A Lifestyle-Focused Marvel
Category | Details |
---|---|
NETWORK | Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
LAUNCH |
Announced: 2024, June 12 Status: Available. Released 2024, June 20 |
BODY |
Dimensions: 157.2 x 72.8 x 7.5 mm or 7.8 mm Weight: 177.6 g or 179.3 g (6.28 oz) Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frame SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
DISPLAY |
Type: AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak) Size: 6.55 inches, 103.5 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution: 1236 x 2750 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
PLATFORM |
OS: Android 14, HyperOS Chipset: Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) CPU: Octa-core (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4×2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) GPU: Adreno 735 |
MEMORY |
Card slot: No Internal: 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM Storage Type: UFS 4.0 |
MAIN CAMERA |
Triple: 50 MP, f/1.6, 25mm (wide), 1/1.55″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 0.64µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, Leica lenses Video: 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
SELFIE CAMERA |
Dual: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm, AF 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm Features: HDR Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
SOUND |
Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers 3.5mm jack: No Audio Features: 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res & Hi-Res wireless audio |
COMMS |
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth: 5.4, A2DP, LE Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC NFC: Yes Infrared port: Yes Radio: No USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
FEATURES | Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
BATTERY |
Type: Li-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable Charging: 67W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 40 minutes (advertised) |
MISC |
Colors: Cruise Blue, Matcha Green, Shadow Black Price: About $520/€ 480/₹42,999 |
Disclaimer | We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. |
Today, we’re diving into the Xiaomi 14 Civi, a phone that seamlessly blends design and camera prowess, making it a standout in the lifestyle segment.
In 2024, the average selling price of a smartphone hovered around ₹25000/$300. However, the landscape is shifting toward more premium devices, with the latest flagship killers priced between $480/₹40,000 and $600/₹50,000. Previously dominated by OnePlus, this segment now sees fierce competition from brands like Nothing, iQOO, Realme, and most recently, Xiaomi with its 14 Civi (Cinematic Vision).
Unboxing Experience
Xiaomi ensures a consumer-friendly unboxing experience with the 14 Civi. The package includes:
– The smartphone
– A plastic hard case
– Some paperwork
– A UV protective film (in case you apply a UV protector)
– A SIM ejector tool
– A 67W fast turbocharger
– A Type-A to Type-C cable
This extensive packaging sets it apart from some other brands, providing everything you need right out of the box. It’s a thoughtful touch, ensuring users don’t have to spend extra on essential accessories immediately. The inclusion of a high-capacity charger is particularly beneficial, given the phone’s 67W fast charging capability.
Design and Build
The Xiaomi 14 Civi, especially in the matcha green variant, offers a truly premium feel with its soft-touch finish. The device sports a unique half-glass, half-vegan leather back, and a metallic side frame. Available in Cruze Blue, Matcha Green, and Shadow Black, each green variant features a unique back pattern. This unique design ensures that your device stands out and feels personalized. The minimal camera bump reduces wobbling when placed on flat surfaces.
The phone’s slim, lightweight build and micro quad curve design make it extremely comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The aluminum frame enhances its premium feel, although it lacks an IP67 or IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Type-C 2.0 port at the bottom is a bit outdated compared to newer 3.0 standards, but as with all Xiaomi phones, it includes an infrared blaster for controlling various household devices.
Display
Xiaomi introduces a ‘floating display’ with the 14 Civi, characterized by slightly curved edges on all four sides, reminiscent of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The 6.55-inch AMOLED panel supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, enhancing the viewing experience. Watching movies like “Atlas” on Netflix showcases the sharpness, vibrant colors, and excellent skin tones. The dual stereo speakers, supported by Dolby Atmos, provide a richer and louder sound experience. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering a peak brightness of 3000 nits (achieving around 2017 nits in tests), ensuring visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
Additionally, the display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes for smoother scrolling and an overall more responsive touch experience. This is particularly beneficial for gamers and users who enjoy fluid animations. The original pro color mode ensures low delta E for better color accuracy, appealing to professional users who require precise color representation.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3, the Xiaomi 14 Civi strikes a balance between power and efficiency. In benchmarks, it scores around 14.3 lakhs, indicating robust performance. The CPU throttling benchmark shows a stable performance, and in practical scenarios, the device handles gaming well, maintaining 120 fps in Call of Duty Mobile. However, the metallic side frame does warm up during extended gaming sessions.
Equipped with UFS 4.0 storage, the Xiaomi 14 Civi demonstrates impressive speed, outperforming the iQOO Neo 9 Pro in file transfer tests. This optimization ensures a swift and smooth user experience, whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or managing large files.
The device also features LPDDR5X RAM, which contributes to faster data processing speeds and overall better performance. In real-world usage, this translates to quick app launches, seamless multitasking, and smooth performance in demanding applications.
