Xiaomi 14 Ultra Review

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra enters the flagship arena with a bang, boasting top-tier specifications and a camera system designed to impress photography enthusiasts. But how does it fare when compared to its competitors? Let's delve into the details and see if the 14 Ultra lives up to its "Ultra" name.

Xiaomi continues its design language with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, featuring a familiar yet refined aesthetic. The phone utilizes a premium glass back, available in four color options, and a sturdy aluminum or titanium frame. While sleek and stylish, the glass construction makes it prone to smudges and fingerprints.

Additionally, the phone's sizeable 6.73-inch display and hefty weight (224.4g - 229.5g depending on material) might not be ideal for users with smaller hands or a preference for lightweight phones.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts a stunning 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This translates to incredibly sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth scrolling. The display also supports HDR10+ certification, ensuring an immersive experience for watching movies and playing games.

However, some users might find the bezels surrounding the display slightly thicker than those offered by some competitors, which could be a minor aesthetic concern for those seeking a more edge-to-edge viewing experience.

The camera system is undoubtedly the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's crown jewel. It features a five-lens setup on the rear, including a massive 50MP main sensor with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), a 50MP ultrawide sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 120x digital zoom, and a dedicated ToF sensor for depth information. This enhanced setup caters to diverse shooting scenarios, offering exceptional capabilities for photography enthusiasts.

In well-lit conditions, the camera system shines, capturing stunning photos with exceptional detail and dynamic range. The telephoto lenses provide impressive zoom capabilities, allowing you to capture distant objects with clarity. The periscope telephoto lens, in particular, offers the potential for capturing extreme close-ups while maintaining good image quality. However, low-light performance can be inconsistent, with occasional noise and loss of detail. Additionally, while video recording capabilities are good, they don't quite match the best in the market in terms of stabilization and overall quality.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra packs a punch under the hood, featuring the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This powerful chip ensures smooth performance for even the most demanding tasks, including multitasking and running graphically intensive games.

However, some users have reported thermal throttling issues under sustained heavy loads, which can lead to a slight drop in performance. Additionally, while the base model comes with 256GB of storage, the lack of a microSD card slot might be a dealbreaker for users requiring more storage space.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra runs on Android 14 with Xiaomi's MIUI 14 on top. This custom skin offers a clean and user-friendly interface with various customization options. However, some users have reported occasional bugs and performance hiccups with the software. Additionally, MIUI 14 is known to include some pre-installed bloatware apps that might not be desired by all users.

As expected from a flagship phone, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra delivers excellent performance. The combination of the powerful processor and fast UFS 4.0 storage ensures smooth operation for everyday tasks and demanding applications. Gamers will appreciate the phone's ability to handle even the most graphically intensive games without significant frame drops.

However, the aforementioned thermal throttling issues under heavy loads need to be considered, especially for users who plan to push the phone to its limits for extended periods.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts a large 5,300mAh battery, which translates to long-lasting battery life. Moderate users can expect to reach the end of the day with battery to spare, while power users might need to top up in the late afternoon. The phone also supports 90W fast charging, allowing you to quickly refuel the battery when needed.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra establishes itself as a compelling contender in the flagship market, offering a combination of power, performance, and innovative features. However, it's not without its shortcomings, and potential buyers should weigh both the pros and cons before making a decision.

Pros:

• Stunning AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate: Delivers exceptional visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth scrolling.
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor: Ensures smooth performance for demanding tasks and multitasking.
• Long-lasting 5,300mAh battery with 90W fast charging: Provides a full day of use on a single charge and quick top-ups when needed.
• Versatile and powerful five-lens camera system: Offers exceptional capabilities for photography enthusiasts, including a 50MP main sensor, 50MP ultrawide sensor, 50MP and 50MP telephoto lenses with impressive zoom capabilities, and a dedicated depth sensor.
• Clean and user-friendly MIUI 14 interface with customization options.

Cons:

• Design might be slightly bulky for some and prone to smudges.
• Camera performance can be inconsistent in low-light conditions.
• Thermal throttling issues reported under sustained heavy loads.

MIUI 14 may include pre-installed bloatware and experience occasional bugs.
Ultimately, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a strong contender for users seeking a powerful and feature-rich flagship experience, especially those prioritizing photography. However, if you prioritize a flawless display, consistent low-light camera performance, or a bloatware-free software experience, you might find other options more suitable.