For most smartphones coverage, I would usually publish them on my TGH Technology and Business portal/blog. However for the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is more than just a smartphone, this is a smartphone camera that fits perfectly here, on my TGH Photography and Travel portal/blog.

Xiaomi and Leica Collaboration

The latest result of Xiaomi and Leica’s collaboration in further advancing mobile imaging technology. Powered by a quad camera system with a 1-inch sensor anchoring the main camera, and a variable aperture. It has an ultra-grade WQHD+ display with excellent colour accuracy, along with premium flagship Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 performance, all packed in a classic design, Xiaomi offers all smartphone users an ultimate professional camera experience, in all capabilities.

A Shot Above with Leica Camera Ambassador, Adele Chan

Xiaomi collaborated with Leica Camera Ambassador, Adele Chan, to showcase Xiaomi 13 Ultra camera capabilities through a series of photos and sharing her experience during the local media preview session, part of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra launch campaign in Singapore. 

Shot and edited entirely on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the series features Singapore’s beautiful landmarks, people and culture – with photos of popular local architecture, streets and more – encapsulating the theme “A Shot Above”. Follow Adele Chan on her Instagram, as well as Xiaomi Singapore’s Facebook page, to see her storytelling series.

Leica optics – To build the perfect Summicron Lens of Leica in mobile imaging 

Inherited from the optical concept of the Leica M series, the Leica optical system of Xiaomi 13 Ultra has the characteristics of compact size, large aperture, high imaging performance, reliability, and durability. The lens adopts an ultra high-order polynomial design, allowing the precision of design to reach a nanometer level, nearing the optical limit. Meanwhile, a multi-layer coating greatly reduces glare and ghosting, presenting stable performance in extremely cold and extremely hot environments.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra Quad Camera System

Xiaomi 13 Ultra is equipped with a quad camera system with Leica optical lens covering focal lengths ranging from: 

• 12mm (ultra-wide angle)
• 23mm (wide-angle), 75mm (telephoto)
• to the new 120mm (super-telephoto)
• as well as the extra 46mm and 240mm lengths through the In-Sensor-Zoom. 

Adding on the full degree of focal length flexibility, the smartphone’s professional camera setting offers variable aperture. 

Three of Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s cameras feature an aperture wider than ƒ/2.0, which brings in more light and a soft, shallow depth of field, and allows for shorter shutter times, thus quicker capturing of natural and unmissable moments.

Flaunting an ultra-large 1-inch IMX989 sensor and a new physical two-stop aperture switching between ƒ/1.9 and ƒ/4.0, the main camera offers content creators more freedom in customising the exposures based on different scenarios.

Inspired by the “hyperfocal distance” shooting method commonly used by street photographers, Xiaomi 13 Ultra also brings a new Fast Shot mode that allows taking focus-free snapshots by setting the focus point manually, and later starting and capturing the moment in just 0.8s.

Pro colour restoration capability powered end-to-end from capture to presentation

Xiaomi 13 Ultra has fully optimised the RAW workflow, and more algorithms are migrated to the RAW domain to maximise the dynamic range, details, and texture of the image, thus significantly improving imaging quality. The main camera supports 50MP RAW, bringing a higher imaging resolution, while providing multi-frame 14-bit UltraRAW, which takes the data directly from the computing pipeline, bringing better resolution and high dynamic range. Camera profiles will be created by Adobe, providing a better starting point for post-production.

In terms of display, Xiaomi 13 Ultra sports a 6.73″ pro-grade WQHD+ display with excellent colour accuracy and up to 2600 nits peak brightness. This display is also calibrated according to the new CIE 2015 colorimetry, which supports perfect automatic colour management to ensure accurate and consistent colour presentation across different displays from Xiaomi devices released recently.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra also supports end-to-end experience supported by Dolby Vision®, capturing with vivid colours, astonishing contrast and brightness, along with a panoramic view of rich details in dark and bright areas, while offering users the opportunity to share their own creative content in UGC communities that support Dolby Vision®.

Ultra-fast experience with self-developed heat dissipation technology and Xiaomi Surge Battery Management System

As the annual masterpiece of the Xiaomi Ultra product line, Xiaomi 13 Ultra has the most powerful hardware configuration available, along with a suite of new innovative technologies for a top-notch flagship experience.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra pays tribute to the classic look of Leica’s M camera series with its circular camera module, unibody metal frame and leather texture finish. Weighing 227g (1) and with the unibody metal frame giving more resilience for bending than the previous generation, the smartphone design provides foundation for the entire structure and a more secure grip. Wrapped in a second-generation antibacterial nanotech silicone leather, the back panel of Xiaomi 13 Ultra not only resists fingerprints and smudges, but also is antibacterial and anti-yellowing. Its bacterial inhibition rate can reach as high as 99%, perfect for nearly any environment.(2)

Equipped with the latest Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 flagship processor, which adopts 4nm process technology, Xiaomi 13 Ultra brings superior performance and energy consumption. The smartphone supports RAM up to 16GB LPDDR5x and UFS4.0 storage of up to 1 TB, as well as FBO (File Based Optimization). Xiaomi 13 Ultra also features a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface, achieving DisplayPort video output up to 4K 60Hz.

