On February 22, Xiaomi held a launch event in Beijing for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and the new products under the “People, Car, Home Full Ecosystem”, officially introducing the professional imaging flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, as well as several flagship products in the “People, Car, Home Full Ecosystem” category including the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, Redmi Book Pro 2024 series, the professional gaming monitor Redmi Display G Pro 27, and more.
The all-new professional imaging flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra represents a groundbreaking work that combines imaging at a “new level” with advanced “hard technology”. Featuring the new top-notch Leica Summilux optical lens system, the industry’s first AI large-scale computing photography platform Xiaomi AISP, and collaboration with acclaimed director Zhang Yimou as the chief imaging consultant to set new imaging standards, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra excels in imaging capabilities. With its debut of the sturdy and reliable Xiaomi Dragon Armor architecture, industry-leading silicon content, the highest energy density Xiaomi Jinsha River battery, and a breakthrough in scene-specific experience with two-way satellite communication, it marks a significant leap in hard technology.
Starting from this launch event, Xiaomi is not only introducing individual flagship products but continuously releasing advanced smart experiences integrating the complete “People, Car, Home” scene. The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, Redmi Book Pro 2024, and other new products within the “People, Car, Home Full Ecosystem” unveiled at the event all run on Xiaomi’s PowerOS, significantly enhancing cross-device connectivity.
Xiaomi’s Partner and President Lu Weibing mentioned that behind Xiaomi’s first-ever “People, Car, Home Full Ecosystem” launch event lies not just the unveiling of exciting new products but also a fresh breakthrough in Xiaomi’s understanding, technology, and strategic progress, propelling Xiaomi and the industry to a new level of development.
It is reported that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra will officially go on sale on February 27, starting at 6499 RMB with dual satellite communication as a standard feature. The Titanium Special Edition is priced at 8799 RMB. Additionally, the Xiaomi 14 Pro Titanium Special Edition with satellite communication is priced at 6999 RMB. The Redmi Book Pro 2024 starts at 4999 RMB for the 14-inch model and 5999 RMB for the 16-inch model. The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 is priced starting at 3299 RMB, and the Redmi Display G Pro 27 is priced at 1999 RMB, all available for sale starting on February 22. All flagship phones and tablets support Wi-Fi 7, and Xiaomi is also actively introducing Wi-Fi 7 routers as it enters the era of Wi-Fi 7.
Moving towards a new level of mobile imaging with Zhang Yimou as the Chief Imaging Consultant
In 2022, Xiaomi established a humanistic imaging concept of “Beyond the human eye, sensing human emotions”, collaborating strategically with Leica to launch the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, presenting authentic Leica tones in mobile imaging, ushering in the era of humanistic imaging in the field of mobile photography. Subsequently, in 2023, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra introduced professional Leica optics into mobile imaging, initiating the optical era of mobile imaging.
In 2024, Xiaomi’s exploration of humanistic imaging reaches a new level: breaking through in optical systems, computational photography, and aesthetic standards, achieving “layered reality” through advanced technology and sophisticated aesthetics, thus ushering in a new level of mobile imaging.
On the optical front, Xiaomi’s imaging strategic cooperation with Leica has reached a new level with the establishment of the “Xiaomi × Leica Optical Research Institute”. This institute, core-focused on optical technology, is a research institution where optical foundational technology, imaging digital technology, AI, and other disciplines intersect, consisting of a luxurious joint team including over 200 experts such as the legendary Leica optical designer Peter Karbe. Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera, stated that the “Xiaomi × Leica Optical Research Institute” gathers the most elite teams from Xiaomi and Leica’s mobile optics, continuously building cutting-edge mobile imaging optical systems that lead the era.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra marks the first milestone of Xiaomi and Leica jointly promoting a new optical standard. It boasts cutting-edge optical design in mobile imaging, featuring a new generation of top-tier Summilux Leica optical lenses with the largest aperture in mobile imaging to date and a second-generation light-conducting LYT-900 one-inch sensor to capture rich details. The three auxiliary cameras use IMX858 sensors, maintaining consistency with the main camera in HDR technology, focusing technology, and noise reduction capabilities, ensuring a seamless shooting experience without noticeable jumps in the footage. The debut of the second-generation one-inch stepless variable aperture enables more flexible exposure and depth-of-field control. The two telephoto lenses cover core shooting scenes seamlessly from 3.2X to 10X with excellent macro performance, allowing shooting at various distances with clear distinctions in layers.
