The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has the best camera package of any phone today; The quartet of 50-megapixel cameras on the back take great photos and videos in any situation. The Xiaomi 14 isn’t far behind either and has a smaller form factor, which is ideal if you need a compact device.
The Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra are now available worldwide and it looks like both devices have problems with condensation entering the camera body, fogging up the lenses and making it difficult to take photos or videos. There are several threads on Reddit detailing the issue, and the Amazon UK listing of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is littered with customers experiencing the same issue.
This doesn’t seem to be an isolated case either, as there were similar problems with last year’s Xiaomi 13T Pro. This issue does not occur on my Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra and I have used both devices extensively. It looks like the issue is mostly felt in European markets, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting other regions as much. That is understandable; In situations with rapid temperature differences, condensation can form, so users in colder countries are more likely to be affected.
However, it shouldn’t happen on $1,000 phones; Both the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra have an IP68 rating and should therefore have seals to prevent water from entering parts of the phone. What makes this situation annoying is that Xiaomi apparently doesn’t think there is a lens condensation issue on its flagship devices, pointing out that it is not a “product quality issue,” but a “natural phenomenon”.
In a statement to Android Central, Xiaomi said:
“The Xiaomi 14 series is tested in our laboratories for protection against dust ingress and splash water.”
“We assure that this is not a product quality issue. Instead, it is a natural phenomenon that the camera lens fogs up due to temperature differences between the lens and the surrounding air in a certain user environment, temperature change from high to low temperature, prolonged exposure to high temperatures and high humidity, or water damage.
“If the lens fogs up, we recommend that you store your device in a dry place with air circulation to evacuate the moisture.”
Xiaomi’s solution of using the device in a dry area does nothing; I got a broken OnePlus Nord 2 that had a similar problem with the inside of the camera lens fogging up, and no matter what I did, it came back after a few days. The only thing that worked was purchasing a new unit.
If you bought a Xiaomi 14 or 14 Ultra where the lens is condensing and you want to request a refund due to lens fogging, there’s a good chance it won’t work – Xiaomi needs to first acknowledge that it’s a problem acts. But if you are able, you should give the device away and get another device.