Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has completed a decade in India and has become a household name due to its budget-friendly launches, integrating emerging technologies in compliance with the shifting dynamics of the smartphone market. However, one thing that goes unnoticed is why Xiaomi has not been a significant success in the sub-Rs. 50,000 market. In what can be termed a timely intervention, Xiaomi has launched a capable smartphone: Xiaomi 14 CIVI to compete in this segment. In the sections to follow, we shall analyse whether the device is worthy enough to help Xiaomi create its own niche in the market. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Design

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The device weighs 179.3g and has a thickness of 7.45mm, making it a lightweight smartphone. When you hold the device for the first time, you get a sense of its slim profile and perfect weight distribution. The device is easy to hold, with a matte finish at the back. The Xiaomi 14 CIVI  is available in three colour options: Matcha Green, Cruise Blue, and Shadow Black, each offering a slightly different outlook. For example, the Shadow Black variant gets a matte finish, the Match Green has a dual-tone finish with vegan leather and glass patterns, while the Cruise Blue boasts a dual-slice design. The device is perfectly designed for one-hand usage with button located within easy reach on the right side. It also has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Display

The Xiaomi 14 CIVI sports a 6.55-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3000nits and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The device supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, making it a capable content streaming machine. The colours represented are natural, with adequate contrast and sharpness. Overall, the display does not feel to be big enough, but it looks aesthetically pleasing with a compact feel. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Performance and Software

Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, the Xiaomi 14 CIVI offers satisfactory performance for its segment. The device handles multitasking smoothly and manages day-to-day tasks without any technical lags. It is available in two RAM/Internal Memory variants:  8GB + 256GB & 12GB + 512GB. It runs on HyperOS based on Android 14, which provides a refreshing and clean user experience. You get a slew of customisation options, making the UI dynamic and ultra-responsive. The Xiaomi 14 CIVI comes with three years of major software updates and four years of security patches. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Cameras

Equipped with a triple camera setup, which houses a 50MP primary camera with OIS support, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree field of view, the Xiaomi 14 CIVI deserves credit for bringing the Leica cameras in this price range. The primary camera takes the lead with stunning day-light outputs, thanks to the smooth brightness adjustment by the device. With near-accurate exposure and a wide dynamic range, the results are indeed impressive. For portrait photography, the device integrates several modes, including Leica Portrait Mode and Master Portrait Mode, which deliver decent portrait photos with proper background blurs. In low-light conditions, the cameras make decent efforts to minimise noise, though occasional noise is still perceivable. The ultra-wide camera performs well, minimizing noise to a greater extent and delivering manageable details. On the front, Xiaomi surprises with dual cameras, including a 32MP primary sensor and a 32MP ultra-wide shooter. The outputs are impressive, with natural skin tones and appropriate exposure. Even low-light selfies are good, placing the device among premium camera-centric smartphones. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Battery

The device packs a 4700mAh battery with a 67W fast charging support. Although the battery capacity might seem slightly lower compared to its contemporaries, it easily lasts a day under modest usage. If your day-to-day activities include social media browsing, playing light games, clicking photos, and streaming content, the battery won’t disappoint. The devices get fully charged in 50 minutes. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Verdict

The Xiaomi 14 CIVI has been instrumental in combining features to create a well-rounded device that performs well in almost every department. The device is aesthetically soothing, designed perfectly for one-hand usage, thanks to its compact outlook. The display is vivid with a quad-curved design that offers quality content. The camera quality takes the cake and is the standout feature, while performance is satisfactory with a less cluttered software experience. Although the battery could have had a slightly larger capacity, but the overall experience remains fairly decent. 

Xiaomi 14 CIVI Review: Pros and Cons

Xiaomi 14 CIVI : Pros

• Decent camera quality

• Stylish design with a compact display

• Good performance

Xiaomi 14 CIVI : Cons

• Battery could have been better

• UI not fully decluttered