The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the best smartphone for photography, bar none

Once in a while one thing particular comes alongside. Within the crowded cellphone market, it’s a uncommon factor. 

Enter the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. Xiaomi has lastly launched its Extremely flagship smartphone outdoors of its dwelling market. For those who’re out there for the best possible cellphone expertise, you may need discovered it right here.

You’ll need to be all in on the pictures although, and in case you are, that is an fanatic’s dream. Particularly whenever you add within the non-compulsory Images Equipment which, no lie, means this cellphone can rival compact mirrorless DSLRs. 

Costing a whopping £1,299, it’s not a cellphone you’ll be shopping for on a whim. However should you can afford it, this cellphone has nearly each bell and whistle you’ll be able to think about, from insane pictures abilities to a stunning display to super-fast charging. 

It’s not good, no cellphone is, however Xiaomi could have the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google quaking of their respective boots after this. 

See what the Xiaomi 14 Extremely goes up in opposition to in our greatest smartphones information.

Design & Construct

• Vegan leather-based and Xiaomi Defend glass
• Two colors
• IP68

For those who suppose this cellphone appears like a digital camera, it’s not a coincidence. Xiaomi has crafted it to resemble conventional cameras in numerous methods, from the round digital camera module to the textured cowl. I believe it appears nice. 

There’s no getting round it, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is an enormous cellphone. It’s to be anticipated with that Extremely moniker, however don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

A lot of the majority is discovered on the again, because the digital camera module is a large, virtually ice hockey puck-like, addition. It provides weight and makes the cellphone a bit top-heavy however as talked about, it’s all for a great cause. 

On the plus aspect, it does present someplace to your finger to naturally relaxation and assist the cellphone. 

The general footprint of the handset is much like big-screen rivals. Nevertheless, it’s barely smaller (161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm) and lighter (from 219.8g) than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely. 

Xiaomi gives the 14 Extremely in two colors, merely black or white, and each characteristic a ‘nano-tech’ vegan leather-based rear cowl which appears and feels very nice. The way it holds up a yr or two down the road is one other matter, nevertheless it’s possible you’ll use a case sooner or later anyway. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Unusually, the agency offers a tough plastic case within the field quite than a flimsy silicone one. That is positive however I’d quite use the cellphone with out, or make use of the case that comes as a part of the Images Equipment – extra on that later. 

Case or not, the cellphone is well-made and sturdy, that includes an IP68 ranking that means it’s just about absolutely mud and waterproof. As all flagships north of £1,000 must be. 

The one-piece body is a brand new ‘6M42’ built-in high-strength aluminium, and the entrance is Xiaomi’s personal Defend Glass which “incorporates all-new supplies, forming a interlocking construction via high-temperature sintering”. 

Mixed with the vegan leather-based again, they type the Xiaomi Guardian Construction. A enjoyable advertising and marketing identify however the cellphone does really feel very robust to be truthful. 

As for the glass, it’s exhausting to say with out long-term testing and that’s partly as Xiaomi applies a display protector on the manufacturing unit. This has change into fairly scratched throughout my few weeks with the cellphone so may not be on for for much longer. 

Display & Audio system

• 6.7-inch AMOLED
• 1-120Hz
• The very best of curved and flat worlds
• Spectacular audio

A lot of the specifics in regards to the 14 Extremely’s show is about what you’d count on for a flagship of this value. Nevertheless, there’s a mixture of design parts which make it uncommon. 

Xiaomi touts an ‘throughout liquid show’, nevertheless it’s not so simple as the show bodily being curved on the edges. That strategy is a bit divisive as though it appears and feels good, you get a little bit of picture distortion and the draw back of unintended enter. 

The 14 Extremely gives the very best of each worlds, with the glass fantastically curved on all sides however the beautiful show beneath being flat. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

It’s a mammoth 6.73-inch (barely smaller than the S24 Extremely’s 6.8-inch) panel with a protracted record of prime specs, together with AMOLED tech with a excessive pixel density of 522ppi, plus assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+. 

LPTO know-how means the refresh charge can dynamically regulate from 120Hz down to simply 1Hz so you may get easy efficiency when the excessive refresh charge is required, however save energy when it isn’t.

