Xiaomi 14 Review: Good Things Come in Small Packages

Xiaomi 14 is without doubt one of the finest examples of how collaborations ought to work. Here, Xiaomi and Leica have labored collectively, and we talked in element about why this isn’t only a advertising partnership. 2024 is a crucial yr for Xiaomi, not solely as a result of it completes 10 years of operations in India but in addition as a result of this yr, loads of Xiaomi gadgets can be upgraded to HyperOS, the corporate’s subsequent huge transfer to convey the human x automotive x residence good ecosystem a actuality. We will get into that later in this evaluate. The all-new Xiaomi 14 ticks all of the packing containers on paper that one expects from a new-age flagship Android smartphone – a prime processor, stable digital camera system, wonderful show and cameras, and a likeable and sensible design in each manner. 

However, the all-new Xiaomi 14 enters a value phase the place many manufacturers struggle to get some share – from Samsung to Google to OnePlus. But how properly does the Xiaomi 14 carry out in our in-depth evaluate? Let’s discover out.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Design that provides you confidence

At a time when smartphone manufacturers wish to supply the largest attainable show on their gadgets, Xiaomi most likely took a extra sensible method. Featuring a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED show, the Xiaomi 14 completely sits between gadgets sporting 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch shows. At 193 grams and eight.2mm thickness, Xiaomi 14 is designed for one-hand use. In a really very long time, we have not reviewed a tool that is handy to make use of for on a regular basis duties, so in aesthetics, Xiaomi 14 units a benchmark. 

We like telephones with flat sides, and Xiaomi has gone a step additional by choosing a curved again for the Xiaomi 14. This initially appears and feels odd, however you get used to it steadily. With no sharp edges, the telephone completely sinks into your palm. It gives wonderful grip for on a regular basis use and may be very handy for lengthy textual content typing and different duties. In reality, we wrote most of our articles on the Xiaomi 14 as a result of, inside every week, it grew to become our major system for many issues. 

The aluminium body feels stable in fingers and gives confidence in on a regular basis utilization. The minimal prime body ensures minimal bezel and most display actual property. The Xiaomi 14’s weight distribution is so good that the big square-shaped digital camera placement by no means felt pointless. 

The Xiaomi 14 has launched in Matte Black, Jade Green, and Classic White. We acquired the Black one, which has a matte end, making it appropriate to be used even and not using a case. However, the identical can’t be stated for the Jade Green and White color variants, as each are extraordinarily slippery. 

We liked the eye to element on the 14, and long-time Xiaomi followers would admire that the corporate hasn’t forgotten the IR blaster on its premium system. The firm has moved the IR blaster to the again and positioned it contained in the squarish digital camera placement. 

The show panel on the Xiaomi 14 is vibrant and gives 3000nits peak brightness. It options 460PPI pixel density and gives a 1200×2670 pixels display decision. There’s a 120Hz adaptive refresh fee. Talking about real-world utilization, the Xiaomi 14’s show is great in any lighting situation – even below direct daylight. The viewing angles are additionally good, and the colors are wealthy. To improve the multimedia expertise, Xiaomi has added Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision, which provides to the general bundle. The entrance additionally options Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and Xiaomi has added DC dimming to handle the flickering. The Xiaomi 14 comes with Widevine L1 safety stage for streaming high-quality movies on streaming companies. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Leica-ble Cameras!

 The rear cameras are the largest spotlight of the Xiaomi 14, and that is after extensively utilizing it for nearly three weeks. The major 50-megapixel sensor with f/1.6 aperture can click on superb photographs – even when clicking in harsh lighting situations. The colors are on level, and there are a ton of particulars in each shot. In some comparability photographs, we observed that the Xiaomi 14 photos have extra pure colors than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which appeared barely heat in tone whatever the mild scenario. 

Below are some samples that talk for themselves. If you like to make use of your smartphone as a point-and-shoot digital camera on the road, then the Xiaomi 14 is the most suitable choice. 

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14 major digital camera

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14 major digital camera

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14 major digital camera

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14 ultra-wide digital camera

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14’s telephoto digital camera

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14’s telephoto digital camera

Xiaomi 14’s lengthy publicity possibility Neon Trails in play

Another spotlight is the 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. It can seize topics as shut as 10cm, and we captured one incredible shot in very difficult lighting situations. The 50-megapixel extremely wide-angle sensor gives a 115-degree discipline of view, a step up from the one we noticed on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. All three rear sensors are leaps and bounds higher than any Xiaomi smartphone we’ve used.

Xiaomi 14’s Leica BW filter used

Shot utilizing Xiaomi 14’s 75mm portrait mode

Xiaomi 14’s 35mm Documentary portrait mode, together with the BW filter used right here

Users can select between the Leica Authentic or Vibrant kinds. We preferred the Authentic type of most of our samples. Compared to the Vibrant type, the Leica Authentic captures photos in the unique picture high quality, protecting the colors and particulars nearer to actuality.

Then, there’s the Leica watermark to flaunt the pictures you are taking. The portrait is one other division the place Xiaomi 14 takes the lead towards most of its rivals. You can select between customary, documentary (35mm), swirly bokeh (50mm), portrait (90mm), and comfortable focus (90mm). To boost your photographs additional, you may select from an array of filters made in collaboration with Leica, like Leica Natural, Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Leica Sepia, Leica Black and White High Contrast, and Leica Black and White Natural. We had lots of enjoyable with the digital camera through the evaluate. 

