Xiaomi 14 review: Lei-ca little wonder

Let’s pick up where we left off last time. Shall we? It’s been two weeks since daily driving the Xiaomi 14, and if you have read the first impressions of this phone (read it here if you haven’t), you’d know that it’s a solid phone, but there is a lot more to tell about it. So, let’s dive into Xiaomi 14, a small phone that’s about to take on the biggies.
With phone screens getting larger and larger each passing year, the quest for a truly compact yet powerful Android flagship has become increasingly elusive. Samsung's Galaxy lineup now tops out at a gargantuan 6.8 inches, while even Apple—historically a staunch defender of one-handed usability—has embraced displays north of 6.5 inches for its Pro models.
Into this landscape of unapologetic bigness strides the Xiaomi 14, a refreshingly little powerhouse that dares to buck the trend. At 6.36 inches, it's a featherweight compared to many of today's bulky flagships. Yet, it packs the newest silicon, an impressive camera system, and a gorgeous display into its svelte aluminium frame.
Yes, you would say there are other small and light flagship phones, too. But, are they really? When compared to their bigger siblings, they often miss out on a thing or two. And Xiaomi 14 does, too, but it is very much on par with its bigger sibling, the Xiaomi 14 Pro. It's a meticulously crafted product that revels in its compact dimensions while promising a no-compromises experience with its top-tier hardware and Leica-able cameras. But should you spend almost a lakh rupee on it when you can get an iPhone, a Galaxy, or even a Pixel? Let me help you make a decision.

From the moment you pick it up, the Xiaomi 14 exudes an aura of premium craftsmanship that immediately sets it apart from the bargain-bin compacts of yesteryear. The sandblasted aluminium frame, squared-off edges, and gently curved glass panels merge into an aesthetic that is equal parts elegant and purposeful. The Gorilla Glass Victus front and back add a sense of safety to the overall aesthetic.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Xiaomi 14 feels reassuringly hefty in the hand, tipping the scales at 193 grams. This heft contributes to an impression of solidity and durability that belies the phone's relatively petite stature. An IP68 rating for dust and water resistance only reinforces this rugged demeanour.

While the Xiaomi 14's aesthetic doesn't stray far from current smartphone design trends, it executes them with finesse and attention to detail. The raised camera module, though sizable, integrates seamlessly into the overall design language. Small touches like the subtle antenna bands and laser-etched regulatory details on the glass back elevate the device's sense of cohesion and sophistication.

The Xiaomi 14 comes in three colourways – Black, White, and Jade Green. The Jade Green is the distinct one out of these three and looks quite striking in person. But the Black one isn’t any less. Black is a classic and timeless shade. The matte finish is just the icing on the cake but a dust magnet.

Xiaomi has opted for a flat display this time around, a departure from the curved screens on some of its previous flagships. This design choice enhances the phone's ergonomics while minimising accidental palm touches. The minimal bezels and a subtle curve where the display meets the aluminium frame create an immersive viewing experience.
The 6.36-inch AMOLED screen on the Xiaomi 14 balances the size and visual fidelity. With a resolution of 2670 x 1200 and a pixel density of 460 PPI, this panel delivers sharp images and text. Colours are vibrant yet natural, aided by support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision standards. The intelligent refresh rate management, allows the display to dynamically scale between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the content.

Brightness is a particular forte of this AMOLED panel. It can reach an eye-searing 3000 nits of peak brightness though that’s just when viewing HDR content. Nonetheless, the display is plenty bright outdoors, making outdoor visibility a non-issue even on the sunniest days. More typical use cases are well-served by the 1000-nit maximum brightness under regular viewing conditions.

Watching movies and shows is an absolute delight, with the Xiaomi 14 rendering every visual detail with eye-popping clarity and realism. The compact dimensions allow you to enjoy content up close without straining your eyes, eliminating the need to reposition the phone as you would with larger devices constantly.
Audio output is equally impressive, with the Xiaomi 14's dual stereo speakers delivering surprisingly full and immersive sound. Powered by Dolby Atmos technology, these tiny drivers produce rich, detailed audio with a surprising amount of bass response.


