According to a Gizcoupon news article on April 13th, Xiaomi will launch its new flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, with Leica camera optics on April 18th, claiming that it will usher in the era of mobile optical imaging. The company has released some information about the camera setup of the new phone.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra camera specification
Xiaomi founder Lei Jun stated that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra features a new Leica Summicron lens, a new generation of image sensors, and a large aperture across the entire focal range, from ultra-wide-angle to medium to long-range and even ultra-long-range.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has a quad-camera setup, all of which are 50-megapixel sensors with large apertures. They support capture, night photography, and 8K video recording. Moreover, the specific sensors used are the IMX989, IMX858, IMX858, and IMX858. Additionally, the main camera uses a “Leica one-inch variable aperture” and provides two aperture sizes of f/1.9 and f/4.0.
IMX858 image sensor
According to Lei Jun, the IMX989 is currently the strongest image sensor in mobile imaging. It was jointly developed by Sony and Xiaomi. Once the IMX989 was selected, the secondary sensor was also determined: the IMX858, which is currently the most advanced sensor in Sony’s mobile sensors and is the only one that matches the IMX989 in terms of functional characteristics.
The new generation sensor IMX858 was officially unveiled on Sony’s website today and will debut on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. The IMX858 sensor has a size of 1/2.51 inches. Moreover, Sony has introduced a full-pixel phase difference to obtain AF information for its all-pixel focusing system. The IMX858 uses 2 exp-DOL and Fine12bitAD functions tailored to it to achieve high dynamic photography capabilities close to human eye recognition. Meanwhile, the secondary camera can also achieve smooth 4K HDR photography. In addition, the IMX858 is the first secondary sensor to support Sony’s new multi-camera collaborative system.
Features of the IMX858
Lei Jun stated that the IMX858 has the following features:
- IMX858 is the only Sony sensor that supports MCSS (multi-camera synchronization system), which can achieve better multi-camera consistency;
- IMX858 is the only Sony sensor that supports LN2 low-noise mode besides IMX989;
- IMX858 supports 100% PDAF full-pixel focusing;
- IMX858 supports DOL-HDR technology, the same as IMX989, and with 12bit ADC, it can achieve ultra-high dynamic range close to human eye recognition.
Lei Jun said that the IMX858 is known as the “little giant” and is the golden partner of the IMX989. To ensure the consistency of the entire system, three IMX858 sensors were used. They ensure that all secondary cameras have the same imaging capabilities and are strictly aligned with the main camera. With the ISZ extended focal length function, the four cameras can achieve a total of six focal lengths, covering a zoom range of 12mm to 240mm. In terms of comprehensive sensitivity, the apertures of these three secondary cameras have all been increased. With an increase in light entering the camera of 14-43% compared to the previous generation.
Other features of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Other features of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone are expected to include a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED LTPO display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Moreover, it has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage. It has been rumored that the smartphone may offer a storage option of up to 1TB. The phone comes with a 4900mAh built-in battery that supports 90W fast charging. Furthermore, it is pre-installed with the MIUI 14 system based on Android 13.
