This Xiaomi phone costs exactly 1 lakh Rupees. Yes, you heard right, Xiaomi phones are most popular in the budget to midrange category. While Xiaomi barely makes competition in the flagship category, this time the story is different with Xiaomi 14.
As Xiaomi’s latest flagship and the standard-bearer for the brand, the Xiaomi 14 shoulders significant expectations. Its sleek dimensions are a notable advantage, complementing the device’s overall design. However, the standout feature undoubtedly lies in its Leica cameras. Furthermore, the device boasts top-tier specifications, including Qualcomm’s flagship SoC, adding to its allure and excitement. That’s why I am here to take you tour into the detailed Xiaomi 14 Full Review.
Xiaomi 14 Full Review: Compact, Camera, Captivating
Design and Build
I haven’t had the chance to try the Xiaomi 13, as I focused more on the 13 Pro. However, the Xiaomi 14 represents a notable shift for smaller phones. Typically, smaller phones compromise on rear camera quality and other hardware. Xiaomi has made interesting changes to address this with the Xiaomi 14. The Xiaomi 14 looks very similar to its predecessor in appearance and size. It has the same dimensions and weight but features a slightly improved flat OLED display (2670 x 1200 resolution).
Regarding the camera setup, the Xiaomi 14 has a significant change. It resembles the camera setup seen on the 13 Pro but with a different image sensor and lenses. The camera module on the back protrudes noticeably, and the glossy finish on the white or jade-green versions tends to attract fingerprints (the black version has a matte finish). Luckily, Xiaomi provides a silicone case in the box for added protection.
The Xiaomi 14 pushes the boundaries of what can be considered a compact or smaller phone, although it is still smaller than typical flagships. It sits in the middle in terms of size and also in price, making it a unique choice for buyers. Additionally, Xiaomi has equipped this phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor — a flagship chipset — starting with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which can be upgraded to 512GB.
Display
Xiaomi has made sure that the 6.36-inch display on the phone is just as impressive as the rest of its features. The LTPO AMOLED screen supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, reaches brightness levels of up to 3,000 nits, and is compatible with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for high dynamic range content.
The bezels around the screen are extremely thin, and there’s a fast and responsive fingerprint scanner positioned prominently at the front. Overall, the display is highly capable and leaves no room for complaints.
Performance
When it comes to how the phone performs, it has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that’s fast and efficient. Even though it’s not overclocked like the version in Samsung’s S24 range, it’s great for people who use their phones a lot. The phone also comes with a generous 12GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most tasks. You can choose either 256GB or 512GB of storage, and it’s worth considering getting more storage since there’s no slot for an extra memory card.
Compared to the Xiaomi 13 at the same price, the Xiaomi 14 has better processor, RAM, and storage specs. Everything on this phone happens quickly—whether you’re navigating around or opening apps, it’s super fast. Switching between apps is a breeze too. It’s especially good for gaming, handling even demanding games like Genshin Impact without any problems. The benchmarks tested in GeekBench 6 show an impressive score for both single-core and multi-core performance.
The Xiaomi 14 also stays cool during gaming sessions, thanks to its ‘IceLoop’ cooling system. Other features include Bluetooth 5.4 with support for high-quality audio and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard for fast internet connections. It has GPS, NFC, an IR blaster (useful for controlling your TV), and supports 5G and dual SIM cards. Overall, it’s a solid phone with all the latest tech you’d want.
Camera
The camera on the Xiaomi 14 is a big step up from its predecessor. It features three 50-megapixel rear-facing cameras, developed in collaboration with Leica, a renowned camera company. This trio of cameras includes a main camera with a large sensor, an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto lens. Together, they offer exceptional image quality that rivals a professional DSLR camera setup.
The main camera on the Xiaomi 14 has a wide aperture and a high-resolution sensor, capturing impressive detail and producing images that are comparable to those taken with a DSLR. The phone’s camera app is user-friendly, allowing you to switch between different shooting modes easily.
