REVIEW: Redmi Note 14 Pro+

The Redmi Note 14 series lands in Ireland on January 30th, bringing four models to Irish consumers. At the top of the line-up is the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, priced at €529. After using the phone extensively over a few weeks, here’s our honest take on whether it’s worth your money.

Design & Build Quality

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ sets a new benchmark for the Redmi Note series in terms of design and durability. With a curved display and back, complemented by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, the device feels premium.

It’s rare to find Victus 2 at this price point, making the phone stand out. Adding to its durability, the phone has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, a feature often reserved for more expensive devices.

The slim glossy side rails and the balanced weight distribution make it comfortable to hold, despite the curved design. The buttons on the right—a centred power button and a volume rocker just above—are easily accessible and provide satisfying tactile feedback.

At the bottom, you’ll find the primary speaker, microphone, Type-C port, and SIM tray, while the top houses the secondary speaker, microphone, and IR blaster.

We reviewed the “Lavender Purple” variant with a vegan leather back. This finish not only enhances grip but also adds to the phone’s premium appeal. Overall, the build quality showcases some confidence and suggests the phone will easily last a couple of years.

Display

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ features a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The display delivers vibrant colours and excellent viewing angles. It performs well in various lighting conditions, from bright sunlight to dimly lit environments, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience at all times.

Whether you’re scrolling through social media, watching videos, or gaming, the display is crisp and responsive. The combination of the high refresh rate and instantaneous touch response (2650Hz TSR) makes interactions smooth and engaging. For a mid-range device, the display quality is commendable.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and paired with 12GB of RAM, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ handles daily tasks with ease. From calls and emails to social media and gaming, the device delivers a smooth and lag-free experience. Even during demanding activities like 4K video editing or high-end gaming, the phone’s 5000mm² vapour chamber keeps it cool.

Gaming performance is impressive for its class. Titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run smoothly, though Genshin Impact can challenge the hardware at maximum settings. Lowering the graphics to medium resolves these issues without compromising the gaming experience.

While the phone remains mostly cool, extended heavy usage can make it slightly warm. However, it’s never uncomfortable and doesn’t detract from the overall experience. The dual speakers deliver loud and clear audio, although the bass could be better.

Cameras

When it comes to photography, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+’s primary 200 MP, f/1.7 sensor produces sharp, detailed, and vibrant photos in daylight. In low light, the sensor captures plenty of detail and light, although the night mode can sometimes over-sharpen images.

The 8MP ultrawide sensor is serviceable but suffers from some distortion and less vibrant colours. We also miss the inclusion of any sort of dedicated telephoto lens but the 200MP of the main sensor allows for respectable sensor cropped shots, resulting in 2x and 4x optical-grade lossless zoom capabilities.

The 20MP front camera captures excellent selfies in both daylight and low light. Xiaomi’s streamlined camera app makes it easy to switch between modes and settings, ensuring a user-friendly experience. Overall, the camera setup is versatile and performs well across various scenarios.

As to be expected, Xiaomi has included AI editing capabilities in the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ with users able to use features such as ‘AI Image Expansion’, which lets you extend the background of your photos and ‘AI Erase Pro’, which enables easy removal of unwanted objects, much like Google’s Magic Eraser feature on their Pixel devices. Both these features work pretty well in practice and its great to see them available at the midrange price point.

Battery Life

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ features a 5110mAh battery in its EU variant, a fair bit smaller than the 6200mAh version sold elsewhere. Despite this, the battery life is solid, easily lasting a full day under normal usage. Heavy users might need a quick top-up towards the evening, but the phone’s 120W HyperCharge technology ensures you won’t be waiting long.

Unfortunately, the 120W charger is sold separately, which is a minor inconvenience. However, the battery’s advanced features, like low-temperature charging and instant power-on, add to its appeal.

Conclusion

At €529, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ delivers excellent value for money. Its premium design, durable build, vibrant display, solid performance, and versatile cameras make it a strong contender in the mid-range segment. While the slightly smaller battery and the absence of a bundled 120W charger are minor drawbacks, they don’t overshadow the phone’s overall strengths.

If you’re looking for a feature-packed smartphone that offers flagship-like performance without breaking the bank, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is a worthy choice.

Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Pricing & Availability

Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G will be available in Ireland starting 30 January 2025 with an RRP of €529. You can find these models through Xiaomi’s authorised retailers, including Tesco, Vodafone, Harvey Norman, and Eir.

At this price point, you get 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory and the device will be available in its Midnight Black colour variant.