Camera
The Leica collaboration shines through in the camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP 2x portrait lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens on the rear. The front houses dual 32MP selfie cameras, offering versatile zoom options (0.6x, 0.8x, 1x, and 2x). This setup allows for creative and diverse selfie shots. Selfies are generally good, but low-light performance, even with night mode, tends to over-brighten faces, which might not be to everyone’s liking.
The primary camera produces detailed images with a distinctive high-contrast Leica look, though this might not appeal to everyone. In well-lit conditions, photos are crisp and vibrant, but in medium dynamic range scenes, the HDR sometimes struggles, leading to blown-out highlights. Skin tones are accurate when using the Leica Authentic mode, providing a natural look.
Low-light performance is impressive for the primary sensor, capturing bright and detailed images. However, the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses struggle in low light, producing less detailed and noisier images. The ultra-wide lens performs well in daylight, capturing expansive scenes with good detail and minimal distortion.
The portrait lens excels in producing DSLR-like bokeh effects, especially at 50mm, offering a natural and aesthetically pleasing background blur. Video capabilities are robust, with the ability to shoot 4K 60fps videos using the primary and telephoto lenses. The ultra-wide and front cameras can record at 4K 30fps. The Master Video mode allows professional videographers to add their own LUTs, providing greater creative control.
Software
Running on Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the 14 Civi introduces several new features. The translucent notification shade and advanced AI tools in the gallery editor enhance usability. The AI eraser and AI expansion tools are particularly noteworthy, allowing for easy photo editing. While there are some pre-installed apps like Amazon and Netflix, they can be uninstalled if desired. Despite some drawbacks, such as dark patterns during setup and intrusive notifications from pre-installed apps, HyperOS is generally clean and intuitive, with fewer pre-installed third-party apps compared to previous versions.
The HyperOS software has been improved by leaps and bounds, with smoother animations and better user interface customization options. The lock screen customization is particularly noteworthy, allowing users to personalize their phones to a great extent. Security features have also been enhanced, providing a safer and more secure user experience.
HyperOS also includes features like Second Space, allowing users to create a separate profile for work or personal use, adding an extra layer of privacy and organization. The new privacy dashboard provides insights into app permissions and activity, helping users manage their data more effectively.
Battery Life and Charging
The device houses a 4700mAh battery, which should comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy usage. It supports 67W turbo charging, taking less than 45 minutes for a full charge, making it convenient for users who are always on the go. However, HyperOS lacks a built-in screen-on-time feature, necessitating the download of a separate app for detailed battery usage statistics. This is a minor inconvenience but worth noting.
In addition to fast charging, the phone supports 30W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices or accessories like earbuds. This versatility in charging options makes the Xiaomi 14 Civi a practical choice for users with multiple devices.
Connectivity
The Xiaomi 14 Civi supports multiple 5G bands, ensuring broad compatibility with various networks. It also supports WiFi 6 for faster and more reliable wireless connectivity, NFC for contactless payments and quick pairing with other devices, and Bluetooth 5.4 for improved connection stability and range. Network performance was reliable throughout testing, with flawless 5G support on Jio SIM cards.
Moreover, the phone includes dual SIM support with dual 5G standby, making it convenient for users who need to manage two numbers simultaneously. This is particularly useful for business professionals and frequent travelers.
Additional Features
The Xiaomi 14 Civi includes several other notable features:
– Haptic Feedback: The haptic feedback is crisp and well-tuned, enhancing the overall user experience.
– In-Display Fingerprint Scanner: The optical in-display fingerprint scanner is slightly low, but it is very fast and reliable.
– Stereo Speakers: The dual stereo speakers offer rich and immersive sound, with Dolby Atmos support ensuring high-quality audio.
– Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2: The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, providing excellent durability and scratch resistance.
– IR Blaster: As with all Xiaomi phones, it includes an infrared blaster, allowing you to control various household devices.
Additionally, the phone includes features like dual-band GPS for more accurate location tracking and an upgraded vibration motor for better tactile feedback. These small enhancements contribute to a more refined and user-friendly experience.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 14 Civi is an acquired taste, with its unique design and distinctive camera output. It offers a blend of premium build quality, vibrant display, strong performance, and decent battery life. If you appreciate the Leica-inspired photography style and are looking for a lifestyle-focused phone, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is a compelling choice.
At the under $600/₹50,000 price point, the Xiaomi 14 Civi distinguishes itself with a camera-centric approach, delivering a well-rounded smartphone experience. While performance specs are competitive, the camera capabilities make it a unique offering in this segment. For those seeking a blend of performance and superior photography, the Xiaomi 14 CV is a compelling choice.