in 2024 introduced at the beginning of the year, the Xiaomi 14 is a high-class phone that we can safely compare with the flagships of other manufacturers. There are many phones in this category on the market, so choosing the right one can be quite difficult if you are not attached to a specific manufacturer.

So what could the Xiaomi 14 bribe new users with? Perhaps in its compact size, which is different from today's gigantic phones? Or his camera, developed in collaboration with Leica? We also tested this phone, and we invite you to read about our impressions and observations in this review.

Unboxing

The Xiaomi 14 box and packaging is not much different from other manufacturers. Once unwrapped from the protective film, the top lid lifts and the entire contents slowly unfold, creating a bit of tension.

In terms of its size and unpacking features, this box is most reminiscent of older iPhone models that still came with a charger. In addition to the phone, the box includes user instructions, a SIM slot opening tool, a USB-C cable, even a 90W charger and a protective case.

First impressions and quality

For those who like to take care of their phones, a screen protector and case are a common purchase when buying a phone, but the Xiaomi 14 already comes with a screen film and an original, high-quality case, which are very welcome additions.

At first sight and feel, this is a premium phone. Its body is made of aluminum, and on the right side you will find all the physical buttons, which are pleasant to press. The screen is without any bends at the edges, and the back is made of plastic, which is rounded at the edges.

Due to the rounding, the phone is comfortably held in the hand and the sharper corners of the aluminum body are not felt. Unfortunately, the plastic used for the back is slippery enough that when you hold the phone in your hand, you don't get the feeling that it could easily fall out. On the back, and probably the biggest pride of this phone, are the cameras.

Screen

The Xiaomi 14 screen did not disappoint - it is a bright, smooth and beautifully colored screen. Without going into the technical parameters, the Xiaomi 14 can confidently match today's flagships - it is visible in direct sunlight (although the brightness could be a little more), the lighting perfectly adapts to the environment, and it also has all the features we expect from phones of this level.

It is true that it should be noted that the manufacturer's declared maximum brightness is 3000 nits. Unfortunately, you won't see such brightness in reality, because it is actually much lower. This is what we are convinced of and it is confirmed by the tests carried out by other reviewers. It seems that Xiaomi has tried to use advertising gimmicks, which should disappoint buyers. 

This display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and with the default setting, the Xiaomi 14 usually chooses 120Hz. Due to the LTPO technology, the refresh rate varies depending on the content, so a high refresh rate has practically no effect on the battery.

Performance

Using this phone every day is easy and fun. Whatever task or game we run through the Xiaomi 14, it handles it without any problems. Resource-intensive games (such as Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact) run flawlessly at the highest graphics settings. The only problem is that the phone heats up quickly enough, and after using it for a longer time, it becomes unpleasantly hot to the touch.

Battery

If you use the phone for 3-4 hours every day, playing games for a short time, watching videos or just surfing the Internet, its battery is enough for about two days. The included charger charges the phone from 0 to 100 percent. charges in about 40 minutes, and if you use the phone more actively, 15 minutes. charging in the morning should be enough for the whole day.

Camera

Let's move on to the highlight of this phone - it's the camera. The Xiaomi 14 is not the first Xiaomi model to have cameras developed in collaboration with Leica, but unlike older generations, this model has a Light Fusion 900 sensor developed specifically for this model.

The main cameras are 3: primary (50MP, 1/1.31″, f/1.6, 23mm equivalent), ultra-wide angle (50MP, f/2.2, 14mm equivalent) and telephoto (50MP, f/2.0, 75mm equivalent, supports macro from 10cm). And while you can see four different zoom levels when you open the camera app (0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3.2x), the 2x level uses the same sensor as the 1x, but it's cropped for the photo. As a result, photos and videos taken with 2x zoom are of the worst quality.

Pictures

Xiaomi's 14 options, settings and modes for photos abound. Those who wish can fully take over the camera settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.) or simply take photos in auto mode. Thanks to the collaboration with Leica, this Xiaomi offers two main photo profiles (there are more): Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. The Authentic profile is designed to replicate the iconic look of Leica photos. This profile softens the colors a bit and is more neutral.

Main camera

The Leica Vibrant profile brings the colors to life and they appear slightly brighter in the photo than in reality. For those seeking complete neutrality in their photos, neither option will likely work - Authentic is too dull, and Vibrant is too bright. It would be nice to have a neutral option as well.

2x Camera

The quality of the photos captured by the main camera is astounding. The photos have an excellent dynamic range, they are sharp, the details are clear and not faded. As we already mentioned, 2x zoom is used to crop the main camera sensor (digital zoom). The resulting photos are not bad, but they do not leave an impression either - sharpness is lacking, noise is more noticeable.

3.2x Camera / Macro

The 3.2x camera is another story. As with the main camera, the photos captured are excellent, with visible details clear and sharp. This zoom also allows for great macro shots. The minimum focusing distance is 10 cm, so you will definitely succeed in photographing something small. If it had to be singled out, macro photography would probably be my favorite aspect of the entire camera system.

Ultrawide camera

The wide-angle camera did not leave much of an impression. Although the pictures are not bad, the pictures taken inside the rooms lack the sharpness of colors and details. In some outdoor photos, bright areas are far too bright, and noise appears in dark areas.

Portrait photos

Like most phones today, the Xiaomi 14 also has a portrait mode. When using the portrait photo function, you can choose between certain modes of the lens system - 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm (full-frame equivalents). It's a pity, but most of the photos are not pleasing, and the results when using different modes are very different.

To summarize the photos, people and their profile outlines are detected accurately, but the lines between the silhouette and the background are too blurred. The 75mm mode stands out from the rest and will probably become the main format for portrait photography. For those who want a wider or narrower angle, it is better to use the standard photo mode.

Night photos

The photos taken for the first time in the dark with the main and 3.2x cameras were very surprising - there is practically no noise, no blurring, and the rendered colors correspond to reality. The Xiaomi 14 camera app has a special night mode, but when it is activated, the 2x zoom function is lost, although it is there when shooting in automatic mode (we did not feel the difference between night and automatic mode).

Videos

The Xiaomi 14 can shoot 8K video at 24 frames per second (fps) for up to ~6 minutes, but that's only with the main camera. The highest resolution of the wide-angle, 2x and 3.2x cameras is 4K 60fps. This phone also has stable video modes (Normal and PRO), but they are limited to 1080p 24fps, and I liked the 4K 60fps mode the most.

In addition to the usual video mode, you will find a couple of other options for filming on this phone. One of them is a movie. It is dominated by the wide screen format, it is possible to adjust the EV, choose the aperture and create a different bokeh effect. When filming in this mode, the autofocus works more smoothly, because it is precisely for this mode that the improved automatic focus ("track focus") is activated.

Another mode is the director mode, where you can change practically all settings, such as white balance, ISO, shutter speed, used microphones (as many as 4 of them), etc.

Verdict

Among today's common large phones, the Xiaomi 14 looks quite small, which is only an advantage - it is easy to control with one hand. You'll find it all in this phone: beautiful design, high-quality cameras, and enough processing power to handle all the tasks given to it.

Indeed, it is very difficult to find fault with this phone, and if it were not for the attachment to another ecosystem, the Xiaomi 14 would become a personal phone.