Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: There’s a clear winner here

What are your options if you want to buy the best Android phone? Samsung is always a good bet, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a gorgeous design and features one of the strongest hardware packages along with versatile cameras that take phenomenal photos. Xiaomi also has a strong showing this year in the Xiaomi 13 Pro, offering three 50MP cameras and a new design that’s more in line with Ultra variants of years past. With the Xiaomi 13 Pro now available in India, the U.K., and select global markets, let’s find out if it has what it takes to go up against the S23 Ultra, or if you should just buy Samsung’s flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Design

I like Samsung’s design aesthetic with the Galaxy S23 Ultra; not much has changed from last year, but there are subtle tweaks that make holding and using the phone a little more comfortable. That’s down to the reduced curvature of the screen and the back, and the flatter design means there’s more along the mid-frame to hold on to. Samsung also did a great job with the camera housing, and the minimalist housing with the rings around the three camera modules looks elegant.

As for Xiaomi, I never quite know what the brand is going to do next. I used all of its flagships over the last nine years, and there has never been design consistency between generations — Xiaomi is perennially altering the design on a yearly basis, and that’s no different on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The phone features a ceramic back — similar to the Mi 11 Ultra — and has a squarish camera island at the back that dominates attention.

The way the island merges with the design is reminiscent of the Find X5 Pro, but the effect isn’t as seamless, and the large housing with square lines doesn’t quite line up with the smooth flowing curves that you’ll find everywhere else on the phone. Of course, the larger island means you don’t get any wobble when using the 13 Pro on a flat surface — this isn’t the case on Samsung’s phone.

Now, as much as I like the design of the S23 Ultra, this thing is an absolute unit, and is large and somewhat unwieldy. By contrast, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is much more manageable, and at 229g, it is 5g lighter. On that note, Xiaomi went with aggressive curves at the front and back, so if you’re not a fan of phones with a dual-curved screen, you won’t like the 13 Pro. There is still enough room on the mid-frame to hold the device, but it isn’t much; of course, a case solves this problem.

Image 1 of 3