Xiaomi 14 Pro review – Leica camera smartphone with a great display leaves some questions

Not only does the Xiaomi 14 Pro use the currently best SoC in an Android smartphone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 , but it also offers some interesting changes in the camera system compared to the 13 Pro . The Sony IMX989 in the 1-inch format is replaced by a new, significantly smaller image sensor called “Light Hunter 900” in the 1/1. 31 inch format – probably from Omnivision .

The lens of the 50-MP main camera uses a variable aperture, allowing you to use an aperture up to f/4. 0 giving more depth to the depicted objects. In contrast to that of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra , the aperture of the 14 Pro can now be opened in several steps.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is currently only available in China, and it is still unclear whether a global version for the European market will follow. The import prices start from 790 Euros (~$839) for the base version with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB flash storage. The top model in the Titanium Special Edition with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB storage costs around 960 Euros (~$1,060).

One of the most interesting changes of the Xiaomi 14 Pro compared to the predecessor concerns the protective glass that is used. Xiaomi foregoes Gorilla Glas from Corning and chooses its own in-house material instead. The protective glass called Xiaomi Ceramic Glass is supposed to provide a particularly high protection from falls.

According to the manufacturer, it offers a 20% higher protection against breaking than the Ceramic Shield of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro . In terms of protection, the current flagship from the Chinese manufacturer also offers a water and dustproof case with an IP68 certification. The case is available in three matte colors as well as a matte Titanium Special Edition with a Titanium frame.

The quality of the workmanship is at a very high level in the 14 Pro. The form factor of the Xiaomi smartphone is almost identical to that of the 13 Pro , but the manufacturer was able to slightly improve the display-to-surface ratio by using slightly slimmer bezels around the OLED panel. The display of the Xiaomi 14 Pro now offers an “all around liquid” design.

This means that the panel is rounded on all four corners and edges, bending downward with even curves, which feels very ergonomic when using swiping gestures. The current flagship from the Chinese manufacturer offers very good equipment overall with Bluetooth 5. 4, Miracast, and NFC, even though it still isn’t the best of the best for the 14 Pro, since there is no IR blaster or ultrawide-band chip.

In contrast to the predecessor, the Xiaomi 14 Pro now finally includes a fast USB connection that according to the specs, runs at USB 3. 2 (Gen. 2) speeds and supports USB OTG and wired display output.

However, in our copy test using a connected M2. SSD drive (Samsung 980 Pro), the transfer speed of the USB port, which should really be very fast, is at a slow 311 MB/s. There is neither an optional storage expansion, nor an audio port.

The Xiaomi HyperOS kernel, which is a hybrid of Linux and the Vela system that was developed in-house, is used for the first time in a smartphone. Those who had hoped to get a completely new operating system based on Android with HyperOS might be disappointed, seeing the many similarities in the visuals and menu structures compared to the MIUI user interface. However, in everyday operation HyperOS is still a very well-optimized user interface with a refreshed look of the earlier MIUI – but a new start in software looks different, even if there are several optimizations and implementations under the hood, such as the security and data privacy protections.

Xiaomi plans to provide its 14 Pro with four years of software updates, and there are even supposed to be security patches for a year longer – although it is unknown how many updates there will be every quarter. During the time of our testing, the operating system is based on Android 14 and the security patch level of November 2023. Our test unit on loan from Trading Shenzhen already has the new Xiaomi.

eu surface preinstalled, including access to the Play Store and the German language. However, as it comes from the manufacturer, the Chinese version supports neither Google applications nor an extensive selection of languages. So users need to install the apk files themselves here and be content with the English language.

While connected to the WLAN at home, the Xiaomi smartphone offers the best of the best with the current WiFi 7 standard. Using our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router, the test unit not only shows very high but also relatively constant transfer rates, and we measure almost 1,900 Mbit/s at the top. In addition to the fast WLAN, the Xiaomi 14 Pro uses the 5G standard, although it only offers 16 LTE bands.

