Xiaomi‘s Redmi line has consistently delivered compelling value in the fiercely competitive smartphone market, and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G represents its most ambitious entry yet in the popular midrange segment.

With this top-shelf Plus variant, Redmi appears to be making a deliberate push towards flagship territory, equipping the device with an array of premium features typically found in more expensive phones. While a true flagship-grade chipset remains absent, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G promises ample processing power for demanding applications and games.

Priced from P20,999, or roughly $359, in the Philippines, this model faces high expectations. Can it live up to the hype and build upon the success of its predecessors, or does it fall short of its ambitions? Read our full review to find out.

@revuphilippines Who’s excited for the Philippine launch of the #RedmiNote14Series, which includes the model that we just unboxed here? We are! 🙋🏻 Stay tuned for the event livestream at 5 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 15, on Xiaomi’s online platforms! #RedmiNote14ProPlus5G #RedmiNote14ProPlus #Redmi #AllStarDurability #200MPAICamera #XiaomiPH #XiaomiPhilippines #RevuDotComDotPH www.revu.com.ph @Xiaomi Philippines @Xiaomi @monch @Alora Uy Guerrero ♬ original sound – Revu Philippines

Our Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G unboxing video

Evolved design with durability at its core

While retaining the familiar curves of its predecessor, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G introduces a notable visual departure with a redesigned camera array. Gone is the previous generation’s “floating” camera island, replaced by a more substantial, centrally positioned camera housing with rounded corners. This design choice not only lends a sense of visual balance but also ensures greater stability, preventing any rocking when the device is placed on a flat surface.

We like that Xiaomi has opted for a single piece of glass to cover the entire camera module this time around. This design element contributes to the phone’s sleek appearance and serves a practical purpose by minimizing the accumulation of dust and debris between the lenses — a common issue we have with smartphones with individual camera rings.

However, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G’s design is not merely about aesthetics; it prioritizes durability, too. Xiaomi’s going hard on durability with this one, describing it as “All-Star Durability,” because the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is apparently the toughest Redmi Note yet.

Collide with the world. 🌍

The #RedmiNote14Series is built for endurance with #AllStarDurability quality. Dare to go further. 💪

Learn more: https://t.co/TkvxY3uNYD pic.twitter.com/bfZd28Mg6R

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) January 13, 2025

Xiaomi showcases the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G’s ‘all-star durability’

The handset’s enhanced structural integrity is achieved through the integration of 17 custom components, strategically positioned to reinforce critical areas such as the USB-C port, display adhesive, physical buttons, battery cover, pressure relief valve, and the camera housing itself.

Adding to its exceptional build quality, the Pro Plus version incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front display — a first for the Redmi Note series — and Gorilla Glass 7i for the rear panel. This combination promises a significant improvement in both drop and scratch resistance compared to previous generations, with Gorilla Glass 7i offering up to a 100% increase in durability over Gorilla Glass 5. A wraparound reinforced design with multi-layer shock absorption further bolsters the device’s ability to withstand impacts.

Xiaomi emphasizes the rigorous quality-control measures employed during manufacturing, highlighting a series of 10 airtightness tests conducted at both the component and assembly stages. This meticulous approach ensures that each device meets stringent standards for water resistance.

Complementing these structural enhancements, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G also boasts an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, coupled with Xiaomi’s refined Wet Touch 2.0 technology for optimal touchscreen responsiveness even in wet conditions. All this to say that the model is a remarkably durable device, engineered to withstand the rigors of daily use without compromising on performance or camera capabilities.

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G keeps the proper stereo sound we’ve come to appreciate from the Note line, delivering a well-balanced audio experience that avoids the pitfalls of a hybrid setup. The primary speaker is located on the bottom edge, next to the USB-C port, while its counterpart resides on the top edge, accompanied by two additional microphones. And with Dolby Atmos enabled out of the box, you’ll get an extra layer of depth and richness, perfect for immersing yourself in movies or any content that supports spatial audio.