It’s additionally very vivid, with a typical excessive brightness of 1000 nits and a theoretical peak brightness of 3000 nits. In a real-world measurement with auto brightness switched off and daylight mode on, I measured it at a powerful 736 nits and located it simple to make use of in all conditions. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

The embedded fingerprint scanner is excellent certainly, and I like that it sits larger up than the Xiaomi 14 making it extra pure and comfy for me to make use of.  

There’s no headphone jack, which I all the time discover a disgrace on a cellphone of this dimension, nevertheless it’s not an enormous deal when wi-fi headphones are so prevalent. The 14 Extremely is impressively full of high-end audio codecs together with AAC, AptX Adaptive, LDAC and LHDC 5.0, so Hello-Res Audio isn’t distant with the correct streaming service and headphones. 

Its stereo audio system are good high quality and have loads of velocity, together with a spacious and detailed soundscape. You can be suitably immersed in audio when listening to music, gaming, watching movies and extra. 

Specs & Efficiency 

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
• Whopping 16GB of RAM
• Solely 512GB storage in UK

Matching many different 2024 flagships, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely options with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset within the engine room.  

You get a whopping 16GB of RAM (greater than the S24 Extremely or Pixel 8 Professional). Simply word that, within the UK not less than, there’s just one storage capability at 512GB. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Efficiency, unsurprisingly, is extraordinarily fast and the 14 Extremely can deal with no matter you throw at it with relative ease. Whether or not it’s opening apps, photograph enhancing, streaming video or gaming. 

Prime video games akin to Genshin Influence are buttery easy and you’ll play with excessive settings, no downside. A beefier cooling system than the common Xiaomi 14 – a ‘Twin-Channel IceLoop System’ – helps maintain the interior temperature down and it appears to work nicely. 

You’ll be able to see the way it benchmarks in contrast with key rivals beneath: 

Xiaomi 14 Extremely benchmarks

By way of different specs, the 14 Extremely is full of loads of bells and whistles together with 5G assist, Wi-Fi 7 (in choose markets together with the UK), twin nano-SIM assist (no eSIM), Bluetooth 5.4 with twin connections, NFC and even an IR blaster. 

The latter is tremendous useful even only for adjusting the quantity of or switching the TV on and off when your toddler has misplaced the devoted distant. 

Cameras & Video

• Unimaginable quad digital camera system
• Co-developed with Leica
• Elective Images Equipment is superior

As you’ll have gathered by this level within the evaluate, pictures is the primary occasion on the 14 Extremely. You don’t (or shouldn’t) have a digital camera bump this huge with out having one thing to point out for it. 

And there’s heaps to point out right here, with no fewer than 4 rear cameras co-developed with Leica. With regards to the cameras, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is certainly a case of all killer no filler.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

All 4 lenses are 50Mp, so it’s the same affair to the common 14 right here however delve into the specs and the Extremely has extra to supply than simply an additional lens. 

The principle digital camera is a pictures nerd’s dream come true with optical picture stabilisation (OIS), an enormous 1-inch sensor and even variable step-less aperture between f/1.63/2.0/2.8/4.0 – to provide the headline particulars. 

Elsewhere there’s an ultrawide, a floating telescope at 3.2x and a periscope digital camera for 5x optical zoom. They’re all based mostly on the Sony IMX858 sensor and solely the ultrawide doesn’t have OIS. 

For those who wish to deal in focal lengths, this provides you the equal of 12-, 23-, 75- and 120mm which is a formidable array to play with, and people lengths are talked about all through the digital camera app so which you might be utilizing. 

Speaking of the app, Xiaomi has performed a fantastic job with this contemplating what number of modes and settings there can be found. It’s neat, intuitive, and you’ll simply level and shoot or spend hours fine-tuning (together with selecting the aperture on the primary digital camera and saving customized presets) relying in your desire. 

As I discovered with the common 14, the standard on provide right here is totally beautiful. The best way the cellphone captures gentle is commonly astonishing, and viewers of the outcomes wouldn’t imagine they got here from a cellphone quite than a fully-fledged DLSR digital camera.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

For those who’re undecided which digital camera to make use of, the cellphone could swap mechanically (macro photographs for instance), however I typically most well-liked the outcomes by making my very own selection. High quality is so excessive throughout the board that you could be not even be capable to inform which digital camera has been used for a shot, past the apparent distinction between an ultrawide and 5x optical zoom. 

