Preview of Xiaomi 14: First thoughts, main attributes, camera configuration and more
Our first thoughts on Xiaomi's new small flagship and a brief preview of the soon-to-be-released Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Xiaomi recently launched its premium 14 series smartphones in India. Although the spotlight was anticipated to be on the Xiaomi 14, the 14 Ultra emerged as an unexpected highlight. The Ultra model will only be available in India from April 2024, but the Xiaomi 14 can already be purchased both online and in stores. We had the opportunity to briefly experience the device and here are our first thoughts.
The appearance of Xiaomi 14 is quite appealing, especially due to its compact structure. Compact flagship Android phones have become quite scarce, so it's refreshing to see Xiaomi introduce one in India. Despite its aluminum frame and glass back, the company has successfully maintained the weight under 200 grams. The device is safeguarded from dust and water penetration with an IP68 rating. The design draws parallels to the Apple iPhone Pro models, particularly the frame and the square-shaped camera section at the rear.
Despite the design influences, the phone has an appealing look and, crucially, a comfortable feel when held – it's the perfect size, with a thickness of 8.2 mm, a solid grip, and balanced weight. The screen size is slightly smaller, allowing for easy use with one hand, thanks to the ultra-thin bezels. The positioning of the buttons along the sides is just right, and you can easily reach the volume and power buttons without stretching your thumb.
The Xiaomi 14 boasts a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that features a flexible refresh rate peaking at 120 Hz and a 2670 x 1200 pixel resolution. The display, capable of supporting up to 68 billion hues, has a 12-bit display and a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. Additionally, it's compliant with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision standards for its Pro HDR screen. This screen is safeguarded from scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The display produces crystal clear text and vivid images. The details regarding colour accuracy and contrast will be discussed after we complete our testing.
Xiaomi 14 – Hardware SpecificationsAs part of its premier lineup, Xiaomi has equipped the 14 model with the most advanced and strongest Qualcomm SoC available, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In India, this phone is only available in one version with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage. It goes without saying that this hardware is among the most robust currently available and is expected to compete directly with other leading flagship phones in the Indian market.
The camera feature is a crucial factor for the success of the Xiaomi 14 series, as these phones are designed to be camera-focused and are jointly developed with the renowned German camera maker, Leica. We haven't conducted the camera tests yet, so we can't comment on the quality of the results. However, Xiaomi's collaboration with Leica appears to be more profound than Hasselblad's association with OnePlus, as Xiaomi is leveraging Leica's long-standing expertise in both hardware and software.
In terms of cameras, there are three 50MP modules on the rear. The main one is equipped with a Light Fusion 900 image sensor, Leica Summilux optics, and optical image stabilization (OIS). Following this is a static focus ultra-wide camera that offers a 115-degree field of view. I was somewhat worried about the absence of autofocus on this camera since it rules out macro photography. However, Xiaomi has delegated this task to the third camera – a 75 mm adjustable telephoto module, also with OIS.
The camera can capture macro images from a distance of 10 cm, but its capabilities extend far beyond that. As a telephoto camera, it offers up to 3.2X optical zoom and excels in portrait photography. The combined capabilities of all the rear cameras provide four unique focal lengths (35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, and 90 mm) for various portrait techniques. Additionally, the camera comes with a host of settings and features that would be more appreciated by professional photographers than by casual point-and-shoot users.
The phone is equipped with a 32MP front camera suitable for selfies and video chats. The Xiaomi 14's back cameras are capable of recording videos with a maximum resolution of 8K at 24 frames per second and 4K HDR videos compatible with HDR10+ or Dolby Vision at either 30 or 60 frames per second. The camera specifications certainly sound impressive, and we can't wait to thoroughly test them out. All details about the camera's performance will be provided in our comprehensive review of the phone. Keep checking in for updates.
Despite its small size, the Xiaomi 14 has an impressive battery capacity of 4610 mAh, which should easily last more than a day with average use. The phone comes with a 90W quick charger, capable of charging it completely in just over 30 minutes. It also supports 50W quick wireless charging, which is estimated to take an additional 15 minutes to fully charge the battery.
The Xiaomi 14 is available in India for Rs 69,999 and comes with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. This is the only model that will be marketed in the region, and it includes a one-year phone warranty. Several promotional launch deals are available, including an immediate Rs 5,000 discount on purchases made with HDFC and ICICI Credit cards, as well as credit and debit card EMI. There's also a Rs 5,000 trade-in bonus available for certain phones. As a result, with the appropriate phone and card, the Xiaomi 14 can be obtained for as little as Rs 59,999.
Extra information: How does the Xiaomi 14 Ultra differ? If I remember correctly, this is Xiaomi's initial launch of its Ultra model in India. Although there are some similarities with the Xiaomi 14, such as the processing hardware and the HyperOS software which is based on Android 14, the Ultra model is unique in its own way. It has a distinct design that includes a circular camera module and a vegan leather back. The phone is also noticeably larger. It features a more advanced, 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a higher resolution (QHD+) that maintains all the great features of the Xiaomi 14 display.
The back camera setup is also unique, and it's not only because of the additional 50MP camera module featured here. The sensors employed are also distinct as Xiaomi has chosen to use exclusively Sony components for the 14 Ultra. The primary camera boasts a Sony LYT-900 sensor, while the remaining three come with Sony IMX898 sensors. The partnership with Leica is also heavily emphasized in this phone.
The device boasts a combination of a 50MP main camera with a larger pixel size and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP floating telephoto lens with OIS providing 3.2X optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a wider 122-degree Field of View (FOV) and auto-focus, which allows you to take macro photos from a 5 cm distance. More details will be revealed about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra as we approach its launch date on April 12. It's set to be priced at Rs 99,999, and potential buyers can anticipate some introductory offers.
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