The triple camera array on the Xiaomi 14's rear is a tour de force of mobile photography, headlined by a 50MP primary shooter that boasts a 1/1.31-inch Light Fusion 900 sensor. Developed in collaboration with Leica, this large imaging sensor – coupled with an f/1.6 aperture lens and optical image stabilisation – excels in challenging lighting scenarios, capturing images with apt dynamic range and accurate colour rendition.

In well-lit environments, the Xiaomi 14's main camera produces shots that exhibit a natural, film-like quality reminiscent of dedicated camera systems. Detail retention is superb, with crisp textures and minimal noise even when pixel-peeping further.

Low-light performance is equally impressive. The large sensor and wide aperture excel at gathering light, resulting in bright, low-noise images even in dimly lit conditions. A dedicated night mode engages automatically, further enhancing detail and dynamic range after the sun goes down.

Complementing the main shooter are 50MP ultra-wide and 3.2x telephoto lenses, both of which inherit the excellent image processing and colour science of the primary camera.
This telephoto lens features Leica glass and a "floating lens" that allows it to shift focus for close-up shots. The 77mm focal length is ideal for portraits, allowing you to stand back and compress perspective for a flattering look while still capturing lots of detail. The large aperture also enables natural-looking background blur (bokeh) to make subjects pop. Portrait samples show excellent sharpness, pleasing colours, and impressive subject separation.
The Leica partnership also brings the “Master-lens system,” which allows you to switch between various focal lengths, from 35mm to 90mm. The Master-lens system provides flexibility akin to using different prime lenses on a traditional camera. Whether you prefer the intimacy of a tighter headshot or the environmental context provided by a wider angle, the Xiaomi 14's portrait mode has you covered.

The ultra-wide captures expansive perspectives with minimal distortion, making it ideal for landscape and architectural photography. While not quite as sharp as the main shooter, the ultra-wide delivers consistent colours and ample detail for landscape and group shots, whether it's day or night.

Xiaomi has developed two distinct colour profiles in partnership with Leica – Authentic and Vibrant – catering to a wide range of photographic preferences. The former delivers natural, true-to-life hues ideal for most situations, while the latter boosts vibrance and saturation for a more stylised, eye-catching look. I mostly have used the Authentic mode, and all the shots you see here are clicked in the same.

The Xiaomi-Leica partnership has clearly paid dividends in software tuning and image processing algorithms, resulting in photographs that possess a level of depth and richness.
The 32MP selfie camera, while not as capable as the rear array, is nonetheless a solid performer in its own right. It captures detailed self-portraits with good dynamic range and pleasing skin tones, while a dedicated portrait mode with adjustable bokeh intensity provides a simulated shallow depth-of-field effect for more flattering captures.
Video recording is no afterthought on the Xiaomi 14 either. The phone can capture 4K footage at up to 60 frames per second across all three rear cameras, with the option to record in HDR using Dolby Vision. The footage comes out with a lot of detail, effective image stabilisation, and accurate audio capture thanks to the device's trio of microphones.
The camera experience ties together beautifully with Xiaomi's refined HyperOS software. The camera app is intuitive and fully featured, offering a dedicated pro mode with granular manual controls for those who crave complete creative freedom. AI-powered scene detection intelligently suggests optimal settings for a variety of environments and shooting scenarios, ensuring that even novice photographers can capture pretty good images with ease.

At the heart of the Xiaomi 14 beats the latest and greatest mobile silicon – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This cutting-edge chip, fabricated on TSMC's 4nm process, delivers top-of-the-line performance and impressive power efficiency.
Coupled with a generous 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 effortlessly chews through even the most demanding tasks, ensuring a consistently smooth and responsive experience whether you're juggling multiple apps, rendering 4K video, or diving into the latest graphically intensive games.
In day-to-day use, the Xiaomi 14 feels utterly zippy and responsive. Apps launch in the blink of an eye, animations are buttery smooth, and multitasking between numerous applications is seamless.
Gaming performance is similarly impressive, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's Adreno GPU handling even the most graphically intensive titles with aplomb. Demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile run at their highest graphics settings without a hint of slowdown or frame drops, ensuring an immersive and visually stunning gaming experience.
But raw horsepower isn't the only trick up the Xiaomi 14's sleeve. This compact powerhouse also boasts an advanced thermal management solution, or as Xiaomi calls it, the “IceLoop Cooling,” a multi-layered heat dissipation design and a substantial vapor chamber to keep temperatures in check, even after extended gaming sessions or intensive video rendering.
For the time we had with it, the Xiaomi 14 did not sweat a break, never exhibiting the telltale signs of thermal throttling.
Complementing the processor is a generous 512GB of lightning-fast UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring rapid app load times and seamless file transfers. And while the Xiaomi 14 doesn't support external storage expansion via microSD, its ample built-in capacity should be more than sufficient for most users' needs.
Xiaomi 14 comes with support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. And 5G is well-covered, with comprehensive sub-6GHz band support across regions.


