Xiaomi 14 Ultra review
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- Apu61
- 7tT
- 10 Jun 2024
Anonymous, 12 Apr 2024Not many phone users that use the phone camera is aware of ... moreOne major problem that can't be fixed post, for most photos, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DEPTH OF FIELD and you can't fix that by stopping down to f/4 (smallest aperture) And every photo needs at least basic editing but I LOVE doing that, on my phone mostly. This phone is therefore, NOT for everyone. I'm a pro - photographer. I do love that it rarely over-sharpens though. Then there's the powerful, drop resistant 'Xiaomi Shield Glass' that scratches really easily. My phone will look used in a couple of months and I really am very careful with the glass. I've spent all my professional life, looking after fragile glass (lenses) with delicate coatings. So this a shocker on a premium flagship. Now the Pros: Image quality is excellent even if only a small part is in focus! The build quality is excellent, it looks and feels premium. The Display is the best I've ever had! It's really bright and has fabulous calibration options in addition to the simple ones. I am in love with this phone but the focus area problem is really getting to me! The software / processing, could be way better too. Some of those will I'm sure, be sorted out but depth of field is a hardware design flaw, it cannot be rectified. You just have to shoot wider and then crop, sacrificing precious pixels!
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- Anonymous
- JyD
- 07 Jun 2024
mE, 10 Apr 2024SNAP I did the same returned my 14 ultra and got the vivo x... moreHopefully, only some batches had it. A guy did lots of photos in Alps and no issue. I did exactly the opposite as I returned the Vivo and bought 14U. I hesitated and waited first, but it was for 999€ in white color, so it was a great deal. Vivo is great, but without the variable aperture it sucks a big time.
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- Anonymous
- dSV
- 06 May 2024
Larry Z, 13 Apr 2024Just got this phone in last week. I went to take pictures a... moreSamsung had variable aperture for many S series phones and never had that issue.
there would not be condensation without moisture in the lens enclosure
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- kkman29
- uqx
- 01 May 2024
Im sure that a company like xiaomi is more than capable of initiating updates to suit its consumer base depnding on the need of that consumer. In this day and age digital upgrades are seamless. This would include adjusting platforms to suit the local market where user interface is concerned. This would be a very valuable upsell feature that could entice competitor consumers and could be for anything from camera software upgrading to phone software upgrading. Essentially no different from a laptop , tablet or desktop App. I hear alot of questions from concerned consumers about different phones specific to different markets. At the end of the day Xiaomi has the ability to improve this at the back end very easily.
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- Arrow
- J7J
- 18 Apr 2024
Tom, 06 Apr 2024Why does the review not say a word about the fogged up came... moreHmm i didn't face such issue till now been using the phone for 3 weeks now and god i love the 14 ultra sold my s24 ultra and have to say i don't regret it 😊
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- jacobtf
- ash
- 18 Apr 2024
mE, 10 Apr 2024SNAP I did the same returned my 14 ultra and got the vivo x... moreSame here! Lens fogging problem straight away. Tried everything to remove it, silica, dehumidifiers etc. Nothing worked. Ended up returning the phone and got a refund. But the photography kit couldn't be refunded. Oh and night time video is pretty awful. Try walking on a dark streets with street lights and it looks downright horrible. My 5 year old Huawei P30 Pro does a better job. Believe me, I compared them!
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- Mr Destiny
- Jb8
- 17 Apr 2024
Io, 14 Apr 2024This is not a review. We are talking about phones not about... moreSuch simple and basic things as signal reception have long been working as they should for everyone, that’s why they don’t write unless there are any special problems or some obvious advantages
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- Io
- spe
- 14 Apr 2024
This is not a review. We are talking about phones not about photo cameras only. Nothing about signal reception for example.
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- Larry Z
- I4A
- 13 Apr 2024
Just got this phone in last week. I went to take pictures and the shots I took were hazy. I looked at the lens and saw condensation on the top/left lens, which is the variable aperture lens. I sent it back the next day. The condensation did go away over a period of time, but I lost the moment of the day when I should have captured beautiful shots. With any type of condensation forming and leaving, this will eventually cause a film on the inner lens to develop. I would not recommend this phone until a definite fix is made. My guess is that the variable aperture lens has a tiny motor that heats up and because of the confined area it creates steam/ condensation.
