The Xiaomi 14 is a testament to the power of collaboration. Teaming up with Leica, Xiaomi has created a flagship Android smartphone that excels in both performance and photography. This isn’t just a marketing ploy; Xiaomi and Leica have truly partnered to deliver a unique camera experience that sets the Xiaomi 14 apart from its competitors. 2024 is a pivotal year for Xiaomi, marking their 10th anniversary in India and the launch of HyperOS, their ambitious push into a connected ecosystem encompassing smart homes, cars, and more. But how does the Xiaomi 14 fare in a crowded market where giants like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus vie for attention? Read on to find out.
Xiaomi 14 Review: Design that Gives You Confidence
In an era obsessed with ever-larger displays, Xiaomi took a more practical approach with the Xiaomi 14. Sporting a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display, it strikes a perfect balance between the extremes of 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch devices. Weighing in at 193 grams and measuring 8.2mm thick, the Xiaomi 14 is designed for one-handed use. It’s been a long time since we reviewed a device that feels this comfortable in everyday use; in terms of aesthetics, the Xiaomi 14 sets a new benchmark.
We appreciate phones with flat sides, and Xiaomi has taken it a step further with a curved back on the Xiaomi 14. It might feel unusual at first, but you’ll quickly grow accustomed to it. The absence of sharp edges allows the phone to effortlessly nestle in your palm, providing an excellent grip for everyday use and making it remarkably comfortable for lengthy typing sessions and other tasks. In fact, we found ourselves using the Xiaomi 14 as our primary device for most things within just a week.
The aluminium frame exudes solidity in your hands, instilling confidence in everyday usage. The minimal top frame ensures minimal bezels and maximum screen real estate. Despite the large square-shaped camera placement, the weight distribution of the Xiaomi 14 is so flawless that it never feels unnecessary.
The Xiaomi 14 arrives in Matte Black, Jade Green, and Classic White. We tested the Matte Black version, which boasts a matte finish that makes it usable even without a case. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the Jade Green and White variants, which are extremely slippery.
We were impressed by the attention to detail on the Xiaomi 14. Long-time Xiaomi fans will appreciate that the company hasn’t abandoned the IR blaster on its premium device. Xiaomi has cleverly moved the IR blaster to the back, nestled within the square-shaped camera housing.
Xiaomi 14 Review: A Display That Captivates
The display panel on the Xiaomi 14 is a visual delight. It boasts a bright LTPO OLED display with a peak brightness of 3000nits, a 460PPI pixel density, and a 1200×2670 pixels screen resolution, all supported by a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. In practice, the Xiaomi 14’s display excels in any lighting condition, even in direct sunlight. The viewing angles are excellent, and the colors are incredibly rich. To elevate the multimedia experience, Xiaomi has incorporated Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision for an immersive audio-visual treat. The front panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and Xiaomi has thoughtfully included DC dimming to manage flickering. The Xiaomi 14 also comes equipped with the Widevine L1 security level for streaming high-quality videos from popular services.
Xiaomi 14 Review: Leica-ble Cameras!
The rear cameras are the undisputed stars of the Xiaomi 14, as we discovered after extensive use over nearly three weeks. The primary 50-megapixel sensor with f/1.6 aperture consistently captures stunning shots, even in harsh lighting conditions. The colors are spot-on, and every image is brimming with detail. In direct comparisons, we noticed that the Xiaomi 14 images exhibit more natural colors than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which often appeared slightly warm regardless of the lighting.
The following camera samples speak for themselves. If you’re passionate about using your smartphone as a point-and-shoot camera, the Xiaomi 14 is an exceptional choice.
Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera
Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera
Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera
Shot using Xiaomi 14 ultra-wide camera
Shot using Xiaomi 14’s telephoto camera
Shot using Xiaomi 14’s telephoto camera
Xiaomi 14’s long exposure option Neon Trails in play
Another standout feature is the 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. It can capture subjects as close as 10cm, and we secured an impressive shot in incredibly challenging lighting conditions. The 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor delivers a 115-degree field of view, a significant upgrade over what we saw on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. All three rear sensors are leaps and bounds ahead of any Xiaomi smartphone we’ve used previously.
Xiaomi 14’s Leica BW filter used
Shot using Xiaomi 14’s 75mm portrait mode
Xiaomi 14’s 35mm Documentary portrait mode, along with the BW filter used here
Users can select between Leica Authentic or Vibrant styles. We preferred the Authentic style for most of our shots. Compared to Vibrant, Leica Authentic captures images with the original quality, preserving colors and details closer to reality.
Naturally, you can also flaunt the Leica watermark on your photos. Portrait photography is another area where the Xiaomi 14 outshines most of its rivals. You can choose from standard, documentary (35mm), swirly bokeh (50mm), portrait (90mm), and soft focus (90mm). To further enhance your shots, a range of Leica-co-developed filters are at your disposal, including Leica Natural, Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Leica Sepia, Leica Black and White High Contrast, and Leica Black and White Natural. We had a blast exploring the camera during our review.
