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Last year, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus became my indispensable daily driver, a testament to its compelling blend of power and photographic prowess. It was a smartphone that effortlessly handled everything I threw at it, from demanding applications to capturing life’s moments with impressive clarity.
Now, with the launch of the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, Xiaomi has refreshed the core, introducing a new SOC that promises enhanced performance. However, initial observations suggest the camera hardware might largely remain unchanged. This begs the crucial question: Is a new engine enough to propel the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G ahead, or has Redmi subtly refined other aspects of the user experience to solidify its mainstream appeal?
Overview: Design & Aesthetics of the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G
Build Quality & Visual Appeal
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G immediately stands out with its distinctive dual-tone casing design, a stylistic choice that harkens back to classic cameras with a sophisticated leather-like finishing. This retro-inspired aesthetic truly sets it apart in a sea of generic smartphone designs. We received the Frost Blue variant for our review, which, while officially dubbed “Frost Blue,” presents itself with a delightful minty-green hue to my eyes – a color that looks absolutely stunning in person.
Adding another layer of visual flair is the glossy ring encircling the camera module, an exquisite touch that elevates the phone’s premium feel. It’s almost a shame, then, that this attractive design element will largely be obscured by the bundled grey TPU casing, a necessary evil for protection. Beyond aesthetics, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G boasts an impressive IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind against everyday spills and splashes.
Display
Xiaomi has truly pulled out all the stops when it comes to the display on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. The curved screen, often a hallmark of more premium devices, adds an immediate touch of sophistication and enhances the immersive viewing experience. At its core is a generous 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display, boasting a sharp 1.5K resolution. For a fluid and responsive experience, the display offers a 120Hz refresh rate paired with an impressive 480Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring every swipe and tap is registered with precision.
But the brilliance doesn’t stop there. This panel can achieve an astonishing 3000 nits peak brightness, making outdoor visibility a non-issue even under harsh Malaysian sun. It fully supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for vibrant, true-to-life colors and incredible contrast, backed by a remarkable 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The display offers an astounding 20,000 levels of brightness adjustment, allowing for granular control over screen illumination. With 12-bit color depth and full utilization of the DCI-P3 color gamut, images and videos pop with incredible richness and accuracy.
Xiaomi has also prioritized eye comfort with the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. It includes a dedicated reading mode and features hardware-level blue light lowering, a significant upgrade over software-only solutions. The 1920Hz PWM dimming further reduces eye strain during low-light usage. This commitment to eye health is solidified by its certifications from TÜV Rheinland for Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution), Flicker Free, and Circadian Friendly. For protection, the display is fortified with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2, offering robust resistance against scratches and drops.
Audio
The audio experience on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is designed for immersion. It features stereo speakers strategically placed at the top and bottom of the phone. Their diagonal placement is particularly beneficial for creating a wide and engaging stereo soundstage, whether you’re gaming, watching movies, or simply enjoying your favourite tracks. Furthermore, the device supports Dolby Atmos, enhancing spatial audio and providing a more cinematic sound experience.
Others
In line with recent Xiaomi trends, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G integrates an IR blaster directly into the back, alongside the camera module. This increasingly common placement for Xiaomi smartphones allows users to control compatible home appliances directly from their device, transforming the phone into a universal remote. This is a small but incredibly convenient feature that many users will appreciate.
Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G Camera
For a comprehensive deep dive into the photographic prowess of the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, we’ve actually dedicated a separate, in-depth article. However, to summarize for the purposes of this review, the camera setup on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G remains largely identical to its predecessor, the acclaimed Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus.
This consistency means you can expect generally great results, on par with the strong performance we saw previously. From vibrant daytime shots to respectable low-light performance, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G delivers a consistent and reliable camera experience that holds its own in the competitive mainstream smartphone market. For all the granular details, including sample shots and specific performance breakdowns, make sure to check out our dedicated camera review!
Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G Performance
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is driven by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC. Our unit comes equipped with a substantial 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM, paired with 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, a configuration that promises robust multitasking and efficient data handling for the typical user.
Benchmark
In 3DMark, a popular graphics performance test, the results were as follows:
These scores indicate a solid mid-range performance, suggesting the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is well-equipped to handle demanding graphical tasks without necessarily pushing into flagship territory.
Gaming
However, benchmarks only tell part of the story; real-world gaming performance is where the phone truly shines and frankly, delivered a pleasant surprise. We threw some of the most graphically intensive mobile titles at it, and the results were consistently impressive:
- Diablo Immortal: Playing at its maximum graphical settings and a smooth 60 frames per second, the experience was remarkably fluid and enjoyable. There were no noticeable stutters or slowdowns, even during intense combat sequences.
- Genshin Impact: Known for pushing smartphone hardware to its limits, Genshin Impact also ran smoothly on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G with settings maxed out. Exploration and combat felt responsive, indicating good optimization between the SoC and the game.
