Release date, specs, price, and all the rumors so far

Xiaomi is aware of easy methods to construct nice {hardware}. Whereas not formally obtainable within the US, these flagship telephones give the easiest Android telephones a run for his or her cash.

As such, we’re already excited to see what the corporate has deliberate for the Xiaomi 14 sequence, which is predicted to go our means within the coming months. Right here’s every little thing we all know and what we wish to see from these smartphones.

Will there be a Xiaomi 14?

There’s no official affirmation of the Xiaomi 14 sequence but, nevertheless it’s virtually sure to be the successor to 2023’s Xiaomi 13 sequence. Xiaomi has launched flagship smartphones for over 10 years and reveals no signal of stopping now.

• Xiaomi Mi 11 launch: February 8, 2021 (December 28, 2020 — China)
• Xiaomi 12 launch: March 15, 2022 (December 28, 2021 — China)
• Xiaomi 13 launch: February 26, 2023 (December 11, 2022 — China)

At occasions, Xiaomi had a little bit of a convoluted launch window, nevertheless it’s grow to be extra predictable lately. The model’s flagship smartphones are introduced in China first, with the launch occasion going down in mid to late December. A world launch sometimes follows in both February or March of the next yr.

We count on to see official particulars on the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Professional earlier than the top of 2023, however a world launch doubtless gained’t occur till early 2024.

Nevertheless, Xiaomi complicates this additional because of the sheer variety of merchandise that may fall underneath its flagship umbrella. Its Extremely mannequin, as an example, sometimes seems after the worldwide launch in late spring or early summer season. The vary can also be often suffering from Lite, T, S, and different monikers that pop up in numerous markets all year long. As an example, we’re more likely to see the Xiaomi 13T arrive in Q3 2023 earlier than the 14 sequence launches.

We’re nonetheless just a few months away from the Xiaomi 14’s launch, however rumors about just a few enhancements already abound.

We count on the sequence to be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Xiaomi is often on the reducing fringe of processor {hardware}, so this looks like a given. However we’re nonetheless ready on the brand new chip’s official particulars to see how rather more highly effective the brand new era might be.

Different rumors embody modifications to the telephones’ charging specs. The Xiaomi 14 is tipped to reach with 90W wired and 50W wi-fi charging. This may see the cellphone energy up quicker over a wire than the present mannequin’s 67W plug, which hits 100% in simply 38 minutes. The cellphone’s battery capability can also be set for a good soar as much as 4,860mAh from 4,500mAh. In the meantime, the Xiaomi 14 Professional is predicted to stay with its already blazing 120W wired and 50W wi-fi mixture however might even see a slight bump in battery capability as much as 5,000mAh.

We additionally count on just a few sequence staples to stay in place. An IP68 score, eSIM capabilities, and high-end 8K video recording options shouldn’t go wherever. What might be attention-grabbing is whether or not Xiaomi pushes just a few Professional options down the common Xiaomi 14, such because the cellphone’s 1-inch or different 50MP digital camera sensors, the variable refresh LTPO show, or extra strong Gorilla Glass Victus safety. However that’s simply hopeful hypothesis on our half.

Xiaomi’s flagship telephones must experience the worldwide forex waves, however there’s traditionally been some consistency of their worth brackets. The usual Xiaomi 14 will doubtless comply with in its predecessor’s footsteps, focusing on a worth level across the similar entry level as its Galaxy and iPhone rivals. Nevertheless, the large query might be whether or not the cellphone can stay underneath €1,000 within the EU, the place costs have elevated extra aggressively lately.

The Professional mannequin is dearer and has ended up north of the thousand mark in each nation, and the Xiaomi 14 Professional will doubtless be no totally different. We count on the cellphone to value someplace across the Galaxy S24 Extremely and iPhone 15 Professional, its two predominant rivals. The Xiaomi 14 Extremely, which can launch later, is much more costly nonetheless and is actually a luxurious fairly than a mainstream buy.

Late 2022’s announcement could make the Xiaomi 13 ($790.99 at eBay) really feel somewhat older than it’s, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very a lot an updated 2023 flagship. The {hardware} on provide is extraordinarily aggressive with the Samsung Galaxy S23 ($799 at Amazon), as is the cellphone’s worth. Whereas the Xiaomi 14 is certain to boast some modest enhancements, they’re unlikely to be substantial sufficient to attend for in case you want a brand new cellphone quickly.

Nevertheless, the software program is one purpose to attend or take into account some options sooner. We discovered MIUI 14 to be a fairly bloated pores and skin that gained’t go well with everybody’s tastes, however that’ll doubtless be the case with MIUI 15 too. Moreover, Xiaomi’s software program replace coverage isn’t as strong as Google’s or Samsung’s, so these rivals might be price wanting into in order for you that further reassurance.

After all, the Xiaomi 13 sequence isn’t formally obtainable within the US, and the 14 sequence virtually actually gained’t be both. So the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely ($1153 at Amazon) or Apple iPhone 14 Professional ($999.99 at Greatest Purchase) are the closest options that you could purchase at present.

In case you’re unsure you’ll be able to wait till subsequent yr however don’t fancy the present crop of telephones both, the Google Pixel 8 sequence arrive nicely earlier than the top of 2023 and can virtually actually be price a glance.

Xiaomi 14: What we wish to see

The Xiaomi 13 sequence may already be up there with the very best Android telephones, however that doesn’t imply there isn’t room for enchancment. Right here’s what we’d prefer to see from the Xiaomi 14.

It’s a typical criticism, however MIUI 14 actually isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Xiaomi might do a greater job streamlining its software program whereas nonetheless retaining a singular identification.

The pores and skin’s infinite listing of menus, settings, and options is troublesome to navigate at the very best of occasions, and the expertise is thus far faraway from different Android telephones (it’s surprisingly nearer to iOS in some regards) that switching generally is a daunting activity for the unprepared. Different manufacturers have made substantial modifications to streamline their skins up to now, and it’s time MIUI adopted go well with.

Likewise, MIUI is bloated with duplicated functions you actually don’t want, with Chrome, Photographs, and different Google companies put in out of the field. Giving customers extra management over the app preferences throughout setup could be a step in the fitting path.

The Xiaomi 13 Professional is a great-looking cellphone, nevertheless it’s not probably the most sensible. Weighing in at 229g (~8oz), it’s as hefty as a number of the business’s largest handsets. The digital camera bump, whereas housing a formidable 1-inch sensor, provides substantial thickness to the cellphone, making it inconceivable to neglect when this cellphone is in your pocket. A lighter design could be welcome.

Equally, the ceramic again is equal components eye- and fingerprint-catching. We’d like to see a wider choice of colours which are higher at hiding smudges. Maybe even some texture supplies to supply enhance the cellphone’s grip too. There’s heaps Xiaomi might do with the design to make it look nice and be somewhat extra sensible in on a regular basis use too.

Everybody would love decrease costs, however Xiaomi’s present portfolio has a £350 / €400 chasm between the fairly aggressive Xiaomi 13 and the costly Professional mannequin, with the Extremely costing much more. That’s a giant step up if you wish to get your palms on a few of Xiaomi’s higher {hardware} options, and it’s maintaining the Professional out of too many palms.

Apple and Samsung straddle this with their Plus fashions, however it will maybe make extra sense for Xiaomi to try to worth the 14 Professional extra competitively, on condition that it’s not fairly pretty much as good worth for cash as Apple’s and Samsung’s greatest by way of cameras or updates. Alternatively, Xiaomi might deliver a few of final yr’s options to the common mannequin extra rapidly, akin to within the digital camera division, however with out pushing the value up an excessive amount of.