Phone Review

Xiaomi 14T Overview: Magnificence over brains?

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Xiaomi 14T Intro

We have been genuinely impressed with the Xiaomi 14T Professional (take a look at the evaluation), however the T-series has one further mannequin, a trimmed-down model with out the “Professional” moniker. At the moment, we’ll examine what has been misplaced together with that, and is the Xiaomi 14T nonetheless a very good deal, and extra importantly, a very good cellphone?In fact, this technique is nothing new; Xiaomi has been segregating its smartphone collection into many alternative classes for years, and the T-series isn’t any exception. The Xiaomi 14T retains among the cool options of the Professional mannequin whereas reducing some corners right here and there, and that is mirrored within the $599 price ticket.

Let’s examine what you are getting for that type of cash.

UPDATE: The Xiaomi 15 collection already launched in China with some spectacular specs and a problem to take the Android crown subsequent 12 months, when the the telephones come outdoors China. You possibly can take a look at our Xiaomi 15 Professional preview, and keep tuned for a full evaluation quickly. 

Desk of Contents:

Xiaomi 14T Specs

No wi-fi charging

Let’s begin with an summary of the Xiaomi 14T specs:

Xiaomi 14T Design and Show

Like a Professional!

Design-wise, the Xiaomi 14T is sort of an identical to the Professional model, which is an efficient factor. We had hassle telling which is which from a distance; the scale and weight are nearly the identical. One of many key variations is that the common Xiaomi 14T mannequin has a very flat again, whereas the Professional is barely curved.

The digicam bump on the vanilla mannequin stands out much less, and it is ever so barely smaller. However we’re speaking fractions of the millimeter right here. The Xiaomi 14T can also be 0.4mm thinner and 14 grams lighter than the Professional model.

The identical metallic aesthetic is current right here; the cellphone is accessible in the identical Titan Grey, Titan Blue, and Titan Black hues, and the Titan Grey is unquestionably our favourite. The facility button is once more textured and has a pleasant really feel to it.

Transferring to some excellent news. The show is an identical to the one used within the Professional mannequin, and we already know that it is a fantastic AMOLED panel. It is a 6.67-inch show that is able to going as much as 144Hz refresh charges, and it is also calibrated extraordinarily effectively out of the manufacturing facility.

PhoneArena Show Measurements:


In our show check, the Xiaomi 14T was capable of go above the 1,000-nit threshold, outperforming even the Professional mannequin within the brightness division. The opposite features of the panel are on par with the competitors, however the Pixel 8a remains to be head and shoulders forward when it comes to show goodness per greenback.

The identical optical fingerprint scanner from the Professional mannequin is on responsibility below the display, and for probably the most half it really works as meant. There’s additionally facial recognition, however as soon as once more, it depends on a single entrance digicam, so it is not very safe.

Xiaomi 14T Digital camera

Leica-infused

The digicam system on the Xiaomi 14T is the opposite main distinction in comparison with the Professional mannequin. It is a complete completely different setup, with the primary 50MP sensor being Sony IMX906 as a substitute of the rebranded OmniVision on the Professional.The ultrawide digicam is once more 12MP with nothing attention-grabbing to write down residence about, and the telephoto right here is 50mm or 2x equal. There are completely different lenses on high of those sensors as effectively, the excellent news is that they’re all Leica branded, however let’s check out some samples.

Predominant Digital camera

Although we’re speaking about completely different sensors right here (in comparison with the Xiaomi 14T Professional), the IMX906 contained in the vanilla mannequin performs fairly admirably. In actual fact, in good lighting circumstances, each telephones produce superb photographs.

If we’ve to nitpick, the common 14T has a tad narrower dynamic vary and doubtless a bit extra boosted colours. However general, the primary digicam is excellent in broad daylight, sharp, detailed, and nice to the attention.

The identical goes for evening pictures. The samples are balanced, most likely a bit on the softer facet, as a result of noise-reduction algorithms kick in. The dynamic vary remains to be first rate, and there are no large artifacts from point-like gentle sources. Total, fairly first rate job.

Ultrawide Digital camera

At 12MP the ultrawide digicam contained in the Xiaomi 14T is a mediocre affair. It will get the job finished however with out fanfares. It lacks autofocus, similar to the one on the Professional mannequin, so when you attempt to body objects which can be at a unique distance it’s possible you’ll run into focusing points. The nice factor is that coloration replica is uniform and the general tonality is similar to the photographs from the primary digicam. That being stated, the shortage of element is clear.

Zoom High quality

The zoom digicam can also be completely different to the one discovered on the Professional mode. Right here we’ve 50mm focal size equal or 2x if we rely from the primary digicam. The standard is relatively good, particulars are lots, and the colours look pure. The dynamic vary suffers a bit and pictures are inclined to look a bit flat typically. Additionally, at this magnification, the existence of a separate telephoto digicam is mind-boggling, as the identical or very shut outcomes will be achieved utilizing 2x crops from the primary sensor. However it’s what it’s.

Selfies

The 32MP selfie digicam does not have autofocus, and there is not a lot you possibly can regulate within the settings, you’ll get a good shot, however nothing too particular. The sweetness mode is disconcerting, it is like a personality editor in Skyrim, you will be whoever you want. One other unusual choice (similar to with the Professional mannequin) is to not pixel-bin the outcome and provide 32MP selfies pictures. They are not tremendous detailed both.

