The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a flagship device that aims to redefine smartphone photography while offering top-tier performance across the board. With its Leica-engineered optics, powerful internals, and premium build, this device caters to both photography enthusiasts and power users. Let’s dive into what makes the Xiaomi 14 Ultra stand out—and where it might fall short.
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra exudes luxury. It features a premium ceramic or vegan leather back (depending on the variant), with an aluminum frame that adds sturdiness without adding too much weight. The massive circular camera bump on the back houses its advanced quad-camera setup, instantly setting it apart visually.
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Pros: Sleek, premium materials; durable build; IP68 water and dust resistance.
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Cons: The large camera bump makes the phone wobble on flat surfaces; slightly bulky and heavy for some users.
Display
Sporting a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a stunning visual experience. With a QHD+ resolution, 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and peak brightness up to 3000 nits, it performs flawlessly in all lighting conditions.
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Pros: Vibrant colors; excellent brightness; smooth adaptive refresh rate; HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support.
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Cons: Curved edges might lead to accidental touches; some users may prefer flat displays.
Performance
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. It handles everything—from multitasking to gaming—with ease and efficiency.
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Pros: Blazing-fast performance; excellent thermal management; smooth gaming experience.
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Cons: MIUI/HyperOS still has occasional bloatware or inconsistent UX elements.
Camera System
This is where the Xiaomi 14 Ultra truly shines. It features a quad-camera setup, co-engineered with Leica:
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50MP Main Sensor (1-inch Sony LYT-900, variable aperture f/1.63 – f/4.0)
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50MP Ultra-Wide (122° FOV)
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50MP 3.2x Telephoto (floating lens for close-ups)
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50MP 5x Periscope Zoom (long-range shots)
With Leica color modes (Authentic and Vibrant), RAW shooting, and cinematic video recording, the phone is a dream for mobile photographers.
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Pros: Phenomenal photo and video quality in all conditions; professional-grade features; great zoom range; improved night mode and dynamic range.
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Cons: Learning curve for manual features; shutter lag in certain modes.
Battery Life and Charging
Packing a 5000mAh battery, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra easily lasts a full day even with heavy usage. It supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.
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Pros: Excellent battery life; super-fast charging speeds; wireless and reverse wireless support.
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Cons: No charger included in some markets; heavy gaming can drain battery quickly.
Software
The phone runs on Xiaomi’s new HyperOS, based on Android 14. While it’s a step forward in terms of fluidity and UI polish, there are still some leftover elements from MIUI that users might not love.
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Pros: Clean design; better resource management; frequent updates promised.
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Cons: Pre-installed apps (bloatware); some users may find the UI less intuitive compared to stock Android.
Audio and Connectivity
With stereo speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos, the audio experience is loud and clear. Connectivity-wise, it supports Wi-Fi 7, 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and an IR blaster.
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Pros: Loud stereo speakers; rich sound; excellent connectivity options.
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Cons: No 3.5mm headphone jack.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is easily one of the most complete smartphones on the market today. It blends cutting-edge camera technology with beastly performance and luxurious design. While it may not be perfect, its strengths far outweigh its minor flaws.
Pros
✅ Industry-leading camera system with Leica tuning
✅ Stunning display with high brightness and adaptive refresh
✅ Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
✅ Premium build with IP68 rating
✅ Fast wired and wireless charging
✅ Solid battery life
✅ Feature-rich and forward-thinking design
Cons
❌ Bulky form factor
❌ No headphone jack
❌ Software still needs refinement
❌ Expensive (flagship pricing)
❌ Camera bump makes it less ergonomic on flat surfaces