Assessment of Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus: Five Favorable Aspects (Yet Two Concerns)
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus is a captivating device with a fresh chipset, enhanced display, enhanced cameras, and a larger battery. On paper, it seems like a promising upgraded package, but does it live up to expectations? Here are five aspects I appreciate (and two I don't) about the new Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus.
Attractive and High-Class Design
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus turns heads and is one of the most trendy devices in its class. The comfortable grip is thanks to the curved sides on the back. While the vegan leather variant gives a more refined feel than the glass-back models, all three versions maintain a high-end appearance. It feels more luxurious in hand than its price may suggest. Despite gaining 6g in weight, the phone feels solid and extravagant, not heavy.
Additionally, the redesigned camera module, positioned centrally on the upper side of the rear panel, appears cleaner and more luxurious. Moreover, the aluminum frame and the satisfying click of the volume buttons and power button contribute to the premium overall experience. The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus has IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust resistance and protection against submersion in freshwater and pressurized water, respectively.
Vivid and Spacious Display
The new Redmi model includes a 6.67-inch AMOLED display offering a 120Hz refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels at 446ppi. The display supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and is shielded by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The display is sharp and vivid, making it ideal for watching your favorite films. The audio from the stereo speakers is loud and clear. The screen is bright enough for clear visibility in outdoor settings. Overall, it's a fantastic gadget for content consumption.
All-Day Power Capacity
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus sports a 6,200mAh battery, significantly larger than the 5,000mAh battery in the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. This upgrade is great, given modern phones need more power due to added AI features. I appreciate the shift to carbon silicon battery technology.
My daily use included navigating WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, while also using Slack and Teams and taking a few photos. The phone effortlessly endured a full day. If battery life is essential for you, this phone is an excellent choice.
The phone supports 90W fast charging, allowing it to be charged from 15% to 100% in under an hour with the included charger. Supplementary features, like optimized charging and a charging limit, are included if you'd like to extend battery life.
Satisfactory Performance for Most Users
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC, with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, starting at 8GB/128GB. In regular operations, the phone runs smoothly, managing multitasking, browsing, and other light-duty tasks seamlessly. However, you might notice occasional hiccups when running demanding games.
This phone is not meant for hardcore gamers but offers sufficient performance for most users, including casual gamers. Also, Redmi has introduced new AI features like Live Interpreter and Circle to Search, which enhance the overall user experience.
Sufficient Cameras
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus features a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP telephoto lens at 2.5x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide-angle camera. Daylight photos are impressive, boasting good dynamic range, vibrant colors, and consistent color science across the three sensors.
The portrait photos look appealing, and the night mode captures lively images, suitable for social media sharing, but the low-light camera's performance isn't something to brag about.
Despite lacking 4K60 video recording, the stabilization is impressive, and the audio quality is good. Overall, the main camera delivers impressive results, with the other two sensors adding versatility.
The Two Drawbacks: Software Perspective
There are two aspects I dislike about the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus software. First, it comes with Android 14 out of the box, which isn't optimal for a phone released in December 2024.
While the company promises three major OS updates, this includes Android 15, resulting in only two more years of OS updates. You can anticipate receiving updates up to Android 17 (potential release in 2026) and four years of security patches.
Second, the phone comes bundled with many apps that bombard you with unwanted notifications. As a new user, it might be easy to distract yourself from turning off the notifications for each app, but it becomes tedious when they keep reappearing. The UI is smooth but could benefit from some improvement in terms of appearance.
Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus Review: Conclusion
Priced at INR 30,999, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus makes a strong impression as one of the most fashionable phones in its class.
It offers outstanding battery life and display capabilities, along with decent performance and excellent camera capabilities. However, you must take into account the software issues mentioned earlier, which might be a deal-breaker for some.
If you're searching for a device for content consumption, prioritizing battery life and grip, consider the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus is indeed a Xiaomi device, falling under their Redmi brand. Its attractive design, complete with a vegan leather variant and enhanced camera module, gives it a high-end feel. (Redmi, Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, Xiaomi)
In terms of software, it operates on Android, specifically Android 14 upon release, although updates to Android 15 and beyond are promised. (Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, Android)
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