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In the realm of computational photography, the Xiaomi imaging brain has officially upgraded to Xiaomi AISP, becoming the world’s first AI large-model computational photography platform. It integrates four independent engine modules of optics, tones, colors, and portraits, all supported by AI large models.
The new AI large-model computational photography platform brings three new imaging capabilities that surpass optical limits: Super Film UltraRAW, redefines digital film with unprecedented post-processing flexibility; Super Zoom UltraZoom, for the first time applies AIGC functions in computational photography, enhancing image clarity significantly by calling upon AI large models to precisely redraw original optical data during zooming of 30x and beyond; Super Snapshot UltraSnap, capable of continuous shooting of 150 high-speed, high-quality photos across all algorithmic scenes.
In addition to the comprehensive upgrade of optical systems and computational photography, Xiaomi has also announced Zhang Yimou as the Chief Image Consultant, jointly discussing image standards, calibrating new advanced aesthetics, and exploring new levels of mobile imaging.
Through collaboration with Zhang Yimou, the aesthetic of Xiaomi 14 Ultra has undergone a comprehensive transformation, presenting a perfect “layered reality” effect, and introducing two distinctive features: “Master Portrait” and “Master Start”.
The “Master Portrait” mode combines the Leica classic Summilux optical system with the independent algorithm module “Portrait LM Large Model” in Xiaomi AISP, precisely tuning and setting the four focal lengths to handle the hierarchy of subject, background, and editing details appropriately, presenting portraits with a level of appeal that is “a bit better than life”; the new “Master Start” mode, with a cinematic feel, endows videos with movie-level three-dimensional light and shadow, soft color transitions, and a strong narrative.
At the Xiaomi 14 Ultra image seminar, Zhang Yimou expressed that Xiaomi’s image concept of “surpassing human eyes, perceiving cognition” is excellent. To grasp the hearts of the times, one must first grasp the aesthetics of the times, with the key being to focus on “layers”.
Self-developed innovation surges, Xiaomi 14 Ultra integrates advanced “hard technology” to perfection
Besides image upgrades, Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s technological attributes are also full of innovations, marking a milestone of advanced “hard technology” breakthroughs by Xiaomi.
For instance, Xiaomi 14 Ultra debuts the Xiaomi Dragon Armor architecture. The body frame, screen, and back panel materials all adopt Xiaomi’s most advanced materials and craftsmanship to create the most durable and robust device to date. The beloved ceramic back cover is reintroduced in Xiaomi 14 Ultra, with the “Dragon Crystal Blue” version using Xiaomi’s dragon crystal ceramic material, retaining high strength and a warm texture while being half the weight of traditional ceramics.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra also premieres the Xiaomi Jinsha River battery, where the energy density of the battery reaches the industry’s highest at 779Wh/L within the same system, with the highest silicon content in the industry at 6%, a size reduction of 8%, breaking the “impossible triangle” of phone batteries through technological innovation to achieve a balance of larger capacity, smaller volume, and longer lifespan. The battery life can reach 1.58 days, ensuring user confidence in endurance.
Moreover, Xiaomi 14 Ultra introduces the Xiaomi Bidirectional Satellite Communication System. It elevates satellite communication experiences to a new level: not only leading in basic performance but also creating a more comprehensive user experience based on usage scenarios.
In terms of basic performance, Xiaomi debuts the self-developed Surge T1 signal enhancement chip in Xiaomi 14 Ultra, boosting signal strength by 21% to ensure stable connections over long distances. Xiaomi Surge OS also reconstructs the communication software architecture for satellite communication, with all communication channels self-developed by Xiaomi, achieving higher communication efficiency.
For usage scenarios, Xiaomi’s satellite communication considers users’ emergency communication needs in extreme situations: supporting extreme endurance mode and SOS emergency assistance mode to ensure that users can still seek help via satellite communication in scenarios like low battery or unresponsive touch screens; supporting real-time acquisition of vital signs such as heart rate and blood oxygen from wearable devices for SOS text messaging. Additionally, Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a satellite signal amplifier accessory, which enhances signals by up to 129% after connection, improving communication capabilities in extreme environments.
