In a prelude to Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress, Xiaomi took center stage to unveil its latest flagship smartphone line, the Xiaomi 14 series. While global audiences anticipated a duo of devices to choose from, including the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra, the absence of the Xiaomi 14 Pro raised questions about its international debut.
The Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro initially surfaced in October 2023, boasting Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon, setting a benchmark for flagship performance. However, the launch was confined to Xiaomi’s home market in China, allowing competitors like Samsung and OnePlus to vie for the spotlight in global markets.
Xiaomi sought to redefine the playing field with its Lens to Legend event in Barcelona, introducing the Xiaomi 14 Ultra alongside the standard Xiaomi 14 for international consumers. Surprisingly, the Xiaomi 14 Pro was conspicuously absent from the global lineup, leaving enthusiasts curious about the rationale behind its exclusion.
On February 22, Xiaomi bolstered the 14 Series in China with the introduction of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a premium offering that joined the standard Xiaomi 14 phone on the global stage. Strikingly, the Xiaomi 14 Pro was nowhere to be found, prompting speculation about the strategic decisions behind its limited reach beyond Chinese borders. While Xiaomi has not officially addressed this gap in the global lineup, a closer look at the offerings of the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra provides insights into the company’s positioning strategy.
Unlike the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro of the previous year, the 14 and 14 Pro exhibit fewer discernible differences, with both models featuring the same impressive trio of 50MP rear camera sensors. This departure from the previous generation suggests a deliberate move towards a unified camera setup, emphasizing consistency across the series.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, while sharing similarities in chipset and RAM with the Pro model, distinguishes itself with additional features such as a fourth rear 50MP camera, an enhanced dual-aperture main sensor, a larger battery, and faster wireless charging capabilities.
In the absence of a Xiaomi 14 Lite at this year’s international launch, Xiaomi presented an array of supplementary offerings, including the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S3, and Xiaomi Watch 2.
The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro, positioned as a robust iPad competitor, boasts a 12.4-inch 144Hz 3:2 3K display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and seamless cross-device collaboration with other Xiaomi HyperOS-powered devices, including the Xiaomi 14 series.
Despite the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s absence on the global stage, Xiaomi’s diverse product showcase, including the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro and accompanying accessories, reinforces the brand’s commitment to innovation and competitiveness in the ever-evolving smartphone and tech landscape. As the global rollout unfolds, Xiaomi enthusiasts eagerly await further details and insights into the strategic choices surrounding the Xiaomi 14 series.
Xiaomi 14 series full spec and pricing breakdown
| Xiaomi 14 | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 152.8 x 71.5 x 8.2mm | 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2mm |
| Weight: | 193 grams | 219.8 grams |
| Display: | 6.36-inch, 20:9, 2670 x 1200, 120Hz Xiaomi C8 LTPO AMOLED | 6.73-inch, 20:9, 3200 x 1440, 120Hz Xiaomi C8 LTPO AMOLED |
| Chipset: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12GB (LPDDR5X) | 16GB (LPDDR5X) |
| Storage: | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) | 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
| OS: | Xiaomi HyperOS (Android 14) | HyperOS (Android 14) |
| Primary camera: | 50MP 23mm 1/1.31-inch Xiaomi Light Fusion 900 sensor, f/1.6, 0.6μm pixels, 7P lens w/ OIS | 50MP 23mm 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor, f/1.6 to f/4.0 stepless variable aperture, 0.8μm pixels, 8P lens w/ OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera: | 50MP 14mm, f/2.2, 112º FoV | 50MP 12mm, Sony IMX585 f/1.8, 122º FoV |
| Telephoto camera: | 50MP (32MP effective) 75mm, f/2.0 w/ OIS | 50MP 75mm, Sony IMX585 f/1.8 w/ OIS |
| Secondary telephoto camera: | N/A | 50MP 120mm, Sony IMX585 f/2.5 w/ OIS |
| Front camera: | 32MP f/2.0, 0.7μm pixels, 5P lens, 89.6º FoV | 32MP f/2.0, 0.7μm pixels, 5P lens, 89.6º FoV |
| Battery: | 4,610mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Charging: | 90W wired (charger in-box), 50W wireless | 90W wired (charger in-box), 80W wireless |
| Colors: | Black, white, Jade Green | Black, white |
| Pricing: | £849 (256GB), £899 (512GB) | £1,299 |
