Xiaomi 14 Ultra should impress with four cameras and new software
25.2.2024
Translation: machine translated
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Xiaomi announced the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. This makes it the first Ultra model to be available outside of China. Four cameras, its own robust glass and new software should set it apart from the competition.
Just in time for the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the smartphone will receive a so-called "Photography Kit". This is a case designed to make it easier to take photos and videos. The manufacturer is also continuing its collaboration with camera and lens manufacturer Leica. This can also be seen in the smaller and more affordable Xiaomi 14.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Four cameras should make the competition look bad
The 14 Ultra uses Xiaomi's own shatterproof glass. The Xiaomi Shield Glass also covers the display around the corners and edges. The Kunst- vegan leather on the back is also an in-house development from Xiaomi and is said to be thinner and at the same time more robust than previous materials.
The most important data at a glance
Xiaomi is trying to differentiate the 14 Ultra from the competition with its camera system. The main camera, for example, has a continuously adjustable aperture from f/1.63 to f/4.0. The 1-inch LYT-900 sensor, which Sony introduced at the end of 2023, is used as the image sensor.
Source: Jan Johannsen
The other three cameras also have a resolution of 50 megapixels. Xiaomi uses the Sony IMX858 sensor for each of them. There are differences in the focal lengths, whereby the periscope camera is worth a special mention. Its design enables a focal length of 120 millimetres, which would not be possible with a classic design in a flat smartphone housing.
Source: Jan Johannsen
All cameras can record videos in 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. The main camera even manages 120 frames per second at 4K and thus five times the slow motion. Xiaomi is supplementing these options with a new film mode with an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 and the 180-degree shutter rule. The manufacturer hopes that this will result in cinema-style videos with motion blur. The smartphone can encode HDR videos in the 10-bit Rec.2020 standard to capture more details, highlights and shadows.
Photography Kit: Better control for photos and videos
The Photography Kit is a case for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra that adds additional camera controls to the smartphone. These include a two-stage shutter release, a zoom lever, a customisable video recording button and a user-defined setting wheel. The smartphone should also be easier to grip with the case. A 1500 mAh battery in the Photography Kit also extends the battery life of the 14 Ultra. Xiaomi claims to be able to record 40 minutes more video in 4K at 60 fps. Lenses can also be screwed in front of the smartphone's cameras using the 67 mm adapter.
Source: Xiaomi
Xiaomi 14: the slightly smaller top smartphone
The Xiaomi 14 shares the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and IP68 water resistance with its Ultra sibling. Xiaomi uses the widely used Gorilla Glass Victus for the front and back of the smaller and lighter smartphone. The AMOLED display is said to require 17 per cent less energy than the previous technology.
Source: Jan Johannsen
The Xiaomi 14 also lacks the periscope camera. The telephoto camera still offers the largest focal length at 75 millimetres. All cameras also have a 50-megapixel resolution on the small smartphone. There are slight differences in the aperture and focal length of the ultra-wide-angle camera. The main and telephoto cameras use Xiaomi's own Light Fusion 900 image sensor.
Source: Jan Johannsen
In addition, the battery of the Xiaomi 14 is slightly smaller with a capacity of 4610 mAh. With up to 15 hours of continuous use, the battery life should still last an hour longer than its predecessor. As with the Ultra, it charges with up to 90 watts via cable. Wirelessly, the maximum of 50 watts is less than the Ultra, but still enough to require a special charger from Xiaomi.
HyperOS: A new ecosystem for more than just smartphones
Xiaomi has high hopes for HyperOS. The software is more than just an operating system for smartphones. Xiaomi wants to establish it as an ecosystem for all its devices. From smart homes and smartphones to the recently launched Xiaomi SU7 car.
According to Xiaomi, it has been working on HyperOS for seven years. Android remains the basis for the smartphones. For example, Google Photos will be integrated into the Xiaomi Gallery. In other words, you can use the Xiaomi app to access your photos in the Google cloud.
KI is currently a must. Xiaomi names four functions that use artificial intelligence as examples for HyperOS on smartphones:
- AI subtitles that enable real-time transcription in video conferences
- An AI album search that searches for images in photo collections based on a spoken description.
- AI portraits that create a model from existing portrait photos of you that can be inserted into any AI-generated images.
- Generative enhancement of existing images.
Xiaomi HyperMind goes one step further, attempting to recognise people's habits and allow its products to act accordingly. One example given is that the light in the living room is always switched on when the smart door lock is opened. However, before HyperMind switches the light on automatically, the function asks whether it should apply the pattern it has learnt. Xiaomi uses all of the smartphone's sensors to find these and other patterns.
Price and availability
The Xiaomi 14 comes in three colours - black, white and jade green. Its recommended retail price in Germany is €999.90 or €1099.90 - depending on the storage capacity. The Xiaomi 14 Pro will not be released in Europe.
In Switzerland, our colleagues from Category have launched a promotion to mark the sales launch of the Xiaomi 14.
Regular sales of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra start on 19 March. It is available for 1499.90 euros in black or white. The Photography Kit will be released at the same time for 199.90 euros. <p
Header image: Jan Johannsen
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.