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The latest addition to Xiaomi’s numeric flagship series, the Lite model, presents a refreshing take on the term “Lite.” Xiaomi phones are usually thought of as low-end devices for people on a budget, but this year’s Xiaomi 13 Lite breaks that stereotype by being much better than its predecessor, the Xiaomi 12 Lite. Even though the screen size stays the same at 6.55 inches, it now has a curved shape that gives this small mid-range phone a touch of beauty.
The new engine, on the other hand, is the biggest change for the better. Xiaomi chose the cutting-edge Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC because it promises to be more efficient and perform better than the Snapdragon 700 series. In short, the Xiaomi 13 Lite doesn’t have the same limits as most “Lite” models because it has major improvements in every area. From the curved screen to the powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset.
Xiaomi 13 Lite Specifications
| Specification | Xiaomi 13 Lite |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.55″ curved |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 |
| Performance | Improved efficiency and performance |
| Size | Compact mid-range solution |
Design and Display
At its price, the Xiaomi 13 Lite looks like one of the most expensive phones you can buy. It’s only 7.2mm thick, and both the front and back are made of curved glass. This is how a top-of-the-line phone looks, not a mid-range one. Sure, curved front glass isn’t as popular as it used to be. These days, people prefer plain old flat glass that doesn’t have pooled reflections or a small color shift.
But those curves in the middle really do make a phone feel light and thin. The Xiaomi 13 Lite is beautiful to look at and feel. There are a few cuts, though, that make this style possible. The front glass is Gorilla Glass 5, and the back is a hardened glass with no name. Even though they look exactly like the metal finish on some Samsung Galaxy phones, the sides are also made of plastic. You can buy this phone from its official website
Xiaomi 13 Lite: Cameras
The back of the Xiaomi 13 Lite has three cameras, and the front has two. It’s a pretty good set for a phone in the middle price range. Our centrepiece is a 50MP main rear camera. It doesn’t have OIS, or optical image stabilization, but it does use the Sony IMX766 camera, which is one of the best you can get at this level. This one is also in the Xiaomi 12, OnePlus 10T, and OPPO Find X5 Pro. It has the skills to handle almost anything. You might be jealous of its predecessor, the Xiaomi 12 Lite, which had a 108MP camera.
Xiaomi 13 Lite: Software
The 13 Lite runs on Android 12, not the later Android 13. On top of that is MIUI 14, which is made by Xiaomi. As skins go, it’s not too bad. You can change it in a lot of ways, and it behaves itself most of the time.
If you’re used to the “stock” version of Android on a phone like the Google Pixel 7, it will take some getting used to because there are more menu choices and some things are in different places. You should be able to move around quickly, though, because MIUI is easy to use once you get used to it.
Xiaomi 13 Lite: Battery life
The Xiaomi 13 Lite has a slightly bigger battery than its predecessor. It now has a 4,500mAh cell. Considering how much it can hold, this is the best choice. Even if you use the phone a lot, it will last until the evening without a problem.
The results of the studies on battery life are clear. On average, the smartphone gives you about 8 hours of active screen time for different jobs, up to 12 hours of web browsing, and up to 17 hours of video playback at medium brightness.
Price and Availability
Fast forward to February 26, 2023, when the Xiaomi 13 series was shown to the world at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The 13 and 13 Pro went on sale all over the world on March 14, 2023. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 13 Lite will be available to buy on February 26, the same day it was shown off.
Since Xiaomi doesn’t sell phones in the US or Australia, the only way to get a Xiaomi 13 Lite there is to import it or buy it from a “gray market” shop. But in the UK and Europe, you can buy the phone straight from Xiaomi. The only storage and memory combination sold anywhere in the world costs £449/€499 (about $535/AU$810).
Final words
Like its predecessor, the Xiaomi 13 Lite was a nice surprise. Why bother with harder-to-use and more expensive flagships when this phone gives you everything you need without much of a trade-off?
It has a stylish premium appearance, a high-resolution OLED reference display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful Snapdragon processor, great cameras, a loud speaker, and a good battery life. No matter what you put the Xiaomi 13 Lite through, it does well.
Xiaomi 13 Lite review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Premium look and feel
- Great main camera performance
The Bad
- MIUI can be frustrating to use
FAQS
Verdict. A phone that is thin, light, and stylish, but doesn’t cost a lot. There are phones with better specs for the same price, but the Xiaomi 13 Lite strikes a good mix between camera tech, power, design, and price.
Four to eight years for an iPhone. Three to six years for Samsung. Two to four years for Huawei. Two to four years for Xiaomi.