Video High quality

Video Thumbnail

The video from the primary digicam appears good, not like the Xiaomi 14T Professional, right here the recording caps at 4K30fps, however for all sensible functions this format is nice sufficient. Should you begin switching between the completely different cameras you will find yourself with inconsistencies within the high quality, however you are able to do so, when you really feel prefer it. You may as well pause the recording, zoom out and in, and apply completely different Leica coloration filters as effectively.

Xiaomi 14T Efficiency & Benchmarks

Sacrifices

One of many greatest sacrifices (alongside the shortage of wi-fi charging) is the Dimensity 8300 Extremely contained in the Xiaomi 14T. Do not let the title idiot you, this can be a midrange chipset that depends on one efficiency Cortex-A715 core clocked at 3.35 GHz, three of the identical A715 cores at 3.20GHz, and 4 Cortex-A510 environment friendly cores operating at 2.20 GHz. It does not sound like a very highly effective combo, however let us take a look at some artificial benchmarks and see the place this chipset truly stands.

Efficiency Benchmarks:

We would not name the Xiaomi 14T gradual, in artificial benchmarks the cellphone trades blows with the Pixel 8a and the Tensor G3, which is now getting outdated and never pace champion both. There’s additionally a slight hesitation occasionally if you ask the cellphone to carry out one thing demanding, and general, there is a midrange really feel to the expertise. We won’t ask an excessive amount of out of a way more reasonably priced cellphone (in comparison with the Xiaomi 14T Professional), however this sacrifice is one you could really feel, and it type of spoils the occasion a bit.

So far as RAM and storage go, the cellphone has lots reminiscence configurations to select from, beginning with a fairly commonplace 12/256GB choice and going all the way in which as much as 16/512GB.

Xiaomi 14T Software program

The cellphone’s interface is constructed on Android 14, with Xiaomi’s customized HyperOS UI on high. It presents some intensive customization choices, permitting customers to decide on between a inventory Android look or a extra MIUI-like really feel (which is paying homage to iOS to some extent).

On this AI-driven period, we will not reside with out the necessary massive language mannequin magic. As a substitute of growing its personal AI, Xiaomi has partnered with Google to combine Gemini contained in the Xiaomi 14T and we predict this was the correct name. Options embody Circle to Search, AI Picture Modifying, AI Notes, and an AI Recorder with real-time translation, speaker identification, and abstract technology capabilities. A few of them are on account of arrive later this month (October) whereas others are available. 

One facet be aware, Gemini nonetheless lies like loopy. We requested it to modify to a feminine voice within the reside model and it pretended it did, solely to make use of the identical voice. “Yeah, I can completely change my voice to feminine,” stated the AI. You possibly can see the way it responds once we immediate the identical request by way of textual content.

The Xiaomi 14T guarantees 4 years of main OS updates and 5 years of safety patches. Whereas that is lower than the seven years provided by Google and Samsung, it nonetheless gives an affordable replace cycle.

Xiaomi 14T Battery

It is okay

The Xiaomi 14T comes with the identical 5,000mAh battery as its Professional sibling onboard, which in 2024 passes as a good capability. Given the underpowered chipset, we anticipated a battery champion, however issues turned out a lot a lot completely different.

PhoneArena Battery Check Outcomes:

It seems that the Dimensity 8300 Extremely shouldn’t be as environment friendly because the way more highly effective 9300+ chipset contained in the Professional model. Or not less than that is what our battery benchmarks present. Each chips are 4nm expertise, and the shows are an identical, so we will attribute the shorter battery life to the much less environment friendly silicon. It isn’t that the result’s dangerous, it is okay. However when a a lot highly effective chipset manages to supply a greater battery life at an an identical battery capability, one thing’s not fairly proper.

PhoneArena Charging Check Outcomes:

The opposite elephant within the room is the shortage of wi-fi charging. We all know it is not a dealbreaker for some individuals, however on high of that, the wired charging is capped at 67W. The charging outcomes unsurprisingly present that distinction in pace. That being stated, 49 minutes for a full cost remains to be fairly first rate.

Do you have to purchase it?

The Xiaomi 14T Professional impressed us with its sturdy package deal and nice design. Should you trim issues down an excessive amount of, the impact turns into a defect. Let’s examine what a $200 distinction appears like in specs. First, the chipset is completely different and slower than the completely wonderful Dimensity 9300+. 

The Xiaomi 14T is positioned someplace across the Pixel 8a performance-wise. Second, the digicam system is completely different, however the primary digicam remains to be fairly good. What we do not perceive is the necessity for a devoted 2x telephoto. There is no wi-fi charging, and the wired charging speeds are slower, albeit fairly first rate nonetheless.

However, the Xiaomi 14T has a really engaging design and a stunning display at its facet, plus the Gemini partnership, which isn’t to be taken frivolously. 

Now, do you have to purchase the Xiaomi 14T or spend $200 extra on the Professional model? It is determined by what you are in search of. The $599 smartphone area is fairly crowded, and there are wonderful picks throughout. The Pixel 8a is nice and comes with prolonged software program assist and Google’s digicam algorithm magic. The OnePlus 12R is quicker, and its battery life and charging are a lot better too. Final however not least, Xiaomi telephones are laborious to get within the US, so there’s that as effectively.

After we issue within the not too long ago launched in China Xiaomi 15 collection, there are little to no causes to get the vanilla Xiaomi 14T. 

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