Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ review: It’s all about performance and features

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

Xiaomi Redmi Note series phones have always had takers no matter which version of the phone is on sale. The Note lineup from the company has always managed to attract buyers by offering the best possible value for money proposition be it in terms of features, performance, camera or simply overall as a smartphone.

However, before 2024 ends, Xiaomi decided to drop the latest iteration of Redmi Note 14 phones which, by the way, includes three models – Note 14, Note 14 Pro and the one we have here with us – the Note 14 Pro+. The phone is priced at Rs 30,999 upfront without any exchange or additional discount offers which brings it directly to the mid-range segment.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

Is it a real deal and has Xiaomi managed to repeat the core formula of offering more for the buck? Or, does the phone feel lacking at this price point?

I have been using the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ for a while now as my go-to smartphone and here are my final thoughts on it.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ design and display
When it comes to design, there are a lot of changes and in the right direction. Starting with the upfront look and feel, it is certainly premium. The most premium Redmi Note phone we’ve seen ever with all the curved front display and back paired with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It is also surprising to see Victus 2 at this price point. Not only that, this is the one phone in this segment to offer this. Moving on, the phone also has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating for added durability.

I am happy to see that Xiaomi has already put enough into the design and durability of the phone to make it last for at least a couple of years. There’s software support too for those couple of years, I’ll get to that later.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

Before that, the phone’s back is smooth finished glass with a sort of curved square housing that mimics the “Mi” logo. Looks cool, stylish and fresh too. Slim glossy side rails make the phone look slimmer and the hand-feel is also good enough. The best part is despite that curved front and back, the phone does not feel slippery. The weight distribution is on point and does not feel top-heavy.

Buttons are placed on the right. The power button is centred to make it easy to access and the volume rocker is placed just above that. Both offer good and satisfying clicks.

The bottom of the phone has the primary speaker, microphone, Type-C port, and SIM tray. The top has the secondary speaker, microphone and IR Blaster.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

The display of the phone is curved and has a 1.5K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2650Hz Instantaneous TSR, and 240Hz touch sampling rate. And, it measures 6.67-inch which is good enough for most needs. Being an AMOLED panel, the display is crisp and pleasant to use, The colours are vibrant and I have no complaints about the viewing angles or the overall brightness. I used the phone in almost every condition – under bright sunlight, indoors, at night and neither once did I feel uncomfortable in dim lighting conditions or under harsh bright light. It is a good display for day-to-day usage and consuming content.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ performance
As my daily driver, I used the phone for almost everything from calling, checking mail, office work, listening to music, watching movies, and social media scrolling and playing some games. Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a good and powerful chipset and there’s no doubt that the chip paired with 12GB of RAM can handle everything. The chip remains calm and composed even under heavy loads like playing games or editing 4K videos. Apart from that, with the phone’s 5000mm2 vapour chamber, the phone runs cool without any issues.

Although, under heavy load and frequent multitasking, it tends to get a little warm, let’s just say that it’s bearable does not bother much and affects user experience.

The phone delivers a seamless experience with minimal stuttering or lag during regular use. App launches and multitasking are smooth and comparable to other devices in its class. While there were rare slowdowns under extreme usage, these were manageable, considering the device’s price range.

In everyday scenarios, the phone proved reliable as a daily driver, handling all apps available on the Play Store efficiently, including demanding applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Rendering and editing tasks were completed swiftly, with the phone maintaining usability even while these resource-intensive apps ran in the background.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

For gaming enthusiasts, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor performs commendably, handling popular titles such as Genshin Impact, Shadow Fight 4: Arena, Call of Duty Mobile, BGMI, Asphalt 9, and more. Most games ran smoothly at high graphics settings, although Genshin Impact pushed the chipset at maximum settings. Switching to medium settings resolved any performance issues. The device’s thermal management is noteworthy, keeping temperatures in check even during extended gaming sessions, thanks to Xiaomi's efficient cooling system.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

Talking about the speakers, the phone has a dual speaker setup which delivers loud and clear output. However, the bass output could have been slightly better. Overall, the speakers are on point and there’s nothing much to complain about.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ camera
For the past several years, Xiaomi has been offering 200MP sensors in their Redmi Note Pro+ phones. However, things have changed this year and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G comes with a 50MP Light Fusion 800 sensor with 1/1.55-inch sensor size and large f/1.6 aperture. Then there’s another 50MP telephoto sensor with 2.5x optical zoom and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. The front of the phone has a 20MP selfie shooter.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus camera

Now, the move from 200MP to 50MP might look like a downgrade here, but it is an upgrade and a big upgrade over its predecessors. The 50MP Light Fusion 800 sensor is a flagship-grade offering and it delivers some impressive results. In my testing, the 50MP sensor does a good job in daylight conditions with full sharpness, details and dynamic range. Colours are also impressive and vivid. The phone does tend to make photos a little more vibrant than it is, but the result is good and pleasant.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

In low light conditions, thanks to the sensor size and wider aperture, the sensor manages to capture more light even in dimly lit conditions. The details in low-light situations remain intact and the photos do not appear soft. However, with night mode, I think the sharpness is a little aggressive here. That’s not a deal breaker because everything else is on point, the colours, details and even the photos look like it has been captured during nighttime.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

Coming to the telephoto sensor, the 50MP unit is good enough. Although there’s a little bit of difference in the colour temp and white balance between the primary and telephoto sensor, it is serviceable. The quality is adequate with good details, colours and vibrance. The sharpness levels are good too. The ultrawide sensor has a little bit of distortion though and the colour and details could have been better too.

The selfie shooter is good though and it captures good portrait and regular photos in both daylight and low light conditions.

Xiaomi’s HyperOS also comes with a streamlined camera app with a simple and clean interface. The options, toggles, etc are easy to access and use. Important menus and settings are right on the front for fast access. Moreover, the camera app boots up fast and is ready to shoot in a few settings.

Overall, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G has a versatile camera setup with some really good capabilities for photos and videos.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G battery

The battery on Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is another story altogether. The phone packs some serious battery tech. For instance, it comes with a solid electrolyte battery technology. It has a Voltage booster chip, low-temperature charging and an instant power-on feature. Safe charging control and the list is long. Let’s get to the point, the battery capacity is 6200mAh and that’s massive for a smartphone in this segment. The battery life is also impressive here with almost two days of worry-free usage under normal usage conditions. Push it hard with things like a camera, gaming, etc, you’ll still get almost one-and-a-half days of battery life.

Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review

The phone supports 90W HyperCharge technology and charges in under an hour from 0 to 100% which is impressive.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+: What we think

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, with a starting price of Rs 30,999, delivers impressive performance and boasts a standout 50MP primary camera that produces high-quality images, rivaling its competitors. The phone's attractive design, premium build, and durability further enhance its appeal. The much-improved HyperOS and solid battery life are additional advantages. Overall, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G exceeds expectations for a mid-range smartphone, making it a compelling choice for prospective buyers in this category.