Smartphone cameras have become advanced over the last few years. Many phones come with a triple or quad rear camera setup, a higher megapixel primary sensor, software-based features, and more. Due to their compactness and additional usage, smartphones are also becoming an alternative to DSLRs unless you’re a professional photographer.

When the Xiaomi 14 Ultra (review) was unveiled globally, the company touted it as the pinnacle of smartphone imagery. Aside from top-of-the-line specifications, the phone packs flagship camera features.

A quick glance at the product page has a lot of information that we have broken down in this post. The smartphone retails at Rs 99,999 and EUR 1,499 in the Indian and European markets, respectively.

But does it justify the price tag for phone photography enthusiasts? Read on to know about it. 

All things Leica

Xiaomi has partnered with legendary German camera maker Leica for the camera system on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The device is capable of clicking photographs quickly within just 0.7 seconds. This makes it incredibly helpful for shooting fast-moving scenes.

The phone can output Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant looks that offer original tones and colors to images that you would get from a Leica camera. The device also features six Leica filters and adjustable parameters like tonality. 

Additionally, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is capable of shooting images in Ultra RAW format giving users the ability to post-process in software like Adobe Lightroom. 

Decoding the quad-camera setup 

Coming to the core subject, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a 50MP Sony LYT-900 1-inch primary sensor. It has a variable aperture range of f/1.63 to f/4.0 for bokeh effect, starburst effect, and sharper details depending on the scene and how you want to make the photograph. The main sensor has a focal length of 23mm and 46mm with 2x zoom. 

The ultra-wide-angle lens has a 50MP sensor with f/1.8 and a 12mm equivalent focal length for a wider 122-degree field of view making it ideal for landscape shots. 

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts 50MP telephoto and 50MP periscope lenses. Both have floating technology that lets you shift the focus range from 10cm to infinity. The telephoto unit has a focal range of 75mm whereas the periscope offers a 120mm to 240mm range. The latter also has up to 70x zoom capability. 

The entire quad-camera setup on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has OIS that ensures images are shake and blur-free. 

Master Portrait lens system

If you have ever used a DSLR, you might be familiar with various lens systems available and the purpose they serve. The master portrait lens system on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers the same experience.

It lets you capture up-close portrait shots with a 23mm focal length. A 35mm focal length gives you a wider field of view in your portraits.

Meanwhile, a professional photographer’s favorite 50mm equivalent focal range lets you capture portraits with a stunning shallow depth of field and blur effect. A 75mm focal length is for capturing from a distance making it ideal for street portraits without being susceptible. 

Doesn’t compromise on videography

Aside from photography, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s videography features are also impressive. All four lenses are capable of recording up to 8K resolution at 30 fps. If you want a higher 60 or 120 fps while recording, the resolution is scaled back to 4K.

The device supports Dolby Vision HDR technology and 10-bit LOG recording. However, the former is only limited to 4K at 60 fps. The phone is also said to achieve fast and stable focus tracking.

Finally, the smartphone is also equipped with a three-dimensional four-mic array setup that ensures audio in the video is captured clearly. 

A compact professional camera-like looks

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a huge protruding circular module on its back panel that gives a professional camera-like look.

In India, the smartphone is also offered in Reserve Edition which has bundled accessories including a limited edition protective case, a 67mm filter adapter, and more.

Meanwhile, the China and global variants get a handle with a built-in 1,500mAh battery unit, a custom dial, a video recording button, a two-stage shutter button, and a zoom lever.

 

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