Thanks to Xiaomi’s self-developed Loop LiquidCool technology, the first landing of an aerospace-grade large toroidal cooling system on a smartphone, Xiaomi 13 Ultra has achieved “one-way conduction” of the internal circulation through the “vapor-liquid separation” structure. This ensures equivalent thermal conductivity more than three times that of traditional VCs, and heat dissipation capacity exceeds 10W. With this powerful and advanced technology, Xiaomi 13 Ultra is capable of supporting stable 4K 60fps video recording without frame rate drop due to temperature.(3)

By pairing a Xiaomi Surge P2 Charging Chip and Xiaomi Surge G1 Battery Management Chip with a 5,000mAh battery, Xiaomi 13 Ultra utilizes a series of battery health functions and is able to estimate the battery life at extremely granular levels. Xiaomi 13 Ultra also adds a new Hibernation mode, which will be automatically triggered when the battery is low, limiting background activities and offering up to 60 minutes of additional standby.(4)

A very short hands on with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra 

At the Xiaomi 13 Ultra media launch event in Singapore, I had the opportunity to get a very short hands on with the  Xiaomi 13 Ultra, testing the quad camera system, user interface and the pro function of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

While my hands on session was very short, it sparked a joy and excitement inside me that I haven’t really experienced in my mobile/smartphone photography for a period of time. I remembered when Leica first entered into mobile/smartphone photography industry when I reviewed the Huawei P9 and Huawei P10 Plus that brought me great joy and fun in mobile/smartphone photography. 

The technology and mobile/smartphone photography developments over the years, powered by Xiaomi and Leica collaboration, presented photographers a new joy and era, “A Shot Above” for mobile/smartphone photography in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Possibly a smartphone camera that might be on par with a compact digital camera, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is definitely a very exciting prospect and a perfect complement to photographers with their cameras and lenses setup, whether it’s for leisure, serious enthusiast or professional photographer.

Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will be available in Singapore for pre-orders from 24th to 30th June 2023. It’s available in 2 colours – Black and Olive Green. 

Xiaomi 13 Ultra is priced at SGD$1,899, and can be purchased via Authorised Xiaomi Stores and partner stores.

During the pre-order period, keen buyers will get a free Xiaomi 50W Wireless Charging Stand worth SGD 79 and a Xiaomi 13 Ultra Professional Photography Set worth SGD 249. Other gifts include a 100GB cloud storage on Google One for 6 months, 1+1 years of extended warranty on the new premium device and 3 months of access to Youtube Premium. 

Deals are on a first-come, first-serve basis, while stocks last.

Notes:

1. Actual measurements between individual products may vary. All specifications are subject to the actual product.
2. Data retrieved from SGS test report.
3. Data from Xiaomi Internal Labs.
4. Data from Xiaomi Internal Labs. Actual time may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

* Information and pictures courtesy of Xiaomi and APRW *

The post Xiaomi 13 Ultra – A Shot Above for Mobile Photography appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

The entire Xiaomi 12S series features different imaging systems jointly developed by Xiaomi and Leica, containing Leica Summicron lenses, and they support Leica imaging profiles, giving and empowering individual content creators, photographers etc, to express their creativity, while retaining the authentic style of Leica imagery.

Authentic Leica Imagery, Leica Imaging Profiles

Xiaomi and Leica have jointly created a new standard for smartphone photography in this new era of mobile photography. By combining Leica’s in-depth understanding of optics, imaging processing, image quality, and Xiaomi’s rich experience in smartphone computing photography, Xiaomi 12S Series, that is “co-engineered with Leica” offers unprecedented smartphone image quality and colours that adhere to Leica’s signature look and feel.

Xiaomi and Leica have co-developed sophisticated optical lenses, pushing imaging technology to new limits. Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the top smartphone model utilises Leica’s world-class optical design capabilities in its lens system while adhering to their stringent optical quality testing standards and implementing Xiaomi’s expertise in miniaturising components to ensure ultra-high resolution, ultra-high light sensitivity, reduced dispersion and lower flare.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra primary camera adopts an 8P aspheric lens. In photography, flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration are common issues, the camera module of Xiaomi 12S Ultra also adds anti-glare lens coating, edge ink coating, cyclic coating, cyclic olefin copolymer material, and infrared light filter with spin coating technology. Together, these features offer a clearer overall picture that is consistent across the lens.

