Xiaomi 14: Compact Powerhouse Redefines Flagship Standards with Leica Collaboration

The Xiaomi 14 exemplifies the power of collaborations. The partnership between Xiaomi and Leica goes beyond mere marketing; we’ve discussed in depth why this collaboration is substantial. The year 2024 marks a significant milestone for Xiaomi, celebrating a decade of presence in India while also unveiling numerous upgrades to HyperOS. This is a crucial step towards building a smart ecosystem encompassing human, vehicle, and home integration, and we will delve deeper into this later in the review. The brand-new Xiaomi 14 checks all the essential boxes for an impressive flagship Android smartphone — featuring a state-of-the-art processor, robust camera setup, outstanding display, and a design that’s both appealing and functional. 

Nonetheless, the Xiaomi 14 steps into a competitive price arena dominated by numerous brands such as Samsung, Google, and OnePlus. But how does the Xiaomi 14 fare in our comprehensive review? Let’s explore.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Design that instills confidence

In an era where smartphone brands strive to maximize display size, Xiaomi has opted for a more pragmatic approach. Boasting a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display, the Xiaomi 14 finds an ideal balance between the larger 6.7-inch and smaller 6.1-inch screens. Weighing just 193 grams and measuring 8.2mm in thickness, the design caters to one-handed usage. It has been a while since we’ve evaluated such a user-friendly device for daily activities, making the aesthetics of the Xiaomi 14 stand out. 

We appreciate phones with flat edges, and Xiaomi has elevated this design choice by incorporating a curved back in the Xiaomi 14. Initially, this may feel unfamiliar, but you quickly adapt. With smooth edges, the device fits comfortably in your palm, providing an excellent grip for routine use, facilitating effortless long text input and various tasks. In fact, we drafted a majority of our articles using the Xiaomi 14 as it swiftly became our primary device. 

The robust aluminium frame feels secure and instills confidence during daily use. The slim top bezel maximizes screen space, and the weight distribution on the Xiaomi 14 is so well-executed that the sizable camera module feels well-integrated rather than excessive. 

The Xiaomi 14 debuts in Matte Black, Jade Green, and Classic White. We reviewed the Black variant with its matte finish, which allows for use without a case. However, the Jade Green and White versions are notably slippery. 

The attention to detail on the 14 is commendable, and loyal Xiaomi enthusiasts will be pleased to see that the IR blaster hasn’t been omitted from this premium model. The IR blaster has been relocated to the back within the square camera module. 

The display on the Xiaomi 14 is vibrant, featuring a peak brightness of 3000 nits. Its pixel density stands at 460 PPI, offering a resolution of 1200×2670 pixels. Additionally, it includes an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz. In practical usage, the display performs exceptionally well in various lighting situations, including direct sunlight. The viewing angles are impressive, with vivid colors enhancing the multimedia experience. To further enrich this experience, Xiaomi has integrated Dolby Atmos alongside Dolby Vision support. The front display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and DC dimming is implemented to manage flickering. The Xiaomi 14 also boasts a Widevine L1 security level, allowing for high-quality video streaming on various services. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Leica-powered Cameras!

The rear camera system is undoubtedly the standout feature of the Xiaomi 14, and our extensive three-week usage confirms this. The primary 50-megapixel sensor with an f/1.6 aperture captures stunning images, even under harsh lighting. The color accuracy is impressive, with an abundance of detail in every photo. In direct comparisons, we noticed that the images taken with the Xiaomi 14 exhibited more natural colors than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which tended to lean towards warmer tones regardless of the lighting. 

Below are some samples that speak for themselves. For those who enjoy using their smartphones for spontaneous photography, the Xiaomi 14 is an excellent 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

An additional highlight is the 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. It can focus on subjects as close as 10cm, and we managed to take an impressive shot in tough lighting conditions. The 50-megapixel ultra-wide sensor provides a 115-degree field of view, an enhancement from what we experienced on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. All three rear sensors significantly outperform any previous Xiaomi smartphone we’ve used.

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 have the option to choose between Leica Authentic and Vibrant styles. We preferred the Authentic style for most of our samples. Compared to the Vibrant style, the Leica Authentic captures images that stay true to the original quality, preserving colors and details more accurately.

Additionally, a Leica watermark is available to showcase your photographs. The portrait functionality is another area where the Xiaomi 14 excels relative to its competitors. Options include standard, documentary (35mm), swirly bokeh (50mm), portrait (90mm), and soft focus (90mm). To enhance your images, various filters made in collaboration with Leica are available, such as Leica Natural, Leica Vivid, Leica Sepia, Leica Black and White High Contrast, and Leica Black and White Natural. We truly enjoyed experimenting with the camera during this review. 

Video features have also received significant upgrades, including the new Movie Mode, which supports Dolby Vision recording. 

