Xiaomi 14T Pro A high-end At a reasonable price
I’ve tested the Xiaomi 14T Pro, the latest high-end smartphone from the Chinese brand, and it feels like a bold challenge to the premium market of 2024. Its remarkable power stands out, showcasing not just its screen but also MediaTek’s chip and Leica’s camera.
The smartphone market has bounced back in 2024 after two challenging years, and one of the brands benefiting most from this positive trend is China’s Xiaomi.
Currently ranked third in global sales, Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing brands in the mobile market. It has taken advantage of a more favorable global economic context and is gradually closing the gap with industry leaders Samsung and Apple. In fact, by August, the Chinese manufacturer overtook iPhone sales, securing second place for the first time since 2021.
To maintain this momentum, Xiaomi has unveiled its new high-end lineup for the second half of the year: the Xiaomi 14T series, which includes a standard variant and a Pro model, alongside the Mix Flip, a clamshell-style foldable. Notably, the Mix Flip is Xiaomi’s first foldable available in Spain, as previous models were exclusive to China. The launch also includes other ecosystem products.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro is now available in Spain with a starting price of €799, making it a strong contender for those seeking a high-end smartphone without exceeding the €1,000 threshold.
Over the past week, I’ve had the chance to test the flagship’s most powerful model, the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Without giving too much away, I can confidently say that this phone successfully carries the legacy of the T series and the impressive 13T Pro. It emerges as one of the best value-for-money high-end devices while holding its own against the most expensive smartphones of 2024.
Design and Connectivity: Embracing the Titanium Trend with Elegance and Subtlety
When Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro last year with a titanium design, many of us expected it would set a trend—and it has. Titanium has become one of the most common materials in high-end smartphones over the past year, and Xiaomi didn’t want to miss out.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts a fully metallic titanium design, covering both its frame and back. I particularly enjoyed the metallic ochre hue of the “Titanium Gray” version I tested, though two other options—blue and black—are also available, featuring titanium with tinted finishes.
Titanium offers a durable feel, making the device highly resistant to drops. It comes with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and improved flexural strength. However, after a week of use, I noticed minor scratches on the back, likely from contact with keys or other devices, proving it’s not indestructible.
In-hand, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is incredibly comfortable. While it features flat edges like many high-end phones, Xiaomi added a slight curve to the back, enhancing grip and disguising its thickness, which measures a substantial 8.39 mm.
Although I didn’t experience it myself, some users find the device slightly slippery—a trait that likely stems from its weight, a solid 209 grams. Of course, this won’t be an issue if you use a case, as most people do.
The phone’s design leans toward minimalism, a decision I appreciate. That said, from a distance, it might not stand out much compared to more affordable models. However, its premium quality becomes evident when you hold it.
The device features just two buttons on the right side: a power button with a textured finish for comfort and a volume rocker. It’s refreshing that not all brands have jumped on the excessive button bandwagon of the iPhone 16 series. Still, I wasn’t impressed by the buttons on my test unit, as they felt slightly loose, detracting from the premium experience.
The camera module is among the most understated in the high-end market in 2024. It features four circular elements arranged in a square—three cameras and a flash—within a module that matches the back’s color. Without the Leica branding, which hints at its premium status, the module could easily be mistaken for a mid-range design.
Although the camera doesn’t protrude excessively, the phone still wobbles slightly when placed on flat surfaces, as its internal components are undeniably high-end.
Elsewhere, simplicity prevails. The dual-SIM tray is located on the bottom. In terms of connectivity, the Xiaomi 14T Pro offers the best technology currently available, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. It also supports NFC for mobile payments, ensuring a seamless experience.
Display and Audio: One of 2024’s Top-Tier Screens
The Display: A Crucial Feature for High-End Phones That Xiaomi Has Perfected
The display is a critical aspect of any high-end smartphone, and Xiaomi has ensured the 14T Pro doesn’t disappoint. Its flat AMOLED panel is seamlessly integrated into a design with impressively thin bezels, pushing the boundaries of what’s physically possible.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro features a 6.67-inch flat AMOLED screen, the standard size we’ve grown accustomed to. My experience with this panel has been outstanding—it’s one of the best displays I’ve encountered this year.
The color reproduction is on par with other premium AMOLED panels, but what stands out is the exceptional color accuracy, supported by 12-bit color depth. Whether watching videos or streaming content, the visual quality is truly remarkable.
Additionally, its 144Hz refresh rate, a feature previously reserved for gaming phones, ensures smoother motion. However, when scrolling, I personally didn’t notice a significant difference compared to 120Hz displays.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro also excels in outdoor visibility, thanks to a maximum brightness of 4,000 nits—one of the highest on the market. It adapts well to different environments, thanks to its ambient light sensor and AI-driven color temperature adjustments.
Audio: Impressive Power with Minor Flaws
The audio performance of the Xiaomi 14T Pro has been a pleasant surprise. On the positive side, it delivers impressively high volume with minimal distortion, certified by Dolby Atmos. However, the downside is the single speaker located at the bottom, which can easily be blocked when holding the phone horizontally—such as during gaming sessions.
Performance and Software: MediaTek’s Dimensity Makes a Bold Statement
Xiaomi’s T series has traditionally focused on delivering powerful performance for users seeking top-tier speed. While Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips have historically dominated this segment, MediaTek is making waves with its latest processors, and the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a prime example.
