Xiaomi 14 made a successful entrance into the smartphone camera competition. After its release in China in November 2023, the smartphone managed to secure the third spot in DXOMARK’s benchmarking list for smartphone cameras.
According to the updated ranking of the independent website that “scientifically assesses smartphones, lenses, and cameras,” Xiaomi 14 has the third best camera on its premium smartphone list. This is unsurprising as Xiaomi itself is trying to market the 14 Series as a camera-focused lineup. This is possible through the continuous partnership between Xiaomi and Leica, with the base Xiaomi 14 boasting a 50MP wide camera with OIS, a 50MP telephoto with 3.2x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide. The front cam is also impressive at 32MP, allowing it to record videos at up to 4K@30/60fps resolution. The rear system, on the other hand, is much more powerful in that area, thanks to its 8K@24fps video recording support.
DXOMARK applauded these points in its review, noting that through its hardware, Xiaomi 14 has gained a total of 138 camera points and is considered a “good camera for landscape photography.” Despite that, the website underscored that the camera might not be that ideal in terms of portrait photos due to its low bokeh score. In terms of photo, zoom, and video scores, nonetheless, the model is not far from competitors like the Google Pixel 8 and iPhone 15, which received 148 and 145 camera points, respectively.
Fortunately for Xiaomi, this list could also soon be dominated by one of its latest creations: the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Compared to the base model in the series, the Ultra model is armed with a more powerful camera system consisting of a 50MP wide, a 50MP telephoto, a 50MP periscope telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide. During the MWC in Barcelona, the company shared more details of the unit with fans. Xiaomi highlighted the power of Ultra’s Leica-powered camera system by underscoring its variable aperture system, which is also present in Xiaomi 14 Pro. With this capability, 14 Ultra can perform 1,024 stops between f/1.63 and f/4.0, with the aperture appearing to open up and close down to do the trick during a demo shown by the brand earlier.
Aside from that, Ultra comes with 3.2x and 5x telephoto lenses, which are both stabilized. Xiaomi also equipped the Ultra model with a log recording capability, a feature that recently debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro. The feature can be a useful tool for users who want serious video capabilities on their phones, allowing them to have flexibility in editing colors and contrast in post-production. Aside from that, the model is capable of up to 8K@24/30fps video recording, making it a powerful tool for video enthusiasts. Its 32MP camera is also powerful, allowing users to record up to 4K@30/60fps.
