Can the AI magic of Google cameras compete with a camera powerhouse like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra? Yes, this is something that we have realized in our reviews. However, in this article we will compare the two phones to give you even more information in case you are wondering which one to buy. To be clear, here we are comparing Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro, two heavyweight Android phones.
These two devices are vastly different in almost every way. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is newer, but both are current generation devices. We will start with their specifications and then move on to various other categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras and audio output. Let’s see how the two phones compare, shall we?
Specs
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro respectively
– Screen size:
6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120 Hz, maximum brightness 3000 nits)
6.7-inch Super Actua AMOLED display (flat, 120 Hz LTPO, HDR10+, 2400 nits)
– Display resolution:
3200×1440
2992×1344
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Google Tensor G3
– RAM:
16 GB (LPDDR5X)
12 GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage:
512 GB (UFS 4.0)
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras:
50 MP (wide, f/1.6-f/4.0 variable aperture, OIS, omni-directional PDAF, 1.6um pixel size), 50 MP (ultra-wide, f/1.8 aperture, 122-degree FoV, 0.7 um pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF) , 50MP (telephoto, f/1.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.5 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF, 5x optical, OIS zoom)
50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1.2um pixel size, OIS), 48MP (ultra-wide, f/1.95 aperture, 125.5-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size ), 48 MP (telephoto, f/2.07 aperture). um pixel size, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
32 MP (wide, f/2.0 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
– Battery:
5000 mAh
5050 mAh
– Charging:
90W wired, 80W wireless, 10W reverse wireless (charger included)
30W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
– Sizes:
161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm
162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm
– Weight:
219.8 grams
213 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.4/5.3
– Safety:
In-display fingerprint scanner and face scanning
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) and face scanning
– OS:
Android 14 with HyperOS
Android 14
– The price:
1499 euros
$999+
– To buy:
Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Amazon)
Google Pixel 8 Pro (Best Buy)
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Design
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a curved display with a centered display camera hole. It also has very thin edges. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 Pro includes a flat display with a centered display camera hole. There are also thin bezels here. Both phones have physical buttons on the right side, but in a different layout. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has the power/lock button below the volume buttons, while the Google Pixel 8 Pro has it the other way around.
If we flip them over, you’ll see significantly different backplates. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a large camera oreo on the back that protrudes quite a bit. It includes four cameras. The rear of the Pixel 8 Pro has a camera visor that is covered in metal. It connects to the left and right sides of the frame. There are three cameras. The camera visor also protrudes significantly at the back. Both phones have flat back plates that are curved at the edges.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra is made of aluminum and vegan leather worldwide. In China, there is a variant with a glass back plate and also a version with a titanium frame. The Pixel 8 Pro is all aluminum and glass, and it’s the only model that was launched. They are very similar in size. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is technically a little shorter and narrower, but in that respect they are very similar. The Xiaomi handset is also slightly thicker, but there the difference is very small as well.
Both smartphones have IP68 water and dust resistance certification. You’ll also be happy to hear that both smartphones feel very premium in hand, albeit quite differently.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Display
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a 6.73-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED. This panel has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. This display is curved and supports HDR10+ content and has Dolby Vision support. The maximum brightness of the panel reaches 3000 nits. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra display has a screen aspect ratio of 20:9 and a screen-to-body ratio of around 89 percent. This panel is protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass.
On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 Pro includes a 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED panel. This display is flat and has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. This panel supports HDR10+ content and has a brightness of 2400 nits. The display aspect ratio is also 20:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 87 percent. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers this display.
Both of these displays will please almost anyone. They are bright and very sharp. Viewing angles are excellent and both panels get very bright when needed. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s panel shines brighter when compared directly. Touch response is very good for both. Not much to complain about here really, they also have good defense etc. You won’t be disappointed.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Performance
Xiaomi 14 Ultra is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It is the most powerful SoC Qualcomm has to offer right now. The phone also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM globally. It also includes UFS 4.0 flash memory. The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 SoC. The phone is equipped with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash memory.
Does it provide good performance at both ends? Well, yes, but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a clear advantage here. It has more powerful performance-related hardware. It not only has a more powerful processor, but also faster RAM and storage. If you compare them directly, you will notice that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is slightly smarter. It won’t matter to most people, and if you’re not doing a head-to-head comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro will feel essentially as nimble. The bottom line is that you won’t experience any lag on either phone during regular day-to-day use.
In terms of gaming, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a better solution for this. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra can handle almost any game, including Genshin Impact. The phone performed perfectly during our testing. The Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t do as well with such demanding games, although it can run them. It works great with less demanding titles. The thing is, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra performs better, but the Pixel 8 Pro is nothing to scoff at.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Battery
The Xiaomi flagship is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery worldwide, and 5,400 mAh in its home country. The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a 5050 mAh battery. We’ve been using the global variant of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, so that’s the one we’ll be talking about here. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers better battery life than Google’s flagship, that’s for sure. It did great in our battery drain test, and even when compared directly to the Pixel 8 Pro on a day-to-day basis, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra excels.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro mostly flew under 7 hours of screen-on time for us. It did manage to get over that mark, of course, but most of the time it flew just below it. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra was able to consistently deliver 7-8 hours of screen-on time. Note that we used them both mostly on Wi-Fi and with a good signal. Also, we didn’t play any games on those days, we only played for testing purposes. However, both phones were used for various other tasks.
When it comes to charging, the Pixel 8 Pro can’t really measure up. It supports 30W wired, 23W wireless and reverse wireless charging. Xiaomi 14 Ultra charges much faster thanks to 90W wired, 80W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging. Also, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with a charger in the box, while the Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras
The Xiaomi flagship has four 50-megapixel cameras on the back, as well as Leica lenses. The main camera uses a 50-megapixel camera and also has a variable aperture, not to mention it has a 1-inch camera sensor. A 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera (122-degree FoV) is also included, along with a 50-megapixel telephoto unit (3.2x optical zoom). The last camera on the back is a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom).
On the flip side, the Google Pixel 8 Pro has three cameras on the back. The 50-megapixel main camera is backed by a 48-megapixel ultra-wide (126-degree FoV). The final camera on the back of the Pixel 8 Pro is a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). Both smartphones do a great job with photography, but the results they deliver are vastly different.
The main cameras do a great job during the day and provide plenty of detail. Xiaomi 14 Ultra images look close to real life in all areas, not just during the day. Both phones do great with HDR photography. By the way, the Pixel 8 Pro leans towards warmer tones. Their ultra-wide cameras keep up with the main shooters in terms of color science, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra undoubtedly does a better job with macro photography.
At night, the reliability of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is excellent. Even with the most demanding images, the main camera of the phone worked wonders. The Pixel 8 Pro does a good job of brightening shots quite a bit, but we’d say it’s a step below the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in these conditions. The secondary cameras perform well in low light, but the main one is definitely better in this regard. Video recording is stupid. Note that the Pixel 8 Pro comes with useful camera AI features that may make a difference for some people.
Audio
Both devices include a set of stereo speakers. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is slightly louder, but both sets are loud enough. Sound is well balanced on both phones, not many will complain about that, that’s for sure.
What about the audio jack? Well, no phone has that. However, you can use their Type-C ports if you want to use wired headphones. You can also use Bluetooth 5.4 on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Bluetooth 5.3 on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
