Xiaomi 14 Extremely overview: Do its pro-level cameras beat the iPhone?

The Xiaomi 14 Extremely, the most recent version of the corporate's top-of-the-line “Extremely” telephones, maintains the custom of the collection: being probably the most highly effective digicam telephone you should buy.

Be aware that I didn't write “greatest” – I mentioned “strongest”. Whereas Xiaomi's high telephones usually have extremely versatile digicam methods, if you happen to simply need to level and shoot, you'll often get extra refined outcomes from the Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or iPhone.

Xiaomi despatched me the Xiaomi 14 Extremely – probably the most highly effective cameraphone it has ever launched – for overview. The corporate additionally despatched me a neat set of equipment that make this telephone extra akin to a standalone digicam. It's a formidable equipment, however like earlier Xiaomi Ultras, though it's highly effective and versatile, it may be a bit overpriced.

Worth and specs of Xiaomi 14 Extremely

Globally, Xiaomi is promoting one configuration of Xiaomi 14 Extremely. It’s priced at €1,500 for the EU and £1,299 for the UK – and comes with the next specs:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip

• Qualcomm Adreno GPU

• 16GB RAM

• 512GB storage

• 6.73-inch, 120Hz AMOLED show

I'm not even going to faux that this isn't an enormous sum of money, particularly when you should buy a top-of-the-line Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy gadget for much less. Xiaomi brings some attention-grabbing options to the desk, however I'm afraid the value will make it extra of a distinct segment gadget than anticipated.

Xiaomi 14 Extremely: what I like about it

With this telephone, Xiaomi needs to make it very clear that you just too are carrying a robust digicam in your pocket. From the massive rear digicam bump to the camera-centric equipment, it's clear that this can be a digicam that may additionally make telephone calls – and I really like Xiaomi's dedication to this concept.

Funky, distinctive design

It's not for everybody, however the aesthetics work and many individuals have requested me one thing like, “What sort of monstrous digicam telephone is that this?”

Design-wise, you get fake leather-based on the again (my unit was black, making the leather-based half a lot much less noticeable), an aluminum body, and a barely curved show (with the identical curvature on all sides and corners). Additionally, one thing like Xiaomi) could be very pleased with).

It actually begins to shine once you add the (optionally available) case, grip, and ornament rings for the digicam bump, however it suffers from some teething errors on Xiaomi's half. For instance, the case could be very tough to get out of the telephone.

I additionally like the ability and flexibility of the digicam system (extra on that under).

What's 'eh' in regards to the Xiaomi 14 Extremely?

Xiaomi's HyperOS isn't dangerous; It's like a “better of each worlds” combo between iOS and Android. Nonetheless, I typically have issue discovering sure gadgets on the menu.

OS could possibly be higher

The icons have modified a bit since Xiaomi rebranded the OS from MIUI to HyperOS, however frankly, the general design of the consumer interface might nonetheless use some extra character. I'm additionally not a fan of Xiaomi's behavior of delivery telephones with third-party apps pre-installed. If I want Reserving.com I’ll set up it myself, thanks.

Regardless of the bigger battery, the Xiaomi 14 Extremely's battery life is simply tremendous; Take a look at our detailed impressions under.

What I don't like about Xiaomi 14 Extremely

The telephone is heavy on the highest, the half the place the massive digicam bump resides is noticeably heavier than the remainder of the telephone. I've seen this on earlier Xiaomi Extremely units, and it may be annoying, particularly throughout lengthy scrolling classes on planes and in ready rooms.

a bit cumbersome

The digicam bump is so outstanding that I used to be consistently frightened that the telephone can be broken whereas inserting it on the again. After I put ornamental rings across the digicam bump, I really broken it in regular use, because the paint on the sides of the rings began to put on off.

I've additionally had an opportunity to check out the Xiaomi 14, and though its digicam system is rather less highly effective, it doesn't have any of the shortcomings talked about above. It has a a lot smaller digicam bump and in any other case has the identical options because the Extremely. It's additionally considerably cheaper at €999 ($1,076), making it a greater choice for many customers.

