3 minute read
Xiaomi’s new Xiaomi 14, and in particular the top range 14 Ultra, lean into its alliance with Leica to deliver a smartphone with some serious video capabilities.
Chinese developer Xiaomi is making serious moves after first partnering up with Leica in 2022, and has used MWC Barcelona 2024 to launch its Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra phones onto the worldwide market (well, almost worldwide market, more of that later).
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
The Xiaomi 14 models feature Leica Summilux optics that showcase the most advanced optical concepts and product designs, and they really get their top billing on the 14 Ultra which features a distinctive circular camera housing with a range of focal lengths, spanning from 12mm to 120mm. The camera is finished with Leica's 75mm floating telephoto camera, 120mm periscope camera, and the 12mm ultra-wide camera.
Xiaomi Ultra 14 features a distinctive circular camera
What is impressive is that you can shoot 8K 30fps across all four cameras. Thanks to its 1-inch-type Sony LYT-900 50MP sensor, it delivers clear 8K videos, ideal for professional post-production edits. The primary camera supports shooting at 4K 120fps and is adaptable to create 5x slow-motion effects. Furthermore, it provides full-range zooming at 60fps in 4K resolution. The phone also supports Dolby Vision shooting at 4K 60fps with stabilization technology. 'Director Mode' offers a professional-grade interface with advanced parameter controls and Log format recording.
Meanwhile, to enhance audio capabilities, an additional microphone has been integrated, forming a 4-mic array that enables both surround sound recording and directional sound recording. The screen is not disappointing either with a Xiaomi-custom C8 WQHD+ 6.73" AMOLED display featuring a stunning 3200 x 1440 resolution, pixel density of 522 ppi, and variable 1-120Hz refresh rate, all topped up with peak brightness of 3000 nits.
Launched alongside the phone, the €199 Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Kit packs a selection of enhanced features in a dedicated grip and case. The kit comprises a two-stage shutter button, a zoom lever, a customizable video recording button, and an additional custom dial. Additionally, it doubles as an external charging battery bank, delivering a substantial 1500mAh of battery life for extended usage.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Case packs features such as a two-stage shutter button, a zoom lever, a customizable video recording button, and an additional custom dial
Pricing and availability
It’s all extremely high-end and, as you would expect, commands an extremely high-end price to boot, the 14 Ultra coming in at €1499. That’s €500 more than the €999 Xiaomi 14 (and more on that below). Why no dollar pricing? Because the company still has no plans to offer its phones in the US market. Even though the Trump administration blacklist was overturned in 2021, Xiaomi reckons that the carrier-centric model that dominates the US market doesn’t suit its own business model. That means that if you’re in the US and you want to get your hands on one, you’re going to have to find a reseller. And that isn’t going to make it any cheaper (€1499 is already $1628 at current prices).
Xiaomi 14
The Xiaomi 14 comes with a simple ultra-thin bezel measuring 152.8mm x 71.5mm x 8.20mm. Featuring a triple-camera setup, it covers a focal range from 14mm to 75mm. The Leica 14mm ultra-wide camera comes with a 50MP resolution, while the acclaimed Leica 75mm floating telephoto lens, with a minimum focus distance of just 10cm.
In the display department, the Xiaomi 14 showcases a captivating 6.36" CrystalRes AMOLED 1.5K 2670 x 1200 resolution screen. With high pixel density and a peak brightness of 3000 nits, you get clear visuals even in direct sunlight. The variable refresh rate, ranging from 1 to 120Hz, guarantees a smooth and seamless viewing experience.
Xiaomi 14 has a minimalist aesthetic design
Processing powers
Both the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. It also has Qualcomm FastConnect 7800, which brings Wi-Fi 72 with 320MHz capacity. Xiaomi 14 Ultra goes a step above with High Band Simultaneous (HBS) Multi-Link, ensuring the widest channel and lowest latency available out there.
In terms of battery and charging, Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra are both equipped with the Xiaomi Surge battery management system that gives you a 4610mAh battery supported by 90W HyperCharge and 50W wireless HyperCharge. Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by a larger 5000mAh battery with 90W HyperCharge along with the latest 80W wireless HyperCharge technology.
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro
In addition to the 14 Series, Xiaomi released its Pad 6S Pro as a direct competitor for iPad. It features a 12.4-inch 144Hz 3K display tablet that is designed for reading, editing high-resolution images, or immersing yourself in the latest games. Equipped with a robust 10000mAh battery, the tablet comes with an extended battery life. The tablet comes with a 3048 x 2032 resolution and an impressive 294 pixels per inch.
For the first time, you can connect the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro Touchpad Keyboard integrates with the newly designed Xiaomi Focus Pen to have a complete portable workstation. With its Cross-device Notes app photo function, you can easily have smartphone camera capabilities to capture and embed images directly into the tablet. Pricing is €699.
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro is billed as ideal for both work and pleasure
Watch the full product launch event below:
Tags: News smartphones
Comments