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- Anonymous
- ibh
- 12 Apr 2024
Valar friend, 10 Apr 2024Friend, how can you compare a smartphone that, instead of m... moreNot many phone users that use the phone camera is aware of what you correctly said about Vivo and other phone manufacturers using AI for coming out with an image after you have touched the shutter button. The phone manufacturers' approach to photography is something that the general phone users do not pay attention to. If it looks nice on their phone, they probably think there is something wrong with your phone if the photo they have taken doesn't look nice on your phone.
That is one of what AI algorithm wants to achieve, generating what the majority people like to see, hear, read, etc.
Vivo X100 Pro users like their phone and many insist it is the best camera phone. As you rightly pointed out, Vivo draws or creates details using AI so details seen in the photo was not there in the original scene. According to one video comparing Oppo Find X 7 Ultra, Xioami 14 Ultra and Vivo X100 Pro, this approach is also done in the RAW file.
I think the general phone usage can be fulfilled with a decent mid ranger, or a flagship killer if high spec is desired, if the camera is just for utilitarian purpose of scanning QR code and sending photo record in messaging app.
Professional photographers and photography enthusiasts will find the Xiaomi 14 Ultra a great photography tool in a mobile phone. Its approach in photography of not tempering with data captured in the scene is important to photographers. Good straight-out-of-camera result is a bonus in any photography tool but there isn't a one size fits all in terms of style and image processing preference. So there is no such camera with perfect SOOC for everyone. As can be seen in many reviews, Xiaomi 14 Ultra takes great photos straight out of the camera too but it won't meet everyone's preference just like any other phone.
Photography is a creative process. Great images have been taken way before we have such fancy tools. Many camera, lens and film/sensor manufacturers have spent years to improve the optical image capturing process. We are fortunate to have many very capable equipment today.
And we are fortunate that Xiaomi still brings out a device that stay true to the image taking process within the physical size limitations of a candy bar form factor.
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- Hollanackyall
- 0rh
- 11 Apr 2024
Dudes, I've got my global 14 ultra since this afternoon and according to accu battery the battery is 5300 mAh lol. Other people from a dutch forum encounter the same. This is 100% the global version. So who's lying? Accu battery or Xiaomi. Cause it should have 5000 mAh. I'm not complaining dont get me wrong, but could it really be 5300 mAh?
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- Nick Name
- 3CT
- 11 Apr 2024
mE, 10 Apr 2024SNAP I did the same returned my 14 ultra and got the vivo x... moreReturned mine too with camera grip. Main camera images very dark and soft, other cameras normal exposure.
Choice of picture mode always back to "normal" instead of leica vivid or authentic. Normal best anyway.
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- pkn
- Tup
- 11 Apr 2024
Mario, 05 Apr 2024Xiaomi won't see me any time again soon buying their u... moreStrange i receiving around 10 - 12 each year ur probably lying or u newer had a Xiaomi phone..
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- pkn
- Tup
- 11 Apr 2024
Emanuel , 10 Apr 2024Does 14u have pre installed google apps Yes
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- Emanuel
- NwF
- 10 Apr 2024
TechJocky, 25 Mar 2024Only price is the obstacle. Other than that this one is a v... moreDoes 14u have pre installed google apps
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- mE
- 3H3
- 10 Apr 2024
Tom, 06 Apr 2024Why does the review not say a word about the fogged up came... moreSNAP I did the same returned my 14 ultra and got the vivo x100 pro and it's night and day the vivo is the better phone. Better camera better battery and more customization in my opinion. I had the fog lens issue and no phone should ever have that
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- Valar friend
- gLe
- 10 Apr 2024
Tom, 07 Apr 2024In fact, I have not noticed any difference in the display. ... moreFriend, how can you compare a smartphone that, instead of making photographs, draws with a neural network,II? Where in every portrait photo do you have drawn eyes, like in a cartoon? Alas, the Vivo x100 line can no longer be classified as camera phones due to its defective software. Just like Honor and Huawei. This is a different, more budget level, despite the good lenses and glare coating. Vivo are only suitable for shooting in raw, which only a few will do. Gcam is also not good to install because of mtk. IMHO, this is not a competitor. Here is the Oppo x7 ultra, yes, there is something to talk about. But he has an extremely creepy appearance, unfortunately.
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- Tom
- fk1
- 07 Apr 2024
showstopper, 07 Apr 2024Well said dude 👍, me too thinking of Vivo x100 pro but it d... moreIn fact, I have not noticed any difference in the display. I have the impression that the Dimensity 9300 is even faster than the Snapdragon from the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The battery also works longer. I have bought the Vivo X 100 Pro for the camera and photos and these are much better than the Xiaomi. After the problems with the camera and the refund process, I have lost all the trust and respect for Xiaomi as a company.