With its T series, Xiaomi is playing a difficult role in which it is about finding the right balance between functional richness and attractive price. This year, the 14T Pro has not yet found the right formula.

With its T series, Xiaomi is playing a difficult role in which it is about finding the right balance between functional richness and attractive price. This year, the 14T Pro has not yet found the right formula.

We know how to do smartphone variations at Xiaomi. After a successful Xiaomi 14 released in the spring, followed by a Xiaomi 14 Ultra designed for photographers, the firm is preparing for the holidays with the 14T and in particular the 14T Pro on test here. A model which takes up the main characteristics of its predecessor, with a few compromises to arrive at a slightly more affordable price. Only a bit, because the Xiaomi 14T Pro remains well anchored in the family of high-end smartphones, even if, at first glance, one could be mistaken. With the 14T Pro announced alongside the Mix Flip, Xiaomi’s very first folding smartphone in clamshell format to be marketed in our territory, the Chinese firm promises a well-controlled photo component, particularly in low light, solid performance and autonomy that is no less so. We were able to test this Xiaomi 14T Pro for several weeks. Here is our verdict.

Xiaomi 14T Pro test: a design seen and reviewed

Changing the design of a smartphone is expensive. And when we have a good formula, we generally try to vary it and adapt it as much as possible to amortize it. And that’s the whole problem with this Xiaomi 14T. Apart from fans of the brand, it will be really difficult for any enthusiast to point at the device and indicate the brand and model without making a mistake. It’s quite the opposite of the iPhone, Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and other Honor from the Magic series which can claim a style all their own and identifiable at first glance. This Xiaomi 14T Pro sorely lacks character and can easily pass for a “vulgar” mid-range Chinese smartphone… which it is not.

Because on closer inspection, the finishes are impeccable. Clad in a tempered glass back with a brushed metal effect on our test model, a neat aluminum frame with very flat edges to follow the current trend and very thin screen borders, the 14T Pro grabs the good ingredients. We simply regret the very usual positioning of the photo sensors grouped in an ordinary square at the top left of the back.

Finally, Xiaomi provides a soft silicone case to protect the device against drops. This does not exempt you from a little caution. After a few days of use, we noticed that the protective film affixed to the screen was starting to peel off. On the other hand, for accidental dips in water, no fear thanks to the IP68 certification.

On the front side, Xiaomi has pulled out all the stops. The 14T Pro presents a more generous Oled panel than its predecessor with its format of 6.67 inches compared to 6.36 inches on the Xiaomi 14. In addition, it offers a little subtlety which will satisfy the most demanding players (and only those- there) with a refresh rate capable of climbing to 144 Hz. A detail for the sake of form since the titles capable of exploiting this frequency are still relatively few in number.

In terms of brightness, we find ourselves there with a peak announced at 4000 nits. In reality, this panel is indeed very bright. In direct sunlight, we did not encounter the slightest problem with readability nor were we bothered by reflections even if they were present.

Xiaomi 14T Pro test: top performance but beware of overheating

Technical sheet

A more affordable version than the classic range, the T series nevertheless remains traditionally quite solid in terms of technical specifications. Where the Xiaomi 14 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC from Qualcomm, the 14T Pro changes gear and will see the competition, in this case MediaTek to equip itself with the founder’s Dimensity 9300+ SoC. An 8-core processor engraved in 4 nm accompanied by an Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU and a MediaTek 790 NPU (neural processor for AI). The whole is supported in its task by 12 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage space in our configuration (it is also available in 256 or 512 GB version). With such an arsenal, the results do not disappoint.

Our usual range of benchmarks place the Xiaomi 14T Pro at the top of the basket. The optimization provided by Xiaomi even makes it more efficient on certain points than the star of Qualcomm’s 2024 SoCs.

In game, the results are just as satisfying. We can push the graphic detail levels to the limit without fear, the display remains very fluid… but not all the time. The major problem with this Xiaomi 14T Pro is the heating. The device heats up quickly. We measured a peak of 48°C on the back after, it is true, intense use. If the device becomes unpleasant in the hand, this is also felt on the screen, particularly in game where the processor revises its enthusiasm downwards in order to lower the temperature to a more reasonable level. A playful smartphone but not over time.

