with a respectable graphics performance. Although, it doesn’t secure a top-ranking position among the compared devices. While the Xiaomi 13T outperforms the Sony Xperia 10 V, it falls just short of reaching the performance levels of the Xiaomi Poco F5 and the Google Pixel 8.

Browser benchmarks reveal the Xiaomi 13T’s impressive performance, garnering it a good middle-of-the-road place among the selected comparison devices. The smartphone has quick web page loading times and responsive display performance. 

* … smaller is better

Benefiting from its UFS 3.1 flash, the Xiaomi 13T achieves impressive storage speeds, resulting in short loading times. Notably, it closely approaches the performance of the Xiaomi 13T Pro when it comes to reading and writing small data blocks.

With the ARM Mali-G610 MP6 and 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM, the Xiaomi 13T handles games with minimal restrictions. The main limitations observed were within the games themselves during testing.

In games like PUBG Mobile (in the HD/Extrem) and Asphalt 9 (in the high setting), the image output is capped at a maximum of 60 FPS, likely for energy-saving purposes. However, the Xiaomi 13T consistently maintains the frame rate at a practically constant 60 FPS in both cases, indicating that higher performance is achievable.

Even in the UltraHDR/Ultra-setting of PUBG Mobile, the Xiaomi 13T maintains an average of 40 FPS. Notably, in our third test game, Subway Surfers, where there is no frame limit, the smartphone fully leverages its 120 Hz screen.

The determination of game frame rates is conducted using our Gamebench test tool.

During testing, the Xiaomi 13T reached a temperature of 107.42 °F under load. This temperature is entirely benign and doesn’t result in the smartphone feeling uncomfortably warm when held.

Efficient heat dissipation is demonstrated by the Xiaomi 13T, as evidenced by the 3DMark’s Wild Life stress test. After 20 runs, the test scene is only rendered around 10 percent slower than at the beginning of the measurement, even in the demanding Wild Life Extreme scenario. This suggests that the smartphone can maintain at least 90% of its performance under constant high load.

(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.5 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.9 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.7 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.6 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

The stereo speakers of the Xiaomi 13T are located on the two short sides of the casing and deliver a relatively balanced sound by smartphone standards. Bass is practically absent from the sound mix, but apart from that, the smartphone produces decent sound with mostly balanced highs and mids.

External audio devices can be connected via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.4. The Xiaomi 13T supports all important Bluetooth codecs, including AAC, SBC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX TWS+, and LHDC V1 to V5.

The smartphone can be charged with up to 67 watts, officially completing the charging of its 5000 mAh battery in 42 minutes. During the test, the stopwatch even stops at 41 minutes. A suitable 67-watt power adapter is conveniently included with the phone. The Xiaomi 13T does not support wireless charging or reverse wireless charging.

In terms of power consumption, the Xiaomi 13T is almost completely inconspicuous in the test. The high consumption of 13.2 watts under load is due to the enormously demanding burnout benchmark. The Xiaomi Poco F5 and the Xiaomi 13T Pro even provoke a slightly higher power consumption.

* … smaller is better

We conducted practical measurements of battery life with the screen brightness adjusted to 150 cd/m². The Xiaomi 13T performs well with the 144 Hz display enabled. In the WLAN test, it lasts just over 17 hours, and just under 15 minutes more during continuous video playback. The comparison devices are on a similar level, with the exception of the Sony Xperia 10 V, which demonstrates true endurance qualities.

Battery Runtime

Anyone who has waited until now to purchase a new smartphone might find the perfect fit in Xiaomi’s lineup. The T series, released towards the year’s end, consistently delivers models with impressive performance and features at a comparatively reasonable price. The Xiaomi 13T, while not a budget option at an official price of $599, is significantly more affordable than the current Xiaomi flagship models.

The Xiaomi 13T stands out as an excellent upper-class smartphone with extensive features, now available for less than $600.

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra, it offers performance just below flagship level, distinguishing it from the Xiaomi 13T Pro, and boasts faster charging at 120 watts. The Xiaomi 13T, with its 67-watt charging, reaches a full charge in just 41 minutes, although it lacks wireless charging functionality.

Impressive across various system components, the Xiaomi 13T particularly excels with its very bright AMOLED display. Noteworthy in its price range is the camera module, including a 2x telephoto lens. The extended 5-year update period might sway those who have been hesitant about choosing Xiaomi.

However, users with high storage needs may be disappointed, as the Xiaomi 13T offers only a 256 GB version without the option to expand storage using a microSD card. In this regard, the Xiaomi 13T Pro, available with up to 1 TB capacity, provides a better solution.

Alternative options to consider include the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Xiaomi Poco F5. The former offers slightly superior speed and a more compact size at 6.1 inches. While the Xiaomi Poco F5 is more budget-friendly, it falls short in the camera department compared to the Xiaomi 13T.

The Xiaomi 13T is available on Amazon for under $500.

Xiaomi 13T
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12/07/2023 v7

Manuel Masiero

Smartphone – Weighted Average

Transparency

The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.

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My fascination for computers started with the C64. Since then, I’ve put everything that comes my way in terms of hardware through its paces. From the C64 to the Amiga 500 and the first PC with an 8088 CPU, my list of projects has grown increasingly longer. For more than 20 years now I have also turned my hobby into my profession and have been active in the mobile section of Notebookcheck since 2021. Before that, I worked as a hardware editor for IDG Media (tecChannel.de) and VNU Business Publications (PC professional), among others.

Translator: Carmen Pol – Translator – 57 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2023

Having spent the greater part of my early years in Germany facilitated my upbringing as a bilingual kid.
In 2007, I found myself having to reinstall my Windows weekly … So, one day I bought a MacBook Black.
It was during this period that I developed a profound appreciation for technology, which significantly improved my life.