Xiaomi 14 review
Undergoing a breakthrough phase, Xiaomi is achieving peak maturity in its smartphone campaign, especially in the top-tier category. The 14 being written about here is most certainly going to give way to the 14 Pro and 14 Ultra very soon, but it’s the perfect early showcase of the all-new HyperOS that is said to be built from the ground up (or kernel up, if you please).
It replaces MiUi as the dominant skin for all Xiaomi devices from here on and in slick hardware like the Xiaomi 14, it does set the tone for what’s lined up for this promising range of devices.
Xiaomi 14 review: Design
We’re big fans of one-handed designs and like the Samsung Galaxy S24, the Xiaomi 14 too comes in at about 6.3in of pure, single-handed AMOLED goodness. But you’ll appreciate it even if you don’t have Hobbit-sized hands, thanks to its evenly sized bezels all around, 120Hz LTPO display that is sharp at 460ppi, supports HDR and Dolby Vision and comes wrapped in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus at the front and a smooth 3D curved glass back. Our review sample was the new Jade Green shade that does look premium and indeed feels so as well. The large Leica camera housing pops in this shade too.
Although the frame looks like stainless steel, they’re made of specially coated aluminium and Xiaomi claims this not only saves weight but also resists scratches much better. We do suspect it saves a handsome sum too. A punch-hole selfie cam completes the look and while it doesn’t set any standards, it has a satisfyingly expensive hand feel with highly polished surfaces and edges that don’t dig into your palm. And oh, IP68 certification adds to that peace of mind if you, like us, get excited enough to jump into pools without emptying your pockets. Blame the open bar at a certain MWC party.