- War Thunder Mobile: This title, with its demanding graphics and inclusion of ray tracing, was another major test. To our genuine surprise, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G handled it with ray tracing enabled and maxed-out settings, delivering a smooth, lag-free gaming experience.
It’s genuinely impressive to see a mainstream smartphone like the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G handle such graphically demanding games with ease. This level of gaming performance wasn’t what we typically expected from a device in this segment, making it a strong contender for mobile gamers who don’t want to break the bank for a flagship device. The Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3, combined with Xiaomi’s optimization, certainly delivers.
Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G User Experience
Beyond the raw specifications and impressive features, the true measure of any smartphone lies in its everyday user experience. The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G aims to deliver a seamless and enjoyable interaction, and largely succeeds.
From the moment you pick up the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, the premium feel of the dual-tone design and the subtly curved display contribute to a refined in-hand sensation. Despite its generous screen size, the phone feels well-balanced and comfortable for extended use. Navigating the interface is a breeze, with the 120Hz refresh rate ensuring buttery-smooth scrolling and transitions across apps, social media feeds, and web pages. This fluidity, combined with the incredibly responsive 480Hz touch sampling rate, makes every interaction feel instantaneous and precise – from typing messages to rapid-fire gaming inputs.
Daily Usability
Powered by the capable Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G proved adept at handling everything we threw its way during our daily testing. Whether it was rapid-fire messaging, endless YouTube binges, or intense gaming sessions, we encountered no noticeable delays or stutters.
The phone consistently delivered a smooth and responsive experience, effortlessly keeping up with a demanding workflow. Furthermore, the IP68 dust and water resistance provided immense peace of mind. Knowing the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G can withstand accidental splashes or even a quick dip (though we don’t recommend testing it unnecessarily!) instills greater confidence in its durability, even for those inevitable, erm, toilet visits.
Media Consumption
The vibrant CrystalRes AMOLED display is a constant delight, whether you’re catching up on Netflix shows during your commute through Sungai Buloh or simply Browse photos.
The phenomenal 3000 nits peak brightness means outdoor visibility, even under the harsh Malaysian sun, is never an issue. Colours pop, blacks are truly deep, and the overall visual fidelity makes everything look stunning. With HDR10+ support and Dolby Atmos audio, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G transforms into an incredibly enjoyable device for binging your favourite shows, offering a truly immersive audiovisual experience that punches above its weight class.
Gaming Experience
While the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3 capably handles demanding games (as detailed in our performance section), the overall gaming experience on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is elevated by more than just raw power. The fluid 120Hz refresh rate ensures on-screen action is incredibly smooth, minimizing motion blur and providing a competitive edge in fast-paced titles.
Complementing this is the ultra-responsive 480Hz touch sampling rate, which ensures your taps and swipes are registered almost instantaneously, making for an extremely enjoyable and precise gaming session.
Reading Mode
Xiaomi has also prioritized eye comfort with the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. The dedicated reading mode, with its hardware-level blue light lowering and 1920Hz PWM dimming, genuinely makes a difference. We spent considerable time reading various books on PlayBooks, and even after 10-15 minutes, we felt comfortable, without any signs of eye fatigue commonly associated with prolonged screen exposure.
This thoughtful feature solidifies its certifications from TÜV Rheinland for Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution), Flicker Free, and Circadian Friendly, making the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G a good companion for avid readers.
Battery Life
Rounding out the excellent user experience is the robust battery life of the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. In our PCMark battery life test, conducted at full screen brightness, the device impressively lasted for 13 hours and 11 minutes. This real-world result indicates that the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G can comfortably see you through a full day of heavy usage, and likely more with moderate use, significantly reducing battery anxiety for users on the go.
Conclusion: The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G – A Golden Standard in the Mid-Range
Throughout our rigorous testing, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G has not just met, but consistently exceeded our expectations for a mainstream smartphone. Building on the strong foundation of its predecessor, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G continues to impress. While the camera setup remains familiar, the new Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3 SoC elevates performance to a surprisingly competent level, easily handling even the most demanding mobile games with smooth, lag-free gameplay – a truly pleasant surprise for this segment.
The overall user experience is nothing short of fantastic. From the premium feel of its dual-tone design and the stunning, eye-friendly CrystalRes AMOLED display, to the immersive Dolby Atmos audio and reliable battery life that stretched to over 13 hours in our tests, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G consistently delivers. Every interaction is fluid, responsive, and genuinely enjoyable, making it a joy to use as a daily driver.
Priced at an incredibly competitive RM1699, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G offers an experience that feels significantly more premium than its cost suggests. It effortlessly punches above its weight, providing a flagship-tier feel without the flagship price tag. For its exceptional balance of performance, features, and an outstanding user experience at an unbeatable value, we at HelloExpress.net are delighted to award the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G our prestigious HelloExpress Gold Award. It’s a genuine champion in its class, and a smartphone we wholeheartedly recommend.
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