In brief
- Xiaomi 14 – 3.9x periscope, 90mm equivalent
- Xiaomi 14 Pro – 5x periscope, 115mm equivalent
- 4K video recording on the front camera.
- Even closure macro shots on the pro variant (anticipated)
The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro both offer really great cameras. The highlight of last year’s Pro variant was the 3.2X telephoto module that can change the focus within a range of 10cm to infinity.
The successor Xiaomi 14 Pro (coming later this year) has some noteworthy upgrades over its predecessor. It is reported to take the zooming capabilities of last year’s pro offering to the next level by featuring a 5X periscope telephoto module. The base Xiaomi 14 will also reportedly feature a 3.9X periscope telephoto camera, as reported by @DCS on Weibo.
Leaker SPinfoJP, who revealed almost accurate renders of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, has now shared renderings of the upcoming Xiaomi 14 Pro, which indeed indicate the presence of a periscope module.
The standard Xiaomi 14’s 3.9X telephoto camera’s focal length is equivalent to 90mm on a full frame camera and the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 5X telephoto camera’s is the equivalent of 115 mm.
Why is a periscope module necessary here?
As the zoom level increases, so does the distance between the lens and the sensor, which is scarce (phone is only 7-9mm thick). The periscope mechanism enables longer optical zooms by providing room for the longer focal length.
Usually, only the ‘ultra’ or top models feature periscope modules, for example, the S23 Ultra or the Pixel 7 Pro. It’s interesting to see that Xiaomi is not reserving all the sophisticated technologies for the top models.
Other camera headlines of the Xiaomi 14 & 14 Pro
The Xiaomi 14 series is apparently going to support 4K video recording on the front camera. For those who aren’t familiar, this is a much-awaited feature for Xiaomi devices as front video recording is usually limited to 1080p on most handsets.
Finally, there seems to be a glimpse of light in this regard.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s telephoto module has a floating lens mechanism for focus adjustments, which relies on physical movement. The use of a periscope module also gives the lens assembly more room for movement, which may help it capture even closer macro shots with the telephoto lens.
