Because the night belongs to Xiaomi 14T
by Ed Uy, https://www.facebook.com/WhereIsEdUy/, https://www.facebook.com/BusinessMirror/ · BusinessMirror- Ed Uy
- October 5, 2024
- 6 minute read
IT was on MTV Unplugged that I first heard the live version of “Because the Night,” performed by 10,000 Maniacs, but I was today years old when I found out that it was actually a collaboration between rock legends Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen originally wrote the song for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album but passed it to Smith, who finished it while waiting for a call from her boyfriend. She transformed it into a timeless anthem about love and longing, with the iconic chorus, “Because the night belongs to lovers,” a perfect reflection of how moments under the cover of darkness often hold the most powerful emotions.
Coincidentally, it was the song I had on repeat as I began writing this review, tying in with Xiaomi’s “Master Light, Capture Night” tagline for the 14T series. Just like the song, which captures the intensity of the night, the Xiaomi 14T’s cameras were designed to master the art of light in darkness, turning fleeting moments into lasting memories. The song’s haunting energy and emotional depth perfectly mirror the phone’s ability to unveil beauty hidden in the night.
WHAT’S NEW?
THE Xiaomi 14T brings several noteworthy upgrades including a new and more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset, a brighter display that boasts of up to 4000 nits peak brightness, improved cooling system for better heat management, faster storage, and a new Sony IMX906 sensor. And since it is a 2024 device, you also get all sorts of AI Features including Google Gemini AI.
DESIGN AND BUILD: ‘TITAN-IC’
AS we’ve come to expect from the brand, the Xiaomi 14T offers an exceptional design that blends modern elegance with cutting-edge craftsmanship. It’s a “Titan” year for Xiaomi and the 14T series comes in three hues, Titan Gray, Titan Black, and Titan Blue. They are inspired by the raw, powerful beauty of titanium—and yes they also look like the iPhone colors. It does have a special Lemon Green option that offers a unique twist. This eco-conscious design is crafted from multi-layered PU leather, incorporating 50 percent bio-based materials, including real lemon fibers. I wonder if it smells like lemon though.
I love the Xiaomi 14T’s beautifully designed matte finish. It’s simple, elegant and devoid of those distracting gradients. I am, however, not a fan of the square camera module which has been so overdone.
In terms of materials, the Xiaomi 14T is crafted from high-strength 6M13 aluminum alloy, giving it a sturdy yet sophisticated feel and the flat sides gives you a comfortable grip. The Xiaomi 14T retains an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes.
NEXT-GENERATION 144HZ AI DISPLAY
THE Xiaomi 14T boasts one of the best screens in its price range. With FIAA technology, the chin bezel is reduced to 1.9mm, resulting in an impressive 93.30 percent screen-to-body ratio. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display offers a sharp 2712 x 1220 resolution, a wide DCI-P3 color gamut, and a peak brightness of 4000 nits, excelling even in bright outdoor conditions. HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a 144Hz refresh rate ensure stunning visuals and smooth interactions, ideal for gaming. Features like AI Image Engine, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light, and 3840Hz PWM dimming optimize video quality and eye comfort, while AI Auto Brightness and Adaptive Colors adjust settings for any environment.
FASTER CPU, IMPROVED POWER EFFICIENCY
IN terms of performance, the new MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra processor brings with it several improvements in speed and power efficiency. The octa-core CPU and Arm Mali-G615 GPU provide the necessary muscle for smooth daily performance, handling everything from multitasking to gaming with ease. Whether you’re scrolling through apps or playing graphically demanding games, the Xiaomi 14T offers a snappy and smooth user experience.
To manage heat during intense use, the Xiaomi IceLoop cooling system comes into play. It efficiently dissipates heat with a self-sustaining liquid cooling system, which doubles the performance of conventional vapor chambers.
The Xiaomi 14T is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, and a speedy 67W HyperCharge feature which can fully charge your device in just under an hour. However, one noticeable downside is that Xiaomi has quietly removed the wall charger from the package. It’s not a big deal for existing Xiaomi users but it’s still a somewhat disappointing shift, especially for those switching brands and expect a full charging solution included.
