DT English journalist Andy Boxall tested the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and shared his deep impressions of the mobile phone, which particularly stands out for its camera. You can read his entire review here.
He Xiaomi 14 Ultra This is a large and powerful cell phone. Once you start using a certain feature, it becomes something special.
This is the reason why my SIM card stays in my phone until absolutely necessary, and the reason why you should consider this phone, even if buying it will be a difficult task for many.
The camera makes Xiaomi 14 Ultra special
Most Digital Trends reviews start with a discussion of the design, but instead I’ll talk about the camera first. This is what makes the Xiaomi 14 Ultra special, and it’s so good that it’s probably the best camera phone I’ve used in a long time.
There’s a lot to understand about this, so here are some key facts you should know. It uses a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony LYT-900 main camera with a Leica Summilux lens and an adjustable aperture (from f/1.63 to f/4.0), as well as a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera and with 50 MP periscope zoom.
- 1. 5x zoom
- 3. night mode
Inside, Xiaomi’s new AISP image processing system uses artificial intelligence to adjust various aspects of your photos, from the color of each pixel to the lighting and bokeh effect in portrait shots. Then participation occurs Watering can, and its influence is present in every photo you take, whether you’re using a Leica Vibrant or Leica Authentic tone, one of the black and white filters, or experimenting with a special customizable street photography mode. There’s a lot to discover and try, from the professional 16-bit UltraRAW photo mode to easy-to-use long exposure modes, MasterCinema video modes and directional microphones. Working with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra camera, you will not get bored for a long time.
However, focusing solely on specs and hardware means missing out on what makes the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera so enjoyable. Stay with me here because this is about feelings.
Leica’s input and Xiaomi’s adjustments can give photos a unique, emotional tone and character that you don’t see in other phone cameras, and finding the perfect environment where everything really comes together is addictive. The thing is, I don’t think the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera is flawless or inherently better. technicallythan Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Google Pixel 8 Pro. However, he is able to capture emotions that others may lack or cannot express. That’s what makes it so special.
However, he will not do this always and not in all photographs. You’ll have to work with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera to get the most out of it, and I think the more you understand and enjoy photography, the more you’ll get out of the phone’s camera. I’m far from a professional, but I often really enjoyed the photos the Xiaomi 14 Ultra camera encouraged me to take, more than I did on other phones.
I know how this all sounds and how strange it is to say that it’s not always a great camera, but it’s still one of my favorites. But the winning combination of features, modes and cameras, as well as Leica’s tuning and Xiaomi’s AI, is so special that you’ll be willing to forgive the moments when it’s not all that impressive.
Another highlight for me are the wonderful Leica black and white filters, which add a huge amount of atmosphere to photos and can be used in almost all modes, as well as the excellent portrait mode with highly accurate edge detection and very well thought out background blur. The 3.2x and 5x optical zoom modes cover most situations effectively, allowing you to get closer to small subjects without sacrificing color and clarity.
Everything is very versatile and makes you want to get creative. I don’t think it’s the most consistent camera on a phone, but I think it’s the most exceptionally interesting and creatively appealing camera I’ve used on a phone in quite some time, and I like it.
Great camera in a great phone
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is all about the camera, and this is reflected in the shape, size and design of the device itself. The camera module is huge, towering over the rear panel, with multiple cameras housed in an intricately knurled dual socket surrounded by gold accents. It’s far from subtle and you always know you have the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in your pocket or hand. The camera module (presumably unintentionally) does double duty, as it’s so thick that you can use it to balance the phone on your fingertip while looking at the screen.
The design itself is not much different from Xiaomi 13 Ultra. My review phone has a genuine leather back that is warm to the touch, but gets dusty even though it’s dirt-resistant. The screen comes with a protective film installed from the factory, but after a few weeks of use it is already quite scratched. The aluminum body has a square shape and is 9.2mm thick, and the phone weighs 220 grams, making it a stretcher-friendly phone.
There’s nothing wrong with the build quality other than the IP68 waterproof rating, but you’re constantly reminded of a complicated camera not only because of the camera module but also because it rattles a lot. Pick up your phone abruptly, shake it a little or place it a little heavier than you want, and you will feel that something inside has come off and is wobbly. This is a by-product of the periscope and telephoto lens, and perhaps the variable aperture, but it prevents the Xiaomi 14 Ultra from sounding very refined.
Great camera, mediocre phone
Like other top phones of 2024, Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by a processor. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 3rd generation inside, as well as 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory. The 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a maximum brightness of 3000 nits (but typically runs at 1000 nits). There is an in-display fingerprint sensor, face unlock, stereo speakers, NFC, Wi-Fi 7 and 5G connectivity.
What about HyperOS software? The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the first phone I’ve used with the MIUI replacement, which is still built on Android 14 but is designed to be used with many other products besides smartphones. There are no obvious design differences between it and MIUI, so you won’t immediately realize you’re using something new, but this is one of the fastest and most responsive Xiaomi phones I’ve ever used, and the software is also significantly less intrusive. than even Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus with MIUI, which I also recently used.
The combination of HyperOS and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which can be used every day without frustration, is a winner and allowed me to fully enjoy the camera. There are still annoyances like the split notification and quick settings drop-down menu, warnings about terrible things that can happen if you forget passwords, and a confusing Themes and Wallpapers menu. Despite the screen’s maximum brightness, it’s not particularly bright in normal use, and while I had no trouble seeing it, it’s not as bright, colorful, or anti-glare as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s fantastic screen.
How long does the battery last? The 5,000 mAh battery lasted almost two days with moderate use, or about three hours of screen time per day. If you push it harder, expect it to be ready to charge by the end of the first day. It’s acceptable, but it’s far from the best you can get. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with a 90W HyperCharge adapter and takes 35 minutes to go from almost fully charged to fully charged. This is in line with Xiaomi’s claims. The phone also has wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
How much does Xiaomi 14 Ultra cost?
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will not be officially released in the US, but it will be available for import. It costs about $1,640.
Buy it for your camera
If we take away the camera from the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, then we have a completely acceptable modern smartphone, which in terms of overall performance matches the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, Asus Zenfon 11 and other large and expensive Android phones. We can say the same about the processor and software as it plays games and videos without issue and I had no doubts about the smoothness or efficiency. This is the flagship smartphone archetype we all expect in 2024. But herein lies the problem with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Camera this is all, and without it the phone is nothing special. It was almost pointless to detail the experience of using the phone here because, as expected, it performs very well, as expected for the level and price of the device. You won’t be disappointed as all the basics are present and executed effectively, as long as you don’t intend to blow up. Really cameras, you’re left with a big, heavy, unattractive phone that doesn’t stand out in any way. It’s a photographer’s phone, and it’s probably one of the best I’ve ever used, but in other ways it’s a bit run-of-the-mill. It’s not bad or common, it’s just nothing special.
He Galaxy S24 Ultra It’s the most advanced phone and therefore the best option for most people, but if you’re looking to experiment creatively, learn and grow as a mobile photographer, I don’t think there’s a better option right now than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Source: Digital Trends
