Xiaomi to Offer Battery Capacity Upgrades for Xiaomi 13 Series in China

Xiaomi is offering a paid battery upgrade program in China that allows users of the Xiaomi 13 series to replace their original batteries with higher-capacity cells. This initiative provides a hardware boost to existing devices rather than requiring users to purchase new handsets to achieve better battery life.

Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing announced the expansion of the program to the entire Xiaomi 13 series in a Weibo post on May 5, 2026. The service allows for a physical swap of the battery for a version that exceeds the capacity of the hardware originally shipped with the phones.

Capacity Increases by Model

The amount of additional power provided varies depending on the specific model within the series. The upgrades provide gains ranging from 350mAh to 541mAh.

• The standard Xiaomi 13 receives an upgrade from 4,500mAh to 4,850mAh, representing a 350mAh increase.
• The Xiaomi 13 Pro increases from 4,820mAh to 5,361mAh, a jump of 541mAh.
• The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is bumped from 5,000mAh to 5,500mAh, adding 500mAh of capacity.

These increases are intended to provide a noticeable difference in the daily usage and longevity of the devices.

Pricing and Availability

The battery upgrade service costs 189 RMB, which is approximately $28. This price includes the cost of the new battery as well as the labor required for the installation.

Xiaomi has indicated that the availability of these higher-capacity batteries may be limited. The company is urging interested users to act quickly to secure the upgrade.

Technical Trade-offs and Requirements

While the program increases total capacity, it introduces certain technical trade-offs. Users may experience longer charging times due to the larger size of the battery cells.

the company noted that devices might experience heat during the optimization process following the installation. To ensure the new hardware functions correctly, users are required to install specific software updates before the battery replacement can be performed.

This approach contrasts with the broader smartphone industry trend, where manufacturers typically prioritize the launch of new models with larger batteries over providing hardware upgrades for older generations.