The Xiaomi 14 has arrived in India, offering a compelling alternative to pricier “Pro” flagships from Apple, Samsung, and Google. Designed for budget-conscious enthusiasts, the Xiaomi 14 boasts a premium design, powerful performance, and a versatile camera system, all at a competitive price point. Let’s delve deeper and see if the Xiaomi 14 emerges as India’s new default flagship.
Design and Build: Striking a Balance Between Beauty and Functionality
While the absence of the Xiaomi 14 Pro in India might be a disappointment for some, the standard Xiaomi 14 stands out on its own. Its compact size is a welcome change from the bulky flagships we’ve become accustomed to. The phone feels incredibly comfortable to hold thanks to its flat screen, rounded edges, slim body, and lightweight construction. Despite featuring a metal chassis and glass on both sides, the Xiaomi 14 weighs under 200 grams and measures a mere 8.2mm thin, making it even slimmer than the iPhone 15 Pro.
Indian customers can choose between White, Jade Green, and Black color options. While the glossy finish on the green model looks elegant, it’s a fingerprint magnet. Thankfully, the included case offers protection, but it does take away from the phone’s sleek design. The Xiaomi 14 also boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind in case of accidental splashes or spills.
The button layout is standard, with volume and power buttons on the right and a USB Type-C port, SIM tray, and speaker grille on the bottom. An accurate and responsive in-display fingerprint reader adds to the convenience factor. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 excels in design and build quality, with the only minor drawback being the fingerprint-prone finish on the green model.
Display: A Feast for the Eyes
Xiaomi equips the 14 with a stunning 6.36-inch 1.5K (1200 x 2670 pixels) LTPO C8 OLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. This custom panel boasts an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate that seamlessly adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on content, optimizing smoothness and battery efficiency. The display also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, ensuring vibrant colors and exceptional contrast for an immersive viewing experience.
The panel is bright enough for outdoor use, reaching a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light and Flicker Free certifications further enhance eye comfort during extended usage. Additionally, Widevine L1 certification guarantees high-quality video streaming on popular OTT platforms.
Performance: Powerhouse Under the Hood
The Xiaomi 14 packs a punch with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This powerhouse configuration ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks and demanding mobile games. An innovative cooling system further optimizes performance by providing 3 times the thermal efficiency compared to traditional VC cooling solutions.
Benchmarking confirmed the phone’s prowess. It achieved an impressive single-core score of 2045 points and a multi-core score of 6692 points on Geekbench 6. The AnTuTu score surpassed two million points, putting it on par with other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices.
We tested popular games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Genshin Impact. Both Call of Duty and Asphalt ran flawlessly on maximum graphics settings with the highest frame rates. Genshin Impact also ran smoothly on recommended settings, maintaining frame rates around 50 to 60 fps.
Camera System: Co-Engineered with Leica for Exceptional Results
The Xiaomi 14 boasts a versatile triple-camera system co-developed with Leica. The main highlight is a 50MP Hunter Light Fusion 900 image sensor with an f/1.62 aperture and OIS support. This 23mm primary camera utilizes Leica’s Summilux lens for superior image quality.
The setup also features a 50MP Leica 75mm Floating telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture, OIS, and 3.2x optical zoom, ideal for capturing distant details. Rounding out the system is a 50MP ultrawide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and a 115-degree field of view, perfect for capturing expansive landscapes.
Battery Life: Powering Through Your Day
The Xiaomi 14 packs a sizable 4,610mAh battery, which is impressive for a phone of this size. It can comfortably deliver all-day battery life under moderate to heavy usage. Our tests showed minimal battery drain – under 15% for an hour of Call of Duty and around 5% for an hour of YouTube playback.
Xiaomi includes a powerful 90W fast charger in the box, capable of fully charging the phone in just 31 minutes. The Xiaomi 14 also supports 50W wireless charging, surpassing the wired charging speeds of most premium smartphones.
Software: HyperOS – A Familiar Yet Improved Experience
The Xiaomi 14 runs Android 14-based HyperOS out of the box. Xiaomi guarantees four years of Android OS updates and five years of regular security updates, ensuring a long-lasting software experience. HyperOS aims to create a more connected ecosystem within Xiaomi’s product range.
While HyperOS retains functionalities and customizations from MIUI, it offers a more streamlined feel. The Control Center remains, but text labels on icons are removed, reappearing only when editing or rearranging them. New features include personalized lock screens and an updated multi-window interface with more intuitive functionalities.
The in-display fingerprint reader doubles as a heart rate monitor, adding a touch of health and wellness functionality. Overall, HyperOS retains the essence of MIUI while introducing a cleaner interface, new features, and reduced bloatware. However, the integration of advanced AI features seems lacking compared to some competitors.
Verdict: A Compelling Flagship at a Competitive Price
So, what defines a “default flagship”? We believe it’s a phone that offers a premium experience without compromising on core functionalities. The Xiaomi 14 embodies this concept perfectly. Here’s why:
Leica Camera System: The versatile triple-camera system delivers exceptional results in various lighting conditions.
Long-Lasting Battery Life: The 4,610mAh battery and fast charging capabilities ensure you won’t be tethered to a charger throughout the day.
Stunning Display: The bright and vibrant OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate provides an immersive viewing experience.
Powerful Performance: The latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset handles demanding tasks and games effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does the Xiaomi 14 cost?
A: The Xiaomi 14 starts at Rs 69,999 (approximately equivalent to the pricing of the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24).
Q: What are the color options for the Xiaomi 14?
A: The Xiaomi 14 comes in White, Jade Green, and Black.
Q: Does the Xiaomi 14 have a water-resistant design?
A: Yes, the Xiaomi 14 boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Q: How long does it take to charge the Xiaomi 14?
A: The included 90W fast charger can fully charge the phone in just 31 minutes.
Q: What operating system does the Xiaomi 14 run?
A: The Xiaomi 14 runs Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS on top.
Q: How many software updates will the Xiaomi 14 receive?
A: Xiaomi guarantees four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates for the Xiaomi 14.
Q: Is the Xiaomi 14 a good camera phone?
A: Yes, the Xiaomi 14’s Leica co-developed triple-camera system delivers excellent image quality in various lighting conditions.
