Xiaomi 14 Ultra Review: Ditch Your DSLR

Value When Reviewed

Unavailable within the US

Now and again one thing particular comes alongside. Within the crowded cellphone market, it’s a uncommon factor. 

Enter the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. Xiaomi has lastly launched its Extremely flagship smartphone outdoors of its residence market. When you’re available in the market for the very best cellphone expertise, you might need discovered it right here.

You have to to be all in on the images although, and if you’re, that is an fanatic’s dream. Particularly if you add within the elective Images Equipment which, no lie, means this cellphone can rival compact mirrorless DSLRs. 

Costing a whopping £1,299, it’s not a cellphone you’ll be shopping for on a whim. However should you can afford it, this cellphone has nearly each bell and whistle you may think about, from insane images abilities to a beautiful display screen to super-fast charging. 

It’s not excellent, no cellphone is, however Xiaomi can have the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google quaking of their respective boots after this. 

See what the Xiaomi 14 Extremely goes up towards in our greatest smartphones information.

Design & Construct

• Vegan leather-based and Xiaomi Protect glass
• Two colors
• IP68

When you assume this cellphone appears to be like like a digital camera, it’s not a coincidence. Xiaomi has crafted it to resemble conventional cameras in varied methods, from the round digital camera module to the textured cowl. I believe it appears to be like nice. 

There’s no getting round it, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is a giant cellphone. It’s to be anticipated with that Extremely moniker, however don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

A lot of the majority is discovered on the again, because the digital camera module is a large, virtually ice hockey puck-like, addition. It provides weight and makes the cellphone a little bit top-heavy however as talked about, it’s all for a very good cause. 

On the plus facet, it does present someplace on your finger to naturally relaxation and assist the cellphone. 

When you assume this cellphone appears to be like like a digital camera, it’s not a coincidence

The general footprint of the handset is much like big-screen rivals. Nevertheless, it’s barely smaller (161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm) and lighter (from 219.8g) than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely. 

Xiaomi affords the 14 Extremely in two colors, merely black or white, and each function a ‘nano-tech’ vegan leather-based rear cowl which appears to be like and feels very nice. The way it holds up a 12 months or two down the road is one other matter, however it’s doubtless you’ll use a case in some unspecified time in the future anyway. 

Unusually, the agency offers a tough plastic case within the field reasonably than a flimsy silicone one. That is wonderful however I’d reasonably use the cellphone with out, or make use of the case that comes as a part of the Images Equipment – extra on that later. 

Case or not, the cellphone is well-made and sturdy, that includes an IP68 score that means it’s just about totally mud and water-proof. As all flagships north of £1,000 must be. 

The one-piece body is a brand new ‘6M42’ built-in high-strength aluminium, and the entrance is Xiaomi’s personal Protect Glass which “incorporates all-new supplies, forming a interlocking construction by high-temperature sintering”. 

Mixed with the vegan leather-based again, they type the Xiaomi Guardian Construction. A enjoyable advertising title however the cellphone does really feel very robust to be truthful. 

As for the glass, it’s laborious to say with out long-term testing and that’s partly as Xiaomi applies a display screen protector on the manufacturing facility. This has grow to be fairly scratched throughout my few weeks with the cellphone so won’t be on for for much longer. 

Display & Audio system

• 6.7-inch AMOLED
• 1-120Hz
• The most effective of curved and flat worlds
• Spectacular audio

The 14 Extremely affords one of the best of each worlds, with the glass fantastically curved on all sides however the beautiful show beneath being flat

A lot of the specifics in regards to the 14 Extremely’s show is about what you’d anticipate for a flagship of this worth. Nevertheless, there’s a mixture of design parts which make it uncommon. 

Xiaomi touts an ‘throughout liquid show’, however it’s not so simple as the show bodily being curved on the edges. That strategy is a bit divisive as though it appears to be like and feels good, you get a little bit of picture distortion and the draw back of unintended enter. 

The 14 Extremely affords one of the best of each worlds, with the glass fantastically curved on all sides however the beautiful show beneath being flat. 

It’s a mammoth 6.73-inch (barely smaller than the S24 Extremely’s 6.8-inch) panel with a protracted listing of high specs, together with AMOLED tech with a excessive pixel density of 522ppi, plus assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+. 

LPTO expertise means the refresh charge can dynamically modify from 120Hz down to simply 1Hz so you will get easy efficiency when the excessive refresh charge is required, however save energy when it isn’t.

