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Xiaomi 14 Sneak Peek: First thoughts, main attributes, photography configuration and more
Our first thoughts on Xiaomi's latest small-scale flagship and a brief preview of the forthcoming Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi recently launched its high-end 14 series of smartphones in India. Although the Xiaomi 14 was anticipated to be the star, the 14 Ultra unexpectedly stole the show. The Ultra, however, is set to be available in India only in April 2024, while the Xiaomi 14 can already be bought online and in physical stores. We had the chance to explore the device and here are our first thoughts.
The aesthetics of the Xiaomi 14 are quite appealing, particularly its small, neat structure. It's refreshing to see Xiaomi introduce a streamlined Android flagship phone to the Indian market, as they've become quite scarce. Despite its aluminum structure and glass rear, the phone's weight is comfortably under 200 grams. It is shielded from dust and water penetration thanks to an IP68 rating. The design shares similarities with Apple iPhone Pro models, particularly in the frame and the square-like camera layout on the back.
Despite its design influences, the phone has an appealing look and, crucially, it's comfortable to hold – its size is just perfect, with a thickness of 8.2 mm, an even weight distribution, and a good grip. Due to its relatively smaller screen size and extremely slim bezels, it is largely possible to operate it with one hand. The positions of the buttons on the sides are just right, making the volume and power buttons easily reachable without any thumb strain.
The Xiaomi 14 features a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a dynamic refresh rate that can reach up to 120 Hz and delivers a resolution of 2670 x 1200 pixels. This 12-bit display can support as many as 68 billion color hues and offers a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. The display, which is HDR10+ and Dolby Vision certified, boasts a Pro HDR screen and is safeguarded against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The screen demonstrates sharp text and vibrant images. The assessment of color precision and contrast will be discussed after we conduct our testing procedure.
As part of its flagship lineup, Xiaomi has equipped the 14 with the latest and highly potent Qualcomm SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In India, the phone is available in a single model with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 built-in storage. Undoubtedly, the device's hardware is highly impressive and should be capable of competing with other existing top-tier phones in India.
The success of the Xiaomi 14 series largely hinges on its camera features, as the phones are specially designed with a focus on photography. The camera technology is a result of Xiaomi's collaboration with the renowned German camera maker, Leica. However, until we conduct a thorough camera review, we will not comment on the image quality. It appears that Xiaomi's association with Leica is more profound than the relationship between Hasselblad and OnePlus, as Xiaomi leverages Leica's extensive knowledge in both hardware and software.
When it comes to the camera, there are three 50MP units on the rear, beginning with the main one equipped with a Light Fusion 900 image sensor, Leica Summilux lenses, and optical image stabilisation (OIS). This is followed by an ultra-wide fixed-focus camera with a 115-degree field of view. I was somewhat worried about the absence of autofocus on this camera as it would rule out macro photography. However, Xiaomi has delegated this function to the third camera, a 75 mm floating telephoto module with OIS.
This device is capable of capturing macros from a distance of 10 cm, but its functionality extends beyond 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 rear cameras offers you four distinct focal lengths (35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, and 90 mm) to experiment with various portrait techniques. Moreover, the camera comes loaded with numerous settings and features that are likely to be more appreciated by professional photographers than casual snapshooters.
The phone comes with a 32MP front camera, perfect for selfies and video chatting. The back cameras of the Xiaomi 14 have the ability to record videos in a maximum of 8K resolution at 24 fps and 4K HDR videos, compatible with HDR10+ or Dolby Vision at 30 or 60 fps. The camera specifications certainly seem impressive and we're thrilled to test it out thoroughly. Once we've done our final review, we'll provide all the details about the camera's performance. Keep an eye out for it.
The Xiaomi 14, despite its small size, boasts a battery with a decent capacity of 4610 mAh. It should easily get you through a day of average use. The manufacturer includes a 90W rapid charger, which should be able to fully charge the phone in just over thirty minutes. The phone also accommodates 50W speedy wireless charging, estimated to fully charge the battery in an additional 15 minutes.
The Xiaomi 14 is available in India for Rs 69,999, offering a model with 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage. This is the only version of the phone being sold in the region. The purchase comes with a one-year warranty. Some enticing introductory deals include an immediate Rs 5,000 discount on HDFC and ICICI credit cards, and both credit and debit card EMI. A Rs 5,000 trade-in discount is also available on certain phone models. As a result, if you have the appropriate card and phone, the Xiaomi 14 could cost as little as Rs 59,999.
Extra details: What sets the Xiaomi 14 Ultra apart? If I recall correctly, this is the debut of Xiaomi's Ultra model in India. Despite several similarities with the Xiaomi 14, such as the processing hardware and HyperOS software rooted in Android 14, the Ultra model is quite unique. Its design is entirely distinctive, featuring a round camera module and a vegan leather back. The handset is also noticeably bigger. It boasts a larger, higher resolution (QHD+) 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that maintains all the impressive features of the Xiaomi 14 display.
The back camera system has been altered, and this doesn't just refer to the additional 50MP camera module included. The sensors employed are unique as well, with Xiaomi choosing to use an exclusively Sony configuration on the 14 Ultra. The primary camera proudly features a Sony LYT-900 sensor, while the remaining three are equipped with Sony IMX898 sensors. This phone also strongly reflects the Leica partnership.
The camera set-up includes a 50MP main camera with a larger pixel size and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP floating telephoto camera with OIS that offers 3.2X optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera that provides 5X optical zoom, and finally a 50MP ultra-wide camera that offers a wider 122-degree Field of View (FOV) and auto-focus for clicking macro shots from as close as 5 cm. More details on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will be shared as its April 12 release date approaches. The smartphone is set to retail at Rs 99,999 with potential launch promotions to look out for.
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