In addition to the advanced optical design, Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” also utilises Leica imaging profiles. They have inherited Leica’s century-old image aesthetic and reproducing Leica’s tone and aesthetics with the aid of cutting-edge algorithms. For the end user, this means access to two photographic styles: The “Leica Authentic Look” and “Leica Vibrant Look”, both offering enhanced creative freedom to the photographer.

• The “Leica Authentic Look” pursues a natural imagery for which Leica is known. By retaining light and shadow contrast, it adds a sense of three-dimensional depth to photos, with the characteristic excellence of Leica’s time-proven light and shadow aesthetics. 
• The “Leica Vibrant Look” features input by both Xiaomi and Leica. Combining Xiaomi’s experience in smartphone photography with Leica’s leading aesthetic, photographers can strive to capture the emotion of the moment, symbolizing Leica’s exploration in the smartphone photography space.

Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” brings authentic “Leica Image Look” to a smartphone.

Professional wide-angle camera with a super-large 1″ sensor

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is equipped with Sony’s IMX989 1″ sensor, implementing a Quad-Bayer pixel array with individual pixel sizes reaching 1.6μm. After pixel binning, this reaches 3.2μm, reducing noise, extending dynamic range, increasing light captured, and achieving overall better imagery in low-light conditions. This sets a new precedent in smartphone cameras, approaching traditional cameras in terms of hardware specifications. 

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the first Android device to support Dolby Vision HDR video recording and playback. Dolby Vision enhances your videos with vivid colors, sharper contrast ratio, and richer details, providing you with vibrant and refined image quality. Xiaomi 12S Ultra uses HyperOIS for ultra-stable performance, offering continuous compensation for movement during video recording. HyperOIS utilizes the gap between two frames to drive the OIS motor to its original position, giving each frame a full effective range of stabilization.

Xiaomi 12S and Xiaomi 12S Pro feature Sony’s IMX707 as their primary sensor, which incorporates both a large sensor size and large pixels, at 1/1.28” and 2 and 2.44μm after pixel binning. With the support of Xiaomi AI Image Solution and Xiaomi ProFocus, these sensors achieve fast startup, capture, and continuous capturing. These devices support an industry-leading 30fps ultra-fast burst mode, and exceptional low-light photography capabilities. Further, they also implement All-scene snapshot in their cameras, making it easier to capture the decisive moment.

Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” has also been designed to be more photographer-friendly in post-production. The entire series supports 10-bit RAW format 3.

One smartphone, two Xiaomi Surge chips

Xiaomi 12S Ultra “co-engineered with Leica” is the first flagship model to be equipped with two proprietary Xiaomi Surge chips, Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset and Xiaomi Surge G1 battery management chipset, offering great improvements in battery management and overall user experience.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra supports 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. At the core of the Xiaomi Surge Battery Management System, is a 4,860mAh single-cell silicon-oxygen anode battery and Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset, which also supports up to a 16A output current with 96.8% conversion efficiency. Furthermore, Xiaomi Surge G1 battery management chipset offers a slew of battery management algorithms, embedding self-developed battery management algorithms to protect the working safety of the battery and monitor the discharge load to accurately predict the available battery life of the device. Xiaomi 12S Ultra also supports adaptive charging toprevent the battery from overcharging thereby increasing the number of charge cycles by 25%.

Xiaomi 12S Pro features Xiaomi Surge P1 fast-charging chipset, 120W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and a 4,600mAh single-cell battery, while the Xiaomi 12S offers 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and a 4,500mAh battery.

calibrated by Adobe Labs, with color correction metadata embedded in the files. When using Adobe Lightroom to open photos shot on Xiaomi 12S Series, Adobe Camera RAW software will automatically optimize photos based on metadata, providing professional photographers with a good starting point for post-production.

