Xiaomi 14T Pro Review: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse with Flagship Features

The Xiaomi 14T Pro is part of Xiaomi’s strategy to bring flagship-level features to a more accessible price point. Positioned as a mid-year update to Xiaomi’s flagship lineup, the 14T Pro delivers high-end performance. It also packs an impressive display, and a refined design at a fraction of the cost of other premium smartphones. In this review, we dive into its features, performance, and whether it stands up to the high expectations set by its predecessors and competitors.

Xiaomi 14T Pro – Technical specifications

• 6.67-inch (2712 x 1220 pixels) 1.5K CrystalRes AMOLED display, 144Hz refresh rate,
• 480Hz touch sampling rate, 3840Hz ultra-high frequency PWM dimming, HDR10+
• Dolby Vision, up to 4000 nits peak brightness, Xiaomi Shield Glass protection
• Xiaomi 14T – Up to 3.35GHz Octa Core MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra 4nm processor with Arm Mali-G615 MC6 GPU
• Xiaomi 14T Pro – Octa-Core Dimensity 9300+ 4nm SoC with Immortalis – G720 GPU
• 12GB LPPDDR5X RAM with 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) storage
• Dual SIM (nano + nano)
• Xiaomi Hyper OS based on Android 14
• 50MP Leica rear camera with 1/ 1.31″ Light Fusion 900 sensor, f/1.62 aperture, OIS,
• LED flash, 12MP 120° Leica ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture,
• 50MP 2.6x Leica telephoto camera with f/1.98 aperture
• 32MP front-facing camera
• In-display fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor
• USB Type-C audio, Hi-Res audio, Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos
• Dimensions: 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.39 mm; Weight: 209g
• Dust and water-resistant (IP68)
• 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6E (14T) / Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be, Bluetooth 5.4
• Beidou:, B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b｜GPS: L1+L5｜
• Galileo: E1+E5a+E5b, GLONASS: G1｜QZSS: L1+L5｜NavIC: L5, NFC
• 5000mAh (Typical) battery with 120W (14T Pro) fast charging, 50W wireless charging

Design: Premium Look with Minor Compromises

The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts a sleek and modern design that feels both premium and sturdy. Its aluminum alloy frame is strong and gives the phone a high-end appearance. At the same time the 3D curved glass back adds to the phone’s refined aesthetic. However, the smooth back can be a little slippery, which may make a case necessary for users who want more grip.

Weighing 209 grams, the phone feels solid but not overly heavy, with its weight well distributed across the device. It fits comfortably in the hand, although the squared-off edges of the phone may not be as ergonomically friendly as more rounded designs like those seen in Apple’s iPhones.

One of the standout features of the 14T Pro is its IP68 water and dust resistance, ensuring that the phone can survive accidental submersion and exposure to the elements. This durability is a welcome feature for a phone at this price point, because we normally see it in higher-end flagship models.

Xiaomi 14T Pro Display: A Stunning CrystalRes AMOLED Screen

One of the key highlights of the Xiaomi 14T Pro is its 6.67-inch ‘CrystalRes’ AMOLED display. With a resolution of 2712 x 1220 pixels (1.5K) and a 144Hz refresh rate, the display is bright, vivid, and incredibly smooth. The 12-bit color depth and HDR10+ support make it an excellent choice for media consumption, with deep blacks and vibrant colors.

In bright outdoor conditions, the screen remains highly visible, thanks to its peak brightness of 4,000 nits. The display is also designed to be easy on the eyes, with TÜV Rheinland-certified hardware ensuring reduced blue light emissions, and 3,840Hz PWM dimming for comfortable viewing in low-light settings.

However, while the 14T Pro boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, this feature may not always be fully utilized. In many everyday use cases, the phone defaults to 120Hz, reserving the full 144Hz experience for specific apps or games that can benefit from the higher refresh rate.

Performance: Power Meets Efficiency

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+ chipset, built on a 4nm architecture. This processor is a powerhouse, offering flagship-level performance! It enables the phone to handle demanding tasks such as gaming, multitasking, and content creation without breaking a sweat. The chip’s energy efficiency ensures that the phone doesn’t overheat during prolonged use, even when running graphically intensive games or apps.

Backing up the performance are up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, which can go up to 1TB in some configurations. The combination of fast RAM and storage means the phone can handle multiple apps running in the background with ease, and users have ample room for their apps, photos, and media.

