Redmi Note 14 5G: The Redmi Note series from Xiaomi has always been a popular choice for consumers who are in the market for an all-around smartphone that doesn’t break the bank.
With the Redmi Note 14 5G, the company once again is changing the game by introducing performance, stylish design and future-proofing, but the twist is the… price isn’t that much higher as you might think.
But how does the Redmi Note 14 5G fare in real-world usage? So let’s dissect its pros and cons and see if it’s just another rinse-and-repeat act, or if it’s going to have an impact.
Design and Build
At the first look the Redmi Note 14 5G has a mature and with it design. The back of the phone is glass (or glossy polycarbonate on some models) with a matte finish that’s good at keeping fingerprints at bay.
On the back, the cameras are placed in a clean rectangle island in terms of the design language.
It is rather slim and the form factor itself is quite ergonomic, despite it being a device that weighs approximately 190g. It’s a budget mid-ranger, but the build quality is good and the handset feels robust and solid.
It also receives IP53 rating for water resistance, which is a useful in a day-to-day sense.
Display & View Experience
One of the phone’s biggest features just so happens to be its 6.6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This translates to smoother scrolling and greater responsiveness in apps and gaming.
Colour is rich, blacks are black, brightness is good enough to be seen outside.
It even supports HDR for an improved media viewing experience, while widevine L1 certification means you can stream HD content on Netflix and other platforms.
The bezels are still there, especially on the chin, but the overall result remains immersive and pleasant.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Redmi Note 14 5G gets an Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ or Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, the variant is yet to be known and 6GB/8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 onboard storage.
As far as everyday performance goes— Facebooking while listening to music and streaming a video—it is responsive and smooth.
The phone handles casual gaming quite well and while it’s no powerhouse, gaming titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile run on medium settings with very little stutter.
The cooling is good and you won’t feel the phone to be unusually warm while using it.
Software-wise, the device boots MIUI 14 based on Android 14. Xiaomi also made bloatware less intrusive and the interface looks cleaner than before. On the other hand, some users may still find intermittent adverts in system apps to be annoying.
Camera Capabilities
The dual rear camera system includes a primary 50MP sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The main camera takes sharp and good-saturated photographs with nice dynamic range in daylight.
Portrait shots look good as well, then partly again also thanks to a more accurate edge detection.
Low-light quality is reasonable but nothing to write home about. Night Mode will get you by, although you can see some noise and softness. The 8MP front shooter is good for social media posts but struggles in low light.
Videos are capped at 1080p 30fps, par for the course for this class.
Battery and Charging
Redmi Note 14 5G is backed by a 5000mAh battery, which can keep the phone powered up for an entire day of medium to extensive usage. So whether you’re streaming or browsing, or gaming lightly, battery life won’t be an issue.
The phone is powered by a 33W fast charger, which charges from 0 to approximately 50 percent in about half an hour and takes little over an hour to be fully charged. It comes with a compatible fast charger in the box.
Pros:
Smooth 120Hz AMOLED display
Decent in performance, ready for 5G
Long-lasting 5000mAh battery
Fast 33W charging support
Higher quality of build and more modern design
Cons:
No ultra-wide or macro camera
Not much bloat, and sometimes MIUI apps ads
Average low light photography
No stereo speakers
Not IP68 water resistant.
Redmi Note 14 5G Final Verdict
Redmi Note 14 5G is well crafted smartphone which is meant to deliver the that really matters — performance, the display and the battery life, with a bit of style. This isn’t a major upgrade, but rather an incremental refinement that makes it a reliable daily driver.
If you’re in the market for a 5G phone that won’t break the bank, the Note 14 5G is great value for money.