Xiaomi, the Chinese tech giant, has recently unveiled its latest flagship smartphones - the Xiaomi 14 Pro and Xiaomi 14. These new handsets boast significant improvements over their predecessors, offering enhanced features and impressive specifications.

Starting with the Xiaomi 14 Pro, one notable change can be seen in its camera hardware. While the device shares a similar camera setup to its predecessor, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, it comes with a smaller primary camera sensor. The new phone utilizes a 1/1.31" sensor compared to the larger 1.0"-type sensor found in the Xiaomi 13 Pro. Despite this downgrade, both devices offer the same 50MP resolution, with the new Xiaomi 14 Pro featuring 1.2µm pixels and the Xiaomi 13 Pro sporting larger 1.6µm pixels. However, the 14 Pro compensates for this by introducing a Leica-developed 23mm-equiv. lens with an impressive f/1.42-f/4 variable aperture, a significant improvement over the f/1.9 lens in its predecessor.

In addition to the primary camera, the Xiaomi 14 Pro features Leica-branded ultrawide and telephoto cameras, each with a resolution of 50MP. The ultrawide camera offers a 115-degree field of view, while the telephoto module enables 3.2x optical zoom. Both cameras benefit from optical image stabilization (OIS) to ensure steady and clearer images. The device also supports capturing 8K HDR video at 24fps and 4K video at up to 60fps.

Moving on to the display, the Xiaomi 14 Pro retains the same 6.73-inch size and 1440 x 3200 resolution as its predecessor. However, the new model introduces a few upgrades, including a higher peak brightness of 3,000 nits and support for a wide range of display colors, reaching an impressive 68 billion. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also embraces Xiaomi's Ceramic Glass for screen protection, offering improved strength and scratch resistance.

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and is available in two RAM options - 12GB and 16GB. It also offers generous internal storage of up to 1TB. The device is equipped with a 4,880mAh battery that supports 120W wired charging and 50W wireless HyperCharge.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is now available for pre-order in China, with prices ranging from CNY 4,999 (approx. USD $684) for the 12GB/256GB model to CNY 5,999 (approx. USD $821) for the top 16GB/1TB variant. However, global availability and regional pricing are yet to be confirmed.

Alongside the Xiaomi 14 Pro, Xiaomi also introduced the Xiaomi 14 as a slightly more compact and affordable alternative. This device features a 6.36-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1200 x 2670 and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The Xiaomi 14 shares a similar camera setup with the Xiaomi 14 Pro, including the trio of 50MP rear-facing cameras. Notably, the primary camera also utilizes the smaller 1/1.31" sensor but lacks the variable aperture lens found in its Pro counterpart.

Powered by the same Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the Xiaomi 14 offers up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Its 4,610mAh battery supports up to 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Color options for the Xiaomi 14 include Jade Green, Black, White, and Snow Mountain Pink. Similar to the Xiaomi 14 Pro, the Xiaomi 14 is currently available for pre-order in China, with prices ranging from CNY 4,299 (approx. USD $591) for the 12GB/256GB model to CNY 4,999 (approx. USD $684) for the top 16GB/1TB variant.

While both the Xiaomi 14 Pro and Xiaomi 14 bring significant upgrades over their predecessors, offering advanced camera capabilities and impressive display specifications, their availability outside of China and regional pricing are yet to be confirmed. Tech enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the opportunity to experience these new devices firsthand.