Curiously, while Xiaomi has retained the IR blaster — a feature often absent in competing devices — it has been relocated to the back of the phone. This means that instead of aiming the top edge of the device at your TV or air conditioner to control it, you’ll now need to point the entire rear panel. It’s an unusual design choice, to be sure, but we’re glad Xiaomi continues to offer this functionality for those who appreciate it.

There’s no headphone jack or microSD card slot for expandable storage on the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G. Not a huge surprise, considering the previous generation already ditched those legacy features. On a more positive note, this handset features an in-display fingerprint reader for secure and convenient unlocking. While the sensor itself performs well, its placement could be slightly higher on the display for easier access.

Brilliant curved OLED display

A major highlight is the display. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G boasts a stunning 6.67-inch OLED display with subtly curved edges that add a touch of elegance. This 120Hz panel boasts a sharp 1.5K resolution — that’s around 446 pixels per inch, if you do the math — delivering crisp visuals and smooth animations. Color reproduction is excellent, thanks to 12-bit color depth and full P3 coverage. And with Widevine L1 DRM support, you can enjoy FHD streaming with HDR10 and Dolby Vision on popular platforms like Netflix.

Xiaomi claims a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which, if true, would make this screen incredibly bright and easy to read outdoors. While we haven’t been able to confirm those numbers in our testing, outdoor visibility has been excellent so far.

The 120Hz refresh rate can be set to either 60Hz or 120Hz, or you can let the smartphone automatically switch between the two. As expected for this price point, there’s no adaptive refresh rate here, so you won’t get the granular refresh rate adjustments found on some higher-end devices. Still, the display smoothly handles high-refresh-rate gaming in most titles we tested.

One of the standout features of this panel is the new Original Color Pro setting. While it’s turned off by default, we highly recommend digging into the display settings and enabling it. This preset delivers noticeably more accurate and realistic colors, which is especially handy if you plan on doing any photo or video editing on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. Think of it as a professional mode for your phone’s screen. It’s a subtle difference, but it can make a noticeable impact.

Fast performance, even faster charging

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G marks a return to Qualcomm silicon, ditching last year’s MediaTek 7200-Ultra in favor of the new 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with Adreno 810 graphics. Qualcomm claims this new chip delivers a 20% boost in CPU performance, a 40% faster GPU, 30% better AI performance, and 12% overall power savings. Interestingly, Xiaomi has opted for slightly slower UFS 2.2 storage this time around, compared to the UFS 3.1 found in the previous generation — not that most users will feel the difference in everyday tasks.

In real-world use, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G feels snappy and responsive. Apps launch in a blink, multitasking is buttery smooth, and even demanding games run at respectable frame rates with medium to high settings. We threw everything from Genshin Impact to our current obsession, Torchlight Infinite, a free-to-play Diablo-ish action RPG, at our unit, and it handled it all without breaking a sweat. Even after extended gameplay sessions, Torchlight Infinite maintained a reasonably stable 60fps. This top-end variant is clearly no slouch when it comes to performance.

Battery life is solid, too, with the 5,110mAh silicon-carbon battery generally lasting a full day with heavy use. While we were hoping for a bit more longevity given the efficient 4nm chipset, the power-hungry 1.5K display likely takes its toll. The good news is that Xiaomi has made a promising claim about the battery’s long-term performance. The company guarantees at least 80% capacity even after 1,600 charge cycles. That translates to over four years of use before you’ll likely notice any significant degradation, which is reassuring for those who keep their phones for the long haul.

But the real headliner here is the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 5G’s insanely fast charging. Thanks to the included 120-watt GaN charger, this thing absolutely demolishes charging times. We clocked it at over 50% charge in just 10 minutes, and a full charge in a mere 27 minutes. Sure, those numbers might vary a bit depending on things like temperature and battery age, but this is still blazing fast for a smartphone in this price range. Xiaomi is seriously raising the bar by bringing flagship-level charging speeds to the sub-flagship category.