There are tons of additives for movies, just like the all-new Movie Mode, which comes with Dolby Vision Recording in Video Mode. 

The selfie digital camera, for us, was the largest Achilles heel of Xiaomi 14. The firm added a lot to the cameras, together with Leica-tuned options, and we imagine the selfie digital camera ought to have gotten one thing. The daylight selfies have good particulars; nevertheless, the low-light selfies have been barely inconsistent. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Excellent efficiency

Xiaomi and Leica have not simply made the 14 a camera-focused smartphone solely however ensured that it’s an all-rounder in each different division. Before diving into the efficiency, we should add that Xiaomi 14 is the corporate’s first in India to launch with HyperOS out-of-the-box. HyperOS is a time period you’ll hear quite a bit about this yr as a result of it is a part of an even bigger technique for the model. 

HyperOS appears acquainted excessive, so learn MIUI. However, there are options that we completely liked, like the brand new lock screens with tons of customisation choices. HyperOS will play an important position for Xiaomi in interconnectivity for cross-device dynamic networking, the place customers will not be required to obtain separate apps for particular gadgets like bands, Smart Lights, CCTV Cameras, Air purifiers, and extra. 

Coming to the smartphone, the Xiaomi 14 feels snappy. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC ensures top-notch efficiency in your fingers. 

Not many individuals might have observed, however we’ve steadily reached some extent the place differentiating between flagship processors on mobiles is getting more durable yearly. Like in real-world utilization, the Snapdragon Gen 2 is nearly as good because the processor for all duties, however the Gen 3 improves effectivity. Anyways, again to the evaluate. We ran some artificial benchmarks and located that Xiaomi 14 is up on the checklist in comparison with different Gen 3-powered flagships this yr.

On AnTuTu, the Xiaomi 14 scored a formidable 1973937, whereas in GFX Bench, it scored 121fps in T-Rex and 121fps in Manhattan 3.1 assessments. On GeekBench 6, the 14 scores a superb 2210 in single-core assessments and 6808 in multi-core assessments. In 3D Mark’s Wild Life Extreme check, 14 scored a good 4818. After operating a bunch of those benchmarks, we realised that the Xiaomi 14 is among the many prime telephones utilising the most effective of the Gen 3 chipset. 

Xiaomi guarantees 4 main software program updates and 5 years of safety patches. The Xiaomi 14 will get Android 14 out of the field, which suggests customers will get assist for as much as an Android 18 replace till 2028. That’s not dangerous, contemplating many smartphones launch with Android 13 and promise 4 updates, whereas Android 14 can also be counted. 

Xiaomi 14 could also be a compact-looking smartphone, but it surely packs a loud stereo speaker setup that delivers crisp audio. The four-mic array ensures that calls and audio recorded throughout movies are respectable. The dual-SIM Xiaomi 14 can assist a mix of two nano SIMs or a nano SIM and an eSIM. The name high quality is top-notch, and we encountered no points through the evaluate interval. 

The in-display fingerprint scanner is fast. However, the thumb placement is barely on the decrease facet of the display, which could possibly be a problem for some through the preliminary days. After spending one or two days with the Xiaomi 14, we most well-liked the in-display fingerprint over face unlock for comfort. However, face unlock can also be dependable and has a fast turnaround. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 is a well-rounded smartphone contemplating efficiency metrics.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Battery that may final a day

Xiaomi 14 ships with a 4610mAh battery, which, on paper, would not look large. But, due to the corporate’s all-new HyperOS and Qualcomm’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the battery efficiency does impress. During the evaluate interval, the Xiaomi 14, with all that capturing, modifying photos, gaming, and looking, lasted for a full day, which was spectacular. In our video loop check, we acquired 11 hours and 20 minutes earlier than the telephone powered down, which is incredible.

The Xiaomi 14 ships with a 90W charging adapter, the utmost charging pace we’ve seen in this value phase. From Apple to Samsung gadgets, ship and not using a charging adapter and assist decrease charging speeds. From 0 to 100%, the Xiaomi 14 can totally cost in 36 minutes – which we may replicate twice through the evaluate course of. Overall, the battery efficiency of the Xiaomi 14 impresses, and there is additionally 50W wi-fi turbo charging assist.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Verdict

Good issues come in small packages – the place Xiaomi 14 could also be compact, but it surely gives greater than an everyday flagship smartphone, from best-in-class aesthetics, flagship efficiency, and a flexible digital camera that is arduous to beat in difficult lighting situations. Ironically, we’re not getting a Pro model this yr in India as a result of Xiaomi 14 has essentially the most Pro options in the phase. 

Long factor brief, if you’d like an Android system that may click on the absolute best photographs whereas on the go along with a Leica contact, gives constant efficiency, delivers respectable battery output, and a design that may make you ask why firms do not make telephones this measurement, then Xiaomi 14 is for you. Yes, very like, as they are saying, no one is ideal; the 14 additionally has a couple of points like bloatware, which could possibly be unacceptable to some customers at this value. But, with HyperOS, quite a bit on the software program entrance is about to vary, and that is for good. 

If you are searching for options, the Google Pixel 8 (Review), retailing round Rs 76,000, is an efficient possibility, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S24, priced round Rs 80,000. There’s additionally the OnePlus 12 (Review), which is similar value because the Xiaomi 14.