The Chinese version generally only offers a reduced frequency band coverage, without supporting access to the LTE Band 20. Those who need more 4G frequencies or quad GSM have to wait for a global version. The 14 Pro doesn’t always determine its location perfectly, and we notice some small deviations from the actual route particularly in curves.

We use a Garmin Venu 2 for comparison, but the results it delivers are very similar to those of the Xiaomi smartphone. To determine its location, the Xiaomi 14 Pro uses the main satellite systems, most of the time in dual-band. In our test, these are Beidou (B1(C), B2a), GPS (L1, L5), Galileo (E1, E5a), and GLONASS (L1).

Even indoors, the locating succeeds very quickly and with an accuracy of about 3 meters (10 ft). The Xiaomi 14 Pro offers full dual-SIM capabilities with two nano-SIM card slots in the 5G net. We don’t find an option to integrate an eSIM into the system in the system settings of the Chinese version.

Since the T series offers an eSIM functionality at this point, we wouldn’t be surprised, if a global version would also support this feature. The three built-in microphones produce a very attractive voice experience, although it is slightly marred by some smaller annoying noises. Using the earpiece, the voice quality is very clear, but it could still be slightly louder.

Compared to the predecessor , the resolution of the 32-MP selfie camera has remained unchanged, but the high-end smartphone now finally supports 4K videos at 60 fps. The quality of the pictures has also improved visibly, even if the 14 Pro still isn’t a selfie expert. In the comparison with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the new Leica Summilux lens with a resolution of 50 Megapixel (23 mm focal length) and sensor in the 1/1.

31-inch format offers a significantly higher light sensitivity of f/1. 42 instead of f/1. 9.

This is supposed to allow the camera to take brighter and less noisy pictures under low-light conditions. However, the size of the sensor is also significantly smaller. Another new change is a variable control of the aperture from f/1.

42 to f/4. 0 in four steps. Using 4-in-1 pixel binning, the 50-MP main camera takes pictures in 12.

5-MP resolution and also offers optical image stabilization. While pictures taken in daylight can show a good image sharpness and very high recording speed, some details are lost due to the low dynamic. In addition, objects in the edge areas also appear slightly blurry.

Under low-light conditions, the sensor gives justice to its name, delivering very bright pictures with the large open aperture. However, we still would have wished for a higher level of sharpness. Since devices from other manufacturers, such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra from Samsung, also always perform less than optimally right after their introduction into the market, it remains to see whether Xiaomi will still optimize its new sensor.

The 50-MP ultrawide angle lens with a focal length of 14 mm (~0. 44 in) produces a solid image quality for this price class, but the images show less details than those from the competitors, and the basic sharpness could also turn out better. The focus works up to a minimum distance of 5 cm (~2.

1 in) for super macro recordings. Other manufacturers offer an even closer distance to the object with 3 cm (~1. 2 in) here.

The third 50-MP lens has a focal length of 75 mm (~3 in) and offers optical image stabilization. With its lossless zoom (3. 2x) it takes convincing pictures, and images are attractive even up to a zoom level of 10x.

With the in-house Liquid Lens design, the tele lens also offers a macro function. The “swimming” lens group is split into two groups that can be moved internally, allowing for a focal range from 10 cm (~4 in) up to a theoretical maximum of infinite length. In terms of videos, the high-end smartphone delivers good stabilization and supports a high dynamic range (HDR 10+/Dolby Vision).

Videos can be recorded in UHD quality at a maximum of 60 fps and if you like, you can also record 30 frames per second in 8K resolution. An additional Pro mode for videos has also been implemented. Under controlled light conditions, the Xiaomi smartphone shows a decent color reproduction in our measurements.

Particularly green color tones are reproduced brighter and with more intense color than the reference colors (using the AI function activated by default), causing the DeltaE deviations to end up at fairly high level. The box includes a modular 120-Watt charger, a cable for data and charging, a protective cover, a SIM tool, and a quick-start manual. There is also a protective screen cover already applied in the state of delivery.