That digicam!

To start with, it's necessary to notice that the Xiaomi 14 Extremely might be had with a set of camera-focused equipment, dubbed the “Xiaomi 14 Extremely Pictures Package”, offered for €200 ($217). It has a leather-based case, a removable grip with digicam management buttons that doubles as an additional 1,500 mAh battery, and two ornamental rings to put across the telephone's large digicam bump on the again. Are.

None of that is essential, however it’ll undoubtedly make you’re feeling like a “skilled” when taking photographs together with your Xiaomi 14 Extremely.

Geared up with all these further options, I got down to seize some pro-looking photographs. Nonetheless, I in a short time discovered that with this telephone, it's not only a matter of pointing and capturing. The primary picture I took (that’s, of my son in a grimy room towards the intense background of balcony doorways) was an oversaturated mess because of the digicam's overzealous HDR.

In some circumstances, HDR did an excellent job of balancing the brighter and darker components of the picture, however it was a hit and miss affair.

In reality, this was my expertise whereas utilizing the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. I took some wonderful evening photographs of some historic buildings within the metropolis of Rab, Croatia, however after inspecting them later, I found that greater than half have been too blurry for my style. I in contrast my outcomes to the iPhone 15 Professional Max, which gave just about the identical outcomes.

Night time photographs, typically, have been a little bit too heat; Worryingly, they’d typically change into muddy and endure critical lack of element. Once more, I felt like I might get an important picture after a number of takes and a few tinkering with the settings, however once I merely pointed at one thing and took a photograph at evening, I felt higher with the iPhone. Bought outcomes.

Now, the digicam on the Xiaomi 14 Extremely is a technological marvel, with 4 50-megapixel sensors and two periscope lenses working collectively to supply a transparent picture – even at 5x magnification or in near-dark eventualities.

The principle sensor is a Leica Vario-Sumilux, which provides a variable aperture, because of an extremely skinny carbo-coated blade that enables completely different levels of sunshine into the lens. You may get a pure Bokeh impact with this digicam, which is healthier than the substitute Bokeh (Portrait Mode) of most smartphone cameras.

And sure, you may at all times swap to the digicam's Professional mode and fine-tune the publicity, white stability, and different settings to get one of the best picture. Generally, you'll get higher photographs from the iPhone.

However simply pointing and randomly firing wouldn't be practically as constant. So until you're already knowledgeable, know that this telephone would require some work to supply excellent photographs.

The selfie digicam additionally had an identical story. In broad daylight, I effortlessly took some nice wanting selfies. Hoping for an excellent publicity at evening, I snapped a selfie, however discovered it was too darkish. And as soon as once more I believed Xiaomi might carry out higher, however its software program will not be tuned nicely sufficient to robotically use one of the best settings in several eventualities.

Battery lifetime of Xiaomi 14 Extremely

It's inferior to it appears on paper. The Xiaomi 14 Extremely has a big 5,000 mAh battery, however the telephone appears to empty fairly rapidly, typically even when idle.

Sadly, it wasn't attainable to check the battery with our commonplace benchmark, through which we play a loop of a TikTok video till the telephone runs out of battery. It is because Xiaomi telephones don't mean you can hold the show on indefinitely – you may go for a most of 10 minutes till it goes again to sleep (what provides, Xiaomi?).

My (imperfect) day by day utilization assumption is that the telephone will final a day and a half max. It's not dangerous, however you'd count on extra from a telephone with such a giant battery.

Alternatively, the charging pace is superb. Should you use the included 90W wired charger you'll go from zero to 100% in a little bit over half an hour.

Is the Xiaomi 14 Extremely value it?

The Xiaomi 14 Extremely has a robust digicam and stands out with some extra options like an optionally available images equipment.

Even aside from the digicam system, this can be a highly effective telephone, though we want it to have extra battery life and higher weight distribution. However the worth makes it very tough to suggest it in comparison with its predominant rivals. Take into account whether or not you really want a few of its distinctive digicam options.