The overwhelming trend in flagship smartphones these days is to go big. However, the latest top-of-the-range blower from Xiaomi bucks the gargantuan trend for a more compact handset. The Xiaomi 14 may be smaller than its rivals, but make sure to make a mistake; this is a powerhouse in every sense of the word.
The Xiaomi 14 is a marriage of form and function. It is available in matte black, glossy white, or Jade green variants and exudes elegance and sophistication. My black review unit’s 3D matte back panel seamlessly merges with its glossy aluminium side rails, creating a visually striking aesthetic that commands attention.
Thin bezels surround the device’s flat display, offering an immersive viewing experience with vivid colours and stunning detail. The Xiaomi 14 is elegant, with a well-balanced design that fits just right in the hand.
Interestingly, many Chinese brands include IR transmitters in their smartphones. Xiaomi is no exception, although they’ve relocated the port to include the camera module on the back rather than the top edge.
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi 14’s 6.36-inch CrystalRes AMOLED 1.5K (2670 x 1200) display is its enhanced pixel density, which clocks in at an impressive 460 pixels per inch (ppi). Images, video, and text appear razor-sharp and incredibly lifelike, with vibrant colours and stunning detail.
With an outstanding peak brightness of 3,000 nits, the Xiaomi 14’s display is one of the brightest around. Visuals remain clear and crisp, ensuring an optimal viewing experience indoors or outdoors.
The Xiaomi 14 boasts a variable refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120Hz, guaranteeing a smooth and seamless viewing experience across various activities. Whether browsing the web, reading an e-book, or immersing yourself in the latest mobile games, the Xiaomi 14’s display adapts to your needs, delivering fluid and responsive visuals.
The Xiaomi 14 introduces a host of upgrades for photography, delivering stunning images and excellent consistency during my testing. The camera system consists of triple cameras, covering focal ranges of 14mm (50MP, f/2.2) ultrawide, 23mm (50MP, f/1.6, OIS) and a 75mm (f/2.0, 32MP, OIS) telephoto lens with excellent macro capabilities. The main sensor boasts a larger Fusion 900 sensor, engineered to maximise light sensitivity and minimise noise, resulting in crisp, vibrant images even in low-light environments.
From sweeping landscapes to intimate portraits, the Xiaomi 14 offers a comprehensive range of shooting modes. The colours and exposure remained constant when I switched between cameras, and the transition was smooth.
While editing photos, there’s a good latitude for correction with lots of detail in shadows and highlights, and the level of detail and clarity from the main lens, in particular, impressed me. Unlike most cameras, the Xiaomi 14 employs a telephoto lens in macro mode, utilising an ultrawide lens. This does not require you to approach your subject as closely, which could overshadow it or frighten it away, as in the instance of a skittish subject like an insect.
The front camera is located on the top and centre of the display. It has an f/2.0 aperture and supports HDR, portrait, night and dynamic framing (0.8x, 1x) modes. The photo results are decent without being exceptional. Regarding video, it can capture up to 4K at 60FPS. The footage is excellent, with solid electronic stabilisation, and for those who want to vlog, a handy teleprompter is built in.
In addition to its impressive photographic capabilities, the Xiaomi 14 excels in videography, offering a suite of pro-grade features. It supports 8K video recording, Dolby Vision, and advanced stabilisation technology, letting users easily create cinematic footage.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 is a powerhouse of performance. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset coupled with 12GB of RAM and 512GB (UFS 4.0) of storage, the device delivers unparalleled speed and responsiveness, easily handling the most demanding tasks.
Whether gaming, multitasking, or streaming content, the Xiaomi 14 delivers stellar performance. It supports 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, and advanced battery management technologies, which ensured I could get through a full day of heavy use.
Unlike other flagships, the Xiaomi 14 has a 90W charger in the box and supports up to 50W wireless charging if used with an optional Xiaomi HyperCharger.
With its compact form factor and stylish design, the Xiaomi 14 defies the trend of big smartphones on the market. Don’t be deceived by its smaller stature; the Xiaomi 14 is a true powerhouse, boasting a stunning display, excellent cameras, and top performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
