Xiaomi took advantage of the MWC in Barcelona to present its new products. Among them, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a premium phone that seeks to become the new king of photos on Android. For this, the Chinese firm is banking on its collaboration with Leica.
Xiaomi is in Barcelona to present its flagship products for 2024. Two smartphones have been unveiled, the Xiaomi 14 as well as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the brand’s “ultimate” terminal. We we were able to take it in hand.
For its 14 range, Xiaomi does not plan to release a “Pro” model in Europe. We therefore have the Xiaomi 14 at 999 euros as well as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, sold for 1499 euros. To seduce, the manufacturer is focusing on the photo part, designed in partnership with Leica.
A high-end technical sheet
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra displays a high-end technical sheet. It is equipped with a 6.73-inch AMOLED screen with a definition of 3200 x 1440 pixels (LTPO), a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor as well as a 5000 mAh battery (90 Watt fast charging) . It is especially the photo part that is intriguing, since Xiaomi went all out with four 50 megapixel sensorsincluding a 1-inch wide-angle sensor.
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Screen | 6.73 inches AMOLED 3200 x 1440 pixels (522 ppi) 1-120Hz LTPO 3000 nits |
| BONE | HyperOS 1.0 / Android 14 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| MicroSD | No |
| Photo | Wide-angle 50 MP f/1.63-f/4.0 Ultra wide-angle 50 MP F/1.8 50 MP f/1.8 telephoto lens 50 MP f/2.5 periscope |
| selfie | 32MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh 90W wired charging Wireless 80W |
| 5G | Yes |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint sensor under the screen |
| Certification for water resistance | Yes, IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm 219g |
This photo module was created in partnership with the German manufacturer Leica, who not only designed the lenses, but also the software part. Even if it is difficult to give a clear opinion in the conditions of our handling (done in a living room), we are for the moment quite amazed by the photo part of the smartphone, especially on the light management. On the other hand, you will have to deal with Leica’s “filters” (Vibrant and Authentic), its trademark. If they give a real personality to the photos, we can regret results with unnatural colors.
In hand, the Ultra brings a real feeling of premium. Not only because of its immense circular module with impeccable finishes, but also thanks to with its slightly curved screen on all four sides. A bold choice when the trend is for flat slabs and which makes sense on an ultra premium.
Everything is served by an excellent quality aluminum frame. Concerning the back cover, Xiaomi has chosen vegan leather (black or white) which, although it is visually pretty, does not really convince to the touch; it gives a very plastic feeling. A bit of a shame for an ultra high-end product.
In any case, the first contact with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra proved to be very convincing, but remains to be confirmed in use, especially in terms of the photo. As a reminder, the smartphone will arrive on March 17 at 1499 euros and we will test it as soon as it is released. Before that, it will be the Xiaomi 14 which will pass on our test benches.