Xiaomi 14 Review: More Than Just Great Cameras
Xiaomi and Leica haven’t simply focused on making the Xiaomi 14 a camera-centric smartphone. They have ensured it’s a well-rounded device in every aspect. Before delving into performance, let’s acknowledge that the Xiaomi 14 is the first Xiaomi smartphone in India to launch with HyperOS out-of-the-box. You’ll be hearing a lot about HyperOS this year, as it’s a cornerstone of Xiaomi’s larger strategy.
At its core, HyperOS might resemble MIUI, but it’s packed with features we absolutely loved, such as the new lock screens with endless customization options. HyperOS will be instrumental for Xiaomi in interconnectivity for cross-device dynamic networking. Users won’t need separate apps for devices like bands, smart lights, CCTV cameras, air purifiers, and more.
The Xiaomi 14 feels incredibly snappy, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC that powers its top-notch performance.
It’s becoming increasingly challenging to differentiate between flagship mobile processors each year. The Snapdragon Gen 2 offers impressive real-world performance for most tasks, but the Gen 3 excels in efficiency. We ran several synthetic benchmarks and discovered that the Xiaomi 14 outperforms other Gen 3-powered flagships this year.
On AnTuTu, the Xiaomi 14 scored a remarkable 1973937. In GFX Bench, it achieved 121fps in both the T-Rex and Manhattan 3.1 tests. On GeekBench 6, the Xiaomi 14 secured 2210 in single-core tests and 6808 in multi-core tests. In 3D Mark’s Wild Life Extreme test, the Xiaomi 14 achieved a respectable 4818. After running numerous benchmarks, we concluded that the Xiaomi 14 is one of the top devices in harnessing the full potential of the Gen 3 chipset.
Xiaomi assures users of four major software updates and five years of security patches. The Xiaomi 14 comes with Android 14 out-of-the-box, guaranteeing support for up to an Android 18 update until 2028. That’s a great deal, especially considering many smartphones launch with Android 13, promising four updates, and Android 14 is included in that count.
The Xiaomi 14 might be compact, but it packs a powerful stereo speaker setup that produces crisp audio. The four-mic array ensures that calls and audio recorded for videos are crystal clear. The dual-SIM Xiaomi 14 can accommodate a combination of two nano SIMs or a nano SIM and an eSIM. Call quality is superb, and we experienced no issues during our testing.
The in-display fingerprint scanner is lightning-fast. However, the thumb placement is slightly towards the bottom of the screen, which might be awkward for some during the initial days. After a couple of days with the Xiaomi 14, we found ourselves preferring the in-display fingerprint sensor over face unlock for its convenience. However, face unlock is equally reliable and has a swift response time. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 is a well-rounded smartphone in terms of performance metrics.
Xiaomi 14 Review: Battery That Can Last a Day
The Xiaomi 14 comes equipped with a 4610mAh battery, which doesn’t sound particularly massive on paper. But thanks to HyperOS and Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the battery performance is quite impressive. During our review, the Xiaomi 14 easily lasted a full day, even with extensive photography, image editing, gaming, and browsing. In our video loop test, the device survived for 11 hours and 20 minutes before shutting down — an exceptional result.
The Xiaomi 14 ships with a 90W charging adapter, the highest charging speed we’ve observed in this price segment. Devices from Apple and Samsung, for instance, don’t include charging adapters and support notably slower charging speeds. The Xiaomi 14 can fully charge from 0 to 100% in 36 minutes, a feat we successfully replicated twice during our review process. Overall, the battery performance of the Xiaomi 14 is truly remarkable, and there’s also 50W wireless turbo charging support for added convenience.
Xiaomi 14 Review: Verdict
Good things indeed come in small packages. The compact Xiaomi 14 delivers more than a typical flagship smartphone. It boasts top-notch aesthetics, flagship-level performance, and a versatile camera that’s tough to beat in challenging lighting conditions. Interestingly, there’s no Pro version in India this year because the Xiaomi 14 encompasses the most Pro features in its segment.
In a nutshell, if you crave an Android device that snaps the best possible shots on the go with a Leica touch, offers consistently strong performance, provides a respectable battery life, and boasts a design that will make you wonder why companies aren’t making more phones this size, then the Xiaomi 14 is your perfect match. Admittedly, like everything else, the Xiaomi 14 has its quirks, such as bloatware, which could be a deal-breaker for some consumers at this price point. However, HyperOS will significantly transform the software experience, and that’s a positive sign.
If you’re weighing alternatives, the Google Pixel 8 (review), retailing around Rs 76,000, is a compelling option, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S24, priced around Rs 80,000. There’s also the OnePlus 12, which is priced the same as the Xiaomi 14.
Ultimately, the Xiaomi 14 is a powerhouse of a smartphone that delivers exceptional value and elevates the standards. It’s a compelling choice for those seeking a device that excels in both performance and photography, all wrapped up in a design that prioritizes one-handed usability.
