Xiaomi 14 Ultra: The Resurrection of the Dream Camera Phone from 2014

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has been hailed as the best camera phone ever used, and its roots may trace back to a phone that made its debut almost a decade ago. In 2014, the Panasonic CM1 was the epitome of smartphone photography, featuring a 1-inch type sensor that outperformed the minuscule sensors of other phones at the time. Its Leica lens captured images that no other camera phone could match, making it a compact camera and a phone in one.

The Panasonic CM1 was, in many ways, a dream phone, offering a camera good enough to replace a dedicated camera in a bag. Despite its outdated technology, limited raw support, and software, the phone's camera was a game-changer. Unfortunately, the phone didn't last long, leaving many enthusiasts disappointed.

However, Xiaomi seems to have picked up where Panasonic left off, giving the excellent CM1 a 2024 makeover. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra shares many similarities with the CM1, including a massive 1-inch type image sensor, Leica-engineered optics, variable apertures, and physical camera buttons (with the Xiaomi's camera grip).

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The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, when wearing its photography case, even resembles the CM1, with textured black backs, silver rails on the top and bottom, and a big central circle where the camera units sit. These similarities suggest that Xiaomi looked to the long-obsolete phone and thought, "Hey, let's bring it back!"

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is every bit as exciting as a camera phone as the CM1 was in 2014. The wider technology has caught up, making it a much better experience overall. The Xiaomi's modern processor makes operating the phone a breeze, and the 6.73-inch display is gargantuan compared to the CM1's 4.7-inch screen.

Moreover, DNG raw support is now standard across the industry, allowing users to process raw files from the phone in a variety of Android apps. This was not the case when the CM1 was released, as there were almost no Android apps that supported raw images, making shooting, processing, and sharing shots frustratingly complicated.

Also Read: Enhancing Battery Longevity: A Deep Dive into Xiaomi's HyperOS Night Charge Protection

In many ways, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the spiritual successor to the Panasonic CM1, picking up where it left off in a time where its technology and features can be fully utilized. All it took was a decade of waiting for the dream camera phone to become a reality.

What are your thoughts on the evolution of camera phone technology over the past decade, and how does the Xiaomi 14 Ultra compare to your ideal camera phone?