When I needed to take photos of a cable car for a serial publication of level this calendar month , only one phone came to mind , and it was n’t one of the top devices made by Google , Samsung , or Apple . It ’s the fantasticXiaomi 14 Ultra , and over the course of a few days , it cemented its place as my favorite camera phone of 2024 . Here ’s why .
Why is it the best?
I already held the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ’s camera in high respect after having critique the phone andtested it out against other cameras . I especially loved the versatility of thebrilliant Photography Kit accessory . But most of this pass originally on in the year before other stigma had the chance to release serious competitors . I knew I had to give it another try , just to be trusted of my feelings .
I had a serial of articles plan around theCupra Born VZ electric car , and photography was key to all of them . My DLSR and its quality electron lens that I normally use for piece of work was n’t entirely suitable , so I decide to use a phone , but it want to take the best photos potential . Although theGoogle Pixel 9 Proand theApple iPhone 16 Pro Maxshouted , “ pluck me , ” I automatically reached for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra , encased in its Photography Kit housing and fit with a polarizing filter .
Over several days , I took photos of the cable car with the phone , and you could see them in my review and follow - up musical composition onliving with an electric car . I also edited them on the earpiece using Xiaomi ’s software , and I am really pleased with how they all do out .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The atmospheric condition was n’t really on my side , but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ’s camera was n’t fazed by the tricky lighting . And no matter which soar floor I used — 1x , 3.2x optical , or 5x optical — each look-alike was astute and detailed . I know I could n’t have adopt the same photos with my DSLR , and I do n’t think other phones would have retort such emotive images either .
Leica and filters
One of the top reasons I chose the Xiaomi 14 Ultra to take photo of a car is the Photography Kit accessory , which allow the fitment of a 67 mm filter over the photographic camera . A polarizer is a must - have when shooting cars as it helps understate the reflexion off the surface , bringing out the car ’s shape and lines . No other sound makes using a filter like this as well-off , and it shows how gravely Xiaomi has taken photography with the 14 Ultra .
Another crucial part of the camera ’s brilliance is Leica ’s involvement . The famous camera brand showed how itunderstands smartphone picture taking , and how seriously it takes improving it when itpartnered with Huawei . Now , it ’s continuingthe proficient work with Xiaomi , and its rattling tuning gives exposure a flavour all of their own . Not only that , but there are two special Leica filters to try — Authentic and Vibrant — and they never look unreal or too processed when you use them . Most of the photos I exact of the car used the Vibrant elan .
Leica ’s involvement expire far beyond just a logo and a few filters , and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ’s camera is all the better for it . Xiaomi ’s own camera ’s software program , editing , and other features are n’t unparalleled in the industriousness , but it all seems to number together absolutely , creating a camera scheme that fills me with self-assurance and inspires my creativity .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
How about other photos?
While taking photos of the Cupra Born VZ reminded me why I love the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ’s photographic camera , its splendor shines through when taking photos of other subjects , too . The photos scattered throughout this part illustrate what I like about it even more . The picture of the leaf was taken at 5x zoom and had the Leica disastrous - and - white filter order on it . It was also slimly tweak in the redaction entourage . I bonk the profundity of field and edge of the image .
The photograph of the yellow Porsche Cayman was an stroke , as the camera was in Portrait mode when I take it , even though I did n’t intend it to be . However , the car pops so much , and the depth of field is so natural , that it reckon marvelous . Again , I ’ve edit it in the phone ’s Gallery app and removed a few thing with the AI removal creature . Sadly , it ca n’t vie withGoogle ’s Magic Erasertool , though , and is slow and less able to double even the simplest of backgrounds . But when accidental photos search better to my eyes than some photos I designedly take with other phones , it say a lot about the phone ’s ability .
I mean to apply Portrait mood for the photo of the qat ’s face , and it was taken at the focal distance equivalent of 75 mm , with the app also providing 23 mm , 35 mm , 50 mm , and 120 mm focal lengths in Portrait mode . Cats rarely pose , so you often have only one chance to capture an image , and while the focal period is not quite pure ( or should that bepurrfect ? ) , it shows off the level of particular that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ’s camera can capture . This one needed only minimal edits , too .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The year’s best camera on a phone
When bet through the Gallery app on my Xiaomi 14 Ultra , I did n’t find many exposure I did n’t like , but more than that , I could see where I ’d experimented with the camera , with multiple photos take at slightly dissimilar angles and cut in slenderly unlike ways as I exquisitely - tuned each exposure to my liking . While I do this on many headphone I review , I remembered I’dspecificallygone to different locations to take exposure with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and then edited the photos for myself . I have n’t done this with any other telephone .
We ’ve been spoiled with nomadic television camera this year , and I ’ve enjoyed so many of them , from the Google Pixel 9 Pro Foldto theRay - Ban Meta voguish glasses . There have been some particular new characteristic , too , includingthe iPhone 16 ’s Camera Controland the steady step-up ininteresting AI exposure enhancement . Each has driven me creatively , but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does one thing that others do n’t or ca n’t : It find like I ’m using acameracamera , not a phone tv camera , from top - to - bottom , through the softwareandhardware . I ’m no pro lensman , but it manages to make me find a mo like one — and I utterly love it .
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra does n’t always take the best possible photo , it does n’t always have the full redaction pecker , and it by all odds fall behind some of the competition when it comes to the wide - slant camera . It ’s not stark , but every time I ’ve used it since its dismission , it has consistently impress me and train photo I do n’t think could be replicated by another phone . When you add in the Photography Kit , it handle to palpate and operate like a camera , not a phone . As a package , it ’s superb and unmatched for me in 2024 .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Edited to add AI-generated skyAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
