Xiaomi 14 Ultra review: the variable aperture was not a gimmick
A genuine f/1.63-to-f/4.0 aperture on the main lens, plus a quad-Leica system, a camera phone for people who think in stops. Our score: 8.5 / 10 A mechanical aperture that earns its place The 14 Ultra’s headline is a physically variable aperture on the 1-inch main sensor: stop down to f/4.0 for landscape sharpness and sunstars, open up to f/1.63 for low light and shallow depth of field. It is not a marketing trick, it changes the images in ways software cannot fake. The rest of the camera keeps up The quad-Leica system covers ultrawide to 5x, and the optional Photography Kit grip with a physical shutter, zoom lever and extra battery turns it into something close to a compact camera. The good and the bad What works Genuinely useful variable aperture Complete quad-camera system Photography grip accessory is excellent What doesn’t Bulky HyperOS bloat Limited official Western sales Who it’s for Buy it if you want the most photographically thoughtful phone camera and you shoot manually. Skip it if you want point-and-shoot simplicity. Alternatives worth a look Xiaomi 15 Ultra, newer, longer zoom, no mechanical aperture on the periscope. The verdict: The enthusiast’s phone camera. If aperture control matters to you, you already want this. Sources GSMArena specifications