It’s additionally very shiny, with a typical excessive brightness of 1000 nits and a theoretical peak brightness of 3000 nits. In a real-world measurement with auto brightness switched off and daylight mode on, I measured it at a formidable 736 nits and located it simple to make use of in all conditions. 

The embedded fingerprint scanner is superb certainly, and I like that it sits larger up than the Xiaomi 14 making it extra pure and comfy for me to make use of.  

There’s no headphone jack, which I all the time discover a disgrace on a cellphone of this dimension, however it’s not a giant deal when wi-fi headphones are so prevalent. The 14 Extremely is impressively filled with high-end audio codecs together with AAC, AptX Adaptive, LDAC and LHDC 5.0, so Hello-Res Audio isn’t far-off with the best streaming service and headphones. 

Its stereo audio system are good high quality and have loads of velocity, together with a spacious and detailed soundscape. You can be suitably immersed in audio when listening to music, gaming, watching movies and extra. 

Specs & Efficiency 

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
• Whopping 16GB of RAM
• Solely 512GB storage in UK

Matching many different 2024 flagships, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely options with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset within the engine room.  

You get a whopping 16GB of RAM (greater than the S24 Extremely or Pixel 8 Professional). Simply observe that, within the UK no less than, there’s just one storage capability at 512GB. 

Efficiency, unsurprisingly, is extraordinarily fast and the 14 Extremely can deal with no matter you throw at it with relative ease. Whether or not it’s opening apps, picture enhancing, streaming video or gaming. 

Prime video games equivalent to Genshin Affect are buttery easy and you’ll play with excessive settings, no drawback. A beefier cooling system than the common Xiaomi 14 – a ‘Twin-Channel IceLoop System’ – helps maintain the inner temperature down and it appears to work effectively. 

The 14 Extremely can deal with no matter you throw at it with relative ease

You may see the way it benchmarks in contrast with key rivals beneath: 

Xiaomi 14 Extremely benchmarks

When it comes to different specs, the 14 Extremely is filled with loads of bells and whistles together with 5G assist, Wi-Fi 7 (in choose markets together with the UK), twin nano-SIM assist (no eSIM), Bluetooth 5.4 with twin connections, NFC and even an IR blaster. 

The latter is tremendous helpful even only for adjusting the quantity of or switching the TV on and off when your toddler has misplaced the devoted distant. 

Cameras & Video

• Unbelievable quad digital camera system
• Co-developed with Leica
• Elective Images Equipment is superior

In relation to the cameras, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is unquestionably a case of all killer no filler

As you might have gathered by this level within the evaluate, images is the principle occasion on the 14 Extremely. You don’t (or shouldn’t) have a digital camera bump this large with out having one thing to point out for it. 

And there’s tons to point out right here, with no fewer than 4 rear cameras co-developed with Leica. In relation to the cameras, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is unquestionably a case of all killer no filler.

All 4 lenses are 50Mp, so it’s an identical affair to the common 14 right here however delve into the specs and the Extremely has extra to supply than simply an additional lens. 

The principle digital camera is a images nerd’s dream come true with optical picture stabilisation (OIS), an enormous 1-inch sensor and even variable step-less aperture between f/1.63/2.0/2.8/4.0 – to provide the headline particulars. 

Elsewhere there’s an ultrawide, a floating telescope at 3.2x and a periscope digital camera for 5x optical zoom. They’re all based mostly on the Sony IMX858 sensor and solely the ultrawide doesn’t have OIS. 

When you prefer to deal in focal lengths, this offers you the equal of 12-, 23-, 75- and 120mm which is a formidable array to play with, and people lengths are talked about all through the digital camera app so you already know which you might be utilizing. 

Speaking of the app, Xiaomi has completed an important job with this contemplating what number of modes and settings there can be found. It’s neat, intuitive, and you’ll simply level and shoot or spend hours fine-tuning (together with selecting the aperture on the principle digital camera and saving customized presets) relying in your desire. 

As I discovered with the common 14, the standard on supply right here is completely beautiful. The best way the cellphone captures mild is commonly astonishing, and viewers of the outcomes wouldn’t consider they got here from a cellphone reasonably than a fully-fledged DLSR digital camera.

When you’re undecided which digital camera to make use of, the cellphone might change robotically (macro photographs for instance), however I usually most popular the outcomes by making my very own selection. High quality is so excessive throughout the board that you could be not even have the ability to inform which digital camera has been used for a shot, past the apparent distinction between an ultrawide and 5x optical zoom. 

