Samsung rules the roost when it comes to UK Android smartphone sales but two new rival handsets have been launched today that are trying to change that. The Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro are powerful phones with impressive triple cameras, incredibly fast charging and cheaper prices than the entire Galaxy S24 range.
The phones are priced lower than the existing Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra phones released earlier this year but still offer high-tech specs with 50Mp main cameras designed to capture better low light photos, along with bright displays, full waterproofing and improved software – the latter in part thanks to a partnership with Google that means these phones have new Google AI features.
Express.co.uk has had hands-on time with the new phones, which launch in the UK today. The Xiaomi 14T is priced at £549 while the impressive 14T Pro costs £649, undercutting the £799 Galaxy S24. We’ve been putting the Pro’s triple camera system through its paces to see if the lenses are as good as Xiaomi claims, and though they’re not up there – understandably – with the £1,299 Xiaomi 14 Ultra, you can get some great looking shots.
Though it’s not the most exciting feature on paper, the 14T Pro has very fast shutter speeds, which results in sharp, in-focus images of moving objects. We’ve been in Berlin testing the phone ahead of launch, and snapped this shot of a fast-moving train with barely any blur:
The distinctive colour and tone from the photos on the 14T and 14T Pro is in part down to Xiaomi’s ongoing partnership with Leica, the famous German camera brand. The firms have collaborated on both devices’ cameras, letting you choose between a ‘vibrant’ or ‘authentic’ style to shoot in that is meant to mirror classic film cameras. We’re a fan of the authentic setting, but it’s a shame you can’t turn either off. There’s also a Leica-tuned portrait mode.
Both phones have 6.67-inch 144Hz refresh rate displays, which means apps, games and text look incredibly smooth and slick. This beats all Samsung’s Galaxy S24 range that max out at 120Hz. The £799 iPhone 16 still only has a 60Hz screen, so Xiaomi comes out on top here. The screens can boost brightness up to 4,000 nits, making them some of the brightest on the market to ensure seeing things in direct sunlight is a doddle.
The 14T Pro can charge up at a very fast 120W, meaning you can get a full charge in 19 minutes. Even the 14T manages 67W, making both faster than the Galaxy S24’s comparatively sluggish 25W. The 14T Pro also supports fast 50W wireless charging.
Xiaomi is also joining the recent tech trend of covering gadgets in titanium, or at least titanium colour. The phones are available in Titan Grey with a smooth finish, though we prefer the Titan Black model we’ve been testing that has a grippier matt finish.
The Chinese tech firm also announced the Xiaomi Mix Flip for the UK, a direct folding phone rival to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. It has a large 4.01-inch cover display and will cost €1,299 in Europe.
The Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro are available to order today from Xiaomi’s official UK website. You can get a 14T Pro with 1TB storage for £799, which is a very competitive price for a phone with so much storage.