Smartphones

Xiaomi 12 Lite Unboxing

Published

August 16, 2022

GadgetMatch

There’s always a Lite at the end of every Xiaomi flagship tunnel. Here, we’re unboxing the Xiaomi 12 Lite.

Unboxing

It’s not everyday that we get smartphones in this luggage-like package.

Opening it up reveals the Xiaomi 12 Lite box. There’s a bunch of other stuff in there. But they’re mostly for goods for the upcoming Malaysia trip we have which we’ll document using this phone. Be sure to wait for that one to come out.

Here’s a closer look at the lower end of the box just so we can pad this article with more photos and words.

Opening the box you’ll see the phone itself covered in paper detailing its key features. The following are highlighted: Featherweight slim design, Studio-level 108MP triple camera, Smart 67W turbo charging, and 120Hz AMOLED display.

There’s also the cardboard box thing containing the jelly case, documentation, and what not. Everything from here on out is a pretty standard affair.

Digging deeper into the box, you’ll find the power brick which is no longer a staple inclusion in all brand new smartphones.

And the USB-C cable.

That’s pretty much it for the contents of the box. Now, onto the phone itself.

Closer look at the Xiaomi 12 Lite

The unit we have is the Lite Green colorway. It also comes in Lite Pink and Black.

The right hand side has the volume rockers and power button. The other side is empty.

And at the bottom you’ll find the speaker grille, USB-C port, and SIM Tray slot. Yes, it’s dual-sim, and no, it doesn’t have any storage expansion slots. Onboard storage goes up to 256GB for some variants. This particular one we have only has 128GB.

Here’s a closer look at the rear camera module. The 108MP f/1.9 main camera is flanked by an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, and a tacked on 2MP f/2.4 macro lens. Up front, it has a 32MP f/2.5 selfie shooter.

The phone runs on the Android 12-based MIUI 13.

It has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz screen refresh rate. It also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ where applicable. The phone is relatively easy to hold and doesn’t feel too big despite the large screen.

That’s it for the Unboxing! As mentioned earlier, we’ll have a GadgetSnaps feature to show you what its cameras can do. Pricing details should be available on August 18th and the full review will come after.

Hands-On

Leica virgin? Try the Xiaomi 13T Pro

Cameras powered by Leica

Published

September 26, 2023

Rodneil Quiteles

Xiaomi is going all in on their partnership with Leica making it the headliner even in the “T” editions of their flagships. The company is flexing it even more with the Xiaomi 13T Pro and the Xiaomi 13T.

The extra push is warranted. Just ask my colleague Vincenz who has refused to let go of the Xiaomi 13 ever since being handed the unit for review. Even myself was enamored with the photo-taking capabilities of the flagship released earlier this year. The thing made me look like a pro when I took it around Barcelona.

The Xiaomi 13T Pro isn’t that much different. You still get to choose between Leica Authentic or Leica Vibrant when you first launch the camera app. Don’t fret though as the choice isn’t final. You can easily toggle the selection by tapping on the upper-right area of the screen when using the camera app.

You also get the Leica custom photographic styles that add so much character to your shots when used appropriately. There’s plenty to choose from with the Leica BW NAT, F-50, and Gold Vibes being some of my personal favorites.

But talk is cheap. So, enjoy some of these photos taken over the past few days.

Leica Authentic

Filtered

Portraits

Photo-taking experience

You don’t have to think much when using the Xiaomi 13T Pro to take photos. Even after just a few days with it, I can say it delivers some of the best photos from the many smartphones I’ve tried this year.

It makes things easy too. The color science applied by Xiaomi and Leica does a lot of the heavy lifting. All you have to do is to learn how to compose better shots and you’ll look almost like a pro in no time.

Incredibly smooth

One of the first things I noticed when I started using the Xiaomi 13T Pro is how incredibly smooth the display is. The 144Hz refresh rate on paper delivers without fail. It’s super evident especially since I’ve been splitting my time between this and another smartphone. Although, to be fair, that one’s an upper mid-ranger that doesn’t have this high of a refresh rate.