In addition, TradingShenzhen who provided us with the smartphone for testing, also added an EU adapter for the charger and a USB OTG adapter with our Chinese version. The Chinese version of the 14 Pro includes a warranty of 12 months. In case of a warranty situation, our import device from TradingShenzhen includes the option to send the smartphone to a German address for repair.

Inputs on the 6. 73-inch OLED display are implemented accurately up to the corners of the touchscreen. With a scan-rate of 240 Hz, the LTPO panel responds to touch inputs with a high degree of sensitivity, but is actualized up to 2,160 times per second, which ensures a very low latency for inputs, mainly while gaming.

In addition, it uses a high-quality vibration motor that delivers a precise and crisp haptic feedback in everyday operation. The optical fingerprint sensor is integrated in the display and always unlocks the Xiaomi 14 Pro quickly and reliably. A fairly insecure 2D face recognition, which is based on a FaceUnlock function using the front camera, is also available.

The built-in 2K AMOLED Super Visual Sense display reaches a WQHD+ resolution with a very high pixel density of 522 ppi. The system itself reports a very low minimal frequency of 10 Hz for the dynamic 120-Hz display, while the manufacturer specifies 1 Hz. The panel uses the C8 illumination material developed together by Xiaomi and CSOT (TCL company), which is supposed to offer the highest amount of brightness in the industry.

During the reproduction of a 4K HDR pattern video, we almost reach the advertised maximum brightness of 3,000 nits with an actual value of 2. 882 cd/m². The maximum brightness with a pure white display content and activated brightness sensor lies at 1,076 cd/m², but with an even distribution of bright and dark areas (APL18), the display of the 14 Pro gets even brighter at 1,432 cd/m² in our test.

Due to the OLED technology, Xiaomi uses pulse-width modulation with its corresponding display flickering to control the display brightness. In our measurements with the oscilloscope, the amplitude remains very even across the whole range of brightness and also very constant at 120 Hz. However, the manufacturer speaks about a very high frequency of 1,920 Hz here, which would be much more comfortable for sensitive users.

To find out more about this, we additionally examine the Xiaomi 14 Pro with a flicker meter that recognizes visible variations in the illumination density. Using our measurement of 1,933 Hz, we are also able to confirm the specifications of the manufacturer. We examine the color calibration of the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HGL certified AMOLED panel (12 bit) with the Calman analysis software and a photo spectrometer.

The deviations in the colors and grayscale remain within the target range (<3), and the measured DeltaE values are very low. In terms of adjustment options, the HyperOS interface turns out exemplary. In addition to three color profiles, users are able to adjust the individual parameters such as the color space (sRGB, P3), the saturation, and gamma values in the extended settings.

Outdoors, the Xiaomi smartphone leaves a great impression, offering sufficient brightness reserves to be able to handle the winter light. Considering the high brightness, reflections in summer should also hardly be able to become a hinderance in reading the contents of the AMOLED panel. However, you should also consider that the maximum brightness without the brightness sensor is only 503 cd/m².

The viewing angle stability of the Xiaomi 14 Pro is very good. Even from very steep viewing angles, the brightness hardly decreases and the color reproduction remains accurate. In the graphics tests of GFXBench, the Xiaomi 14 Pro with the Adreno 750 places ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus and the Xiaomi 13 Pro as expected – but only without any load scenarios ahead of the test.

If we keep running GFXBench uninterruptedly, the results turn out significantly lower at times, which is due to a temporary performance reduction because of the high heat development. The browser performance of the Xiaomi smartphone is very good, and surfing doesn’t pose any problems to the 14 Pro. In our benchmark package, the Leica smartphone achieves top values at times, although it places more in the middle of the field overall.

