Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Xiaomi 14: photography technology is at the forefront

In the depths Mobile World Congress 2024, where technological dreams come true, Xiaomi has stolen the spotlight with two flagship devices, the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra, which have already shined in the Chinese market. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which had its official premiere just a few days ago in its homeland, boasts a new 1-inch type of Sony's LYT-900 sensor. This sensor is not only a big step forward in mobile photography, but also follows the example of the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, incorporating the revolutionary variable aperture system that Xiaomi already introduced with the Xiaomi 14 Pro - last October in China. The ability to adjust the aperture between 1,024 stops from f/1.63 to f/4.0 represents a technological achievement never seen before in the smartphone world.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra it also follows the trend set by the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by including two telephoto lenses, 3.2x and 5x, both stabilized. At the same time, it allows recording in log format. This is especially attractive for those who want to use the phone in multi-camera setups and color process the results to match other shots. Additionally, recording 10-bit HDR in log format opens up new possibilities in post-production. With this, Xiaomi is following, for example, the iPhone 15 Pro and others, who are increasingly aware that phones record most of the content for social networks, and the log format enables subsequent color correction of the video.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi 14 provides the foundation for a superior technology experience with a slightly smaller 6.36-inch LTPO 120Hz display that promises smooth scrolling and greater energy efficiency. Compared to the Ultra model, which boasts a 6.73-inch 120Hz 1440p display and a 1-inch type main camera, the Xiaomi 14 comes with more modest camera specifications.

Both models are designed with photography enthusiasts in mind, with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in particular standing out with advanced photography capabilities that position it as a strong contender for the title of best smartphone camera in 2024. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is priced at €1,499 , while the Xiaomi 14 starts at €999. Interestingly, with the 14 Ultra, Xiaomi is moving away from last year's curved edges and embracing the trend of flat edges for 2024, which are easier to hold. The phone is somehow less "kitschy" and has a more refined design.

Despite the excitement that Xiaomi is bringing to the global market with its flagship models, it remains disappointing that these advanced models will not be available in the US and some markets. At the same time, there are certain concerns that the phones are arriving in Europe with a delay. While Samsung and Google focus on features Camera AI in their latest updates, the most interesting hardware upgrades in 2024 came from Chinese phone makers, notably Oppo and Xiaomi, suggesting that even globally available smartphones could see some serious hardware innovation in the near future. equipment. Customers can only look forward to mobile photography and videography getting better and better.