Xiaomi’s Updated 14T Phones Are Solid but Aren’t Sold in the US

Xiaomi’s 15 flagship range won’t arrive in most of the world until early 2025. In the meantime, we get a midyear update to the 14 range in the shape of the 14T and 14T Pro, though neither bears much relation to the Xiaomi 14 or 14 Ultra. The Chinese manufacturer overtook Apple in August to become the world’s second-biggest smartphone brand by sales, and its expansive (if slightly confusing) range is no doubt part of the reason.
The T range packs some high-end features from Xiaomi’s flagships, but there are usually a few omissions to bring the price down. You may struggle to spot the difference between the 14T and 14T Pro because these phones are practically twins, but there are some subtle refinements to justify the 14T Pro’s higher price. Both come with Google services and are available in the UK and across Europe, but will not officially go on sale in the US.
At first glance, you will struggle to tell the 14T and 14T Pro apart. These are ultrasize phones with 6.67-inch screens. They have relatively thick, flat frames, textured power buttons underneath the volume rocker, and quad camera lenses (one is actually the flash) in stepped, square modules on the back. Pick them up, and you immediately feel the weight of the heavier, more metallic Pro, with its subtly curved back (the 14T is flat on the back).
The only other design difference that jumps out is the colors. Both come in blue, black, or gray, but only the 14T comes in Lemon Green. Why are fun colors always reserved for cheaper phones? The 14T Pro feels nicer and reminds me of an old HTC phone (in a good way), but there isn’t much to separate them.
The 6.67-inch display is the highlight of the 14T and 14T Pro and is the same in both. It is sharp at 2,712 x 1,220 pixels, gets bright enough to see outdoors and to display HDR details at up to 4,000 nits, and supports a variable refresh rate of up to 144 Hz for smooth action. It also hosts a responsive fingerprint sensor at the bottom.
Stereo speakers that get plenty loud round out the design, and both phones score an IP68 rating, meaning they can survive a dunk. I prefer the feel of the 14T Pro, but these are big, chunky phones, so they might not suit everyone. While they look classy, the designs are a bit boring.
One of the main reasons to opt for a Xiaomi phone is the camera hardware, and this is also where the 14T Pro shows its superiority. The Pro has a 50-MP main camera with the same 1-inch image sensor as the excellent 14 Ultra and a large aperture (f/1.6). It is paired with a 50-MP telephoto shooter, offering up to 5x optical zoom. There is also a decent 12-MP ultrawide camera.
The 14T looks similar on paper, but its main camera has Sony’s IMX906 image sensor (which is still excellent) and a slightly smaller aperture at f/1.7. Its 50-MP telephoto camera also has a smaller aperture and maxes out at 4x optical zoom. Both phones have a 32-MP front-facing camera in a cutout at the top of the screen.
Low light performance is the main difference between these phones. The 14T Pro is far more capable in mixed and low light situations, whereas the 14T suffers from blurring and graininess. In good conditions, these phones snap lovely shots. The cameras are tuned by Leica, and you can choose different filters. I prefer Leica Authentic, but Vibrant dials up the colors if that’s more you. The Pro is also slightly better at distance shots, offering far more clarity at zoom levels beyond 4x.
You get many options in Xiaomi’s camera app, including a Pro mode for accomplished and budding photographers. The portrait mode employs AI for bokeh effect portraits at various focal lengths, and it works well. Video recording goes up to 4K at 30 fps (8K for the Pro), and I was happy with the wee test videos I shot. The movie modes are fun to play around with, especially if you crave a cinematic feel. The front-facing camera is fine for selfies and video calls. Overall, these are both excellent camera systems in their respective price brackets.
One other difference that jumps off the spec sheet is the processor. The 14T has a MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra, and the Pro has a superior MediaTek Dimensity 9300+. I did not feel much difference day to day, but the Pro is a touch smoother when you jump around multitasking. It also keeps cool, even for intensive gaming sessions, and has a slight, but undeniable, edge over the 14T.
Both my review units came with a generous 12 GB of RAM, and that is standard. The entry-level options have 256 GB of storage. There is a 512-GB model of both and a 1-TB option for the Pro. It’s about time Apple and Google followed suit and upped their entry level to 256 GB, or at least stopped charging so much for more storage.
Xiaomi has also folded in some AI features here with the help of Google, so you’ve got Circle to Search, Google’s Gemini app installed, and real-time transcription in the Notes app, which I found handy. The 14T and 14T Pro run HyperOS over Android 14, and you can expect four years of Android updates and five years of security patches. I like that they simplified things compared to MIUI, but I am not a fan of HyperOS, and the unlabeled icons and unintuitive menus still annoy me, though it is easy to customize most things. Sadly, these phones come with a ton of bloatware to uninstall.
You get a 5,000-mAh battery in the 14T and 14T Pro, and it is sufficient to see you through busy days, though nightly charging is generally going to be required. The Pro can charge faster when plugged in at up to 120 watts. The regular 14T goes up to 67 watts, but you need the right kit to hit those charging rates, and you only get a cable and case in the box. Only the 14T Pro can charge wirelessly, hitting 50 watts with Xiaomi’s wireless charger.
I liked last year’s Xiaomi 13T Pro (7/10, WIRED Review), and the 14T Pro is in the same mold. There are no obvious omissions or cut corners here. If you balk at the flagship premium, the 14T Pro offers a way to get a taste of that quality for a slightly more affordable price. And if the subtle distinctions I discussed above aren’t important to you, the 14T comes close to delivering the same experience for quite a bit less.
There are loads of alternatives, even just from Xiaomi—from the much cheaper Poco X6 Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) to the now discounted Xiaomi 14 (7/10, WIRED Review), which is a good pick if you prefer a smaller phone. The Pixel 8A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is worth a look, too. You might also consider the OnePlus 12R, and you can find lots of other options in our best Android phones guide.
Ultimately, the Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro are good, solid Android phones that combine great screens and versatile cameras with slick performance, but there’s nothing to surprise you or quicken the pulse here.