Xiaomi has officially unveiled its 2024 flagship- Xiaomi 14 Ultra in China, paving the way for its global premiere at MWC 2024 on February 26. The top-of-the-line flagship handset from the company’s Xiaomi 14-series boasts a powerful Leica camera system, a 2K OLED display with 3,000 nits peak brightness promise, 80W wireless charging, and is fuelled by the latest Qualcomm SoC. Xiaomi has even thrown in satellite communication in the new flagship. Pretty crazy, right?
Leica-branded Camera System- Mostly Good for Still Photography?
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is mostly about its crazy camera hardware. It boasts a sophisticated quad rear setup led by an optically stabilized 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony LYT900 primary sensor. Complementing this powerhouse are two 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensors, each equipped with 3.2x and 5x optical zoom, boasting focal lengths of 75mm and 120mm. The fourth 50-megapixel sensor is ingeniously paired with an ultra-wide-angle lens.
This quad-camera system should deliver some outstanding results. However, my confidence wavers regarding its videography performance, given my past experiences with Xiaomi handsets. Despite packing optically stabilized high-resolution sensors, Xiaomi handsets fail to ace the video output. You just can’t rely on Xiaomi flagships for good video recording results.
Moving on, there’s a dazzling 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED micro-curved display, boasting a resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 pixels. With a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, the curved display, fortified by Xiaomi’s Shield Glass, claims to be exceptionally durable.
Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage. Operating on the Android 14-based HyperOS, Xiaomi assures a minimum of 4 years of software upgrades—a pivotal commitment for users seeking long-term usability.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is fuelled by a big 5,300mAh battery, supported by 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging, ensuring swift top-ups to minimize downtime.
In terms of durability, the smartphone is water-dust resistant. The Titanium Special Edition variant takes it a step further with two-way satellite communication support, catering to users with specific connectivity needs.
As for the price, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is anticipated to start at Rs. 72,999, reaching up to Rs. 79,999 for the top-tier variant, if it ever arrives in India.
Now, the critical question arises – will Xiaomi bring the 14 Ultra to the Indian market?
I highly doubt it as skepticism shrouds its potential success. Xiaomi’s ultra-premium offerings have often dazzled on paper and in certain reviews on social media, but they hardly meet any success in the Indian market.
Comparing Xiaomi’s approach to that of Vivo, another player in the ultra-premium segment, both brands face challenges in converting on-paper success to real market triumphs. Xiaomi’s brand, well-established in the budget and mid-range segments, faces hurdles when stepping into the premium territory. The same is true for Vivo’s X-series flagships, which have one of the worst sales figures in the premium smartphone market.
Try selling a used Vivo X-series smartphone, you will get the reality check.
Brand Value Conundrum
The Indian consumer mindset presents a unique challenge. Spending close to Rs. 80,000 on a Xiaomi smartphone may not resonate well, as the brand is predominantly associated with affordable and mid-range handsets. Despite Xiaomi’s efforts to diversify its portfolio, awareness regarding its ultra-premium offerings remains limited among the masses.
Xiaomi, cognizant of its brand positioning, treads cautiously in bringing its ultra-premium range to India. Remember the Xiaomi 13 Ultra? The company was smart enough to not introduce it to the Indian audience. The brand’s lower perceived value compared to giants like Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus poses challenges, both in the new and the second-hand market where resale value plays a crucial role.
Software Experience Dilemma
Beyond the brand, Xiaomi grapples with another crucial factor – the software experience. In my nine years of reviewing smartphones across various brands, Samsung and OnePlus still manage to deliver a premium software experience. Xiaomi, despite having a commendably low bloatware count on its premium devices, falls short of providing the nuanced, refined software experience expected in a handset commanding a price north of Rs. 60,000. The UI just lacks the warmth and ease of a premium smartphone.
This software performance gap raises concerns among potential buyers who seek a seamless, premium user experience. While Xiaomi’s hardware prowess is evident, bridging the software gap becomes imperative for the success of ultra-premium devices in a discerning market like India.
The Verdict: To Invest or Not?
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra won’t make it to India; however, you can still experience the Xiaomi 14, the entry-level handset in the series that packs some elements of its elder sibling. The handset has the same chipset, almost a similar display, and a capable camera system, not as rich as the one on the 14 Ultra but still good enough to suffice for most of your photography requirements.
Xiaomi 14 will most likely be priced under Rs. 60,000. The base variant could start at Rs. 52,999 and would rival the recently unveiled OnePlus 12-series handsets. It’s still crazy money and I would like to know from you- would you invest such an amount on a Xiaomi handset? Let us know in the comments.