Xiaomi has made a name for itself in the smartphone market by consistently delivering innovative and high-quality devices. In a world where smartphone options seem endless, Xiaomi has managed to carve a niche for itself, and its latest release, the Xiaomi 14, is no exception. As someone who has extensively used and reviewed the Xiaomi 13, I was excited to get my hands on the Xiaomi 14 and see if it lived up to the hype. Buy it here: Xiaomi 14.
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Design: A Step Backward
One of the first things that struck me about the Xiaomi 14 is its design. While Xiaomi has made significant improvements in various aspects of the phone, the design left much to be desired. The camera module, in particular, is a significant eyesore. It reminds me of budget smartphones that try to mimic a camera setup that they don’t possess. The Leica logo seems misplaced and out of sync with the rest of the phone’s aesthetics.
If Xiaomi 12 and 13 were seen as steps backward in terms of design, the Xiaomi 14 feels like a leap in the wrong direction. This is quite disappointing considering the other improvements this phone brings to the table.
One intriguing feature of the Xiaomi 14 is “Ultra Space.” It’s a technique that reduces over-provisioned space, increasing storage space available to the user. While it may not sound groundbreaking, it’s interesting to note that Xiaomi is offering this as a unique feature. The downside is that you need to purchase a specific version of the phone to access this feature. If, like me, you accidentally purchased the 256GB storage version, you won’t have access to this bonus feature.
Display: Clarity and Brightness
The Xiaomi 14 Standard Display Edition continues to feature a flat screen, a feature that many users appreciate. The panel for the Xiaomi 14’s screen comes from TCL’s L model, offering a significant increase in resolution and improved clarity with 1200p. This is great news for users who love to read on their smartphones, as the higher resolution enhances the reading experience.
One thing to note is that if you want to use DC Dimming at any brightness level, you’ll need to activate the anti-flicker mode. Failure to do so results in the screen reverting to DCI High brightness and 480Hz PWM Dimming at low brightness levels. Xiaomi has also improved manual brightness settings, allowing you to reach up to 670 nits manually, making it much more usable in bright conditions.
Performance:
The Xiaomi 14 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which is by far one of the most powerful phone processors on the market. It’s a significant improvement over the previous generation, and you can see this in the benchmark scores, which lead in multiple categories. In terms of processing power, the Xiaomi 14 impresses and offers an exceptional gaming experience.
In gaming, even with demanding games like PUBG Mobile, the Xiaomi 14 maintains a consistently high frame rate and manages power consumption and temperatures effectively. The ability to run games at a 1200p resolution is a fantastic addition, and it opens up possibilities for even better gaming experiences on this compact phone.
HyperOS: A Brief Overview
HyperOS, Xiaomi’s custom operating system, has also made its way to the Xiaomi 14. While there wasn’t enough time to delve deep into the system, it’s worth mentioning that GMS (Google Mobile Services) works fine on this phone, alleviating concerns about software restrictions. It’s essential for users to transition smoothly between the Xiaomi ecosystem and the wider Android app landscape.
Camera: Leica Mode and Improved Quality
One unique aspect of Xiaomi’s phones is the “Leica mode.” However, it’s worth noting that Leica colors differ between models. The Xiaomi 14 falls somewhere between the 13 Ultra and the 13 Standard in terms of Leica authenticity. It provides more intense colors, higher contrast, and additional options in Pro mode, making it more appealing to photography enthusiasts.
The camera improvements on the Xiaomi 14 are noticeable, especially with the telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. The telephoto camera, with its 2x zoom capability, delivers sharper photos in low light conditions, thanks to larger single pixels. The overall image quality, including sharpness, noise control, and color accuracy, has seen a significant upgrade over the Xiaomi 13. Buy it here: Xiaomi 14.
The front-facing camera on the Xiaomi 14 has also received attention, with improved skin tones, clarity, and the ability to record videos at 4K 60 FPS with EIS support. This is a welcome change, especially for those who use the front camera for vlogging and content creation. Battery Life, Pros and Cons, Plus Conclusion On the NEXT PAGE…
