Review Summary
Expert Rating
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is Xiaomi’s most ambitious bet since the launch of the Mi 11 Ultra (review) in India in 2021. Sure, we have seen what the brand can offer in the premium space with Xiaomi 13 Pro (review) and Xiaomi 14 (review), but the ultra-premium segment is a totally different ball game.
The company is banking on the camera system, co-created with Leica, to justify the price tag of Rs 99,999 (MRP Rs 1,19,999). Can the Xiaomi 14 Ultra prove to be a worthy contender, especially in a segment occupied by giants, including Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (review), iPhone 15 Pros, and more?
Table of Contents
Verdict
Whatever the Xiaomi 14 does well, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does it better. With its Leica partnership, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts one of the most versatile camera systems in the Android space. Moreover, it excels in other areas as well, such as display, battery life, and performance. While native generative features are yet to be seen onboard, the day may not be far off, especially with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 unlocking these capabilities.
Cameras
Let’s address the elephant in the room without delay. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra houses an extra camera on the back, unlike the triple camera setup on the Xiaomi 14.
Its rear camera system includes:
- 50MP camera with OIS and stepless variable aperture (f/1.63 – f/4.0). The primary camera utilises a 1-inch LYT-900 sensor.
- 50MP telephoto camera with OIS, 3.2x optical zoom, and a 75mm floating lens.
- An additional 50MP telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom, OIS, and periscope-style lens for 120X digital zoom.
- 50MP ultra-wide camera with auto-focus capabilities.
Not to forget, Xiaomi, with its partnership with Leica, offers a host of filters and modes to make the overall camera experience more playful. You can even capture macro photos with telephoto and ultra-wide cameras. The camera app offers the classic Leica shutter sound and watermark for an extra layer of flex. The smartphone has an UltraRAW mode for capturing images with 16-bit colours. Additionally, there are AI-backed features, including scene optimiser and Magic Eraser.
I had the chance to test the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera in the picturesque city of Singapore, and for the most part, images taken in daylight feature a great degree of sharpness and dynamic range. While the phone can capture natural colours via RAW mode, I found myself frequently toggling between Leica Vibrant and Authentic modes for a more traditional camera-like aesthetic.
For clarity, the Authentic mode aims to mimic real-life colours, although the contrast and shadows can lean towards a more dramatic approach. On the other hand, the Vibrant mode, as the name suggests, incorporates brighter and warmer tones, which may evoke cherished memories of a summer day. Either way, photos look good and crisp, and the treatment is entirely up to your preference. Even if you don’t use the portrait mode, the sensor and 8P lens structure allow a shallow depth of field.
I was equally impressed by the portrait capabilities of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the skin colour detection is also the most accurate I’ve seen on a smartphone. The Vivo X100 Pro is equally impressive for taking portraits, though I prefer the Xiaomi 14 Ultra a notch better for its ability to incorporate the classic Leica flavour without compromising on the details. The master lens system available under the portrait mode offers various focal lengths, including documentary (35mm), swirly bokeh (50mm), portrait (75mm), and soft focus (90mm), all of which are worth exploring.
The secondary telephoto lens is capable of taking pictures with 120x zoom. While the details can get sketchy when the maximum zoom is enabled, results with 10X and even 30X are quite impressive. I found the 5X optical zoom an excellent companion for portraits and distant shots. Another strength of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is its ability to maintain colour consistency, whether you’re using wide, telephoto, or ultra-wide lenses. The details with the ultra-wide camera are good, if not the best in both bright and dim conditions.
In low-light conditions, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is able to preserve details without adding too much noise. However, most of my images incorporate high contrast and shadows by default. The photos look social media-ready, though purists may prefer a near-accurate depiction. The UltraRAW mode may offer respite, but regular users will likely struggle to tweak the aperture or shutter speed every time. In that case, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered better white balance and brightness by default, at least during my review.
The 32MP front camera also performs relatively well compared to what I’ve observed on most smartphones. While you may notice occasional brightening of the skin complexion, it’s not overpowering. Additionally, the front camera offers features like Dynamic Framing (0.8x, 1x), Portrait mode with bokeh and depth control, and more. Some AI features, such as object remover and auto-colouring, significantly enhance the quality of images, whether taken with front or back cameras.
