News

Xiaomi 13 Ultra finally makes its much-awaited global debut

Four 50MP cameras plus a 1-inch sensor with variable aperture

Published

on

Xiaomi first launched their very first smartphone with a 1-inch sensor through last year’s Xiaomi 12S Ultra. But unlike its predecessor, the Mi 11 Ultra, the 12S Ultra was only available in China.

After numerous speculations from leakers and much anticipation from fans, the company has revealed their latest and greatest flagship smartphone yet.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra isn’t limited to their home turf anymore as it simultaneously made its much-awaited global debut.

The Ultra-fication of the Pro

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra isn’t that different from its “Pro” sibling. You still get that already great flagship-grade experience with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset plus Adreno 740 graphics.

However, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has better configurations up in its sleeve. The base model starts at 12+256GB (versus 8+128/256 on the Pro). Getting a 512GB or a 1TB UFS 4.0 storage automatically gives you a whopping 16GB of LPDDR5X memory (instead of just 12GB). What a smartphone overkill!

While both are equipped with the same 6.73-inch 120Hz 2K (or WQHD+) display, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra boasts the LTPO3 technology while the Pro variant relies on first-generation LTPO. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is also 100 nits brighter (at 1300 nits) when in HBM (High Brightness Mode). Meanwhile, its peak brightness maxes out at 2600 nits (versus 1900 nits on the 13 Pro).

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra also features a bigger 5000mAh battery (compared to 4820mAh) but uses the less speedy 90W proprietary charging support over Xiaomi 13 Pro’s 120W HyperCharge. However, the Ultra keeps the Pro’s 50W wireless charging + 10W reverse wireless charging support.

Other premium features still remain such as the Gorilla Glass Victus glass protection as well as being IP68-rated.

Lastly, instead of relying on a silicone polymer or a smudgy ceramic glass back, all Xiaomi 13 Ultra colorways have an eco-leather back. Not only it features a better design, it also adds more grip thanks to that leather texture backing that will truly remind you of professional Leica cameras.

Quad-boggling 50MP cameras

Xiaomi has already marketed the Xiaomi 13 Pro as an ultimate mobile photography companion with its triple 50MP camera setup. But the Xiaomi 13 Ultra takes everything on a whole new level.

The headlining (and the biggest, literally) feature of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is none other than its ultra-massive Leica-branded circular camera bump that houses not just one, but four massive 50-megapixel cameras beneath.

While both of these Xiaomi phones sport a similar 50MP 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has an extra handy feature — its dual-variable aperture that lets the user choose between f/1.9 or f/4.0 depending on the photography subject being taken. This rivals the Huawei P60 Pro as well as the Mate 50 Pro.

The rest of Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s 50MP cameras are then based from Sony’s IMX858 sensor (versus Samsung JN1). But aside from the existing 3.2x telephoto lens, they’ve added an extra f/3.0 5x periscope zoom lens (or a 120mm-based “Super Telephoto lens” according to Xiaomi) with EIS for blurry-free zoomed shots.

It seems like Xiaomi is trying to hit two birds with one stone as the newly-added periscope lens directly hits the 10x lens of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Looking further at the nitty-gritty camera differences, the ultra-wide and 3.2x telephoto lenses of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra vs Pro are also different (in particular order):

  • 122 versus 115 degree UWA FoV (Ultra-Wide Angle Field of View)
  • f/1.8 on both lenses versus f/2.2 (UWA) / f/2.0 (3.2x telephoto)
  • OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is present on Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s telephoto and periscope lenses; Xiaomi 13 Pro only relies on PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus)

These cameras also have Leica’s color modes and Summicron optics. A ToF 3D depth sensor is also present that the Pro model lacks.

Pricing and availability

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is available in three colors: black, white, and the signature olive green.

Even though the smartphone will be available globally, Xiaomi only revealed Chinese pricing in three configurations:

  • 12GB + 256GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 873 / EUR 795 / GBP 701 / SG$ 1162 / PhP 49,090  / INR 71,568)
  • 16GB + 512GB = CNY 6499 (US$ 945 / EUR 862 / GBP 759 / SG$ 1259 / PhP 53,182 / INR 77,533)
  • 16GB + 1TB = CNY 7299 (US$ 1062 / EUR 968 / GBP 853 / SG$ 1414 / PhP 59,729 / INR 87,077)

Xiaomi also offers the Professional Photography Kit for CNY 799 (US$ 116 / EUR 106 / GBP 93 / SG$ 155 / PhP 6538 / INR 9532). This includes a 67mm filter ring adapter, lens cap, nano skin protective case, and a wireless camera handle with lanyard/strap for that added grip.

News

TCL CSOT Unveils ‘APEX Pixel’ innovations at SID Display Week 2026

Breakthroughs in display technologies

Published

on

TCL CSOT SID 2026
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pushing the boundaries of display physics, TCL CSOT has officially launched its APEX Pixel framework at SID Display Week 2026.