The best way the cellphone captures mild is commonly astonishing, and viewers of the outcomes wouldn’t consider they got here from a cellphone reasonably than a fully-fledged DLSR digital camera

You may virtually utterly get rid of portrait and night time modes as there’s loads of pure bokeh and the principle sensor can take up mild like some form of magical sponge. 

As typical, the principle digital camera is one of the best, however the two telephoto lenses sustain impressively effectively with glorious element, color, publicity and white stability. You may zoom digitally past the 5x optical out there as much as a ridiculous 120x, however that’s extraordinarily laborious to make use of handheld and high quality takes a giant dip after round 30x. 

In the meantime, the ultrawide does a very good job of becoming much more in at prime quality with out a lot distortion within the corners in any respect. 

I’ve most popular to shoot within the Leica Genuine color profile which is near actual life, however you may change to Leica Vibrant within the high nook if you’d like extra punchy saturated colors akin to Samsung’s telephones.

Shifting to the selfie digital camera and this is identical 32Mp (f/2.0) digital camera because the common 14. It’s glorious when it comes to high quality and might robotically change between 0.8- and 1x relying on what you’re attempting to suit into the body.  

It’s acquired loads of options, together with portrait mode with depth management, and might shoot video in as much as 4K. On the rear, you may go all the best way to 8K/30fps should you like, although 4K with 60fps (as much as 120fps) is preferable for many conditions. If you wish to use Xiaomi’s regular video or regular video professional modes, you’ll need to drop to 1080p however with OIS on the principle digital camera, I didn’t discover this essential. 

Total, that is one of the best smartphone cash can purchase proper now for images and I haven’t even talked about the Images Equipment which takes it to a different degree. 

This elective accent is £179 additional within the UK, however you’ll usually discover Xiaomi bundling it with the handset. It’s primarily a digital camera grip attachment, and you’ll have to put a case on earlier than this slides into place. Nevertheless it all appears to be like and feels nice, with the black possibility lined in a woven cloth end which is sturdy and grippy. 

The grip itself provides not solely a two-stage shutter, zoom lever, document button and customisable wheel but in addition incorporates a 1500mAh battery to maintain the cellphone topped up with cost. 

Moreover, there’s a pretty orange digital camera ring, or you may put a 67mm filter on as an alternative. With all this, in addition to the wrist strap, you’ve actually acquired a digital camera that occurs to even be a cellphone. 

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 90W HyperCharge
• 80W wi-fi charging
• Adapter included

A 5000mAh battery is the typical dimension for a smartphone in 2024. Though you may anticipate it to be larger for a cellphone this large, it matches the S24 Extremely, so it’s clear the house and weight is primarily for the digital camera system. 

In our typical PCMark battery check with the display screen set to the prompt 200 nits, the cellphone lasted an honest, if not excellent, 12 hours and 42 minutes. 

I haven’t discovered myself worrying about battery life, which says loads

It’s about the one space the place the 14 Extremely doesn’t really excel, however it’s actually not dangerous. I haven’t discovered myself worrying about battery life, which says loads. It is going to comfortably final a day except you might be hammering issues like gaming and 4K video recording. 

I’ve seen the cellphone final a few days when my utilization has been on the lighter facet. 

In relation to charging, you get a speedy 90W HyperCharge adapter within the field, which might get you from useless to 52% in simply quarter-hour or 88% in half an hour, each of that are very fast.

It’s particularly beneficial if you evaluate to Samsung and Google rivals, which supply a lot slower charging and don’t embody any charger within the field. Nevertheless, it’s price noting that this strategy is extra eco-friendly, and you could have already got a appropriate charger at residence.  

The 14 Extremely additionally helps whopping 80W wi-fi ‘HyperCharge’ and 10W reverse wi-fi charging, with the latter permitting you to simply cost any devices that assist Qi charging, equivalent to wi-fi earbuds.

Software program & Apps 

• HyperOS
• Android 14
• First rate promised software program assist

The 14 Extremely, like its stablemate the common Xiaomi 14, makes use of the HyperOS software program.  

That is Xiaomi’s ‘new’ working system which runs on Android 14, however HyperOS isn’t way more than a rebranded model of the MIUI pores and skin which got here earlier than it. 

Total, it’s a combined bag. There are issues I like and issues I don’t like. 

The cut up notification and fast settings panels (to the left and proper of the punch gap digital camera) shall be divisive, as shall be different iOS influences such because the default choice to don’t have any app drawer. You’ll additionally need to get used to the grid of latest apps and shutting them by swiping sideways.

