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A Sneak Peek at Xiaomi 14: First Thoughts, Essential Features, Camera Configuration, and More
Our first impressions of Xiaomi's latest compact flagship, along with an early look at the soon-to-be-released Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Xiaomi recently launched its top-tier 14 series of smartphones in India. The Xiaomi 14 was anticipated to be the main highlight, but the 14 Ultra unexpectedly stole the show. The Ultra is set to land in India only in April 2024, but the Xiaomi 14 can currently be bought online and in physical stores. We had a chance to try out the device and here are our early thoughts.
The Xiaomi 14 is aesthetically pleasing, with a particularly impressive compact structure. Compact Android flagship phones are becoming hard to come by, so Xiaomi's release in India is a welcome addition. Despite its aluminum frame and glass back, the company has successfully kept the weight well below 200 grams. The device boasts an IP68 rating, safeguarding it against dust and water damage. The design bears certain resemblances to the Apple iPhone Pro models, particularly the frame and the square-shaped camera section at the back.
Despite the design influences, the phone has an aesthetically pleasing look and, more critically, it feels comfortable to hold, with its ideal size, 8.2 mm thickness, effective grip, and balanced weight. It's mostly possible to use this phone with one hand due to its comparatively smaller screen size and incredibly slim bezels. The buttons are perfectly situated along the sides and the volume and power buttons can be reached easily without any thumb discomfort.
The Xiaomi 14 features a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with a flexible refresh rate that can reach 120 Hz, and a pixel resolution of 2670 x 1200. The 12-bit display supports up to 68 billion different colors and has a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. The Pro HDR display is compatible with both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and comes with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for scratch resistance. Both text and images appear clear and vibrant on this display. We'll discuss the display's color accuracy and contrast after our testing phase.
The Xiaomi 14 is a premier range from the brand, and it's equipped with the most advanced Qualcomm SoC available, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Only one model of this phone is released in India, which comes with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage. Undoubtedly, this device is as robust as they come currently and is expected to compete fiercely with other top-tier phones in the country.
The camera capabilities are crucial for the Xiaomi 14 series, as they are intended to be camera-focused phones, developed in collaboration with the renowned German camera maker Leica. As we haven't conducted any camera tests yet, we cannot comment on the quality of the images. However, Xiaomi's collaboration with Leica appears to be more intensive than the partnership between Hasselblad and OnePlus, with Xiaomi taking advantage of Leica’s extensive hardware and software knowledge.
Regarding the cameras, there are three 50MP components on the rear, beginning with the main one that features a Light Fusion 900 image sensor, Leica Summilux lenses, and optical image stabilization (OIS). The next one is a fixed-focus ultra-wide camera with a field of view of 115 degrees. I was somewhat worried about the absence of autofocus on this camera because it implies that macro photography won't be possible. However, Xiaomi has allocated this function to the third camera – a 75mm floating telephoto module that also has OIS.
This camera has the ability to capture macros from a distance of 10 cm, but its capabilities extend far 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 rear cameras gives you four distinct focal lengths (35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, and 90 mm) for various portrait techniques. Additionally, the camera comes with a load of settings and features that professional photographers will value more than those who prefer point-and-shoot photography.
The phone comes equipped with a 32MP front camera that's perfect for selfies and video chats. The Xiaomi 14's rear cameras can capture video in a stunning 8K resolution at 24 frames per second, along with 4K HDR videos using HDR10+ or Dolby Vision at 30 or 60 frames per second. On paper, the photographic capabilities of this phone seem impressive and we're eager to test them out. We'll provide all the details about the camera's performance in our final review of the phone. Keep an eye out for it.
In spite of its compact dimensions, the Xiaomi 14 boasts a fairly substantial battery capacity of 4610 mAh, which should easily sustain a day's worth of moderate use. It comes with a 90W fast charger provided by the manufacturer, which is supposed to completely charge the device in slightly more than 30 minutes. Additionally, the smartphone is compatible with 50W rapid wireless charging, which is predicted to fully charge the battery in approximately 45 minutes.
The Xiaomi 14 is retailing in India for Rs 69,999, with the only available model offering 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Every purchase comes with a one-year warranty. There are some enticing introductory deals, such as an immediate Rs 5,000 discount with HDFC and ICICI credit cards, along with credit and debit card EMI. Additionally, a Rs 5,000 bonus is available for exchanging certain phones. Therefore, with the appropriate phone and card, the Xiaomi 14 could potentially be acquired for just Rs 59,999.
Extra information: What sets the Xiaomi 14 Ultra apart? If I'm not mistaken, this is the premiere launch of Xiaomi's Ultra model in India. Although there are a few parallels between this model and the Xiaomi 14, such as the processor hardware and the HyperOS software which is built on Android 14, the Ultra model is truly unique. Its design is notably distinct featuring a round camera module and a vegan leather back cover. Additionally, the phone is considerably bigger. It comes with a larger, higher resolution (QHD+) 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that keeps all the positive features of the Xiaomi 14 display.
The back camera setup has been modified as well, and I'm not simply referring to the additional 50MP camera module included. The sensors employed are also distinct, with Xiaomi choosing to use an exclusively Sony configuration on the 14 Ultra. The primary camera showcases a Sony LYT-900 sensor, and the remaining three feature Sony IMX898 sensors. The partnership with Leica is also highly evident in this phone.
The camera system includes a 50MP main camera with a larger pixel size and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 50MP floating telephoto lens with OIS that offers 3.2X optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5X optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens with a wide 122-degree Field Of View (FOV) and auto-focus that allows for macro photography from a distance of 5 cm. More details about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will be shared as we near its launch date on April 12. It is set to retail at Rs 99,999 with potential introductory offers to look forward to.
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