On February 22, 2024, Xiaomi held a new product launch event with the theme of "New Level" to officially launch the Xiaomi 14 Ultra phone. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is Xiaomi's most powerful imaging flagship ever, featuring a full-range Leica optical large-aperture quad camera, a second-generation one-inch stepless variable aperture main camera, and the world's first AI large-scale computational photography architecture, Xiaomi AISP, and a well-known Chinese director Zhang Yimou as the chief imaging director. It also integrates Xiaomi's top technology: Xiaomi Dragon Armor architecture, which brings all-round reliability upgrades; Xiaomi GSR battery, breaking through the energy limit; Reconstruct the communication system to improve the all-scenario connection experience; It is also equipped with two-way satellite communication on the whole line, so that communication can spread far and wide. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will officially go on sale on February 27, starting at 6499 yuan.
Xiaomi's Leica Institute of Optics creates a new level of mobile optics
From the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's original Leica image to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's miniaturized optical lens, Xiaomi's global imaging collaboration with Leica is a bellwether for the evolution of mobile imaging. Today, the cooperation between Xiaomi and Leica officially enters the third chapter. Xiaomi believes that images should record real people and the world, and reality is brought about by rich layers. The goal of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is to make the real layered: it needs to be rich in detail and overly delicate; It is necessary to have clear priorities, distinguish between far and near, and restore the richness of life through good technology and aesthetics, so as to point directly to the hearts of the people.
Optics is the core track of mobile imaging, and only by going deep into the bottom positive research and development can we maintain the independent R&D and design capabilities of new technologies and products in the field of mobile imaging for a long time. In order to create a leading mobile image optical system, Xiaomi and Leica jointly established the Xiaomi Leica Optics Research Institute, and the two sides will invest more than 200 interdisciplinary experts to continue to deepen their efforts in the core technology field and establish the most stringent and highest-specification mobile image optical standards in history.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is equipped with a state-of-the-art optical system, which can be called the Sumilux mirror in the new optical era of mobile imaging : the maximum aperture of the main camera is up to f 163, the comprehensive light intake is 136% of the previous generation, and it is 205% of the iPhone 15 Pro Max; The aperture of the ultra-wide angle and the two telephoto lenses are also the largest in the industry. The wide aperture brings a greater amount of light in and a depth of field effect that is optically direct, revealing a wide range of spatial layers. All four lenses are coated with the highest specification to date, with strict control of chromatic dispersion and distortion; In addition, the most sophisticated lens light path design, MTF curve top grid, means that you can directly produce natural, realistic high image quality without sharpening**.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is equipped with a Leica All-Star Quad Camera, which works with the ISZ extended focal length capability to achieve full focal length coverage from 12mm-240mm. The main camera is equipped with Sony's LYT-900 second-generation one-inch sensor, and the process technology jumps to 22nm, and the power consumption is reduced by 43%; The native dynamic range is up to 14EV, which is 989 of the IMX95x to preserve the rich light and dark details in the picture. The main camera adopts a stepless variable aperture design, which can achieve more freedom** and depth of field control ability driven by a high-precision motor. Dual telephoto lenses cover 3In the core shooting scene of 2X-10X, the comprehensive light intake is all leading in the industry in the same focal length, and all of them have close-up shooting capabilities, which is a common problem of falling back to the main camera in low-light and close-up scenes of image flagships. They use the same Sony IMX858 sensor as the native low-distortion ultra-wide-angle lens, which works seamlessly with the LYT-900 for the best multi-camera consistency.
The first AI large-scale computational photography platform, defining a new level of imaging in the future
The massive amount of raw information captured by the excellent optical system puts forward higher requirements for the data throughput capacity of the image pipeline. Thanks to the underlying empowerment of Xiaomi's surging OS, Xiaomi's computational photography capabilities have achieved a comprehensive leap forward on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Xiaomi's imaging brain has been fully reconstructed into Xiaomi AISP, which is fully connected to the Xiaomi surging OS AI subsystem, becoming the world's first AI large-scale model computational photography platform.
Xiaomi AISP will replace Xiaomi's image brain and support a new algorithm system for computational photography in the next decade. Powered by the powerful AI subsystem of Xiaomi's surging OS, Xiaomi AISP can fully use the computing power of all computing modules of the SOC except the ISP, with a cumulative maximum of 60TOPS. The powerful computing power has laid a good foundation for the continuous evolution of the algorithm. Based on this, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is equipped with the new Fusion LM large model fusion optical algorithm. Different from the traditional multi-frame HDR crop-blend mode, Fusion LM analyzes the original light intensity information of each RAW image and each pixel to stitch together a RAW image with a data volume of up to 21bit in the computing pipeline, which surpasses the upper limit of traditional algorithm capabilities and solves problems such as light and dark reversal, color faults, and edge halos, so that the transition between light and dark is smooth and the color level is natural.
