Reviews · Gadgets
Xiaomi 14 Smartphone Review
Steven van Eijk · July 5, 2024
Xiaomi 14 Smartphone
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Xiaomi 14 smartphone. While it may not be as flashy as some other recent releases, it pleasantly surprised me. Xiaomi has delivered a phone that packs the latest technology into a compact frame at an affordable price. Its sleek design, new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 120Hz AMOLED display and advanced triple-camera system immediately stand out when you unbox it. Read on to find out whether its performance lives up to the promise.
Features
The Xiaomi 14 smartphone retains the compact dimensions of the 13 series but comes packed with upgrades. It offers the latest processor built on TSMC’s 4nm process, faster LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, a vibrant 6.7-inch 2K display with slim bezels, and a 50MP main camera with a large 1-inch image sensor. In short, Xiaomi delivers everything you would expect from its 2024 flagship, but at a competitive price. The model we tested is available for just under €1,000, significantly less than the Galaxy S23 series.
Design
The Xiaomi 14's looks won me over at first sight. It has an understated yet premium design that refines the appearance of its predecessor, the Xiaomi 13. Measuring 152.8 x 71.5 x 8.2 mm and weighing 188 g, it retains a compact form factor that feels comfortable in the hand. The phone has an aluminium frame with Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and a silicone polymer back, providing durability and a smooth, glossy finish.
The Xiaomi 14 has a distinctive square camera bump on the back, but with slightly more pronounced edges. The module houses three high-resolution cameras, including an excellent 50MP main sensor tuned by Leica. On the front, Xiaomi has slimmed down the bezels and removed all curves for a more immersive, edge-to-edge 6.36-inch display. The phone is available in several colours, including black, white, jade green and pink.
Display
The Xiaomi 14 has a stunning 6.36-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2670 x 1200 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 460 ppi. The screen offers incredible clarity and sharpness, making it ideal for reading text and viewing high-resolution videos and images.
The screen is flat, which I really appreciate, as I'm not a fan of the slightly curved edges found on many smartphones these days. Peak brightness has been increased to an impressive 3000 nits, keeping the display clearly visible even in bright outdoor light. This high brightness also makes HDR content look vibrant, with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The display has an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120Hz, making both scrolling and gaming a pleasure.
Camera
The Xiaomi 14 brings a clear improvement in camera capabilities. It features an impressive three 50MP Leica-tuned rear cameras: a main camera, an ultrawide camera and a telephoto camera. The main camera's new sensor captures more light thanks to its f/1.6 aperture, which is particularly useful in low light. The ultrawide camera offers better edge-to-edge sharpness and less distortion, while the telephoto camera's 3x optical zoom is ideal for portraits.
Video recording has also improved, with all three rear cameras capable of capturing stabilised 4K footage at 60 fps. The front camera now also has a 32MP sensor and can record 4K video at 60 fps.
Performance
The Xiaomi 14 is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, delivering fast, smooth performance. It handles even the most graphically demanding games with ease, helped by up to 16GB of RAM. Effective thermal management keeps the phone cool while gaming.
The phone also offers fast charging, with 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging allowing a full charge in just over 30 minutes. In addition, the Xiaomi 14 supports 10W reverse wireless charging, handy for wearables or giving a friend's phone a quick top-up.
Software
The Xiaomi 14 runs Android 14 with Xiaomi’s new HyperOS interface. HyperOS brings some welcome improvements, including more personalised icons and widgets, a redesigned notification bar and new lock screen options. Xiaomi's AI assistant can summarise text, create presentations and even generate AI portrait art.
HyperOS still has some optimisation issues, such as occasional slowdowns and missed notifications. Battery life could be better, but the phone offers fast charging options to compensate. During testing, HyperOS in particular gave us some trouble at first, as we couldn't get past the FastBoot screen. After several restarts, we were able to enter the OS, and the issue did not recur. Still, it was a disappointing start.
Final Verdict
After an extensive testing period, we can confidently say that the Xiaomi 14 is a pleasure to use. It offers a gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED display, top-tier performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, excellent battery life (with light use, it sometimes lasted as long as 1.5 weeks before running out) and a professional-grade triple-camera system, all at a much lower price than the competition. Xiaomi has once again delivered a flagship that can hold its own against its rivals, making it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a new Android smartphone.
8.7OUT OF 10
Verdict
Recommended – a strong pick in its class.
Pros
- Better priced than the competition
- Comes with screen protection against drops
- Comfortable to hold
Cons
- Battery life could be better