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This time around, we’re comparing two rather compact smartphones. We’ll be comparing the ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13. The ZenFone 10 did launch later than the Xiaomi 13, the difference is about 6 months, but they’re both a part of the same generation of phones. They’re both somewhat compact, though the ZenFone 10 considerably more so, actually. They do have the same SoC, but are very different phones overall, which should make this comparison interesting.
We will first check out their specifications, and will then compare them across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. There’s a lot to talk about here, actually, so… let’s get started.
Specs
ASUS ZenFone 10 & Xiaomi 13, respectively
– Screen size (main):
5.92-inch Super AMOLED display (144Hz, HDR10+, 1,100 nits)
6.36-inch AMOLED display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,900 nits)
– Display resolution (main):
2400 x 1080
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
– RAM:
8GB/16GB (LPDDR5X)
8GB/12GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB (UFS 4.0)
128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0, except the 128GB model)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.9 aperture, gimbal OIS, multi-directional PDAF)), 13MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture,k 120-degree FOV, 1.12um pixel size)
50MP (f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.0 aperture, 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS)
– Front cameras:
32MP (f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
32MP (f/2.0 aperture, 22mm lens, 0.7um pixel size)
– Battery:
4,300mAh
4,500mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 15W wireless, 5W reverse wired (charger included)
67W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless (charger included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4mm
152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0mm or 8.1mm
– Weight:
172 grams
185 or 189 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
Under-display fingerprint scanner (optical)
– OS:
Android 13 with ZenUI
Android with MIUI
– Price:
$699
€999
– Buy:
Amazon
Xiaomi
ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13: Design
At first glance, at least from the front, these two phones are somewhat similar. They both have flat displays, though the bezels around the ZenFone 10’s are a bit thicker. The Xiaomi 13 also has uniform bezels, which the ZenFone 10 does not, as its bottom bezel is slightly thicker than the rest. The display camera hole does sit in different spots on these two displays, though both have it.
Both smartphones do have flat sides, with chamfered edges, and all of their buttons sit on the right-hand side. The ZenFone 10’s doubles as a fingerprint scanner. It also serves as a touchpad, actually, for different actions when you use the phone. The Xiaomi 13 includes an in-display fingerprint scanner. You will also notice that their backplates do look different, mainly thanks to different-looking cameras. The ZenFone 10 has two cameras, each of which is its own camera island. The Xiaomi 13 includes three cameras inside a single camera island, and Leica lenses are also included here
The ZenFone 10 features a textured backplate, which does add grip to the phone. The Xiaomi 13 comes in both glass back and eco leather backplate options. The ZenFone 10 is lighter than the Xiaomi 13, which is to be expected considering the fact it’s smaller. They’re both quite light, though, the ZenFone 10 weighs 172 grams, while the Xiaomi 13 weighs 185 or 189 grams, depending on the model. The ZenFone 10 is shorter, narrower, and thicker than the Xiaomi 13. Both smartphones do offer IP68 certification for water and dust resistance too. They both feel great in the hand, and are quite compact compared to most of their competitors.
ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13: Display
The ASUS ZenFone 10 includes a 5.92-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Super AMOLED display. That is a 144Hz Super AMOLED panel, but it goes up to 144Hz only in some games. That panel is flat, and it supports HDR10+ content. It goes up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness. This panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Xiaomi 13, on the other hand, features a 6.36-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. That panel is also flat, and it supports a 120Hz resolution. This panel supports Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ content too. This panel goes up to 1,900 nits of brightness, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass 5. Both displays offer a 20:9 aspect ratio.
Both of these displays are very good, but there are some notable differences. They both offer vivid colors, deep blacks, and good viewing angles, along with good touch response. However, the Xiaomi 13’s display gets considerably brighter, which is a difference you’ll need in direct sunlight. The ZenFone 10, on the other hand, offers better display protection, though the difference between Gorilla Glass 5 and Victus is not that big.
ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 fuels both smartphones, actually. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful processor out there, and one of the most powerful in the market. In addition to that, both smartphones utilize LPDDR5X RAM, though the ZenFone 10 goes up to 16GB, while the Xiaomi 13 offers up to 12GB. You’ll also find UFS 4.0 flash storage inside both devices. Only the 128GB variant of the Xiaomi 13 has UFS 3.1 storage.
Do such powerful specs reflect on the performance in a good way? Well, yes, they do. Both smartphones are immensely fluid. They’re both based on Android 13, but their skins are completely different. The ZenFone 10 is basically stock Android on steroids, basically, while MIUI is a whole different story. If you prefer stock Android but also want customization, the ZenFone 10 is for you. If you liked MIUI in the past, chances are you’ll like it now too.
Both devices are very fluid in day-to-day performance, and also while gaming. Quite frankly, it’s all a matter of preference. Some people will prefer the ZenFone 10 due to its software, others the Xiaomi 13. You don’t have to worry about fluidity, so make a choice based on other factors. Both can handle pretty much anything you throw at them.
ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13: Battery
A 4,300mAh battery sits inside the ASUS ZenFone 10, while a 4,500mAh unit can be found inside the Xiaomi 13. The ZenFone 10 does have less battery capacity, but it’s also a smaller phone. It does offer better battery life, though, at least based on what we’ve seen. The difference is also quite noticeable.
We’ve been able to pull out over 8 hours of screen-on-time on the ZenFone 10. We didn’t spare the phone or anything like that. Gaming is not included in this equation, though. The Xiaomi 13, on the other hand, can provide around 6-6.5 hours of screen-on-time, based on what we’ve seen. So, if you’re looking for great battery life, the ZenFone 10 is the better choice here. The Xiaomi 13’s battery life isn’t bad, though, not at all. Also, your mileage may vary, this is our experience, which does not necessarily mean you’ll get similar results. There are a lot of factors to consider here.
Xiaomi’s handset does offer considerably faster charging than the ZenFone 10, though. It supports 67W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The ZenFone 10 is stuck with 30W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. No matter if you’re charging your phone via a wire, or wirelessly, the Xiaomi 13 will charge up faster. Both smartphones do include a charger in the box, by the way.
ASUS ZenFone 10 vs Xiaomi 13: Cameras
There is a 50-megapixel main camera on the ASUS ZenFone 10, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV). The Xiaomi 13 includes three cameras. It has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom), and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV). Leica lenses are also included on the Xiaomi 13, along with some software, of course.
Both smartphones provide vibrant images with great details, and sharpness. The ZenFone 10 doesn’t have the problem of oversharpening that its predecessor had. The Xiaomi 13 has two shooting modes, authentic and vibrant. The first has a vignetting effect, while the second is quite vibrant. The Xiaomi 13 does tend to brighten up the shadows more, and also brighten up low light images more too. Both do a good job in low light, while their ultrawide cameras are also not bad, overall.
In regards to video, the ZenFone 10 does offer better stabilization, though the video output from the Xiaomi 13 is not bad either, not at all. The Xiaomi 13 does handle light flares better, by the way, overall. The bottom line is, most people will be happy with either of these phones, cameras wise.
Audio
Both of these phones include a set of stereo speakers, and both sets are quite good. The output is rich, and loud enough. It is worth noting that the Xiaomi 13 manages to provide louder output, though.
The ZenFone 10 does include an audio jack too, unlike the Xiaomi 13. So if you’re still using a wired set of headphones, you can easily connect them to this phone. If you opt for a wireless connection instead, however, Bluetooth 5.3 is supported on both devices.