On the evening of February 22, Xiaomi's "People, Cars, and Home Whole Ecology" press conference officially launched the new Xiaomi 14Ultra image flagship mobile phone. At 9 o'clock, when Mr. Lu was still giving a passionate speech, we had already rushed to the scene of a Xiaomi home. After understanding the configuration specifications and a simple trial, we immediately placed an order, yes, blind order. Of course, a professional photography kit is also indispensable. This time, not only the 14ultra itself has been greatly upgraded, but the handle and adapter ring in the set have also been updated.
On the positive side, there is not much difference between the two generations of Ultra. The bottom bezel of the 14ultra is thinner, and the four-sided micro-curved screen is used, which is smoother when swiping left and right.
In terms of image modules, the 14ultra continues the route of joint research and development with Leica of the previous two generations and continues to co-brand. Lens configurations and specifications have also been upgraded.
The exterior design continues the 13U style. However, this generation of 14U has a flat back and abandons the 13U ramp design; The overall center of gravity is more balanced, and it is more convenient to install peripherals such as radiators and mobile phone clips.
Attaching the protective case included in the professional photography kit (available in black and white), the 14u gains the ability to transfer filters or personalize your look. Different from the previous generation, the adapter ring and the decorative ring are fixed by a snap button, similar to the mirrorless lens release button, which is safer and more professional.
Leica Optics full-focal length quad camera1-inch variable aperture main camera: Sony LYT-900, 23mm, 50 million pixels; f/1.63 - f/4.0 stepless variable aperture, optical image stabilization.
Leica floating telephoto: Sony IMX858, 75mm, 50 million pixels; f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, 10cm macro.
Leica close-up telephoto: Sony IMX858, 120mm, 50 million pixels; f/2.5-aperture, optical image stabilization, 30cm telephoto macro.
Leica ultra-low distortion wide angle: Sony IMX858, 12mm, 50 million pixels; f/1.8 aperture, 5cm macro.
This time, the lens combination of 14U can be said to be full, and there is no "regret" no matter how you look at it. I'm more interested in the main camera (common), telephoto macro (feature creation), and the ability to shoot at full focal length parity.
The 14U exclusive professional handle uses a USB-C interface to connect with the body, and has a built-in 1500mAh battery capacity to charge the unit. Moreover, plugging in its USB-C port can also support 90W second charging. One of the biggest upgrades to this controller is the lag-free stable control, and the other is that it offers customizable wave wheels (such as iris), zoom levers, and one-touch video buttons (which can also be customized).
Although the overall weight will be increased a lot with the professional grip, I still carry this kit for the convenience of shooting control and feel, as well as a touch of ritual similar to using a camera.
According to the convention, simply run a score, and the improvement of 14U is naturally obvious to all. I don't think there is much to say about the configuration and performance of this phone. Let's get into the shooting comparison link. So, we hurried to Disneytown to test shoot a sample film.
In the center (focus area), both devices have good resolution. 14U's interpretation of yellow is more "delic", with a traditional sense of "oily feeling".
From here, we join another beautiful boy in the same room. In the indoor lighting samples, the 14U wide aperture is more advantageous, while the 13U pressure ISO ensures pure image quality. Judging from the comparison of details, there is no problem with all three parties. However, different algorithms are reflected in the color orientation and HDR. The 13U color is a little darker; And 14U tries its best to show red, and the blue is somewhat missing; Apples are less bright, and the blue spills out a little more.
In the dark and light samples, the 13U is very similar to the Apple 15PM orientation, with more emphasis on restoration. The 14U has obvious brightening considerations, and wants to show the content in the dark places.
In full focal length comparison (12mm 23mm 46mm 120mm), 14U is the most restored one in terms of white balance and color interpretation. Some of Apple's skies felt cloudy, but it was just cloudy on the day, possibly due to HDR tuning orientation.
Comparing the two generations of Ultra and the Apple 15PM, I feel that the shooting ability of the 14U is more stable and mature. This is true regardless of focusing speed, imaging speed (including post-processing), and imaging performance. With the blessing of Leica's color, 14U tends to be more "virtuous", and is more willing to release a style with higher brightness and rich colors**.