During benchmarking tests, the 14T Pro performed impressively, scoring higher than some flagship phones with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. In real-world use, this translates to snappy app performance, fluid transitions, and lag-free gaming.

Xiaomi 14T Pro Camera: Leica Partnership Shines Through

The Xiaomi 14T Pro’s camera system is co-developed with Leica, the well known company. This trully gives it a unique edge in terms of image quality. The rear camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor (the Light Fusion 900 sensor from Xiaomi), a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 2.6x optical zoom.

The Light Fusion 900 sensor does an impressive job of capturing detailed, vibrant photos in various lighting conditions. Whether shooting in daylight or low-light settings, the phone’s camera system delivers sharp and colorful images. The Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic shooting modes give users creative control over their shots. Leica Vibrant enhances color saturation and contrast, while Leica Authentic gives photos a more natural, subdued tone with an emphasis on shadows.

Portrait mode also works well, with natural fall-off between the subject and the background. These create photos with pleasing depth and bokeh effects. The telephoto lens is a strong addition in this case. It allows for close-up shots with minimal loss of quality, although dynamic range and autofocus could be improved in certain scenarios.

For video, the Xiaomi 14T Pro supports recording at up to 8K at 30fps, offering a wide range of filming options, including a MasterCinema mode and Director mode for more professional control over video settings. These features, combined with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and solid low-light performance, make the 14T Pro’s camera system one of the best in its price range.

Xiaomi 14T Pro Software: Xiaomi’s HyperOS and AI Enhancements

The 14T Pro debuts Xiaomi’s HyperOS, built on Android 14, marking a shift from Xiaomi’s previous MIUI interface. HyperOS promises a more streamlined experience, with fewer system resources used by the operating system and improved connectivity between Xiaomi devices.

HyperOS also integrates a number of AI-powered features that elevate the user experience. The AI Expansion feature, for instance, uses generative fill to extend the edges of an image when cropped. Thus offering a creative tool for editing photos. Another standout is AI Portrait, which builds a persistent model of a subject from multiple shots and allows users to insert them into new photos in creative ways.

However, while HyperOS brings a cleaner and more optimized interface, the software experience is not without its quirks. Some users might find the inclusion of bloatware and the occasional presence of ads in places like the theme store and game overlay frustrating. Despite these minor annoyances, Xiaomi’s software package offers plenty of customization and productivity features to appeal to power users.

Battery Life and Charging: Fast and Convenient

The Xiaomi 14T Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery, which offers enough capacity to last through a full day of moderate to heavy use. Battery life is extended by the phone’s efficient power management features, including the AdaptiveSync technology, which adjusts the display’s refresh rate based on usage.

For those who need a quick top-up, the 14T Pro supports 120W wired fast charging, which Xiaomi claims can recharge the phone from 0% to 100% in just 19 minutes. In testing, charging times were slightly longer—around 23 minutes—but still incredibly fast. The 14T Pro is also the first in the series to offer 50W wireless charging, which is convenient for users who prefer to charge without cables.

It’s worth noting that the phone does not include a charger in the box. This is a cost-cutting measure that may frustrate some users. However, Xiaomi’s official 120W charger is available separately for those who want the fastest charging experience.

Connectivity and Extras 

The Xiaomi 14T Pro is future-proofed in terms of connectivity, offering WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G capabilities. The phone’s Xiaomi Surge T1 Tuner leverages AI to improve the stability of wireless connections. It also enhance GPS accuracy, ensuring reliable performance when using location-based apps or streaming high-definition content.

Another standout feature is the side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and reliable for unlocking the phone. The sensor is integrated into the power button, making it easy to access without compromising the phone’s sleek design.

Final Thoughts: A Well-Rounded Flagship Alternative

The Xiaomi 14T Pro is a solid contender in the high-end smartphone market. It offers a combination of premium features, robust performance, and a competitive price. Its gorgeous AMOLED display, flagship-level processor, and powerful camera system make it a compelling choice for users who want top-tier performance without breaking the bank.

However, there are some trade-offs, such as the lack of an in-box charger and occasional software quirks, that may deter certain buyers. For those who can overlook these minor inconveniences, the Xiaomi 14T Pro offers excellent value for money. It stands as one of the best budget-friendly alternatives to premium flagship smartphones in 2024.