CAMERA: MASTERING LIGHT, DAY OR NIGHT
SINCE Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica, its camera capabilities have made significant strides, and the Xiaomi 14T continues to push this progress forward. Combing Leica’s renowned optical expertise with Xiaomi’s innovative technology, the 14T offers a versatile and impressive photography experience, especially in low-light settings allowing it live up to “Master Light Capture Night” tagline.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro features the custom-designed Light Fusion 900 image sensor, tailored for the mobile optical era.
Headlining the Xiaomi 14T’s triple camera setup is a 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor with a large 1/1.56-inch sensor size and an f/1.7 aperture. This larger sensor size means that more light reaches the camera, which is critical for night and low-light photography. The Leica Summilux lens allows the camera to capture rich contrast and vibrant colors in the dark, making night scenes appear vivid and lifelike. The wider aperture also produces stunning bokeh effects, giving portraits a professional-quality background blur that isolates subjects beautifully. Whether you’re photographing cityscapes at night or candle-lit dinners, the Xiaomi 14T can produce photos with balanced shadows and highlights, preserving intricate details even in tricky lighting environments.
For night photography, the AI system automatically adapts to the lighting environment, reducing noise and improving clarity, even in scenes with multiple light sources or contrasting shadows. This makes the Xiaomi 14T particularly adept at capturing vibrant, detailed night shots that don’t lose texture or atmosphere.
Leica’s touch is also evident in the two photographic styles: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. Leica Authentic Mode emphasizes true-to-life tones, capturing images with natural colors and contrast, perfect for those who prefer a classic, film-like aesthetic. Leica Vibrant Mode, on the other hand, enhances brightness and saturation, giving a more modern, colorful feel to your photos. These modes allow users to express their creativity, adapting the camera’s output to their personal style.
As for video, the Xiaomi 14T can record 1080p footage at 60fps or 4K at 30fps. Videos capture a lot of detail, but come out a little over-sharpened. I do like playing with Movie mode that applies a depth-of-field effect to people in the frame, similar to Apple’s Cinematic Mode. If you have several Xiaomi devices, try Director mode which has a camcorder-style interface and lets you connect your other phones or tablets and unite them into a single multicam setup.
GEMINI AND OTHER AI
NO 2024 smartphone will be complete without some advanced AI feature, and Xiaomi ha collaborated with Google and Microsoft Azure for the 14T series to integrate both cloud-based and on-device AI functionalities, enhancing everything from search and voice to image and video processing. Some of the key AI features include Google Gemini Assistant, Circle to Search, and Xiaomi’s suite of AI-powered apps like AI Notes, AI Recorder, and AI Image Edit.
Xiaomi also introduces AI Interpreter, a real-time translation tool that supports 12 languages and operates in face-to-face or call modes. This feature is invaluable for international communication, breaking language barriers during both personal and business interactions.
For photography, the AI Image Edit feature on the Xiaomi 14T offers AI Image Expansion and AI Magic Removal Pro. While its AI Eraser may not be the most advanced, often just blurring or smudging the removed areas, the AI Portrait mode truly stands out. It not only creates personalized avatars but also goes beyond basic templates by interpreting text prompts, delivering a more dynamic and creative portrait experience. Additional AI tools, such as AI Video Subtitles, AI Portrait, and AI Film, further enhance video creation and personalization, making the Xiaomi 14T a versatile tool for content creators.
Final word: The Xiaomi 14T is far more than just a scaled-down of its Pro counterpart. It delivers a premium experience, highlighted by a stunning AMOLED display, solid performance, and impressive battery life. While the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras don’t quite match the quality of the main camera, the overall camera system, enhanced by Leica and AI technology, produces excellent results even in low-light conditions. The night definitely belongs to lovers—and users of the Xiaomi 14T For users who want to experience those flagship features the Xiaomi 14T provides excellent value. It’s not just a cheaper version of the Pro model but a compelling option in its own right.
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