This unified innovation path targets the microscopic architecture of pixels across FMM OLED, Inkjet-printed (IJP) OLED, and LCD panels to redefine clarity, power efficiency, and color volume.

The Super Pixel revolution

The highlight of the showcase is the Super Pixel technology for mobile FMM OLEDs.

TCL CSOT Super Pixel Mobile Display

By increasing sub-pixel density by roughly 1.8%, TCL CSOT has achieved sharpness comparable to WQHD standards while slashing power consumption by 25%.

Key mobile prototypes on display include:

  • 6.9-inch Ultra-Clarity Display: Features a 2608×1200 resolution with a 0.5mm top bezel
  • 165Hz High-Refresh Panel: Utilizes a Real RGB layout to boost motion smoothness by 40% over standard 120Hz screens
  • Ultra-Low Power 8T LTPO: A 420PPI powerhouse that reduces SoC power draw by a quarter.

IJP OLED and the Tri-Fold Future

TCL CSOT continues to lead the transition toward Inkjet-printed (IJP) OLED.

By utilizing the world’s first 8.6-generation IJP line, the company has debuted a 28-inch Foldable and Portable IJP OLED Monitor.

TCL CSOT IJP OLED Monitor Display

This “Real Stripe” RGB display features a tri-fold design that expands from a 16-inch footprint to a 28-inch workspace.

IJP OLED allows for larger light-emitting areas, occupying 50% to 60% of the pixel. This leads to a significantly enhanced luminous efficiency compared to traditional evaporation methods.

RGBC: The New Standard for LCD

For large-scale cinema experiences, TCL CSOT introduced RGBC Four-Color Technology.

TCL CSOT

By adding a Cyan sub-pixel to the traditional RGB matrix, the 85-inch WHVA Ultra LCD TV achieves a staggering 131% of the BT.2020 color gamut.

This hardware-level shift allows for more saturated hues and finer resolution rendering that traditional three-color pixels cannot replicate.

Through APEX Pixel, TCL CSOT is no longer just chasing size, but perfecting the very atoms of the digital image.

Continue Reading

News

iPhone 17 is the best-selling phone of 2026 so far

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 series didn’t make the top ten list.

Published

on

With more than a quarter of the year done and dusted, it’s time to figure out which smartphone has taken the early lead in the charts. According to the numbers, it can’t get any clearer. The iPhone 17 is currently dominating the charts.

According to Counterpoint Research, the bestselling smartphone in the world as of the first quarter is the base iPhone 17. The model took 6 percent of the global share in unit sales. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pro took the second and third spots, respectively. Only a bit surprisingly, Apple rounded out its quarter with the iPhone 16 taking the number 6 slot.

The stranger thing is Samsung’s presence on this list. The South Korean brand took five spots on the top 10 list. However, none of them are of the Galaxy S26 series. All of them are from the Galaxy A series: in order, Galaxy A07 4G, A17 5G, A56, A36, and A17 4G. (The Galaxy S26 series narrowly missed the top 10.)

That makes nine. The final spot was taken by the Xiaomi Redmi A5.

Going only by the last two paragraphs, you’ll likely assume that the midrange market is rightfully dominating the charts in the months following the Christmas season. However, the iPhone 17’s dominance confirms that Apple has not lost its stride.

Plus, with the iPhone 17e only just having launched, Apple might continue its run well into 2026.

SEE ALSO: Foldable iPhone might be called the iPhone Ultra

Continue Reading

Apps

Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”

Just in case you were wondering.

Published

on

Google is slightly moving away from Material Design. Last week, a set of icon changes saw Android adding splashes of gradients to its formerly flat app icons. To poke fun at Android’s move away from flat designs, a user on X created a mockup of Android running Apple’s Liquid Design. Google, however, had a response ready in the chamber.

On X, @Micetor made a mockup of Android, specifically on the upcoming Pixel 11, using Apple’s latest Liquid Design aesthetics. It looked much like what an iPhone does except with Google’s icons and fonts.

Clearly, Google does not need to reply to any unsubstantiated mockups about its ecosystem. But they still did.

Sameer Samat, Google’s head for the Android ecosystem, personally replied to the mockup with a simple rebuttal: “Not happening!”

Despite using the design language for over a decade, Google does not want to drop Material Design altogether. Though the new gradients have revitalized the design language somewhat, the essence of flat design is still there.

Apple, on the other hand, wants a return to 3D. Liquid Design mimics the transparent aesthetics of Windows Vista. Though a bunch of users have found the design polarizing, other brands have started copying the design for themselves, incorporating elements on Liquid Design on their interfaces.

Whatever Google is doing, it’s coming in due time. The company is hosting its annual Google I/O on May 12 to showcase new developments coming to the Android ecosystem, including its design.

SEE ALSO: More iPhone switchers this year than Android switchers, report says

Continue Reading

Trending