HyperOS isn’t way more than a rebranded model of the MIUI pores and skin which got here earlier than it

Bloatware stays a problem, however I’ve positively seen loads worse up to now. Nobody wants three, sure three, net browsers and there are different apps that you just’ll wish to uninstall instantly (which you’ll be able to). Nevertheless, the likes of Spotify, TikTok and Fb aren’t so dangerous in my guide. 

One other destructive is what was attractive rotating photographs on the lock display screen have now grow to be virtually completely adverts. There’s additionally a ‘Beneficial feed’ should you swipe up from the house display screen which seems to be Xiaomi’s model of Google Uncover, simply 1,000,000 instances worse, with overwhelming hyperlinks to tabloid articles I’m not excited by. 

On the plus facet, there are some nifty options such because the GameTurbo mode (for enhancing gaming efficiency and decreasing distractions) and floating apps which assist with multi-tasking, even when Xiaomi might do a greater job of displaying how these options work, and even that they exist.

There are additionally AI options coming which I haven’t been in a position to check, equivalent to dwell subtitles for video calls and ‘AI Portrait’ which, when you’ve taken sufficient selfies, can create photographs of you with particular prompts. I’ve seen it in motion and it’s very spectacular if you wish to have enjoyable or faux you went on vacation someplace unique if you really went to Skegness.

Xiaomi guarantees an honest 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety patches which, till lately, could be completely acceptable. Samsung and Google now supply seven of every, which is considerably higher, assuming each keep on with their guarantees.

Nonetheless, 4 to 5 years of longevity must be sufficient for many customers. 

Value & Availability 

There’s no selecting between fashions with regards to the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. Within the UK it’s £1,299 for the 16/512GB mannequin or nothing. Your selection is between black or white colourways. 

You should buy it from the official Mi retailer the place there are numerous affords together with £150 trade-in, 6-months of 100GB Google storage and 3-months of YouTube Premium. You can too get it from Amazon, however it’s not formally out there within the US.

The worth places it up towards the likes of the Google Pixel 8 Professional which is £1,179 for the matching 512GB capability, although as little as £999 if 128GB is sufficient for you. 

Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely which is £1,349 for the 512GB and even has a £1,549 1TB mannequin should you want it. On the Apple facet, the iPhone 15 Professional Max is £1,399 for 512GB.

There are different nice images telephones such because the Oppo Discover X7 Extremely however it is going to be a lot tougher to get your arms on that. 

You must also think about the Xiaomi 14 because the common mannequin remains to be critically spectacular, way more reasonably priced and a extra manageable handset size-wise. As are the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24.

See extra choices in our information to one of the best smartphones you should buy. 

Must you purchase the Xiaomi 14 Extremely? 

In nearly each approach, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is an unbelievable smartphone. It’s acquired beautiful design and excessive construct high quality, an superior display screen that’s acquired one of the best of each flat and curved worlds, and flagship-level efficiency. 

For my cash, it’s one of the best smartphone for images in the marketplace proper now, even with out factoring within the glorious Images Equipment. Nevertheless, I’d say you do have to essentially take advantage of this a part of the cellphone to justify shopping for one. 

At £1,299, it’s cheaper than the equal Galaxy S24 Extremely and should you’re all about ISO and f-stops then the 14 Extremely is for you. 

Nevertheless, you may nonetheless get unbelievable high quality for much less within the Google Pixel 8 Professional and the common Xiaomi 14/Pixel 8 if you’d like a smaller cellphone. 

Specs

• Android 14 w/ HyperOS 1.0
• 6.7in WQHD+ AMOLED 1-120Hz show, 240Hz contact sampling, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Xiaomi Protect glass entrance
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• 16GB RAM LPDDR5X
• 512GB UFS 4.0 non-expandable storage
• 50Mp, f/1.63-4.0, essential digital camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.2 wide-angle digital camera
• 50Mp, f/2 telephoto 3.2x digital camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.5 periscope 5x cameras with OIS
• 32Mp, f/2.0 front-facing digital camera
• Twin audio system with Dolby Atmos
• 5G
• WiFi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• USB-C port
• IR blaster
• NFC
• Twin-SIM
• 5000mAh battery
• 90W quick charging
• 80W wi-fi charging
• 10W reverse wi-fi charging
• 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm
• 219.8g
• Launch colors: Black, White