# Xiaomi’s Achievements in Communication Technology and its Future Plans
Behind the excellent satellite communication experience offered by Xiaomi lies the company’s years of continuous focus on communication technology. To date, Xiaomi has been granted over 5900 authorized patents in the field of communication, with over 14000 patents pending approval. Notably, in the past three years, 95% of the patents granted to Xiaomi have been for inventions.
It’s worth mentioning that Xiaomi’s advanced process innovations in the 14 Ultra series have been successfully verified in the newly launched Xiaomi Smartphone Smart Factory. This factory represents Xiaomi’s first large-scale intelligent factory, with an annual production capacity of millions of flagship smartphones. The factory boasts a self-developed rate of 96.8% for its assembly and packaging equipment and a 100% self-developed rate for the software system of the entire factory. Leveraging advanced technologies such as IoT, 5G, cloud computing, big data, and AI, Xiaomi’s smartphone smart factory has achieved full automation and digitization. With such advanced capabilities, it can swiftly meet more demanding and diverse manufacturing process requirements.
“People, Cars, Home” Ecosystem Unveiled by Xiaomi Elevates to New Heights
In 2023, Xiaomi marked a significant milestone, witnessing a notable growth in its performance.
During this period, smartphone shipments have maintained a top-three global position for 14 consecutive quarters, forming a stable tripartite competition with Apple and Samsung. The high-end segment witnessed a significant growth, with the Xiaomi 14 series capturing 38% market share in the 4K-6K price range in its first month of sales, propelling Xiaomi to the top spot for domestic Chinese brands in Q4 of the previous year. Xiaomi introduced the world’s first “People, Cars, Home” ecosystem operating system, Xiaomi Pangp OS, which is now compatible with 823 million connected devices globally. The unveiling of the Xiaomi car SU7 showcased a series of self-developed hardcore innovations such as leading-edge die-cast technology and super motors, completing the full circle of the “People, Cars, Home” ecosystem.
Lei Jun, the founder and CEO of Xiaomi Group, highlighted the three key accomplishments of Xiaomi in 2023. First, setting clear goals for the new decade (2020-2030) by investing continuously in core foundational technologies to become a leading global hardcore technology innovator. Second, defining Xiaomi’s new strategies, including the “People, Cars, Home” ecosystem, and articulating six sub-strategies focusing on high-end development, leading industrial capabilities, OS strategy, AI strategy, chip strategy, and new retail strategy. Lastly, emphasizing Xiaomi’s cultural values and beliefs.
At the unveiling event, Xiaomi introduced flagship products like the Xiaomi laptop and tablet, all pre-installed with Xiaomi Pangp OS, offering an advanced intelligent experience seamlessly integrated across the “People, Cars, Home” scenes. As more new devices adopt Xiaomi Pangp OS, the proactive, interconnected advanced experience will encompass an increasing number of scenarios.
For instance, the new Redmi Book Pro 2024, based on the foundational capabilities of Xiaomi Pangp OS, delivers a superior cross-platform, application circulation, and Windows/Android ecosystem integration experience. Additionally, the introduction of “AI Dynamic Performance Scheduling Technology” from smartphones to laptops has significantly enhanced the battery life of laptops. Moreover, the Xiaomi Tablet 6S Pro 12.4, pre-equipped with Xiaomi Pangp OS, offers a greatly enhanced experience through the seamless integration of hardware and software, improving multitasking smoothness by 34% and reducing power consumption by 12%. As a vital component of the “People, Cars, Home” ecosystem, the Xiaomi Tablet 6S Pro 12.4 can connect with the Xiaomi SU7 in-car system, offering an innovative native car infotainment experience by simply plugging in the backseat, connecting to the car’s Wi-Fi, and initiating the control interface automatically.
Lu Weibing stated that 2024 would be the year when Xiaomi’s “People, Cars, Home” ecosystem fully expands. Under this strategy, Xiaomi aims to lead the industry through advanced technology and experiences, seamlessly connecting people, cars, and homes with Xiaomi Pangp OS across the three major scenarios, thus fostering a super-intelligent ecosystem centered around people.
Reportedly, on the evening of February 25th, Xiaomi will host a global launch event in Barcelona, officially announcing the global release of the Xiaomi “People, Cars, Home” strategy and Xiaomi Pangp OS. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will also be globally launched simultaneously for the first time.
With a renewed focus on innovation and continuous growth, the new and improved Xiaomi is confidently moving forward on a path of constant evolution.
©️ Keji Hui | Zhang Zipeng, newsmedia007
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