Alright, I totally missed the launch of this Phone. But once it popped on my radar I thought YES finally! Why is this interesting? Not only because I’m very interested in photography but Xiaomi has started to explore uncharted territory with this phone. Finally, for a company that dares to stand out, the one thing they need to do now is to stick with it and further explore. I know it’s a weird way to start a review but I’m already a fan of the concept. So I grabbed one to take with me on a 2-week trip to the Caribbean and it didn’t disappoint.
Introduction to Xiaomi 14 Ultra
The Ultra 14 is a flagship smartphone from Xiaomi where the manufacturer has focussed (pun intended) on camera and photography performance. And the manufacturer has nailed the timing, testing multiple phones a year you do start to wonder “When is someone going to try something really different?” Besides that, the hand-held camera has been making a steady comeback so this is a million-dollar shark-tank idea.
Features and Performance
Powerful Hardware
It features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, offering exceptional colour accuracy and brightness. The camera system includes a 108 MP main sensor, a 20 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12 MP telephoto lens, enabling versatile photography. Additionally, it houses a 5000 mAh battery with 120W fast charging, ensuring prolonged and efficient use. The Xiaomi Ultra 14 also integrates advanced connectivity options, including 5G and Wi-Fi 6, for superior network performance.
The phone ships with a screen protector which I damaged and scratched within the first week of using the phone daily. After removing the protector I got much deeper blacks in screen performance and the screen overall performed better in sunny conditions. So there is a trade-off here, less protection = more screen brilliance.
Performance
The Xiaomi Ultra 14, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, delivers exceptional performance with smooth multitasking and high-speed processing. Ideal for gaming and demanding applications, it ensures a lag-free experience. Coupled with ample RAM, it handles intensive tasks effortlessly, setting a new standard in smartphone performance.
Software
The phone ships with HyperOS a fast-responding and fluid UI that hasn’t failed or glitched a single time during my testing period. And like all others, Xiaomi strides to get their users in their eco-system. I’m wondering why all the manufacturers still bother. Luckily all the bloatware from Xiaomi can be fully and easily uninstalled. One weird thing I did encounter is that the manufacturer has blocked gestures for 3rd party launchers why is this Xiaomi?
Ergonomics
Alright, the phone is heavy, but that’s not something I mind at all. I’ve used foldables and large screen phones before and it’s something you get used to very quickly. 2 things stand out; the balance is off and because it is already a larger phone you need to adjust your grip and over a longer period you do start to feel it in your hand. The second thing is with the extra-large lens set up it didn’t function correctly when combined with a DJI gimbal. Surely when you have a phone with an outstanding camera setup it should be compatible with a gimbal
Photography Kit and Camera Capabilities
The Photography kit includes a phone cover with a co-designed 1500 mAh battery grip which locks in place. Not a single comment on this combination is absolutely flawless. It’s so good that it had me wondering why we had to wait until 2024 before something like this existed and why nobody else had thought of this before.
Innovative Photography Kit
In addition to the cover and grip the kit includes an orange vanity ring to circle the Leica camera. But the main attraction of the kit is a 67mm filter adaptor ring which you can use to replace the vanity ring. Once in place, you can use whatever 67 mm filter you would like. Near water? attach a polarisation filter! Want to use a long shutter time (which the phone allowed you to do) grab an ND filter. I’ve even come across lens hoods that seem to fit the phone’s adapter ring, although I’m wondering how that’s going to work with the wide-angle lens.
What it’s like to use as a camera?
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a 1-inch-type main camera sensor, one of the largest available in smartphone cameras. Generally, a larger sensor improves image quality, capturing more light and detail. The Leica-engineered quad-camera system delivers exceptional image quality, capturing fine detail and a broad dynamic range and is not easily flustered. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s main camera features a step-less aperture, allowing for seamless adjustments between f/1.9 and f/4.0 to adapt to various lighting conditions and creative needs.
Using the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera app in Pro Mode has been impressive. I love having full control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus, which lets me fine-tune my shots exactly how I want them. Shooting in RAW format is a huge plus too, as it gives me so much flexibility when editing later on. The focus peaking and exposure verification tools have been incredibly helpful, ensuring my photos are always sharp and perfectly exposed. With these features, Xiaomi delivered semi professional setup. I can easily see how this combination for example is a perfect combination for street photography or in scenarios where the photographer itself is in the midst of the action.
Final Thoughts
I have to say Big kudos to Xiaomi for surprising the entire industry with the 14 Ultra and the Photography Kit to go with it. I am impressed with how much the phone starts to feel like a camera, especially with the customizable dials and buttons. The Camera app compared to alternative pro-shooter apps does exactly what it needs to do. The Grip is amazing and the overall build quality is really good. Ergonomically there are some flaws; yes the phone is heavy but I do not think that’s the main issue. With the placement of the lenses and adapter ring the phone has an imbalance which makes it hard to combine it for example with a Gible just like I tried. And after longer use as a normal phone you also start to notice the balance of the phone. My main final thought is this;… I so hope that this wasn’t a try-out by Xiaomi and I would love to see future iterations of the Ultimate Photographers phone. For now, if you’re into photography? Go get one!