Powered by powerful computing power and advanced algorithms, Xiaomi 14 Ultra brings three industry-leading imaging capability upgrades: Ultra RAW Super Negative, Ultra Snap Super Capture, and Ultra Zoom (Beta) Ultra Long Zoom. Ultra Raw directly extracts massive amounts of raw data from the Xiaomi AISP pipeline, resulting in the largest amount of data in the mobile world to date**: with up to 16-bit linear color depth, 50 million pixels, and 16EV native dynamic range, even if the original film is underexposed or overexposed, it can be pulled back correctly during post-processing**. Ultra RAW is calibrated by Adobe labs for better compatibility with software like Adobe Lightroom, which is commonly used by professional photographers. Ultra Snap Super Capture benefits from the super computing power of Xiaomi AISP, which can achieve up to 150 full-algorithm, high-quality continuous captures. Ultra Zoom is the industry's first ultra-long zoom function built with an AI model, which invokes the AI model to redraw the original optical data with high precision when shooting at ultra-high magnification of 30x or more, significantly improving the clarity of the image.
Zhang Yimou is the chief director of the image, leading a new level of aesthetics of the times
Sufficient raw data and a high-throughput computing pipeline can only guarantee a technically perfect image. Humanistic images record the stories that happened in each era, and they need to have an aesthetic that keeps pace with the times. In the past two years, Xiaomi has built its own image aesthetic with the century-old Leica as its teacher, and the companionship of street photography masters and photography enthusiasts around the world. Xiaomi solemnly invited the prestigious Chinese film director Zhang Yimou to serve as the chief director of the image, and jointly ** how to use images to tell the story of this era. With this, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has been able to achieve a leap forward in image aesthetics on the basis of innovations in optical and computing technologies.
Portraits are key scenes that test the level. Excessive processing of portraits has always been a stubborn disease in the industry, and excessive grinding that ignores details and global blurring that lacks depth have been criticized by users. Relying on powerful technology and advanced aesthetics, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has systematically reconstructed the portrait mode to achieve a cinematic portrait level. Xiaomi AISP has a built-in independent algorithm module Portrait LM Portrait Model, which is different from the traditional portrait mode function-oriented design ideas, it imitates the creative thinking of photography masters: lighting enhancement of the portrait subject, modeling on the portrait background and the light path and bokeh form of the physical lens, and imitating the operation mode of professional retouchers in post-retouching, so that the face light and shadow transition is three-dimensional and realistic, the blur light spot looks natural, and the front, middle and back scene transitions present a gradual sense like a movie lens.
Not only **, but also layered. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra draws on the aesthetics of cinematic color grading and brings a new Master Start Shooting mode, which can directly produce a cinematic layering**. Master Shoots Fully leverages the capabilities of the LYT-900 sensor to capture 14EV high dynamic range, and presents rich picture information in cinematic specifications: support 10-bit color depth, BTThe 2020 color gamut is packaged in HLG HDR format and supports up to 4K resolution for rich detail and realistic light and shadow. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's basic capabilities and shooting experience have also been greatly improved: unlocking 8K 30fps Ultra HD** unlimited recording capability and 4K 120fps high frame rate** recording ability, with support for up to 4K 60fps continuous zoom capability; With a 4-mic array, you can record clean, spatial sound with focus tracking.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's much-praised street mode has been upgraded with extended support for the classic focal lengths of 85mm and 135mm, and a super viewfinder that pays homage to the classic rangefinder camera, making it easier for photographers to judge the composition of their shots. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra brings a new professional photography kit at the same time: the camera controller adopts an ergonomic design, connects to the phone through the Type-C interface, and has a built-in 1500mAh battery to support charging the phone in emergency scenariosThe new video buttons and dial wheel support custom functions, and the close-hand layout is used to facilitate the photographer's muscle memory and greatly improve the control experience. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra still supports a 67mm filter adapter and features an interchangeable lens rim for a personal statement.