As for the selfie camera, it turned out to be the weakest aspect of the Xiaomi 14. Given the extensive upgrades to the primary cameras, we anticipated similar improvements for the selfie camera as well. While daylight selfies boasted good detail, low-light selfies lacked consistency. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Outstanding performance

Both Xiaomi and Leica have ensured the 14 is not only a camera-centric smartphone but also excels in all other aspects. Before we delve into performance, it’s important to note that the Xiaomi 14 is the inaugural phone in India to come preloaded with HyperOS straight out of the box. HyperOS is set to play a significant role for the brand this year. 

HyperOS may appear familiar, resembling MIUI, yet it includes features we appreciated, such as new lock screens with extensive customization options. This operating system aims to enhance interconnectivity for cross-device networking, eliminating the need for separate app downloads for specific devices like fitness bands, smart lights, surveillance cameras, air purifiers, etc. 

On the device front, the Xiaomi 14 offers a rapid experience. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC delivers exceptional performance. 

It’s worth noting that discerning flagship processors in mobile devices is becoming increasingly challenging. Real-world usage shows that while the Snapdragon Gen 2 performs admirably for all tasks, Gen 3 enhances efficiency further. But back to the review. We conducted some synthetic benchmarks and found the Xiaomi 14 ranking favorably among other Gen 3 flagship devices this year.

In the AnTuTu benchmark, the Xiaomi 14 achieved an impressive score of 1973937, while in GFX Bench, it scored 121fps in both the T-Rex and Manhattan 3.1 tests. The GeekBench 6 results included 2210 in single-core tests and 6808 in multi-core tests. In 3D Mark’s Wild Life Extreme test, the Xiaomi 14 scored 4818. Our benchmark tests revealed that the Xiaomi 14 ranks among the best phones utilizing the capabilities of the Gen 3 chipset. 

Xiaomi pledges to provide four major software updates alongside five years of security updates. The Xiaomi 14 is equipped with Android 14 from the start, allowing users to anticipate support up to the Android 18 update, extending to 2028. This is commendable, especially considering many phones arrive with Android 13 and only promise four updates, including the Android 14 transition. 

Despite its compact dimensions, the Xiaomi 14 features a powerful stereo speaker system that produces clear audio. The quad-microphone arrangement ensures excellent call quality and satisfactory sound capture during video recordings. The dual-SIM capability supports a combination of two nano SIMs or a nano SIM with an eSIM. We experienced no issues with call quality during our review. 

The in-display fingerprint scanner is responsive. However, the placement for the thumb is slightly low on the screen, which might pose a challenge during the initial usage period. Within a day or two of using the Xiaomi 14, we found the in-display fingerprint scanner more convenient than facial recognition. That said, the face unlock feature is also effective and quick. Ultimately, the Xiaomi 14 is an all-rounded smartphone when considering various performance measures.

Xiaomi 14 Review: A battery that endures the day

The Xiaomi 14 is equipped with a 4610mAh battery, which, at a glance, may not seem substantial. However, thanks to HyperOS and the high-efficiency Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the battery performance is impressive. Throughout our review, the Xiaomi 14, amidst photography, image editing, gaming, and browsing, consistently lasted a full day, which is remarkable. In our video loop test, it achieved 11 hours and 20 minutes before draining, which is excellent. 

Included with the Xiaomi 14 is a 90W charging adapter, representing the highest charging speed currently available in this price range. Many competitors, including Apple and Samsung, do not include a charging adapter and feature lower charging speeds. The Xiaomi 14 can fully charge from 0 to 100% in just 36 minutes—a time we successfully replicated twice during the review. Overall, the battery performance is impressive, with an additional 50W wireless turbo charging capability. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Conclusion

Remarkable quality comes in compact forms—though the Xiaomi 14 is compact, it surpasses the attributes of an ordinary flagship smartphone through its exceptional design, flagship performance, and versatile camera capabilities that stand strong in challenging lighting. Ironically, there is no Pro variant coming to India this year, as the Xiaomi 14 already encompasses many Pro features within its class. 

In summary, if you’re seeking an Android device capable of producing outstanding photos with a Leica touch, consistent performance, commendable battery life, and an appealing design that prompts questions about why companies aren’t making phones this size, the Xiaomi 14 is the right choice. Yes, like nobody is flawless, the Xiaomi 14 has minor shortcomings, such as pre-installed bloatware, which may deter some users in this price class. However, with the introduction of HyperOS, substantial software changes are on the horizon, promising improvement. 

For those exploring alternatives, the Google Pixel 8 (Review), available for around Rs 76,000, serves as a worthy option, along with the Samsung Galaxy S24, priced around Rs 80,000. Additionally, there’s the OnePlus 12 (Review), offering a competitive price point similar to the Xiaomi 14.