Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-14-ultra/
Xiaomi first launched its “Ultra” line with the 13 Series and the resulting Xiaomi 13 Ultra was equal parts smartphone and camera, especially with the Leica co-engineered lens and photography kit. While such a phone is definitely a niche product, I was grateful that Xiaomi went ahead with such a bold concept in a market that is filled with similar-looking slabs. So when the company announced a sequel to the 13 Ultra, I was thrilled to hear the news and looked forward to what the Xiaomi 14 Ultra improves over its predecessor.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra contents & specs
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is currently available globally and is priced at £ 1,299.00/ € 1,499.00. This premium price tag might not be attractive to a wide audience and further accentuates the niche aspect of the product. But you could still consider ordering the Chinese variant which would cost less. If you do order it, you will find the following items in the package:
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone
- Adapter & USB Type-C Cable
- SIM Eject Tool
- Protective Case
- Quick Start Guide, Warranty Card & Safety Information
Specs of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra can be found below:
Image courtesy of Xiaomi
As with the former Ultra model, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra Photography Kit is sold separately for £179.00 and comes with the following items:
- Leather Case
- Photography Grip (With Hand Strap)
- 67mm Filter Adaptor Ring
- Decoration Ring
- Photography Kit User Manual (With Warranty Card)
While this kit is not overly expensive, it can cost as much as a low-end phone. Considering the price of the phone only, this kit would have been a welcome addition to the base package.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: premium price tag, premium hardware and aesthetics
As a flagship model, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra also bears the corresponding flagship price tag. But as with the company’s other flagship phones, the cost is reflected on the hardware and aesthetics. The phone is built from a single aluminium block which makes it robust and adds a premium aesthetic.
Supplementing this aesthetic is the vegan leather back panel which adds a classy touch to the device. Similar to the 13 Ultra, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra sports a conspicuous circular lens array with a camera-like design. On top of making a “photography first” statement, it also makes the device unique.
While these hardware aspects are similar to the previous Ultra model, There are a few differences in terms of hardware between the 13 Ultra and 14 Ultra. The latter’s display is not curved on the sides as the 13 Ultra and the new phone does not feature a bump around the camera area. These are mostly aesthetic changes and I’m not against them.
More significant changes have been made to the Photography Kit. The 14 Ultra’s kit comes with a dedicated protective case that fits the photography grip, a 67mm lens filter adapter and a decorative ring. The latter can be swapped with the default silver ring on the phone and it’s a welcome feature to allow for additional customisation. However, there is no lens cover included in the new kit, which is a shame as I found this to be a must-have for a phone with such a large lens area. Being large also makes the panel more scratch-prone, and having a cover would really help provide some protection.
That said, I could somewhat overlook this omission for the improved camera handgrip. The latter now plugs via the phone’s USB-C port (instead of Bluetooth), features improved shortcut/zoom buttons and doubles as a power bank. It packs a 1500mAh built-in battery which can charge the phone and provide some peace of mind.
Fitting the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with the photography kit further makes the phone stand out with a camera-like look. The colour scheme of this new kit even adds a nostalgic retro-esque camera look to the device and I can’t stop marvelling at its unique look. I practically always use the 14 Ultra fitted with the kit for the looks, but also for the extra battery and hand strap. This configuration does add some weight to the already relatively heavy 220g phone but I got used to it.
An exquisite camera-phone experience with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra
As a premium phone, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does not disappoint in terms of usage as a daily driver. The 6.73" AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth and vivid visual experience even with the smallest tasks such as typing texts. For audio needs, the dual Dolby Atmos Stereo speakers consistently deliver a rich, full-bodied sound stage that adds to the immersion of viewing a video or playing a game.
Xiaomi’s Ultra line is as much phone as it is camera; and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is no different. This model boasts a 50MP quad-camera setup (23mm main, 75mm telephoto, 12mm ultra-wide and 120mm periscope) with optical lens co-engineered with Leica. This unique camera array enables the phone to capture stunning shots, whether up close or of sprawling landscapes, that are comparable to professional-grade ones from a simple click. The camera app’s Pro mode further allows you to take things into your own hands with manual controls over settings such as ISO, focus and aperture.