The device is powered by the Dimensity 9300+, MediaTek’s flagship processor this year. Initially, I had some reservations about this choice, but the raw power demonstrated by the Xiaomi 14T Pro proves that MediaTek’s Dimensity chips deserve a place among the most expensive smartphones due to their excellent performance.
Benchmark tests reveal that the Xiaomi 14T Pro is one of the most powerful smartphones of the year, even if it’s somewhat of an underdog. Here’s how it compares to other 2024 devices priced over €1,000:
In day-to-day use, the Xiaomi 14T Pro handles AI tasks with ease, launches apps instantly, keeps dozens of apps running in the background, and downloads large files effortlessly. I didn’t notice any lag compared to Snapdragon Gen 3 devices—though I didn’t see a significant improvement either.
MediaTek’s strengths are particularly evident in gaming. During this review, I played several 10-minute online battle royale matches in Pokémon Unite. I was impressed by the fluidity provided by the stunning display, fast load times, and ultra-low latency, giving me a competitive edge. The device barely warmed up, a testament to its excellent thermal management.
Software: HyperOS Shows Promise but Needs Refinement
Less than a year after its international launch, HyperOS has become Xiaomi’s system interface, and it powers the 14T Pro, built on Android.
It’s clear that Xiaomi is working hard to make HyperOS a rival to the interfaces of major brands. Does it succeed?
In some ways, yes. General performance and fluidity have improved compared to the previous MIUI, and transitions and design have taken steps in the right direction.
However, long-standing issues from MIUI persist. The design can feel unpolished at times, and the presence of excessive pre-installed apps and promotional content detracts from the user experience. Xiaomi’s own apps—such as its Cleaner, which constantly prompts you to free up storage space you haven’t used—often feel more like spam than helpful tools.
AI features, many in collaboration with Google, are also part of the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s offering, starting September 26. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test these features for this review as they were only recently added.
Cameras: Leica’s Aesthetic Shines, But It’s Not Perfect
Although the title of Xiaomi’s best camera in 2024 clearly belongs to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra—which some even argue might be the best of the year—the Chinese company has leveraged its partnership with Leica to deliver a very capable camera in most situations.
At times, the camera on the Xiaomi 14T Pro has truly impressed me by achieving results very similar to those of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which, let’s not forget, costs nearly twice as much (€1,499). In other cases, it’s clear that the Xiaomi 14T Pro, priced at €799, sits a notch below.
But let me not get ahead of myself—let’s delve into the camera details, starting with the lenses featured on the Xiaomi 14T Pro:
- Main camera: Leica Vario-Summilux Fusion 900 with 50 megapixels and f/1.6, equivalent to a 23mm focal length.
- Telephoto sensor: 50 megapixels with 2.6x optical zoom and f/2.0, equivalent to 60mm.
- Ultra-wide-angle lens: 12 megapixels with f/2.2, equivalent to 15mm.
- Selfie camera: 32 megapixels, housed in a screen cutout, with f/2.0, equivalent to 25mm.
It’s evident that Leica has done an excellent job calibrating all the cameras, delivering very consistent results in most situations between the main camera and the ultra-wide-angle lens.
While this is something that should be expected at this point, especially in the high-end market, it’s still an area where not all current smartphones excel.
When comparing the main lens with the telephoto sensor, some differences in aesthetics are noticeable, though they are not drastic and can vary depending on the situation, favoring one sensor over the other.
The collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica once again brings two image modes to choose from, offering two slightly different aesthetics with distinct color treatments and saturation: Leica Vibrant, which is more colorful, and Leica Authentic, which leans closer to reality.
As you can see, the difference is subtle but noticeable, particularly in the blue of the sky and the green of the trees, which are much more vivid in Leica Vibrant mode. While I usually prefer more purist modes on other phones, in this case, I personally liked Leica Vibrant.
That said, I also encountered examples of the opposite. While the Vibrant mode adds more color—especially to flowers—the sky turns such a pale blue that it almost looks like daytime, even though I took the photo when there was barely any light.
In this case, I prefer the Leica Authentic mode and its washed-out color aesthetic, although some highlights are more blown out. In any case, it’s a pleasure to have two well-balanced modes to choose from depending on your preferences and the moment.
Modern smartphones place a heavy emphasis on portrait modes, and this might be where the Xiaomi 14T Pro disappointed me the most. While the results aren’t bad, I expected more from a high-end device partnered with Leica.
Although it offers several portrait modes, I strongly recommend the 35mm option because it uses the main lens, which allows more light to enter, unlike the 60mm and 75mm options that rely on the telephoto sensor.
Overall, the portrait mode left me with mixed feelings, as it tends to darken photos, which can negatively impact the results. That said, you can still choose between two options: Master Portrait, developed by Xiaomi and more vibrant, or Leica Portrait, with less computational filtering.
As you can see in the previous comparison, the Master mode is more colorful and has a warmer tone, making it easier for subjects to look more flattering. For this reason, it’s my preferred choice.
The selfie camera is a very pleasant surprise on the Xiaomi 14T Pro, as it delivers a more consistent aesthetic and, above all, better subject-background separation—something the rear camera struggled with significantly in my experience, particularly with hair.