Ultra is not only an image, but also a centralized review of Xiaomi's hard-core technology
Imaging is the soul of the Xiaomi Ultra product line, but it's by no means the whole story. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra debuts a number of innovative technologies to provide users with an uncompromising experience.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra debuts the Xiaomi Dragon Armor architecture, and the body frame, screen cover, and back cover are all made of Xiaomi's most advanced materials and processes to date to create the strongest reliability of the whole device. The middle frame is designed with a CNC integrated metal frame and 6M42 high-strength aluminum material, which is 2 times stronger than the Xiaomi 14 Pro. The screen adopts a full contour slightly curved form, which ensures that the display content is not distorted at the same time, and improves the stability of control and holding, and the surface is covered by Xiaomi dragon crystal glass, and the drop resistance is 10 times higher than that of ordinary glass. The surface of the back cover is also made of high-strength material: the new Konapi is 6 times more abrasion resistant than the previous generation, and has significantly improved resistance to yellowing and dirt, and has passed the five-star durability certification of SGS for the first time. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's much-loved ceramic back is back in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the Dragon Crystal Blue version is made of Xiaomi Dragon Crystal ceramic, which maintains high strength and warm texture while reducing the weight by half compared to traditional ceramic. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra body is only 92mm, the dragon crystal blue version is as light as 2295G, the Conapi version is lighter up to 2244G, with a better grip than similar models.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra debuts Xiaomi GSR battery, which breaks the impossible triangle of mobile phone batteries through technological innovation, allowing larger capacity, smaller size and longer life to be combined. For the first time, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's GSR battery achieves a high silicon content of 6% and an energy density of up to 779Wh L in a silicon carbon anode battery, resulting in a capacity of up to 5300mAh, an increase of 300mAh compared to the previous generation, while reducing the volume by 8%. After 1600 cycles, it still retains 80% life. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a measured autonomy of 1 in the internal DOU autonomy model58 days, support both 90W wired and 80W wireless second charging, to ensure users' battery life and security.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comprehensively reconstructs the communication system to create a cornerstone of connectivity for the entire ecosystem of people, vehicles, and homes. Thanks to the special mid-frame shape, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has an antenna radiation area far exceeding that of competing products, and the comprehensive antenna performance is up to 91% higher than that of the previous generation. The antenna combination of 4 medium and high frequency + 4 low frequency meets the communication needs of all scenarios and all bands. Xiaomi's self-developed surging T1 signal enhancement chip allows the antenna to maximize performance in different scenarios, with measured cellular performance increased by up to 37% and Wi-Fi Bluetooth performance increased by up to 16%. Xiaomi Surging OS has comprehensively reconstructed the network subsystem to greatly improve communication efficiency. At the same time, it is connected to the AI subsystem, which can actively perceive the user's daily route and self-learn the status of the base station, so that the communication experience is better and better. For overseas travel needs, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has enhanced its global roaming capabilities, and the time it takes to land at overseas airports is as low as 4 seconds.
For the first time, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra supports two-way satellite communication in a Xiaomi product. Xiaomi's surging T1 signal booster chip boosts the satellite communication signal by 21%, ensuring a stable connection over long distances. After measurement, the indicators such as star search, connection, and call delay are significantly better than those of competitors. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra also fully considers the emergency communication needs in extreme scenarios: it supports extreme battery life mode and SOS emergency help mode, ensuring that you can still call for help through satellite communication in extreme scenarios such as low battery and touch screen failure. It also supports real-time acquisition of key vital sign data from wearable devices, which can be sent with distress SMS. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra can also be equipped with an optional satellite amplifier accessory, which doubles the signal when connected to improve communication capabilities in extreme environments.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by the third-generation Snapdragon 8 flagship processor, which delivers peak performance and superior power efficiency. The Dual Annular Cooling Pump (Dual Annular Cooling Pump) technology has been upgraded to add a new circulation path for the camera module to improve heat dissipation in long-term continuous shooting scenes. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB UFS40 storage, and support for FBO storage refresh, with USB 32 Gen2 interface with up to 10Gbps transfer rate and support for DisplayPort** output up to 4K 60Hz.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra has three regular versions: black, white, and dragon crystal blue, and offers a variety of memory versions to choose from, of which 12GB+256GB is priced at 6499 yuan, 16GB+512GB is priced at 6999 yuan, and 16GB+1TB is priced at 7799 yuan. At the same time, it brings the Xiaomi 14 Ultra Titanium Special Edition, which is made of TC-4 titanium material, with a yield strength of up to 900MPa, and is injection molded through the MIM process, with 16GB+1TB large memory, priced at 8799 yuan. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will be available for pre-order on February 27 and the Titanium Special Edition on March 12. With an all-round leap in imaging capabilities and technological prowess, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is sure to become a new milestone for the flagship of the Xiaomi Ultra series, which is worthy of every user who loves to record life and create on the go!