The telephoto lens on the Xiaomi 14 allows for optical zoom up to 3.2x, slightly more than some competitors like the Samsung S24 and S24+. This lens has optical image stabilization (OIS) and a fast aperture, ensuring sharp and clear images even when zoomed in. While the digital zoom can go up to 60x, the quality decreases significantly at such high magnifications.
The ultrawide lens, although less impressive than the other two lenses, still delivers better quality than many other smartphone cameras on the market. Its wider field of view provides flexibility for capturing expansive scenes. The camera is quick to focus and performs well in low light, eliminating the need for using additional modes like Night mode. Overall, the camera system on the Xiaomi 14 is intuitive to use, offering features like shooting in RAW format and adjusting settings manually in Pro mode.
On the front, there’s a 32-megapixel selfie camera that performs well, producing detailed selfies with features like portrait mode and night mode. The video capabilities of the Xiaomi 14 are also impressive, supporting up to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second (fps) and offering Dolby Vision HDR. The video quality is smooth, detailed, and vibrant, complemented by good audio captured through four built-in microphones.
OS and UI
The latest Xiaomi beast runs on the new HyperOS (version 1.0) based on Android 14, but it doesn’t stray far from the familiar MIUI interface that Xiaomi users are used to. If you’ve used MIUI before, you’ll find that HyperOS looks quite similar, with only minor differences.
The software experience has improved compared to older versions of MIUI, and with some customization, it can be enjoyable to use. Some users might appreciate features like the split notification and quick settings panels placed on either side of the selfie camera, which resembles the layout seen on iOS devices. However, there’s no quick shortcut to access the main settings menu, which can be inconvenient.
One notable feature is GameTurbo mode, which enhances gaming performance and includes useful tools. You can also use apps in floating windows, although this feature may not always be intuitive. One drawback, however, is the significant amount of pre-installed apps or bloatware that come with the phone, which can clutter the interface and require manual removal. Despite this, Xiaomi promises four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is decent but falls short compared to some other brands offering longer support periods.
Battery and Charging
The Xiaomi 14 comes with a 4610mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the more common 5000mAh capacity seen in many phones. However, this smaller battery size contributes to a lighter and more compact phone, which some users may prefer. Despite its lower capacity, the battery life is quite decent, and you can expect to comfortably get through a full day of varied usage with about 50% battery remaining, making it possible for some users to stretch it to two days with lighter usage. However, if you use demanding apps like games frequently, you might need to recharge by the end of the day.
Charging the Xiaomi 14 is quick and convenient, thanks to its 90W wired and 50W wireless ‘HyperCharge’ fast charging capabilities. The phone comes with a 90W adapter in the box, allowing you to recharge from 0% to 43% in just 15 minutes and up to 82% in half an hour, which is significantly faster than many other phones on the market. Additionally, the Xiaomi 14 supports 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices like wireless earbuds by placing them on the back of the phone. This charging versatility ensures that you can keep your devices powered up throughout the day with ease.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely compact design, handy and premium feel | A little tall camera bump |
| The Latest processor, Latest Software | Comes with bloatware |
| Capable Leica Cameras and excellent photo quality | Battery size is less than 5000 mAh |
| Fast charging, both wired and wireless charging | Some issues when handling light flares |
Verdict
In my opinion, Xiaomi 14 competes directly in the premium flagship market, facing formidable rivals like the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24. The Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 excel in software and camera capabilities, although users prioritizing pure performance may lean towards the Galaxy S24. Notably, the Galaxy S24 stands out for its Samsung ecosystem features such as DeX. In contrast, the Xiaomi 14 distinguishes itself with its Leica cameras, offering impressive versatility for photography enthusiasts. Coupled with strong performance and fast charging, the Xiaomi 14 is a compelling choice that deserves consideration at the forefront of your smartphone shortlist.
