Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the latest smartphone from Xiaomi in 2026: everything you need to know before buying

Xiaomi’s latest flagship: why 14 Ultra was the biggest hit of 2026

Xiaomi has traditionally updated its flagship smartphone lineup once a year, and the 2026th was no exception. In February, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a model that claims to be the best Android smartphone of the year, debuted on the world market. But is it so good in practice? And should you overpay for the novelty if you already have a Xiaomi 13 Ultra or even a 12S Ultra?

In this article, we will examine the unique features of Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which are missing from competitors – from the revolutionary camera system with a Leica Summilux lens to innovative cooling with liquid metal heat sink. and compare prices in official and “gray” stores, test autonomy and answer the main questions: who really needs this smartphone, and who is better to save on Xiaomi 14 Pro.

Spoiler: If you're a photographer or you like maximum performance, 14 Ultra is the perfect choice. For everyone else, there's a cheaper alternative.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra specifications: what has changed compared to 13 Ultra

On paper, it looks impressive. Under the hood is the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) processor, which is 30 percent more powerful than its predecessor. But the real breakthrough came in other components:

• 📸 Camera: Sony's main sensor IMX989 (1 lens) + telephoto 3.2x and 5x optical zoom (against) 2x/5x bal 13 Now you can shoot the moon without losing detail!
• 🔋 Battery: 5300 mAh (300 mAh more) with support 90W wireless charging (against) 50W Samsung Galaxy competitor S24 Ultra).
• 🖥️ Screen: 2K AMOLED with adaptive frequency up to 120 Hz and brightness of 3000 nits (vs. 2600 nits at 13 Ultra).
• 🧊 Cooling: Loop LiquidCool system with liquid metal heat sink – now the smartphone does not overheat even during hours of games in Genshin Impact.

And at 14 Ultrafinally, they added two-way wireless charging (you can charge your headphones or watch with your back), a feature that fans of the brand have been missing for years.

⚠️ Note: In Russia and Europe, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is sold out of the box without Google services. To install Google Play, you will have to manually flash global firmware or use workarounds!

Xiaomi 14 Ultra Camera: Revolution or Marketing?

The big deal is the camera, which was developed in conjunction with Leica, and the manufacturer promises "professional quality in the pocket." But is that really true in practice?

In DXOMARK (158 points), 14 Ultra overtook the iPhone 15 Pro Max (154 points) and Galaxy S24 Ultra (152 points).

• 🌙 Night shooting: the new algorithm Night Mode 2.0 allows you to shoot the starry sky without a tripod.
• 🔍 Macro mode: minimum focal length is 3 cm (vs. 5 cm at 13 Ultra).
• 🎥 Video: Support 8K@24fps Dolby Vision and HDR.

But there are pitfalls, like overheating in long-term video, after 15 minutes of 4K recording, the smartphone starts to limit performance, and there's no support for RAW in the telephoto lens, which is frustrating for professionals.

How much is Xiaomi 14 Ultra in 2026: where to buy cheaper

The official price starts from 139 990 ₽ version 16/512 GB, but there are ways to save money:

• 🛒 Xiaomi’s official store: there are often discounts 5-10% by the promo code (watch out for the mailing list).
• 🌍 "Grey" sellers: on AliExpress or in telegram channels you can find a novelty on the Internet 15-20% cheaper, but without a guarantee.
• 📦 Trade-in: Some stores (such as the Messenger) offer discounts of up to 30,000 ₽ when renting out an old smartphone.

⚠️ Note: When buying in "gray" stores, check IMEI There have been cases where rebranded versions have been sold for China (Redmi). K70 Ultra under the guise of Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

💡

If you buy with AliExpress, choose sellers with a rating of at least 98% and reviews over 6 months. Pay attention to the phrase "Global Version" in the description - this is a guarantee of 4G/5G support in Russia.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: Which one to choose?

If the budget is limited, you should look at the Xiaomi 14 Pro – it is cheaper by 30-40 thousand rubles, but at the same time shares with the Ultra version of the processor, screen and base camera.

• 📏 Size: 14 Pro is more compact (161×75 mm 161×79 mm and lighter (223 d 234 s).
• 🔋 Battery: 4880 mAh (vs. 5300 mAh) and wireless charging on 50W (against 90W).
• 📷 Zoom: Only 2x optical zoom 3.2x/5x Ultra).
• 💎 Materials: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 instead of Ultra ceramics.

The bottom line: 14 Pro is 90 percent for users. Ultra is only needed if you're critical.

1. Maximum autonomy (for example, for hiking).
2. Professional photography with manual settings.
3. Premium materials (ceramics + titanium inserts).

Xiaomi 13 Ultra Update: Is the Game Worth the Candle?

If you already have a Xiaomi 13 Ultra, upgrading to 14 Ultra is not warranted in most cases.

• ⚡ Performance: AnTuTu’s Growth – Everything ~15% (1,200,000 to 1,380,000) The difference will only be noticed by a gamer.
• 📸 Camera: Yes, the new sensor is better, but the difference is only visible when 100% zoom in or print a photo.
• 🔋 Autonomy: An increase of 300 mAh gives +1.5-2 hours of work, but not revolution.

Exceptions:

1. You shoot the video professionally – the new Dolby Vision and stabilisation is worth it.
2. Your 13 Ultra is physically damaged (cracks, battery wear).
3. It is important to have a new model (yes, there are users too!).

💡

If your Xiaomi 13 Ultra is in perfect condition, it’s best to wait for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (expected in early 2026) – there promise a subscreen front camera and foldable design.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra Problems and How to Avoid Them

Despite its premium status, it has childhood illnesses, and this is what users complain about in the first reviews:

• 🔥 Overheating: When charging or playing, the back panel heats up to 45°C. Solution: Use a heat sink case or turn off turbo mode in the settings.
• 📵 Problems with 5G: In some regions of Russia, the smartphone does not catch the network n78 (3.5 GHz. Helps manually switch to n1/n28.
• 🔊 Quiet speaker: The top speaker is drowned out with a finger in landscape orientation. It's a design feature -- get used to it.

And many are also experiencing MIUI 15 bugs (such as spontaneous app closures), which Xiaomi promises to fix in the upcoming updates, but at the time of writing (June 2026) patches are not yet available.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install custom firmware on Xiaomi 14 Ultra in the first 3 months after purchase! The new model uses a locked bootloader with a unique key for each device. The wrong firmware can permanently lock your smartphone.

FAQ: answers to popular questions about Xiaomi 14 Ultra