As a leading smartphone manufacturer in China, Xiaomi produces outstanding Android phones, featuring some of the most impressive hardware available. For those seeking an alternative to the newest Samsung or Apple devices, the Xiaomi 14 could be an appealing choice. It comes equipped with a flexible camera, an attractive display, and high-quality specifications, all wrapped up in a fairly compact design, making it a refined Android smartphone that will appeal to a wide audience.
Although Xiaomi saves its most innovative features for the forthcoming Ultra model, the Xiaomi 14 still impresses. It’s more manageable in size and cost, presenting an elegant solution for everyday use with Xiaomi’s updated HyperOS on top of Android 14. Check out our Xiaomi 14 review to see if it could be your next phone.
Specifications
- Body: 152.8×71.5×8.2mm, 188g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).
- Display: 6.36″ LTPO OLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak), 1200x2670px resolution, 20.03:9 aspect ratio, 460ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520); Adreno 750.
- Memory: 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM; UFS 4.0.
- OS/Software: Android 14, HyperOS.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm, 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS; Telephoto: 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm, PDAF (10cm – ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚.
- Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 4610mAh; 90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 31 min (advertised), 50W wireless, 100% in 46 min (advertised), 10W reverse wireless.
- Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.4, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive; NFC; Infrared port.
Design & Look
The Xiaomi 14 offers a subtle evolution rather than a revolution in design over its predecessor, the Xiaomi 13. Its aesthetics remain familiar, with the most notable alteration being the enlarged camera module that juts out more prominently, a logical adjustment to accommodate its advanced camera technology.
With a fusion of a curved rear and flat edges, this design choice inadvertently enhances ergonomic comfort. The absence of sharp edges ensures the phone sits comfortably in the hand, although this form factor introduces a peculiar ridge where the back meets the frame.
One drawback of the Xiaomi 14 is its glossy finish, which, while sleek, makes the phone prone to slipping and a magnet for fingerprints.
Xiaomi ingeniously maintains a sleek profile by integrating the loudspeaker components behind the earpiece and hiding the IR blaster within the camera module’s glass enclosure.
The device’s facade keeps it simple with ultra-thin bezels — precisely 1.71mm, including the bottom chin — and a starkly flat design contrasted by the curved rear glass.
The square camera setup on the back left corner introduces a tiered appearance, contributing to the phone’s manageable weight of 193 grams and facilitating one-handed use.
Durability is a strong suit for the Xiaomi 14, boasting an IP68 water resistance rating and a screen safeguarded by Gorilla Glass Victus. The design is rounded out with a USB-C port and SIM card slot at the bottom, plus a conveniently placed power button and volume controls on the right side. Overall, it’s a design that exudes elegance and restraint.
Display & Sound
Featuring a 6.36-inch AMOLED display, the Xiaomi 14 is equipped with a discreet camera notch and an under-display fingerprint sensor, the latter proving to be exceptionally quick. The display is a standout feature, boasting a resolution of 2,670 x 1,200 pixels for a crisp 460 pixels per inch. It also supports a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, ensuring fluid motion and efficient battery usage.
The screen’s luminosity proved sufficient for outdoor reading even under direct sunlight, with a peak brightness capability of 3,000 nits for enhanced highlights. This, combined with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, positions the Xiaomi 14 as an excellent device for film enthusiasts. The inclusion of stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos technology adds a layer of surprising auditory depth. The visual and auditory experience provided by the Xiaomi 14 was immersive enough to captivate me instantly.
Performance & Usage Experience
The Xiaomi 14 delivers seamless performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, complemented by a robust 12 GB of RAM. Storage is no issue either, with a hefty 512 GB available through the latest and fast UFS 4.0 technology. This setup ensures the device handles multitasking and even the most graphically intensive games smoothly, without any hiccups or lag. Two hours on the phone and the phone managed to stay cool throughout and a quick gaming session of Mobile Legends for 20 minutes only reduced the battery by 4%.
Connectivity on the Xiaomi 14 is exceptional, supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards. It also caters to a wide array of 5G and 4G bands.
New Operating System: HyperOS
Alongside the unveiling of the Xiaomi 14 series in China, Xiaomi introduced its latest Android skin overlay, HyperOS. This new operating system is finding its way across both older and newer Xiaomi devices, with the Xiaomi 14 notably launching with HyperOS 1.0 atop Android 14 straight out of the box.
In terms of appearance, HyperOS doesn’t stray far from MIUI, Xiaomi’s previous interface, except for adopting a flatter aesthetic with smoother, rounded corners. However, users will find themselves locked into using the new Control Centre for notifications, with no option to revert to the classic notification shade—a change that may require some adjustment but ultimately contributes to the system’s sleek and responsive experience.
Xiaomi’s commitment to keeping its devices current is evident, as the company promises at least four major software updates and five years of security patches for the Xiaomi 14. This pledge mirrors the support announced for the recent 13T series, suggesting that Xiaomi’s flagship numeric series will receive no less care and attention to longevity.
Camera
Opting for a Xiaomi smartphone often means prioritizing photographic excellence, and the Xiaomi 14 doesn’t disappoint in this arena. It features a powerful rear camera setup with three 50-megapixel lenses: a main lens with a large 1/1.31-inch sensor for superior image quality, an f/1.6 aperture, and a 23-mm focal length for wide scenes; a telephoto lens providing 3.2X optical zoom, an f/2.0 aperture, and a 75-mm focal length for detailed close-ups; and an ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and 14-mm focal length for expansive shots. This combination ensures versatility across various photography scenarios.
The main camera excels in capturing dynamic scenes with its rapid shutter speed, produces a beautifully natural bokeh effect for portraits by blurring out the foreground or background, and leverages its sizable sensor for exceptional low-light photography. Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica enhances the camera’s performance further, offering users a choice between the Leica Authentic and Vibrant color styles. Personally, the Authentic option’s true-to-life colors appealed to me the most.
Color consistency across the ultrawide and telephoto lenses is commendable. The camera interface allows easy switching between different zoom levels: 0.6X for ultrawide shots, 1X or 2X with the main lens, and 3.2X for telephoto zoom, extending up to 10X zoom while maintaining respectable image quality. For photography enthusiasts, the Pro mode provides extensive manual controls and the ability to shoot in RAW format.
The 32-MP front-facing camera embedded in the display serves well for video calls and selfies, even achieving a soft bokeh effect naturally. Portrait mode enhances this further, thanks to the Master-lens system that accommodates a range of shooting styles from close-ups to full-body portraits with focal lengths varying from 35 mm to 90 mm.
Here are some of the captures of the Xiaomi 14:
Battery Life
With a battery capacity of 4,610 mAh, the Xiaomi 14 is more than capable of lasting through even the most demanding days, though a nightly charge is advisable. The inclusion of a charger and USB-C cable enables rapid recharging, achieving a full battery in just over half an hour. Additionally, the phone offers up to 50-watt wireless charging capabilities.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 14 distinguishes itself as a standout choice in the smartphone arena, blending sleek design with powerhouse performance. Its display offers a stunning visual experience, while the Leica-developed camera system captures every detail with precision. The introduction of HyperOS ensures a smooth and responsive user interface, complemented by Xiaomi’s promise of long-term software support. Although it evolves subtly from its predecessor, the improvements are impactful, offering a refined user experience that competes confidently with top brands. For those seeking a blend of sophistication, performance, and photography excellence, the Xiaomi 14 proves to be a compelling option, marking a new benchmark for what makes a smartphone genuinely remarkable.