Flagship Performance, Flagship Display

As Xiaomi’s latest flagship, Xiaomi 12S Series “co-engineered with Leica” is powered by the all-new Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, built on the TSMC 4nm process. Compared to Snapdragon® 8 Gen 1, the core area of Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is 21% smaller, with both the CPU and GPU receiving a 10% improvement in performance and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency. This not only significantlyreduces the standby power consumption of Xiaomi 12S Series, but also allows for lower heat emission and power consumption under high-load computing scenarios.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is equipped with a whole new heat dissipation system, similar to the biological mechanism leaves on a plant may use to absorb water. This three-dimensional cooling pump is ingeniously designed with a series of channels, which use a capillary network to actively pump cooling liquid condensed at the side opposite of warm areas, greatly improving efficiency and increasing the thermal conductivity of a single unit by 100%, compared with traditional VC heat dissipation systems.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Xiaomi 12S Pro feature a 6.73″AMOLED color display with E5 luminescent material that deliver a professional level of detail, brightness and color performance, in addition to a peak brightness of 1500 nits, 2K resolution, P3 color gamut, and 1-120Hz AdaptiveSync Pro. Xiaomi 12S is slightly more compact at just 6.28”, and also supports P3 color gamut display, HDR10+, and 120Hz AdaptiveSync.

Also announced were Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition, Xiaomi Book Pro 16, Xiaomi Book Pro 14, Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro, and Xiaomi Home WiFi.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra Technical Specifications

* Information and pictures courtesy of Xiaomi and APRW *

The post Xiaomi x Leica Strategic Partnership in Xiaomi 12S Series Imaging Technology appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Two of the world biggest brand names, Xiaomi is the world’s leading consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company, while Leica Camera legendary reputation is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, innovative technologies and German craftsmanship.

About Xiaomi

Founded in 2010, Xiaomi is currently the world’s third-largest smartphone manufacturer. Since its establishment 12 years ago, Xiaomi has always practiced the mission of ‘relentlessly building amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology’, its smartphones and other products are sold in more than 100 countries and regions around the world.

With strong R&D strength and continuous long-term investment in technology, Xiaomi has become an important leader in technological innovation in the fields of consumer electronics and smart manufacturing. And in the field of imaging, based on its longterm technical accumulation in lens optics, chips, algorithms, etc., as well as its deep understanding of mobile photography, Xiaomi provides extraordinary photography experiences including portraits, night scenes, and snapshots.

About Leica Camera

For over 100 years, Leica Camera has been creating lightweight cameras favoured by street photographer pioneers and world-class optical lenses, fulfilling the passions of its community. With ingenious optical engineering and formidable craftsmanship, Leica cameras, recognisable by their ‘red dot’ branding, are German engineering at its best, and continue to attract new generations of consumers who aspire to achieve “the Leica image look” and own these masterpieces of design. In addition to making precision-crafted masterpieces, Leica attracts well-known photographers and emerging new talents around the world.

A common passion and direction in mobile imaging

Xiaomi and Leica share the same ideas regarding mobile imaging. Both companies are eager to continuously explore the optical performance and photographic experience in the mobile imaging era through extreme technological breakthroughs and aesthetic pursuits.

“Xiaomi focuses on creating the ultimate user experience, and has always hoped to explore the capabilities of smartphone photography to the extreme. Xiaomi and Leica agree with each other’s pursuits and ideas and appreciate each other’s advantages and industry. This cooperation will provide a strong boost to Xiaomi’s imaging strategy. During the cooperation, from optical design to tuning aesthetic orientations, the innovative technologies, product philosophies and imaging preferences of both parties have experienced unprecedented in-depth collision and fusion.” says Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group.

“It is an honor to announce the long-term strategic cooperation with Xiaomi today. Leica and Xiaomi are both global premium brands and during this unprecedented deep cooperation process, both parties have successively worked on the goal of providing customers a new era of mobile photography. We are convinced that the first jointly developed imaging flagship smartphone makes the pioneering progress of both companies visible. We will provide consumers in the field of mobile photography exceptional image quality, classic Leica aesthetics, unrestricted creativity, and will open a new era of mobile imaging.” adds Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG.

Coming soon: A new era of mobile imaging 

On a personal note, I am looking forward to this new era of mobile imaging. Smartphone photography has developed and improved significantly over the years, it has been an integral part of my overall photography adventures and journeys.

As a photographer myself that started my photography journey in film/analogue photography some decades back before entering into digital photography before the birth of mobile phone/smartphone photography revolution, I am excited with this new era of mobile imaging world by Xiaomi and Leica Camera. I still remembered my smartphone photography journeys when Leica first entered into this mobile imaging market, I was at the forefront, I had the opportunity to test it out. Overall, I was very impressed with mobile imaging experience by Leica Camera with the Huawei P9 smartphone.

Smartphone photography is not going to go away in a social media networking, internet and media consumption driven world today. Smartphone photography have already complemented us photographers well, and bringing a new digital and social media networking experience to many users around the world today.

Coming soon: A new era of mobile imaging by Xiaomi and Leica Camera, in July 2022! Keep a lookout for them!

* Information and picture courtesy of Xiaomi and APRW *

The post Xiaomi and Leica Camera announce long-term strategic cooperation appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.