AI Subtitles is the real deal

Software-wise, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G runs HyperOS 1.02, which is based on Android 14. If you’ve used a Xiaomi phone before, you’ll find HyperOS instantly familiar. Think of it as MIUI’s slightly more polished cousin. It has the same DNA, but with some extra refinement and under-the-hood tweaks for a smoother experience.

While our unit shipped with HyperOS 1.02, we expect an over-the-air update to HyperOS 2 sometime soon, which should bring even more features and refinements.

Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show: AI. Xiaomi has gone all-in on artificial intelligence, packing the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G with a suite of AI-powered features.

You get Google Gemini integration, of course, but Xiaomi also throws in some other clever tools. There’s Circle to Search, which lets you select anything on your screen and instantly search for it online. AI Interpreter can translate languages in real-time, while AI Notes can transcribe your voice recordings and even summarize your notes. And if you’ve ever been photobombed, you’ll love AI Erase Pro, which promises to magically remove unwanted guests from your photos. It will be available via an OTA update later this month.

But our favorite AI feature by far has to be AI Subtitles. This tool works wonders with YouTube, generating surprisingly accurate captions that often put YouTube’s own automated captions to shame. It’s a game-changer for accessibility and for anyone who watches videos in noisy environments.

Familiar camera setup, better results

Xiaomi has been stepping up its camera game lately, and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is a testament to that effort, even though we’re basically staring at the same camera setup as last year’s model. The star of the show is undoubtedly the 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP3 sensor gracing the rear camera. This beast boasts optical image stabilization and sits behind a bright f/1.65 aperture lens. You also get an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel macro lens, though the latter feels a bit like an afterthought given the main sensor’s super-high resolution.

To squeeze every ounce of performance out of that 200-megapixel sensor, Xiaomi has introduced a new imaging engine, which leverages fancy algorithms and Smart-ISO technology to enhance image clarity, snapshot performance, and zoom capabilities. The result? Exceptional detail and dynamic range in daytime shots.

Xiaomi has also focused on speed and responsiveness. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G features pre-capture technology to virtually eliminate shutter lag, ensuring that what you see in the preview is what you get in the final image. Burst shooting is likewise impressive, capturing images at 30 frames per second with minimal noise.

The camera app itself is intuitive and packed with useful features. We appreciate the handy drop-down menu shortcuts and the ability to quickly access 2x and 4x lossless zoom or capture a full 200-megapixel image without diving into the settings menu.

Sample shots

Video recording tops out at 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. The absence of 8K and higher frame rate options is likely a limitation of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. However, the hardware-backed video stabilization is surprisingly effective. With Steady Video enabled, you can capture smooth, vlog-style footage even while walking and panning. And the main camera’s autofocus is quick and accurate, especially when it comes to locking onto faces.

Ultimately, the overall camera setup might feel a bit iterative, especially if you’re familiar with last year’s model. Still, the new imaging engine and software enhancements bring noticeable improvements to image quality, speed, and stabilization. If you’re looking for a phone that can capture great photos and videos without breaking the bank, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is certainly worth considering.

Final thoughts

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is a compelling package that builds upon its predecessor’s strengths while addressing some of its shortcomings. It boasts a refined design with a focus on durability, a vibrant curved display with a high refresh rate, a capable processor, insanely fast charging, and a robust suite of AI-powered features. While the camera system feels a bit iterative and battery life could be slightly better, the overall experience is impressive for a smartphone in this price range.

If you’re looking for a stylish and durable device that doesn’t skimp on performance or features, this model, priced from P20,999 ($359) in the Philippines, deserves a spot on your shortlist.

Availability and complete pricing of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G (and the non-Pro Plus variant)

Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G specs

• 6.67-inch curved AMOLED display, 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 3,000 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
• 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G chipset
• Adreno 810 GPU
• 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 256GB/512GB UFS 2.2
• Triple 200-megapixel main sensor with OIS, 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, 2-megapixel macro rear cameras
• 20-megapixel front camera
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• IP68 rating
• Dolby Atmos, dual speakers
• 5,110mAh battery with 120-watt fast charging
• HyperOS based on Android 14
• Color: Frost Blue, Midnight Blue, Lavender Purple

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