Smartphone reviewXiaomi 14T Pro: Affordable powerhouse or flagship killer?
Smartphone review
Xiaomi 14T Pro: Affordable powerhouse or flagship killer?
Weighing its strengths against premium rivals, the 14T Pro delivers flagship performance at half the price.
Top Line
The Xiaomi 14T Pro is not a flagship device but still delivers impressive value. It is more affordable than the Galaxy S24 with lower specs and the entry-level iPhone 16. While its AI capabilities are less comprehensive than those of competitors, its overall performance is competitive. Despite being slightly heavy, the Xiaomi 14T Pro offers excellent value for its price, making it a solid choice for users seeking a high-performing device without breaking the bank.
Details
Xiaomi has established itself as a manufacturer of successful smartphones, including high-quality flagship models. However, the company sometimes appears to undercut its premium offerings by launching cheaper yet highly capable devices that rival its flagship models.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro exemplifies this dual approach. It is a strong device in its own right and closely resembles the flagship 14 Ultra, which was reviewed here six months ago. While the Ultra is priced at around $1,500, the 14T Pro is significantly more affordable at approximately $800. This substantial price difference positions the 14T Pro as an attractive alternative to its premium counterpart.
Design and Build: Solid Yet Heavy
The Xiaomi 14T Pro features a 6.7-inch flat screen and a design similar to the Ultra, albeit with slight dimensional differences. Weighing 209g, it is slightly lighter than the Ultra but remains hefty for a smartphone. The rear houses three lenses and a flash, arranged compactly in the upper section, without significantly contributing to the device's overall weight.
The smooth yet non-slippery back adds to the device’s ergonomic appeal, and Xiaomi includes a high-quality silicone protector in the package. Missing features include a headphone jack and a memory card slot, though the device supports eSIM, a feature absent from the Ultra. Additionally, the 14T Pro is IP68-rated, offering solid protection against dust and water, including immersion for up to 30 minutes at depths of 2 meters.
Hardware: Generous Specifications
The 14T Pro is powered by MediaTek's Dimensity 9300+ processor instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, which typically powers flagship devices. It comes with 12GB of RAM and storage options of 512GB or 1TB, though a 256GB version exists but isn’t available in Israel.
Despite not having a "flagship" processor, the 14T Pro delivers excellent performance, handling daily tasks and heavy gaming with ease, though it can warm up slightly under load. The screen boasts impressive brightness, reaching up to 4,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. However, the speakers, while loud, do not offer exceptional audio quality.
The 5,000 mAh battery provides a day to a day-and-a-half of usage. The device supports fast charging, with the included 120W charger taking it from 15% to 50% in just 8 minutes and achieving a full charge in under 30 minutes. Wireless charging at 50W is also supported, though compatible chargers are expensive and were unavailable for testing.
Software: AI Integration in Progress
The 14T Pro runs on Android 14 with Xiaomi's HyperOS interface. By default, apps populate the home screens without an app drawer, though this can be changed in the settings. Pre-installed apps include Facebook, LinkedIn, Spotify, and WPS Office, along with Google’s suite and some app recommendations (ads).
A standout feature is Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, which can be accessed via a shortcut on the power button. Gemini allows users to interact with AI for tasks such as photo analysis and queries. Xiaomi also integrates AI into its own apps, enabling capabilities like proofreading, text formatting, and audio transcription. However, these features are currently limited to certain languages and not available in Hebrew.
Camera: Strong for Close-Ups
Continuing its partnership with Leica, Xiaomi equips the 14T Pro with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with up to 30x digital zoom. A 32MP selfie camera rounds out the setup.
The cameras deliver excellent photos in default and night modes, though the telephoto lens struggles with stability, leading to occasional blurriness. Digital zoom further reduces image quality and is best avoided. AI-powered features, such as detail deletion and sky replacement, work reasonably well but may leave minor artifacts.