It makes doom scrolling feel extra fine. Yes, the world is burning on the Internet but hey, you’re seeing it through a Full HD AMOLED Display that slides effortlessly each time you scroll. It’s all good. I guess.

I also watched my fair share of short videos on this thing. Particularly, some fancams from TWICE’s Ready To Be Tour that happened over the weekend in Bangkok. I’ve yet to watch any HDR-capable content, but I can say the general viewing experience is enjoyable. It helps that the speakers aren’t too shabby either. The sound is clean and does not distort even when pushed to maximum.

The audio was enjoyable too when listening to my favorite tracks. One night I put Yena’s “Love War” on repeat and I was jamming to it until I fell asleep. I also listened to some of my favorite hoop podcasts on the Xiaomi 13T Pro. And well, no complaints here. I got my NBA fix through The Lowe Post and The Hoop Collective all while playing them on the phone.

Battery and charging

It’s only been a few days so I can’t say anything definitive here. Plus, my usage varied so much and I haven’t been keeping track of it completely. I can say I felt the 5,000mAh capacity drained faster than I expected, especially after a night of intense doom scrolling.

However, topping it up was fast and easy. With 32% left, I watched a couple of anime episodes on TV and found the thing already fully charged after.

Between upper-midrange and flagship build

The unit we have in particular is the Meadow Green that has a glossy finish. And while it’s slightly heavier than its Alpine Blue sibling, it still felt so much lighter than what I’m used to using. For context, I rock an iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and HONOR Magic5 Pro when I’m not reviewing a smartphone.

I’m personally not a fan of the glossy finish and that’s a fact for any smartphone. It’s not completely a smudge magnet but you’re probably better off using a case with this one. I’ve been rocking it in its birthday suit since it feels tough enough on its own. But if you’re forking out your hard earned cash on a smartphone, my general advice is to always use protection.

Experience Leica

The main draw of the Xiaomi 13T Pro, without a doubt, is how it lets you experience a Leica camera without it costing you an arm and a leg. We all know how expensive Leica cameras are but Xiaomi is giving you the chance to experience it at a fraction of the cost. Now, I’m not saying you get the exact same photo quality. But output-wise, this is about as close as you’re going to get.

Elsewhere, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is also a winner. The silky smooth display catches your attention immediately, and its general size and overall build makes you feel secure. You just have this peace of mind that what you’re holding is made with care and won’t break easily. There’s also something about it that’s hard to describe or quantify. You just know, you’re using a device that’s better than most.

Xiaomi 13T Pro Specs

Display — 6.67″ FHD CrystalRes AMOLED display. Up to 144Hz refresh rate, Pro HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Processor — MediaTek Dimensity 9200+
RAM+ Storage — 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, 16GB+1TB
Battery and Charging — 5,000mAh, Xiaomi 120W HyperCharge
OS — MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Connectivity — Dual SIM, Wi-Fi7, NFC9, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G
Cameras:

LEICA VARIO-SUMMICRON 1:1.9-2.2/15-50mm ASPH.

24mm Leica main camera

50MP wide angle camera
1/1.28” sensor size
1.22μm pixel size, 2.44μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel
f/1.9, 7P aspherical lens, OIS
Supports HDR10+ video recording for up to 4K at 30fps
Supports 8K video recording at 24fps
10-bit LOG video recording, supports LUT import

50mm Leica telephoto camera

50MP
f/1.9, 5P aspherical lens

15mm Leica ultra-wide camera

12MP
f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens

20MP front camera

f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens
Night mode
Portrait mode
HDR

Price and availability

The Xiaomi 13T Pro retails for PhP 37,999 for the 12GB+512GB variant and PhP 39,999 for the 16GB+1TB variant.

News

Xiaomi 13T series now official

A base and a pro model

Published

September 26, 2023

GadgetMatch

The Xiaomi and Leica partnership is going strong and it persists on the Xiaomi 13T Series. The series consists of two phones: a base Xiaomi 13T model and then the Xiaomi 13T Pro.

