Apple and its newest lineup of devices usually dominate the last few months of each year, but you may be wrong; the iPhone 14 may not be the biggest release this year. If the Xiaomi 13 proves to be as exciting as we expect, it may end up stealing some of Apple’s limelight. Weibo, China’s social networking platform, is where the major leaker, Digital Chat Station, announced the good news.
According to reports, the Xiaomi 13 could be released in November 2022. This is earlier than expected since the Xiaomi 12 launched in December 2021. According to the leaker, progress has been made a month early, which would suggest an earlier release.
There was a Chinese launch of Xiaomi’s flagship in December. If you’re wondering why the 12th was announced so late, it’s because the global launch is in March 2022. The Xiaomi 13 is expected to follow the same pattern.
Digital Chat Station reports that the Xiaomi 13 may launch a month earlier, making it a stronger competitor to Apple’s newer iPhones. Apple’s newer iPhones probably won’t arrive much sooner than that, even though it would be a surprise early launch. The global unveiling could also be accelerated, which could coincide with the Samsung Galaxy S23 launch.
There is also a mention of two upcoming phones, which probably means that they’ll both be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (a probability, given that the Xiaomi 12 models have the 8 Gen 1) and Android 13, while one of the phones (probably the largest) will have a 2K display.
These specs aren’t exactly mind-blowing – they’re basically exactly what we expected – but they start to paint a picture about the upcoming series of phones.
Xiaomi made a bold move with the Xiaomi 12 series to compete with similarly priced flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Apple iPhone 13. By downsizing its vanilla flagship, Xiaomi Brand created a small phone that can fit in your hand.
Despite that, Xiaomi is likely not planning to release a full lineup of phones to compete with Apple’s, based on the reference to only two 13-inch phones coming, and Xiaomi generally staggers the release of its flagships.
Due to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra likely launching in mid-2023, there won’t be a true iPhone 14 Pro Max rival, and while Xiaomi and Apple’s standard and Pro phones are likely to be comparable, it seems unlikely that Xiaomi will release a device to compete directly with the iPhone 14 Max.
Xiaomi could offer something that Apple cannot: a cheaper alternative. There’s a high chance the Xiaomi 12T will launch in August or September as a mid-range Android phone with features of the Xiaomi 12 series but at a lower price point (and cheaper than iPhones), and we’re likely to see a Xiaomi 13 Lite at some point. That’s another point.
Due to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra likely launching in mid-2023, there won’t be a true iPhone 14 Pro Max rival, and while Xiaomi and Apple’s standard and Pro phones are likely to be comparable, it seems unlikely that Xiaomi will release a device to compete directly with the iPhone 14 Max.
Xiaomi could provide Apple with something it cannot: a cost-effective alternative. Xiaomi 12T will launch in August or September, and it will be a lower price point Android phone than the Xiaomi 12 series (and also cheaper than iPhones), and there will probably be a Xiaomi 13 Lite released later in the year. Hopefully.
Xiaomi and Apple Brand target different audiences, so it makes sense that although both companies will have some competing products, they both have products that stand out. However, people who want the latest camera features on a premium phone may find it difficult to decide between Xiaomi’s 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