You’ll be able to virtually fully get rid of portrait and night time modes as there’s loads of pure bokeh and the primary sensor can take up gentle like some type of magical sponge. 

As regular, the primary digital camera is the very best, however the two telephoto lenses sustain impressively nicely with glorious element, color, publicity and white steadiness. You’ll be able to zoom digitally past the 5x optical accessible as much as a ridiculous 120x, however that’s extraordinarily exhausting to make use of handheld and high quality takes an enormous dip after round 30x. 

In the meantime, the ultrawide does a great job of becoming much more in at top quality with out a lot distortion within the corners in any respect. 

I’ve most well-liked to shoot within the Leica Genuine color profile which is near actual life, however you’ll be able to swap to Leica Vibrant within the prime nook if you need extra punchy saturated colors akin to Samsung’s telephones.

Transferring to the selfie digital camera and this is identical 32Mp (f/2.0) digital camera because the common 14. It’s glorious when it comes to high quality and might mechanically swap between 0.8- and 1x relying on what you’re making an attempt to suit into the body.  

It’s bought loads of options, together with portrait mode with depth management, and might shoot video in as much as 4K. On the rear, you’ll be able to go all the best way to 8K/30fps should you like, although 4K with 60fps (as much as 120fps) is preferable for many conditions. If you wish to use Xiaomi’s regular video or regular video professional modes, you’ll must drop to 1080p however with OIS on the primary digital camera, I didn’t discover this mandatory. 

Total, that is the very best smartphone cash should purchase proper now for pictures and I haven’t even talked about the Images Equipment which takes it to a different stage. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

This non-compulsory accent is £179 additional within the UK, however you’ll typically discover Xiaomi bundling it with the handset. It’s primarily a digital camera grip attachment, and you’ll have to put a case on earlier than this slides into place. Nevertheless it all appears and feels nice, with the black possibility coated in a woven cloth end which is sturdy and grippy. 

The grip itself provides not solely a two-stage shutter, zoom lever, file button and customisable wheel but additionally accommodates a 1500mAh battery to maintain the cellphone topped up with cost. 

Moreover, there’s a horny orange digital camera ring, or you’ll be able to put a 67mm filter on as a substitute. With all this, in addition to the wrist strap, you’ve actually bought a digital camera that occurs to even be a cellphone. 

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 90W HyperCharge
• 80W wi-fi charging
• Adapter included

A 5000mAh battery is the common dimension for a smartphone in 2024. Though you would possibly count on it to be larger for a cellphone this huge, it matches the S24 Extremely, so it’s clear the area and weight is primarily for the digital camera system. 

In our regular PCMark battery take a look at with the display set to the advised 200 nits, the cellphone lasted an honest, if not excellent, 12 hours and 42 minutes. 

It’s about the one space the place the 14 Extremely doesn’t actually excel, nevertheless it’s actually not dangerous. I haven’t discovered myself worrying about battery life, which says loads. It’s going to comfortably final a day until you might be hammering issues like gaming and 4K video recording. 

I’ve seen the cellphone final a few days when my utilization has been on the lighter aspect. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

With regards to charging, you get a speedy 90W HyperCharge adapter within the field, which may get you from lifeless to 52% in simply quarter-hour or 88% in half an hour, each of that are very fast.

It’s particularly beneficial whenever you evaluate to Samsung and Google rivals, which provide a lot slower charging and don’t embrace any charger within the field. Nevertheless, it’s price noting that this strategy is extra eco-friendly, and you might have already got a suitable charger at dwelling.  

The 14 Extremely additionally helps whopping 80W wi-fi ‘HyperCharge’ and 10W reverse wi-fi charging, with the latter permitting you to simply cost any devices that assist Qi charging, akin to wi-fi earbuds.

Software program & Apps 

• HyperOS
• Android 14
• First rate promised software program assist

The 14 Extremely, like its stablemate the common Xiaomi 14, makes use of the HyperOS software program.  

That is Xiaomi’s ‘new’ working system which runs on Android 14, however HyperOS isn’t way more than a rebranded model of the MIUI pores and skin which got here earlier than it. 

Total, it’s a combined bag. There are issues I like and issues I don’t like. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

The break up notification and fast settings panels (to the left and proper of the punch gap digital camera) can be divisive, as can be different iOS influences such because the default choice to don’t have any app drawer. You’ll additionally must get used to the grid of current apps and shutting them by swiping sideways.

