Xiaomi Unveils Compact Flagship Xiaomi 14 with Leica Optics in India

Xiaomi has just launched its flagship phone series for 2024 in India, and the base Xiaomi 14 looks impressive. The Xiaomi 14, starting at Rs 69,999, is a unique smartphone that packs flagship specs and Leica's optics into a surprisingly compact form factor. Aside from this, the company has also launched the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The Xiaomi 14 boasts of a 6.36-inch OLED display with a 1.5K resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, and LTPO technology. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it one of the brightest displays on the market, as per the company's claims. The screen is also protected by the durable Gorilla Glass Victus.

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship SoC, matched with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It runs on Android 14 out of the box, making it the first Xiaomi phone in India to feature the company's new HyperOS skin.

The cameras are the real showstoppers on this phone, with a triple 50-megapixel setup on the back. The main camera features the new OmniVision 50-megapixel "light hunter" 1/1.31-inch sensor making its India debut, as well as OIS and a 23mm focal length. Combined with Leica optics and colour science, Xiaomi claims it can capture exceptional image quality. The phone also features a 50-megapixel 75mm telephoto lens for an effective 3.2X optical zoom, and a 14mm 114-degree ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

Video capabilities are equally impressive, with the Xiaomi 14 capable of shooting 8K video at 24 frames per second and 4K video at 60 frames per second with HDR10+ and 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR support. The phone also supports the 10-bit LOG video format for professional-level colour grading. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera.

The Xiaomi 14 is claimed to be built to last, with IP68 water and dust resistance. It also offers dual stereo speakers that support 24-bit 192Hz hi-res audio and hi-res wireless audio playback. The phone is powered by a 4,610mAh battery and supports 90W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging.

With its compact size, powerful hardware, and impressive camera setup, Xiaomi will be hoping to make waves at the top end of the Indian smartphone market and also continue pivoting its brand towards more premium buyers.