As you may have assumed, both phones are equipped with Leica-powered lenses. Like the Xiaomi 13 series launched earlier this year, you get to choose whether you shoot with Leica Authentic or Leica Vibrant. The camera app is also equipped with filters (Leica custom photographic styles) that accentuate the camera’s capabilities.

Other camera features are as follows: Master-lens system: 35mm Documentary lens, 50mm Swirly
bokeh lens, 90mm Soft focus lens, Xiaomi ProFocus, and Night mode.

Other than the camera lenses, the Xiaomi 13T series share the same colorways: Meadow Green, Black, and Alpine Blue. The Alpine Blue colorway is slightly smaller and lighter because it’s made with softly textured Xiaomi BioComfort vegan leather. The other two colors, meanwhile, have a glossy finish. But all colors are IP68 rated making it resistant to some splashes and dust.

To get a better idea of how these two stack up. Here’s a quick look at the specs.

Xiaomi 13T

Display — 6.67″ FHD CrystalRes AMOLED display. Up to 144Hz refresh rate, Pro HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Processor — MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra
RAM+ Storage — 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB
Battery and Charging — 5,000mAh, 67W turbo charging
OS — MIUI 14 based on Android 13
Connectivity — Dual SIM, Wi-Fi6, NFC8, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G
Cameras:

LEICA VARIO-SUMMICRON 1:1.9-2.2/15-50mm ASPH.

24mm Leica main camera

50MP wide angle camera
1/1.28” sensor size
1.22μm pixel size, 2.44μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel
f/1.9, 7P aspherical lens, OIS
Supports HDR10+ video recording for up to 4K at 30fps
Supports 8K video recording at 24fps
10-bit LOG video recording, supports LUT import

50mm Leica telephoto camera

50MP
f/1.9, 5P aspherical lens

15mm Leica ultra-wide camera

12MP
f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens

20MP front camera

f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens
Night mode
Portrait mode
HDR

Xiaomi 13T Pro

LEICA VARIO-SUMMICRON 1:1.9-2.2/15-50mm ASPH.

24mm Leica main camera

50MP wide angle camera
1/1.28” sensor size
1.22μm pixel size, 2.44μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel
f/1.9, 7P aspherical lens, OIS
Supports HDR10+ video recording for up to 4K at 30fps
Supports 8K video recording at 24fps
10-bit LOG video recording, supports LUT import

50mm Leica telephoto camera

50MP
f/1.9, 5P aspherical lens

15mm Leica ultra-wide camera

12MP
f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens

20MP front camera

f/2.2, 5P aspherical lens
Night mode
Portrait mode
HDR

Price and availability

The Xiaomi 13T retails for PhP 26,999. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 13T Pro retails for PhP 37,999 for the 12GB+512GB variant and PhP 39,999 for the 16GB+1TB variant.

News

Pixel 8 series will reportedly receive seven years of updates

Major Android updates and security patches

Published

September 26, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Every smartphone comes with an expiration date. While users can technically keep a device running well past this date, these devices will no longer enjoy the same support they once did upon launch. Five years is the current standard for software updates. However, Google is pushing the period by two years, reportedly offering seven years of support for the Pixel 8 series.

A little over a week before the launch of Pixel 8 series, Google has already let a lot of details slip about the flagships. There’s not a lot that we don’t already know about the device. However, the expanded support period is still relatively new information especially for those thinking about upgrading their phones for the Pixel 8.

and just to clarify: 7 years of updates, but not necessarily 7 OS updates.

— kamila 🌸 (@Za_Raczke) September 25, 2023

According to Kamila Wojciechowska on X, the series will receive seven years of support. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the series is getting all the major Android updates for seven years. It might just include smaller updates and security patches.

Regardless, seven years is still a big jump from the industry standard. Samsung, for example, only offers five years of support for the Galaxy S23 series. Whenever you buy a new smartphone, you expect to keep it for several years. Expanding the cushion of support by two years ensures that users can keep using their new smartphone with nary a hitch over the years.

The Pixel 8 series is launching officially on October 4.