Xiaomi14T Pro review: how much can an affordable high-end cell phone offer?

Although manufacturers promote their models as the most advanced and disruptive, the truth is that it is increasingly difficult to find real differences in them. If you feel like you are in that circle with no way out, perhaps an alternative is to look a little higher, but without having to raise your head too much. We have all heard of high-end cell phones like iPhone, Galaxy S, among others, but there are devices that, although they belong to that club, have more accessible prices. They are high-end entry-level cell phones. One of them is the Xiaomi 14T Pro, which I have been testing these weeks.

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This is the older brother of Xiaomi’s T family. It is a smartphone that It is sold in the market for about S/ 3,330 soles and that, although it does not reach the power of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, it has quite interesting features.

Elegant and resistant design

Large design, solid body, sober colors and premium feel to the touch, the Xiaomi 14T Pro has been built to exude elegance and equanimity. It is a fairly rectangular model, although with curved edges. Even the camera module, which is also large, is curved at the corners. The module is bulky, as it houses four sensors. Despite this, it does not give the feeling of being rough.

In my case, I tried the black model, which is especially pretty. I find it very elegant. I associate it with a gala dress or something like that. The color is uniform, but when we look closer we appreciate its grainy construction. The equipment also has IP68 certification, which makes it resistant to water, splashes and dust.

On the front we find the screen. Of technology AMOLED and 6.67 inchesthis piece takes up 89% of the body, leaving only a small space for the bezels. It must be said that the edges of the screen are curved, contrary to the trend of the most advanced models that once again opt for straight corners.

It has a good brightness calibration. Even if it is a sunny day, we can look at the screen without problems. The color is well adjusted and can always be configured from Settings. On the other hand, the touch sensitivity is good, browsing, typing or gaming will not be a problem. And although we are not facing an LTPO screen, the refresh rate reaches up to 144 Hz.

Efficient power and performance

Let’s now talk about the power of the phone. The T14 Pro does not integrate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is the chipset most used by high-end models, instead it has the Dimensions 9300+a piece with capabilities as competent as Qualcomm’s. The processor is accompanied by memory 12 GB RAM, ROM from 256 GB to 1 TB.

We are facing a system capable of running any application with total fluidityeven the most resource-demanding ones, such as video editors or video games like ‘Genshin Impact’, ‘PUBG’ or ‘Call of Duty’, titles which we can run at maximum resolution. After demanding the maximum from the hardware, there are no signs of excessive heat, which is something that is appreciated, since many times – even high-end ones – raise their temperature too much in similar situations, causing discomfort to the user.

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The best of all is that we can go from one application to another and we will not have a problem, the phone will not slow down. This is known as multitasking, that is, the ability to execute different tasks at the same time. We can be taking photos or recording videos and editing at the same time, then browsing social networks or the search engine, and despite having several programs running in the background the computer does not get slow. With all this, andThe 14T Pro becomes a great work tool, Whether you want to edit content or manage your business from your cell phone, the equipment will not let you down.

This is where we notice the difference between a mid-range cell phone, which can range between approximately 800 soles and 2,500 soles, and a high-end one. In general, the former, although they can also run most apps, do not allow you to use high graphics settings or, if they do, they become slow and sometimes crash. The latter, on the contrary, assure you that, even under demanding conditions, they will remain stable.

If we talk about the software, the mobile arrives with HyperOS, Xiaomi’s customization layer based – currently – on Android 14. We are facing a somewhat heavy, but functional system. It comes pre-installed with the necessary applications – there is no ‘bloatware’ – and almost everything is customizable, something that makes it quite attractive.

And although it is not a device that proposes artificial intelligence as its differential advantage, it does have some tools that give the experience a plus. What functions do we find? ‘Cricle to Search’ is one of them. This tool, presented at the beginning of the year, is a method for searching from images. It is enough to enclose the object of our interest on the screen, whether we are browsing a social network or a website, to obtain the information from it, as if it were a search.

What else can we do? We have an interpreter mode for phone calls, we can summarize voice recordings and transcribe them completely and we also have a generative photo editing tool.

As for the battery, we find a piece of 5000 mAh of the Xiaomi 14T Pro, combined with the efficiency of the Dimensity 9300+ processor, guarantees more than enough autonomy for a full day of intensive use. Furthermore, his 120W fast charging allows you to fully recover the battery in less than half an hour, while the 50W wireless charging offers a convenient and fast alternative.

Photographic section with quality seal

In addition to the processor, it is in this section where we notice the biggest differences with mid-range phones. On paper we can have the same number of pixels, zoom, telephoto; However, the quality of the pieces makes a substantial difference. Let us remember that equipment like the iPhone – which has one of the best cameras on the market – is handled in the range of 12 and 48 megapixels, while others of much lower range are promoted with many more megapixels.

How does Xiaomi’s 14T Pro perform? I must say that from the Asian brand I have had the opportunity to have one of the best mobile cameras ever, I am referring to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The 14T Pro does not reach its height – there is a substantial difference in its costs – but it remains in line with excellence.

We have a triple camera system made up of Leica Summilux lenses. If this is the first time you’ve heard of Leica, you should keep in mind that it is a company specialized in precision optical instruments, which includes photographic lenses. It is not the first time that he has collaborated with a cell phone brand and, probably, it will not be the last either. What is certain is that it does a very good job in mobile quality.

What this Xiaomi association allows, mainly, is to have two aesthetics in the shots, which translate into two different modes: Leica Vibrant y Leica Authentic. The first mode gives the photo a more traditional style in mobile photography, where we notice more processed images, therefore, with greater color and intensity. The second mode, for its part, captures more natural and less processed scenes. One is not better than the other, it is a matter of taste. Although surely those who are more photography purists will lean towards Authentic.

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We can switch between both modes, but we can’t get rid of them, at least with automatic shooting. If we want to do without the Leica style with automatic shooting, we can do so, although only with shots of 50 megapixels and using only the main camera. Of course, we can also use the manual shooting setting.

How do the photos look? During the day the cameras work wonderfullythere is a good dynamic range that at times becomes saturated in open landscapes and a delicate aesthetic, thanks to the Leica touch. The images retain details quite well and, thanks to its 2.6X optical zoom, we can enjoy clear and distortion-free close-ups. While at ultra wide angle, it behaves correctlyHowever, it is excessively noticeable – at least to my taste – how the image is contoured.

At night, the equipment does not work badly at all. It balances the lights quite well, so that the photos do not appear with too many shadows. Sharpness is sacrificed a little, but it is nothing that affects the result too much, especially if we take into account that most cell phones do the same.

The front camera offers great image quality in self-portraits. Although it does not incorporate Leica’s photographic modes, it allows you to customize the bokeh effect to obtain an adjustable background blur. The images captured, even in low-light environments, have a good level of detail, natural colors and warm tones.

Video recording in 4K a 60 fpsalong with the ‘Movie’ and ‘Director’ modes, make the Xiaomi 14T a powerful tool for creating high-quality audiovisual content.

Is the Xiaomi 14T Pro worth it?

This cell phone is positioned as an interesting option within the accessible high-end range, as it offers high-performance features at a competitive price. With a sleek design, a processor capable of handling demanding tasks, and a photography system backed by Leica, the device excels in key aspects. Although it does not reach the features of the most advanced models on the market or of Xiaomi itself – such as the 14 Ultra –, its balance between performance and cost makes it an attractive alternative for those looking for a versatile phone without spending an exorbitant sum.