Bloatware stays a difficulty, however I’ve positively seen loads worse previously. Nobody wants three, sure three, net browsers and there are different apps that you simply’ll wish to uninstall instantly (which you’ll be able to). Nevertheless, the likes of Spotify, TikTok and Fb aren’t so dangerous in my e-book. 

One other adverse is what was once beautiful rotating photographs on the lock display have now change into virtually solely adverts. There’s additionally a ‘Really helpful feed’ should you swipe up from the house display which seems to be Xiaomi’s model of Google Uncover, simply 1,000,000 instances worse, with overwhelming hyperlinks to tabloid articles I’m not thinking about. 

On the plus aspect, there are some nifty options such because the GameTurbo mode (for reinforcing gaming efficiency and decreasing distractions) and floating apps which assist with multi-tasking, even when Xiaomi might do a greater job of displaying how these options work, and even that they exist.

There are additionally AI options coming which I haven’t been capable of take a look at, akin to reside subtitles for video calls and ‘AI Portrait’ which, when you’ve taken sufficient selfies, can create photographs of you with particular prompts. I’ve seen it in motion and it’s very spectacular if you wish to have enjoyable or faux you went on vacation someplace unique whenever you really went to Skegness.

Xiaomi guarantees an honest 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety patches which, till just lately, can be completely acceptable. Samsung and Google now provide seven of every, which is considerably higher, assuming each follow their guarantees.

Nonetheless, 4 to 5 years of longevity must be sufficient for many customers. 

Worth & Availability 

There’s no selecting between fashions in terms of the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. Within the UK it’s £1,299 for the 16/512GB mannequin or nothing. Your selection is between black or white colourways. 

You should purchase it from the official Mi retailer the place there are numerous gives together with £150 trade-in, 6-months of 100GB Google storage and 3-months of YouTube Premium. You can even get it from Amazon, nevertheless it’s not formally accessible within the US.

The worth places it up in opposition to the likes of the Google Pixel 8 Professional which is £1,179 for the matching 512GB capability, although as little as £999 if 128GB is sufficient for you. 

Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely which is £1,349 for the 512GB and even has a £1,549 1TB mannequin should you want it. On the Apple aspect, the iPhone 15 Professional Max is £1,399 for 512GB.

There are different nice pictures telephones such because the Oppo Discover X7 Extremely however it is going to be a lot more durable to get your palms on that. 

You must also contemplate the Xiaomi 14 because the common mannequin remains to be severely spectacular, way more reasonably priced and a extra manageable handset size-wise. As are the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24.

See extra choices in our information to the very best smartphones you should buy. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Must you purchase the Xiaomi 14 Extremely? 

In nearly each approach, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is an unimaginable smartphone. It’s bought beautiful design and excessive construct high quality, an superior display that’s bought the very best of each flat and curved worlds, and flagship-level efficiency. 

For my cash, it’s the very best smartphone for pictures available on the market proper now, even with out factoring within the glorious Images Equipment. Nevertheless, I’d say you do have to essentially profit from this a part of the cellphone to justify shopping for one. 

At £1,299, it’s cheaper than the equal Galaxy S24 Extremely and should you’re all about ISO and f-stops then the 14 Extremely is for you. 

Nevertheless, you’ll be able to nonetheless get unimaginable high quality for much less within the Google Pixel 8 Professional and the common Xiaomi 14/Pixel 8 if you need a smaller cellphone. 

Specs

• Android 14 w/ HyperOS 1.0
• 6.7in WQHD+ AMOLED 1-120Hz show, 240Hz contact sampling, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Xiaomi Defend glass entrance
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• 16GB RAM LPDDR5X
• 512GB UFS 4.0 non-expandable storage
• 50Mp, f/1.63-4.0, essential digital camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.2 wide-angle digital camera
• 50Mp, f/2 telephoto 3.2x digital camera with OIS
• 50Mp, f/2.5 periscope 5x cameras with OIS
• 32Mp, f/2.0 front-facing digital camera
• Twin audio system with Dolby Atmos
• 5G
• WiFi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• USB-C port
• IR blaster
• NFC
• Twin-SIM
• 5000mAh battery
• 90W quick charging
• 80W wi-fi charging
• 10W reverse wi-fi charging
• 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm
• 219.8g
• Launch colors: Black, White