Using the GameBench app, we take a closer look at how smoothly games from the Play Store are able to run and whether HFR gaming is possible with the Xiaomi 14 Pro. While the latter works in our test, it can only be achieved with older games such as Dead Trigger 2 . In PUBG mobile, the usual 60 fps can be achieved constantly with medium details (HD Mode), and when we increase the graphic details in the test (UHD), the graphics unit still reaches an even 40 frames per second.

The recently introduced 90-fps option isn’t displayed, which is probably due to Android 14 and a lack of configuration of the app. The very demanding Genshin Impact fantasy action role game is reproduced at a maximum of 60 fps. During the market introduction of the Xiaomi 14 Pro, Xiaomi emphasized that its cooling system is significantly more efficient than that of an iPhone 15 Pro Max , allowing it to achieve a higher performance under constant load.

We are unable to examine the behavior of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with the stress test of 3DMark in terms of thermal throttling of the performance, since installation was not possible during our testing period. But the benchmark results of GFXBench (see above) at least indicate some inconsistent performance capabilities at times. The surface temperatures turn out fairly high in our measurements, particularly considering that the Burnout Benchmark terminates under full load of both CPU and GPU due to overheating.

This also means that our measurement of the heat development is determined only under easier conditions (CPU). The Xiaomi 14 Pro uses a dual-speaker system with a loud sound level. We measure a maximum volume of more than 90 dB.

The Xiaomi smartphone is unable to deliver bass frequencies with some presence, although we do perceive a slight touch of bass. Our Pink Noise measurements show a slightly rising frequency curve for the mids. Those who want to use external sound output can use USB for wired or Bluetooth 5.

4 for wireless connections. The latter supports the SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX TWS+, LDAC, and LHDC V5 codecs. LC3 and aptX Lossless are not supported.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro includes a 4,880-mAh battery that can be charged at up to 120 watts. Using wireless charging, the maximum is 50 watts, and reverse wireless charging allows for a maximum of 10 watts. In our test, the high-end smartphone needs about 20 minutes on the charger after a complete discharge.

Fortunately, a sufficiently fast charger is included in the box. The power consumption of the 14 Pro during idle operation is fairly exemplary at about 1 Watt, considering the high resolution of the panel. And looking at the Burnout benchmark, the consumption under load also turns out low.

Using the new setup, other smartphones such as the Mix Fold 3 reach values that are almost twice as high here. With almost 15 hours in our realistic WiFi battery test, which is run with an adjusted display brightness of 150 cd/m², the battery of the 14 Pro delivers a good runtime in the WLAN test. When playing videos with the WLAN module deactivated, the Xiaomi smartphone lasts for about 24 hours, which also indicates a communication module that is not very optimized.

With the 14 Pro, Xiaomi addresses several weaknesses of the predecessor (such as an insufficient selfie quality, lack of a UHD option, and USB 2. 0) and offers a powerful overall package. However, the completely renewed main camera together with its variable aperture leaves some open questions in our test.

Considering the powerful photo and video qualities of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra , in the short term some additional optimization of the IMX989 might have been the better choice in terms of quality. Another open question is whether a global introduction of the Xiaomi 14 Pro in the beginning of 2024 will happen at all. In our test, the current Xiaomi flagship convinces with a very bright and accurate LTPO display offering a maximum brightness of almost 3,000 cd/m².

We also really like the rounded forms. Those who can make do without the high WQHD+ resolution can find a 1,080p alternative with an even better battery life in the Galaxy S23 Plus . Other possible alternatives would be the Google Pixel 8 Pro or Xiaomi 13T Pro .

The Xiaomi 14 Pro still needs a bit of refinement to be able to make use of its full potential. The 14 Pro has to accept some critique about its weak SoC cooling. In the benchmarks, the heat development of the Xiaomi smartphone results in a mixed performance of the otherwise very powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 .

Before a purchase, you should also consider the reduced frequency band coverage of the Chinese version. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is (currently) only available as an import device, for example from Trading Shenzhen starting from around $864. .