The Xiaomi 13 series launches in new markets today and gains a new member, the Xiaomi 13 Lite. This is the sequel to the 12 Lite from the past, this version brings performance and camera improvements. The “light” name clearly indicates that it’s a mid-ranger, but on the plus side, it costs half of what you’d pay for the Xiaomi 13 (not to mention the Pro model).
The new model is powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, which offers 20% more GPU and 30% more AI performance compared to the Snapdragon 778G inside 12 Lite. However, Xiaomi has not updated the RAM and storage and is still using LPDDR4X and UFS 2.2. There are two configurations available, 8/128GB and 8/256GB. The phone comes with MIUI 14 out of the box, knowing that this particular version is based on Android 12.
Moving on to the camera, the Xiaomi 13 Lite uses a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor that we’ve seen in a number of premium phones. A 1/1.56-inch sensor with 1.0µm pixels (2.0µm with binning enabled) and an f/1.8 aperture combined can capture 123% more light than the 108MP sensor with an f/1.9 lens in last year’s 12 Lite.
The 8MP ultra-wide (1/4-inch IMX355) camera with a 119-degree field of view and the 2MP macro camera seem unchanged from last year.
The 32MP selfie camera has made a new friend, an 8MP depth sensor. The couple lives in an island-style camera hole in the screen. The depth sensor will be used for more natural-looking bokeh effects in selfies. The camera also has a FoV of 100 degrees and will automatically frame your shot for group photos.
Yes, the overall design is based on the Civi 2, but there are some hardware differences. For example, the Civi has a 32MP dual camera on the front and only one of the two has a 100-degree lens. Also, it has a 20MP camera.
Xiaomi 13 Lite has a 6.55 inch curved AMOLED display. This is a 12-bit panel with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 + and it can render 68 billion colors. It uses PWM dimming technology at 1,920 Hz and has a typical brightness of 500 nits, peaking at 1,000 nits.
This screen has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels (20:9) and operates at a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. There is also glass on the back (not GG), and the frame is made of plastic. The phone has an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance.
The battery has been slightly improved since last year and is almost identical to that of the Xiaomi 13. It has the same 4,500mAh capacity (+200mAh on the 12 Lite) and the same 67W wired charging support, which can reach 100% in 40 minutes. However, there is no wireless charging here.
Some things left to mention include Dolby Atmos for audio, as well as wireless connectivity, which features support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC (note: NFC is not available in some regions). This is a dual-SIM phone with 5G support thanks to the Snapdragon X62 modem.
The new Lite lives up to its name and tips the scales at 171g, also measuring 7.23mm thick. The colors available at launch are Lite Blue, Lite Pink, and Black. The basic 8 / 128GB version costs €499 and availability starts March 8th.
English
French
Spanish