Overall, still photography with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra isn’t an issue, and an additional telephoto camera, plus the Leica partnership, adds great versatility. I feel iPhones remain the MVP for videos. You won’t face colour or detail-related issues on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but videos often start with a strange stutter. That appears to be a software-related problem, which is fixable with an OTA update.
Lastly, despite spending days with the Xaiomi 14 Ultra, I’ve only scratched the surface in terms of features and more. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is also special as one can turn the smartphone into a full-blown digital camera with physical buttons to start video or adjust brightness. Sadly, that’s only possible with the dedicated Xiaomi photography kit, and I couldn’t test that for this review.
Design and display
All those extra camera features also mean an increased size and weight. Compared to the Xiaomi 14’s 8.2mm thickness, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra measures 9.2mm with the camera bump. Similarly, the weight has gone up from 193 grams to 219 grams. And in the tech world, every millimetre and milligram counts.
There’s no doubt that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra feels premium from every corner. The back incorporates a leather finish, which offers a soft touch but a firm grip. The rear camera’s round module mimics the large lens of traditional cameras. The frame is metal (not titanium yet) and feels sturdy.
If the traditional camera look does seem appealing, the regular Xiaomi 14’s boxy design may seem more appropriate. Both smartphones have an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water – a big thumbs up.
The Ultra in the name does not only mean bumped-up cameras but also display specs. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a relatively bigger 6.73-inch AMOLED display with relatively better resolution (3,200 x 1,440 pixels) and brightness of up to 3000nits. You will find all the major display certifications (HDR and Dolby Vision) to offer a premium viewing experience. The loud stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support also complement the viewing experience.
While most users will be satisfied with the display performance, whether it’s colour reproduction, contrast, or deep blacks, I find the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s native matte coating particularly advantageous for viewing and reading under harsh sunlight. You can check out our Instagram Reel to see the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display superiority under the harshest sunlight.
Performance, software, and battery
Xiaomi is offering a single storage option of 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It makes sense as better details in photos and videos lead to an increased file size. The 512GB storage can be equally important when recording videos in 4K or 8K resolution.
In terms of performance, there’s not much to distinguish between the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra, as both smartphones are rocking Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The performance is snappy, and the camera app feels extremely light despite carrying a ton of features. The phone also ships with Android 14-based HyperOS to offer better integration with other Xiaomi products.
The new UI with HyperOS also feels more polished, although there is room for improvement in terms of reducing pre-installed apps and refining AI-related features. I like the wallpapers that the HyperOS bundles, but we have yet to see how Xiaomi leverages the generative AI-based wallpaper creator.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra also carries a relatively bigger 5,000mAh battery with support for 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging. With the bundled 120W charger, the phone takes roughly 35 minutes to charge from 0 to 100 percent. Even with maximum settings enabled, you expect a respectable battery life. If the settings are moderate, then the phone can easily last for a full-day.
Final verdict
If the value of a true flagship lies in camera performance, then the Xiaomi 14 Ultra justifies every penny. There are other areas too where the smartphone excels, be it display, battery, build, or even charging speed.
Nevertheless, there are areas where Xiaomi could enhance its offerings, particularly in the realm of software experience to compete with the likes of Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We are yet to see a more comprehensive ecosystem from the brand, and that day may not be too far away with the aggressive work on its new Android-based HyperOS.
Otherwise, if you seek a camera-focused smartphone with a relatively more affordable price tag than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is sure to impress.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Reasons to buy:
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Leica cameras elevate the smartphone photography experience to a new level.
- The Xiaomi 14 Ultra also sports a tall display with support for almost all major formats.
- The phone offers respectable 90W wired charging and super-fast 80W wireless charging.
- The Xiaomi photography kit can also turn the Xiaomi 14 Ultra into a full-blown digital camera with easy-to-access buttons to adjust settings.
Reasons not to buy:
- The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is heavy to carry. The weight distribution is also slightly unbalanced.
- The phone is yet to receive cutting-edge generative AI for an enhanced user experience.
 | Rs. 99,999.00 | Go To Store |
 Xiaomi 14 Ultra | vs |  Apple iPhone 15 Pro |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | vs |  Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
