I’ve been testing the Xiaomi 14 it’s small but satisfying, and similar to heavyweights like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but easier to use one-handed. Here’s my in-depth review.

Design and Build Quality

This year’s Xiaomi 14 is one of the few sub-6.5-inch smartphones in 2024. While not technically mini or compact, it’s easy to use one-handed and even includes a dedicated one-handed mode. The 6.36-inch display fills the front with minimal wasted space and a comfortable weight of 193 grams. The global version features Gorilla Glass Victus, which is somewhat prone to scratches, but Xiaomi includes a screen protector.

The Xiaomi 14 is also IP68 water and dust resistant, scoring a respectable 3.5 out of 5. After a week of use, a few tiny nicks appeared, so I recommend using a cover to keep it pristine. It features 3D curved glass on the back, tapering at the edges with a highly reflective finish. Available in black, white, or a lovely jade green, the color options are the same as last year’s flagships.

Depending on the model, the frame may be matte or shiny. My jade green version is quite shiny and prone to fingerprints, as is the back.

Display and Audio Quality

The Xiaomi 14 features a compact 6.36-inch AMOLED display, upgraded from last year’s flagship, the Xiaomi 13, to a 1.5K resolution (2670 by 1200). This results in an impressive 460 pixels per inch, providing fine detail. The display supports full HDR streaming, including Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus, ensuring beautiful contrast. You can also tweak colors to your liking.

The screen can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, though only in extreme conditions. Nonetheless, it remains bright enough for outdoor use, even on sunny days. At night, it dims nicely with reliable auto-brightness. As expected from a flagship phone in 2024, it features LTPO technology, allowing the refresh rate to drop as low as 1Hz when idle and scale up to 120Hz for a super-fluid viewing experience.

The stereo speaker arrangement, with full Dolby Atmos support, delivers crisp audio even at high volumes. While there might be occasional minor distortion at peak volume, it’s generally not bothersome. For those who prefer it, Bluetooth audio works perfectly, providing a seamless experience.

HyperOS and Features

The software here isn’t too surprising, you’ve got Android 14 with Xiaomi’s new HyperOS launcher. It’s rebuilt from the ground up to be more streamlined and efficient, It feels smoother now and takes up less storage space which is always nice but you didn’t like MIUI, you won’t suddenly love HyperOS.

And how great hyperOS launcher is I mean it’s essentially like upgrading from call-in logger to call-in export. So There’s a dedicated control center for quick access to goodies and toggles, along with classic features like gaming mode.

On the Xiaomi 14 it’s been well-behaved without glitches or app crashes, even pre-launch. Unfortunately, you got three browser apps like Chrome, Opera, and Xiaomi’s own browser. And you do easily remove unwanted apps to save the stroage. One positive thing is Now Xiaomi takes software updates more seriously and promising several years of upgrades and security patches.

Performance

The Xiaomi 14, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, offers a notable performance upgrade compared to its predecessor. In contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 relies on its Exodus chipset. With 12GB of RAM, everyday tasks are handled smoothly.

I tested Genshin Impact extensively, enjoying seamless gameplay even on the highest graphics settings at a stable 60 fps. Despite prolonged gaming sessions, the device maintained consistent performance, albeit warming up near the top end after about half an hour.

The dedicated gaming mode enhances performance with quick access to performance boosts, do-not-disturb mode, and screen recording capabilities. Connectivity is robust with full support for 5G and Wi-Fi 7, ensuring fast website loading and smooth video streaming on the go. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 earns high marks for its performance capabilities.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14 boasts an upgraded battery capacity of 4,610mAh, slightly higher than its predecessor, and now supports faster charging. During my usage, I consistently ended the day with 30% to 40% battery remaining after extensive screen-on time, including 5 to 6 hours of mixed use and continuous background audio streaming. For moderate usage, it can easily last two days on a single charge.

However, heavy tasks like gaming with titles such as Genshin Impact or prolonged video calls on platforms like Skype or Zoom significantly drain the battery. On such occasions, I experienced almost fully depleting the battery within a single day, despite initial endurance. Notably, Xiaomi includes its 90-watt hypercharge technology, ensuring rapid recharge whenever needed. With just 30 minutes plugged in, the battery replenishes substantially. Additionally supports 50-watt wireless charging, allowing for quick refueling on compatible wireless pads.

This combination of enhanced battery capacity and rapid charging options makes the Xiaomi 14 a reliable choice for users needing sustained performance throughout the day, with quick recharge capabilities for added convenience.

Camera Test

The Xiaomi 14 introduces significant upgrades in camera technology, boasting a 50-megapixel main camera with a Light Fusion 900 sensor and a Leica f1.6 lens. This setup captures 80% more light than its predecessor Xiaomi 13, resulting in brighter night shots and finely detailed photos in low-light conditions. Even with a fast shutter speed, colors are accurately reproduced without oversharpening.

The camera includes a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with a 32 MP option, featuring a Leica lens that supports up to 60x zoom. It excels in low-light situations and delivers sharp images, although detail can diminish beyond 30-40x zoom. The 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle shooter maintains consistent tones and accuracy, offering vibrant or authentic color options.

For versatility, the camera app supports various modes including Portrait and Pro mode with RAW format shooting. It also features a dedicated night mode, although the general photo mode performs impressively even in low-light scenarios.

Video capabilities include 4K Ultra HD at 24 or 30 fps with HDR, and up to 8K resolution without HDR. Footage is stable with crisp detail, enhanced by a quad mic setup for clear audio capture from all directions.

Selfies are captured with a 32-megapixel front camera, supporting 4K video recording at 60 fps. The camera app is user-friendly and includes features like voice and palm shutter for convenience.

Overall, the Xiaomi 14’s camera suite offers exceptional performance across photography and videography, catering to both casual users and enthusiasts alike with its robust features and quality results.

Specs

Display	6.36 CrystalRes AMOLED 1.5K (2670 x 1200) resolution
Brightness	3,000-nits peak brightness
Camera lens	Next gen Leica optics with Summilux
Battery	4610mAh battery
Charging Support	90W hypercharge wired and 50W Wireless chargin
Software	HyperOS Launcher
Processor	Snapdragon 8 gen 3
RAM and Storage	12GB/256GB 12GB/512GB
Cameras	5MP main (f/1.6) 50MP ultra-wide f/2.0 50MP 3.2X telephoto f/2.0 32MP front Selfie camera
Size and Weight	152.8 x 71.5 x 8.2 mm 193grams