While hardware is undoubtedly the backbone of any great smartphone, the software experience is equally crucial in shaping the user journey. With the Xiaomi 14, the company has debuted its new Android skin, dubbed HyperOS.
Upon first boot, HyperOS greets you with a clean, minimalist interface. There's no app drawer, with all installed apps on the home screen; however, you can choose to have one if you need to. The quick settings panel and notification shade have received a visual overhaul, adopting a more compact, streamlined look that prioritises functionality over flashiness.

But dig deeper, and you'll find many customisation options that allow you to tailor the experience to your preferences. Everything from icon shapes and sizes to font styles and system accent colours can be tweaked to your liking. The lock screen is also very much customisable; there are a bunch of styles to choose from.
Performance is a key focus area for HyperOS. Xiaomi has implemented numerous under-the-hood optimisations designed to maintain a consistently smooth and responsive experience over time. These include intelligent resource management, aggressive memory optimisation, and file system enhancements that minimise fragmentation and stutter.
In practice, HyperOS feels snappy and fluid, readily keeping up with the blistering hardware underneath. Animations are buttery smooth, app load times are lightning-fast, and multitasking between numerous apps is a seamless affair. In day-to-day usability, the Xiaomi 14 remains a joy to use long after the initial honeymoon period has worn off.

Xiaomi's heavy-handed approach to preloaded apps and services is a minor disappointment in an otherwise polished software offering. Out of the box, the Xiaomi 14 comes with a plethora of Xiaomi's own apps duplicating functionality already provided by Google's suite. From a browser and notes app to a separate app store, the redundancy can feel excessive and bloated at times.
That said, most of these preloaded apps can be disabled or uninstalled, and the underlying Google Play Store and services remain fully accessible.
On the update front, Xiaomi has committed to four years of Android version upgrades and five years of regular security patches. While not quite as generous as Samsung or Google's update policies, it's a respectable promise.

The Xiaomi 14 packs a respectable 4,610mAh battery, which is larger than many of the compact flagships usually come with. In real-world use, this translates to solid battery life that should comfortably get most users through a full day of moderate to heavy usage.
The phone consistently managed to last from morning till night with typical activities like web browsing, social media, some photography, and a bit of gaming. Even on days with more intensive use, like extended GPS navigation or video recording, the Xiaomi 14 held up admirably.
When you do need to top up, the Xiaomi 14 offers impressively fast charging options. With support for 90W wired charging using the included power adapter, the phone can go from empty to around 80% in just half an hour, which is remarkably quick for a device this size. A full charge takes about 45 minutes, making it one of the speediest charging experiences available on any smartphone today.
The Xiaomi 14 also supports fast wireless charging at up to 50W, allowing for convenient cable-free top-ups if you have a compatible Qi charger.

Xiaomi 14 proves that a phone doesn't need to be massive to be powerful, and that a compact form factor can still deliver a premium experience. Good things do indeed come in small packages.
The phone packs a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a stunning display that’s not so big, and a versatile camera system into a well-designed package that's easy to use one-handed. The star of the show is the 50MP main camera, which captures stunning images with natural colours and excellent dynamic range, while the telephoto and ultra-wide lenses, too, are pretty good. With 90W fast charging and solid battery life, the Xiaomi 14 is a reliable companion that can keep up with your busy lifestyle.
That said, the Xiaomi 14 isn't perfect. Its HyperOS software, while an improvement over previous Xiaomi skin, may feel cluttered and unintuitive to some users. Nonetheless, HyperOS offers a range of customisation options and features that allow you to tailor the experience to your preferences.
It is easily one of the best compact phones in recent years. So, if you're in the market for a high-end phone that doesn't sacrifice performance or features for a more compact size, and have Rs 69,999 in your pocket, the Xiaomi 14 deserves to be in your cart.
Our rating: 4/5