Images and videos captured are vibrant, with details maintained. The 1-inch Sony LYT-900 image sensor ensures clear pictures even in low lighting conditions and highlights shadow details. It really delivers stunning photography in a pocketable form factor
The photography experience is enhanced with a camera-like feel with the Photography Kit. The hand grip features a couple of physical buttons that fuels this aspect. The two-stage shutter allows for quick access to the camera app, adjusting focus and snapping pictures. The Zoom level lets you switch focal lengths or use continuous zoom, the new recording button lets you start/stop video recording (or customise it to another option) and the new custom dial lets you adjust settings such as EV, aperture, shutter and ISO.
On a phone, such camera prowess might be overkill but it unquestionably delivers stunning results in each and every shot that makes the Xiaomi 14 Ultra the current reference in terms of smartphone camera quality.
Gaming prowess of a camera phone
While the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s focus is on photography, its cutting-edge specs, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and 16GB+512GB storage, makes it well suited for mobile gaming. GeekBench scores further positions this smartphone among the top-tier and this is reflected on its performance.
You can expect to play practically all current Android games flawlessly on the 14 Ultra. From 3D titles such as Pascal’s Wager to 2D ones like Dead Cells, the phone handles them smoothly, even at high graphical settings.
It also handles emulation very well. Older systems such as Dreamcast’s Dead or Alive 2 and Crazy Taxi 2 run at a smooth 60fps. Gamecube emulation of games such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes perform at a steady 30fps (capped) and 60fps, respectively, at 3x resolution with no audiovisual issues.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's specs also enables it to emulate newer and more demanding systems as well. PS2’s Ratchet & Clank and Shadow of the Colossus run at 60fps at 3x resolution. However, Switch emulation is a hit-or-miss, considering the then-WIP status of the now-defunct Yuzu. For example, Cuphead runs at 60fps with no issues but Super Mario Odyssey does not display any in-game visuals while its main menu boots up fine. It’s a similar situation with Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Such a wonky performance can be attributed to the state of the emulator, rather than the phone itself and we might (hopefully) get better performance with new emulators. So you can expect to run up to PS2 games very well on the phone, while other systems like the Switch will be more title-dependent based on the status of the emulator's development
Gaming performance on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is matched by its crisp AMOLED display and vibrant speakers. These deliver an immersive mobile gaming experience with no compromises on audiovisual fidelity.
While the 5000mAh battery ensures a full day’s use, gaming will inevitably take a toll. However, charging is not an issue with this phone as it supports 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging (with compatible adapters), and it is ready to be used in around 40 min or less.
Xiaomi’s Dual-Channel IceLoop system effectively keeps the device from feeling uncomfortably hot over extended periods of use; making this phone very well suited for gaming as much as it is for photography.
One downside regarding gaming and emulation is that this phone does not come with expandable storage. While the built-in 512GB storage should be sufficient, having the option to expand it with your games backups would be welcome.
The Ultra premium appeal
Sure, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is an expensive smartphone and it is a niche device. However, it does walk its talk as it delivers a premium experience, from hardware to software, that matches its price.
That said, there are some aspects I’d still hope Xiaomi considers going forward with the Ultra line. For one, at that cost, they should consider including the photography kit in the base package. If they are adamant on selling it separately, they could make it compatible with the other phones in the same line as the kit does add a unique touch to the smartphone. Xiaomi could also include a lens cover in future models as this would add some peace of mind to prevent scratching the lens area.
I do hope that Xiaomi keeps going forward with this line (hopefully at a more affordable cost) as the Xiaomi Ultra smartphones really stand out in terms of aesthetics and functionality in the smartphone market; and for that Xiaomi needs to be commended.
Verdict
- Stunning smartphone photography prowess
- Premium build quality
- All-rounder flagship phone for daily use and gaming
- Improved camera grip functionality
- Photography kit sold separately
- No lens cover included
- No expandable storage
