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Sneak Peek at Xiaomi 14: First thoughts, main attributes, camera configuration and additional details
We share our first thoughts on Xiaomi's latest compact high-end model and provide a brief preview of the soon-to-be-released Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi recently launched its premier 14 series smartphones in India. Though the Xiaomi 14 was predicted to be the main highlight, the 14 Ultra unexpectedly stole the show. However, the Ultra won't be available in India until April 2024, while the Xiaomi 14 can already be bought online and in stores. We had the opportunity to try out the device and here are our first thoughts.
The Xiaomi 14 model has an appealing look and its small structure is even more impressive. It's refreshing to see Xiaomi introduce a small Android flagship phone to India, given that such models are now quite uncommon. Despite the use of an aluminium frame and a glass back, the company has succeeded in maintaining a weight of less than 200 grams. The device is safeguarded from dust and water damage by an IP68 rating. Its design bears similarities to Apple iPhone Pro models, particularly the frame and the square-shaped camera area on the back.
Despite its design origins, the phone has an appealing look and, crucially, it feels comfortable to hold – it's the perfect size with an 8.2 mm thickness, a solid grip, and balanced weight distribution. Due to its compact screen size and extremely thin bezels, one-handed use is generally feasible. The buttons are conveniently located along the sides, making the volume and power buttons easy to reach without putting any strain on your thumb.
The Xiaomi 14 features a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that offers a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 2670 x 1200 pixels. The 12-bit display supports a spectrum of up to 68 billion colours and offers a peak brightness level of 3000 nits. The screen, which is HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compatible, is also Pro HDR. To prevent scratches, the screen is covered with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The display provides sharp text and images, and the colours are vibrant. We'll discuss the display's colour accuracy and contrast levels after conducting our tests.
As part of their premier line of products, Xiaomi has equipped their 14 series with the newest and most potent Qualcomm SoC currently available, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In India, only one version of this phone is available, which comes with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage. Undoubtedly, the hardware in this phone is top-notch and should stand up to any other leading phones in the Indian market.
The success of the Xiaomi 14 series primarily depends on its camera capabilities, as these phones are designed to be camera-focused, in collaboration with the renowned German camera maker, Leica. We haven't had the chance to evaluate the camera yet, so we won't comment on the image quality. However, the collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica appears to be more extensive than that of Hasselblad and OnePlus, with Xiaomi utilizing Leica's long-standing hardware and software knowledge.
Regarding the cameras, there are three 50MP units on the rear, beginning with the main one which is equipped with a Light Fusion 900 image sensor, Leica Summilux lenses, and optical image stabilization (OIS). Following this is a non-adjustable focus ultra-wide camera with a 115-degree field of view. I was slightly worried about the absence of autofocus on this camera as it would rule out macro photography, but Xiaomi has delegated this task to the third camera – a 75 mm floating telephoto module with OIS.
The camera can take close-up pictures from a distance of 10 cm, but its features extend beyond just that. As a telephoto camera, it offers up to 3.2X optical zoom and is designed to excel in portrait photography. The combination of all the back cameras provides four varied focal lengths (35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, and 90 mm) for diverse portrait techniques. Moreover, it comes with a wealth of options and features that professional photographers will value more than casual shooters.
The phone comes equipped with a 32MP front camera, ideal for selfies and video calling. The Xiaomi 14's rear cameras can record videos in up to 8K resolution at a rate of 24 frames per second, as well as 4K HDR videos with HDR10+ or Dolby Vision at either 30 or 60 frames per second. The camera capabilities look impressive on paper, and we're eager to test them out thoroughly. We'll provide a comprehensive breakdown of the camera's performance in our final review of the device. Keep an eye out for that.
Despite its small size, the Xiaomi 14 has a decent battery capacity of 4610 mAh. This should be enough to last more than a day with average use. Xiaomi includes a 90W rapid charger with the phone that claims to fully charge it in just over 30 minutes. The phone also accommodates 50W speedy wireless charging, which is projected to take an additional 15 minutes to fully charge the battery.
The Xiaomi 14 is available for purchase in India for Rs 69,999, specifically for the variant with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. This is the only model of the phone being sold in the region. The phone comes with a one-year warranty. There are several attractive introductory deals available, including an immediate Rs 5,000 discount on HDFC and ICICI Credit cards as well as credit and debit card EMI. Additionally, a Rs 5,000 trade-in bonus is available on specific phones. Therefore, depending on the phone and card used, the Xiaomi 14 could cost as low as Rs 59,999.
Extra details: What sets the Xiaomi 14 Ultra apart? As far as I can recall, this is the inaugural launch of Xiaomi's Ultra model in India. Despite sharing some common features with the Xiaomi 14 such as the processing hardware and HyperOS software rooted in Android 14, the Ultra model stands out significantly. Its design is entirely unique, boasting a round camera module and a vegan leather back. Moreover, the device is noticeably larger. It comes with a more expansive and high-resolution (QHD+) 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that carries over the exceptional qualities of the Xiaomi 14 display.
The back camera setup has also changed, and it's not just the addition of a 50MP fourth camera module. The choice of sensors is unique with Xiaomi choosing an entirely Sony-based configuration for the 14 Ultra. The primary camera showcases a Sony LYT-900 sensor, with the remaining three cameras using Sony IMX898 sensors. There's also a prominent Leica partnership evident in this phone.
The camera system includes a 50MP main camera equipped with a large pixel size and OIS, a 50MP floating telephoto camera with OIS capable of providing a 3.2X optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera that offers 5X optical zoom, and finally, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with an expanded 122-degree FOV and auto-focus. This also allows you to capture macro images from a distance of 5 cm. We'll delve into more details about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra as we approach its launch date on April 12. It has a price tag of Rs 99,999, and potential buyers might find some attractive deals at launch.
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