On the software side, Xiaomi is gently trying out artificial intelligence. Some Google tools take place in the smartphone like Gemini and Entourer to search for what has just been deployed there. For generative image editing, everything is not yet ready. Erasing objects can lead to a nice mess of pixels, but we’re moving forward (be careful, it’s necessary to download a pack of additional plugins which are not installed by default).

As for the system, the device is powered by HyperOS 1.0.11, the in-house software overlay applied on top of Android 14. The brand plans 4 years of system updates and 5 years of security patches. There is still a little effort to be made to join Google and Samsung with their 7 years of monitoring.

Xiaomi 14T Pro test: a versatile photo component

The photo mount of the Xiaomi 14T Pro differs very little from that of its predecessor, Xiaomi 14. The partnership with the German specialist Leica remains in place both for the software processing (with the Leica Vibrant and Anthentic modes) and for the Summilux optics. provided by the manufacturer. It consists of a 50 Mpx wide-angle module (f/1.6), a 2.6x optical telephoto lens of 50 Mpx (f/2.0) and a 12 Mpx ultra-wide-angle (f/1.6) /2,2). It is this last module which lags behind the Xiaomi 14 which benefits from a 50 Mpx ultra wide angle.

During the day, the wide-angle is very convincing with very well rendered shots. The sharpness is excellent and the details are well present. Color management also remains one of the main strengths of this device. The Leica modes also allow you to vary the pleasures. It’s a success.

The 2.6x optical telephoto lens is also in the spotlight. The loss of detail is minimal. Up to 5x, the result remains very correct. Beyond that (the device allows you to go up to 30x digital), the shots quickly become unusable as is often the case with devices in this category.

The ultra-wide-angle is perhaps the module that is least convincing. We quickly notice a loss of detail and sharpness the further we move away from the center of the shot. A few artifacts also join the party. This is the price to pay when going from a 50 Mpx sensor to 12 Mpx. If you are not too demanding, the result may look okay.

The portrait mode is well crafted, provided the light is right. The bokeh is applied with finesse and the clipping is rather clean. On the other hand, we noticed some difficulties as soon as the ambient light diminished. If bokeh is applied when shooting, it sometimes disappears after automatic processing applies to the image. A random bug that we encountered on the two models loaned by Xiaomi.

In low light, despite the brand’s promises, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is not always at home. Even with optical stabilization, the device can struggle to produce sharp shots. However, with a little effort, it is possible to obtain clean images with well-balanced light and faithful colors.

Xiaomi 14T Pro test: decent autonomy

To go the distance, the Xiaomi 14T Pro relies on a standard battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh. A configuration that allows it to easily last for a day and a half in typical use. On the other hand, with more intensive use, by increasing the number of gaming sessions or photo sessions for example, it will be better not to move too far from an electrical outlet or to consider keeping an extra battery within reach. Power consumption can quickly increase and the smartphone will only last the day.

On the charging side, the device is compatible with 120W fast charging with a compatible charger. Depending on the brand, it is possible to go from 0 to 100% battery in 19 minutes. Problem, Xiaomi applies European directives and you will therefore not find this charger in the box. With our 100W Anker charger, it took us 50 minutes to refuel, which is still reasonable. Note that the Xiaomi is also compatible with 50 W wireless charging, always with a suitable home charger.

Xiaomi 14T Pro test: a price way too high and risky positioning

300 euros. It is not the price of this 14T Pro (otherwise, we would have recommended it to you with our eyes closed) but the amount which separates it from its elder Xiaomi 14 released last spring and therefore billed at 1100 euros. But that was the indicative price when it hit the shelves. Since then, the Xiaomi 14 has been selling for between 700 and 800 euros (in the 12-512 GB version) at most online merchants.

As a result, we can wonder about the pricing positioning of this version with its technical ambitions revised downwards compared to the original model. A bit like Samsung with its Galaxy S24 FE released this month, a model based on the S24, but at almost the same price, the Xiaomi 14T Pro finds itself in a delicate position to seduce. Its processor has nothing to envy of the Qualcomm SoC present in the Xiaomi 14 and its screen is a little larger. It is only in the photo part where the device is a little less good and its design is more sensible and more classic. The Xiaomi 14T Pro is a good smartphone but sold too expensive. Promotional and holiday periods should allow it to display a more reasonable price and in line with the rest of the range.