iPhone Air vs Xiaomi 14T Pro: A Deep Dive into Apple's Newest and Xiaomi's Powerhouse

Apple's iPhone Air aims to deliver a premium experience in a more accessible package, while the Xiaomi 14T Pro aggressively targets the high-end market with cutting-edge charging and a powerful chipset. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, focusing on where each excels and who will benefit most from their respective strengths.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and ecosystem integration, the iPhone Air is the better choice. However, the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s significantly faster 120W charging and brighter display make it a compelling option for power users who demand speed and visual clarity.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone Air Xiaomi 14T Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A35171, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A35171, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, September 092024, September 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, September 19Available. Released 2024, September 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), titanium frame (grade 5), glass back (Ceramic Shield)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Panda X)
Dimensions156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm (6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in)160.4 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMeSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight165 g (5.82 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
ProtectionCeramic Shield 2, Mohs level 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1260 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 4000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.X GHz)Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)
ChipsetApple A19 Pro (3 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (5-core graphics)Immortalis-G720 MC12
OSiOS 26, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Leica lens, Ultra HDR, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 60mm (telephoto), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF, 2.6x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.8K@24/30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, 10-bit Rec. 2020, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec.HDR
Single18 MP multi-aspect, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.44", 0.64µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE, LHDC
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 20 wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W - China) 4.5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 45 min
TypeLi-Ion 3149 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky BlueTitan Gray, Titan Blue, Titan Black
ModelsiPhone18,4, A3517, A3260, A3518, A35162407FPN8EG
Price€ 948.99 / $ 949.99 / £ 899.10$ 550.00 / £ 498.00 / € 539.99
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.49 W/kg (head)     1.49 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery40:00h endurance, 1000 cycles-
EnergyClass A-
Free fallClass B (180 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Apple iPhone Air

  • Superior ecosystem integration with Apple devices
  • Likely longer software support and updates
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 3nm chip

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 14T Pro
  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Potentially higher price

Xiaomi 14T Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • More flexible Android operating system

  • Potentially shorter software support lifespan
  • 4nm chip may run hotter under sustained load
  • Ecosystem lock-in is less seamless

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured 1228 nits compared to the iPhone Air’s 998 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ high-refresh-rate panels (implied by the competitive positioning), the data doesn’t specify. The iPhone Air’s display benefits from Apple’s color calibration expertise, but the Xiaomi’s higher peak brightness is a significant advantage for outdoor use. The absence of LTPO specification for either device means we can't assess adaptive refresh rate efficiency.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t detail camera specifications beyond the processors. Given the market positioning, we can expect both phones to feature multi-camera systems. However, without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, a direct comparison is impossible. Apple typically prioritizes computational photography and natural-looking images, while Xiaomi often leans towards vibrant, saturated colors. The absence of any mention of telephoto lenses suggests neither phone prioritizes optical zoom.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Apple’s 3nm A19 Pro versus MediaTek’s 4nm Dimensity 9300+. While the A19 Pro’s hexa-core configuration (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) suggests a focus on peak performance, the Dimensity 9300+’s octa-core setup (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) offers a broader range of processing power. The 4nm process of the Dimensity 9300+ should offer good efficiency, but the A19 Pro’s 3nm node likely provides a further edge in thermal management and power consumption. The iPhone Air’s LPDDR5X RAM (implied) will contribute to fast app loading and multitasking.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve similar active use scores (iPhone Air: 12:44h, Xiaomi 14T Pro: 12:32h), indicating comparable real-world battery life despite the lack of mAh specifications. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Xiaomi 14T Pro’s 120W wired charging (PD3.0, QC4) can fully charge the device in just 19 minutes, while the iPhone Air’s 50W wired charging (PD2.0) takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. Wireless charging also favors the Xiaomi with 50W (100% in 45 min) versus the iPhone Air’s 15W MagSafe/Qi2 (50% in 30 min). The iPhone Air offers 4.5W reverse wired charging, a niche feature absent on the Xiaomi.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone Air if you need seamless integration with other Apple devices, prioritize long-term software updates, and value a refined user experience. Buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro if you prefer blazing-fast charging, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the flexibility of the Android operating system, all at a potentially lower price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ in the Xiaomi 14T Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 9300+ is a powerful chipset, its 4nm process may lead to more heat generation compared to the iPhone Air’s 3nm A19 Pro. Sustained, demanding tasks like gaming could potentially result in some throttling, though Xiaomi likely employs cooling solutions to mitigate this. Real-world testing is needed to quantify the extent of any throttling.
❓ How does MagSafe compare to the 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14T Pro in terms of convenience and speed?
MagSafe offers a convenient magnetic attachment for wireless charging and accessory compatibility, but its 15W charging speed is significantly slower than the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s 50W wireless charging. The Xiaomi 14T Pro will fully charge wirelessly in 45 minutes, while the iPhone Air takes 30 minutes to reach only 50%.
❓ What are the implications of the hexa-core CPU in the iPhone Air compared to the octa-core CPU in the Xiaomi 14T Pro?
The core count isn't the sole determinant of performance. Apple’s A19 Pro likely utilizes a more efficient and powerful architecture within its hexa-core configuration. The Dimensity 9300+'s octa-core setup may excel in multi-threaded tasks, but the A19 Pro’s 3nm process and Apple’s chip design expertise could provide an overall performance advantage in many scenarios.