Xiaomi 14 Ultra Hands-On: First Impression

The flagship was first introduced on February 22nd. However, it is important to note that our Xiaomi 14 Ultra hands-on model is the UK version. Additionally, due to Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica, their Ultra line has evolved to resemble a camera. Hence, this evolution is evident in the design and photographic technology of the 14 Ultra model.

Furthermore, the 14 Ultra is the most advanced smartphone from Xiaomi and in the Android world. It showcases the latest hardware, software, and capabilities from Xiaomi. 63

Xiaomi 14 Ultra Hands-On: First Impression

Design

At first glance, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra may appear more like a camera than a smartphone from behind. However, when viewed from the front, it retains the typical smartphone design. Xiaomi has remained faithful to the camera-inspired back design of the Ultra series, and in my opinion, they have gradually perfected it with the 14 Ultra generation. While it may not look vastly different from its predecessor in pictures, in reality, it boasts a more balanced and comfortable design that is no longer overwhelming.

Upon closer inspection, the attention to detail is evident in the finishing touches, such as the aluminum frame, buttons, screen-to-frame connection, and screen edge. The level of perfection achieved is remarkable, showcasing a highly sophisticated product. Phone manufacturers have continuously raised the bar for perfection over the years, and Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra stands out even when compared to flagship devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung S24 Ultra, and OPPO N3. Xiaomi has made significant improvements in terms of finishing, a surprising feat considering they haven’t been widely praised in this area before. 

The back of the phone features a vegan leather cover that seamlessly meets the frame, resulting in an even and delicate combination.

In terms of ergonomics, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a much more comfortable feel compared to previous Ultra models. It is also noticeably lighter and more compact than other high-end Android devices. As someone who appreciates a compact smartphone, I value these improvements from Xiaomi.

Enhanced Durability

Xiaomi’s newest model, the 14 Ultra, features upgraded materials that make it significantly more durable than its predecessor, the 13 Ultra. To achieve this, Xiaomi uses 6M42 aluminum for the frame, which is 1.38 times more durable than the aluminum used in the 13 Ultra, as well as more durable than the titanium used in Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro.

Additionally, it has a finished leather style on the back made from vegan leather, and our Xiaomi 14 Ultra hands-on unit is in white leather. It is six times more scratch-resistant than the faux leather utilized in the 13 Ultra. Moreover, the front glass of the 14 Ultra has been tested to be ten times more durable than that of the 13 Ultra.

Ensuring utmost durability, Xiaomi has also rated the 14 Ultra for dust and water resistance at the IP68 standard.

Camera and what’s special

Xiaomi’s new 14 Ultra smartphone offers a unique camera system with four lenses positioned in a black, lens-like part. Each lens has a different sensor and focal length, optimized for different shooting conditions. The sensors and focal lengths are as follows, with equivalent measurements to the FF35mm system:

• 12mm with Sony IMX858 50MP sensor, F1.8 aperture
• 23mm with Sony LYT-900 1″ 50MP sensor, aperture F1.63 and F4.0
• 75mm with Sony IMX858 50MP sensor, F1.8 aperture
• 120mm with Sony IMX858 50MP sensor with F2.5 aperture

Notably, Xiaomi 14 Ultra features the Sony LYT-900 sensor, which is currently only available on OPPO Find X7 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. This sensor is the largest and best sensor for smartphones, delivering exceptional image quality. However, it also means that the camera module is larger than other smartphones.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s lenses are co-engineered by Leica and Xiaomi and feature the LEICA VARIO-SUMMILUX 1:1.63-2.5/12-120 ASPH brand.

The phone’s software includes an “AI Large Model computational photography” system, which consists of four separate Large Model parts:

• FusionML
• ToneML
• ColorML
• PotraitML

This system applies AI technology to help improve image quality and performance. Additionally, Leica provides two color filters, Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look, which can be used to enhance the appearance of images captured with the 14 Ultra. There are also other color filters available from Leica and other sources.

Hardware and software

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 hardware platform, manufactured using a 4nm process. This chipset is Qualcomm’s most powerful to date, designed specifically for high-end Android devices. Xiaomi’s global website currently lists the device with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

In terms of battery, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Battery Test) is equipped with a 5000mAh capacity and supports both 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging.

It features a 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a 3200 x 1440 resolution, resulting in a density of 522PPI. The screen offers a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits, with a standard brightness of 1000 nits. It is considered one of the best screens available currently and we are eager to review it and share our findings with you.

In terms of software, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra runs on Xiaomi HyperOS, which is based on the Android 14 platform.

Final line

My initial impression of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is thrilling, and I’m hopeful that the overall experience will exceed expectations. I believe expanding the range of Ultra series smartphones will offer more options for smartphone enthusiasts. Although I am familiar with smartphones, many people still fear investing in Xiaomi’s high-end series.

Price and availability

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes in Black and White colors, featuring an elegant vegan leather finish. The single 16GB + 512GB version with 2 years warranty is available on Amazon.co.uk for £1,299.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra specifications

• Display: 6.73-inch (3200 x 1440 pixels) 2K C8 12-bit OLED 20:9 LTPO display, 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, up to 3000 nits peak brightness, 5,000,000:1 (Min) contrast ratio, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1920Hz PWM Dimming, DC Dimming, Xiaomi Ceramic Glass protection
• CPU: Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 750 GPU
• RAM+ROM: 12GB / 16GB LPPDDR5x RAM with 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 storage
• Features: Dust and waterproof (IP68), In-display fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor, USB Type-C audio, Hi-Res audio, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, 4-microphone array, Dual SIM (nano + nano)
• OS: Xiaomi HyperOS
• Rear camera: 50MP main camera with 1″ Sony LYT-900 sensor, f/1.63 ~ f/4 variable aperture, Hyper OIS, LED flash, Leica Summilux lens, 50MP 122° Leica ultra-wide angle lens with f/1.8 aperture, 5cm super macro, Sony IMX858 sensor, 50MP 3.2X 10cm Leica telephoto camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS, Sony IMX858 sensor, 50MP 5X 30cm Leica periscope telephoto camera with f/2.5 aperture, OIS, Sony IMX858 sensor, 8K video recording
• Front camera: 32MP OmniVision OV32B40 front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, 4K 60 fps recording
• Connectivity: 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be, Bluetooth 5.4, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS (L1 + L5), NavIC, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, NFC, Satellite communication
• Battery: 5300mAh (Typical) battery with 90W wired fast charging, 80W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging
• Dimensions: 161.4×75.3×9.2mm
• Weight: 224.4g (Leather) / 229.5g (Ceramic) / 229.6g (Titanium)