The Note series of Redmi always jogs the nostalgia. We have seen how the brand met the demands of Indian customers in the past. Fast forwarding to the present, we are now on the 14th series of the Redmi. Featuring today is the top variant of the Note 14 5G series, i.e., Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. Starting at ₹30,999, the new Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G offers a new look compared to its predecessor and features a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile platform, 3D curved AMOLED display, and a 6,200 mAh battery.
Design
Redmi has clearly paid attention to detail in the design of the Note 14 Pro+ 5G. The Phantom Purple variant I reviewed is particularly striking, thanks to its vegan leather back, which not only looks elegant but also feels incredibly comfortable to hold. Redmi has also retained the familiar curved edges, ensuring a premium and ergonomic feel in hand.
The rear camera module now sits within a single housing, encircled by a metallic ring, adding a touch of sophistication to the device. It’s a noticeable upgrade over its predecessor and gives the phone a more premium aesthetic.
In terms of durability, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass 7i on the back. Additionally, it comes with an IP68 rating, offering dust and water resistance, which is a welcome addition to this segment. For biometrics, the phone features an in-display fingerprint scanner that is both fast and reliable. Ports and buttons remain standard, with a USB Type-C port, dual SIM slots, and an IR blaster.
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Display
The new Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G features a 6.67-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (2712 x 1220) and a 446 ppi density, ensuring sharp visuals and vibrant colours. The panel supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations smooth and fluid, while gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the up to 480 Hz touch sampling rate for enhanced responsiveness. The display boasts a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which allows clear visibility even under direct sunlight. The panel also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, offering an immersive viewing experience, especially when watching HDR content on platforms like Netflix or YouTube.
OS and AI Features
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G runs on Android 14 with Xiaomi’s latest HyperOS skin on top. The new interface feels clean, modern, and optimised for smooth performance. HyperOS retains the customisation options Xiaomi users love, with themes, gestures, and multitasking features. While it does include some pre-installed apps, most can be uninstalled.
Redmi has also included several AI features, such as AI Erase Pro for removing unwanted objects in photos and AI Image Scaling for enhancing images.
Processor
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile platform, a 4nm chipset designed for balanced performance and efficiency. The architecture includes a mix of 1x Cortex-A720 core at 2.5GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4GHz, and 4x Cortex-A520 cores at 1.8GHz, paired with an Adreno GPU. The processor is supported by 12 GB RAM size to take on every task smoothly. For internal storage, there is 512 GB available on the phone. Do note that there are other RAM/ROM configurations too.
While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a capable performer, it feels slightly late to the scene, as I’ve seen a similar, more capable processor, Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset on competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 Pro and Nord CE 4, selling around the same price. Nevertheless, the phone handles everyday tasks like multitasking, streaming, and social media browsing effortlessly. Gaming performance is also commendable, with titles like Genshin Impact, COD, and PokemonGo running smoothly at medium to high settings. The 5000mm² vapour chamber ensures thermal management, keeping temperatures in check during prolonged gaming sessions.
In the Geekbench test , the phone clocked single-core score of 1164 and multi-core score reached 3209. Additionally, the GPU score recorded 3319, which is close to what we saw in the Nord CE 4 and Motorola Edge 50 Pro. Furthermore, Redmi’s decision to opt for UFS 2.2 storage instead of faster UFS 3.1 feels like a step back, particularly in this price range.
Camera
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ features a versatile triple-camera setup on the back. There is a 50 MP primary sensor (Light Fusion 800) with f/1.6 aperture, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom, and an 8 MP ultra-wide lens. In daylight, the 50 MP primary sensor delivers sharp, detailed images with excellent dynamic range and accurate colours. The large aperture allows ample light, resulting in crisp and vibrant photos. Portrait shots benefit from natural subject separation and background blur, making them look professional.
Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan
In low-light conditions, the rear camera setup performs considerably well, especially with Night Mode enabled. The software boosts exposure and sharpness while reducing noise, delivering clear and detailed photos with vibrant colours. Some manual adjustments can further enhance the results, making night photography enjoyable.
Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan
The telephoto lens adds versatility to the setup, performing admirably at 2x and 2.5x optical zoom. Images retain good detail, and the colours remain consistent with the primary sensor. However, performance takes a slight dip in low-light conditions. The 8MP ultra-wide lens does a decent job of capturing expansive landscapes. While the detail isn’t as sharp as the primary sensor, the results are usable in daylight.
The 20 MP front-facing camera produces clear and vibrant selfies in good lighting. Portrait selfies feature accurate edge detection, though skin softening persists even with beauty mode turned off. Low-light selfies show reduced detail but remain usable.
Battery
Battery life is where the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G shines. The device houses a massive 6,200 mAh battery with support for 90 W HyperCharge. In our testing, the phone comfortably lasted two days with moderate usage, including browsing, streaming, and camera use. Even with intensive gaming or video recording, it easily lasted a full day. The 90 W charger that’s included can juice up the device to 50% in under 25 minutes and fully charge it within an hour.
Verdict
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G ticks most of the right boxes for a mid-range flagship while smartly trying to adjust itself in the premium segment. It offers a good display, a premium design, reliable cameras, and exceptional battery life. While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor delivers solid performance, the inclusion of UFS 2.2 storage put it slightly behind its competitors. Overall, if you’re looking for a stylish phone with ample power, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ makes for a compelling option in its price range. However, at the cusp of premium segment, it has to compete with OnePlus Nord 4 amd Realme GT 6T.
Published – December 17, 2024 01:55 pm IST
