Buzz
The traditional essence of the Redmi Note series is likely something Xiaomi aims to preserve indefinitely.
As someone who has tested hundreds of mobile devices over the years, I approached the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G with the expectation that it would uphold the core value of the Redmi Note line: delivering exceptional performance at an affordable price. After a week of use, I found that this phone not only met expectations but also offered a few delightful surprises.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is this year's mid-range model in the Redmi Note series
Refreshed Yet Familiar Design
While the previous Redmi Note 13 featured a boxy frame, this year's Pro models reintroduce curved edges, a design choice Xiaomi has revisited. Both the Redmi Note 14 Pro and Pro+ share nearly identical aesthetics, making it hard to distinguish between them. It's not uncommon for smartphone manufacturers to alternate between flat and curved designs, especially given the pressure to innovate with each new generation.
Compared to its predecessor, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G (left) boasts a dramatically different design
Fundamentally, each design style has its own unique beauty depending on individual aesthetic preferences. When holding the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the modern designs of the Bauhaus style: minimalist yet focused on functionality, in this case, the ergonomic grip.
The design of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G emphasizes excellent handling, with both the front and back featuring curved edges
In terms of specifications, the front of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the back offers two options: frosted glass or eco-leather. The unit I have for this review is the Purple variant with an eco-leather back, providing an incredibly comfortable grip, a secure feel, and resistance to sweat or fingerprints. Of course, those who want extra protection should still use a case. The phone comes with a black silicone case included.
The unit in this review is the Purple variant with an eco-leather back, while the other two color options feature a frosted glass finish
The high-quality finishing details are clearly visible on the Purple variant with its eco-leather back
While the grip feels great, the plastic frame designed to mimic metal still leaves me wanting a bit more premium feel. However, this is a mid-range smartphone with significant hardware investments, so this is understandable. The biggest plus is the IP68 dust and water resistance, a rare feature in this segment.
The plastic frame occasionally detracts from the premium feel of the device, though this isn't a major issue
Beautiful, Bright Display
The display has always been a standout feature of the Redmi Note series over the years. In the standard "national" version, I highly appreciate the display quality. Moving to the Pro model, the 6.67-inch AMOLED screen truly delivers an impressive visual experience. With a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, the colors are vibrant, sharp, and the viewing angles are wide. Xiaomi advertises a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, but in real-world usage, this figure reaches around 1,138 nits in auto mode (according to GSMArena's measurements). Nevertheless, I had no issues using this screen, even under direct sunlight.
The display is a strong point of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, as the panel is of exceptionally high quality
As mentioned, this year's model features a curved-edge display, a complete departure from the flat screen of last year's version
It still has the familiar "punch-hole" design with ultra-thin bezels on the sides
It's safe to say that the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is one of the few mid-range smartphones with a stunning display quality, almost on par with premium flagship devices
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, gaming, and video playback. However, the lack of an adaptive refresh rate means you'll need to manually adjust it to save battery.
The user experience on this display, combined with powerful hardware, is exceptionally smooth
Of course, the optical fingerprint sensor under the display is also worth mentioning
In recent years, Xiaomi has continuously refined its Redmi Note lineup, which is understandable in a highly competitive tech world
Outstanding Performance in Its Segment
It's no coincidence that Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has been dubbed the "national smartphone," beloved by Vietnamese users for many years. Beyond its polished user experience, the traditional value of this series lies in its exceptional performance, a factor Xiaomi has preserved across generations and never intends to change. This strategy has helped Xiaomi earn the trust of Vietnamese users over the years.
Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G handles everyday tasks seamlessly. I used demanding apps like Lightroom and tested Genshin Impact at medium graphics and Mobile Legends at the highest settings, and the device remained stable without overheating. The AnTuTu benchmark score reached around 669,000 points, rivaling many higher-end devices in the same price range.
Performance continues to be a major highlight of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G. The device features the Dimensity 7300-Ultra chipset, delivering exceptional power for its price range
Within the price range of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, two strong competitors recently launched are the OPPO Reno13 F and the Honor X9c, both of which offer 15 to 20% lower performance compared to the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G. Clearly, Xiaomi continues to uphold its tradition of delivering affordable smartphones with the strongest performance in their segment, a standout feature of the Redmi Note series that Mi Fans deeply appreciate.
Here are the performance benchmarks of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, which are approximately 15-20% higher than most smartphones in the same segment, such as the Honor X9c or OPPO Reno13 F
Additionally, the device's thermal management is excellent. Even after an hour of continuous gaming, the phone only warms slightly at the top, remaining comfortable to hold.
Gaming on the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is incredibly smooth. I tested several demanding and popular titles, and none of them posed a challenge for this device when optimized correctly
I will provide a detailed performance review of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G in the near future.
The 200MP Camera is a Highlight
This year, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G continues to feature the 200MP ultra-high-resolution camera system. The device is equipped with three main cameras: a wide-angle camera using Samsung's 200MP sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera. Additionally, on the front, there's a 20MP selfie camera located in the punch-hole area.
The camera system of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is a continuation of its predecessor. The device features three main cameras, with the highlight being the wide-angle camera boasting a resolution of up to 200MP
The main camera is arguably the standout feature of this setup. In well-lit conditions, the photos captured are highly detailed with accurate colors. The 200MP mode, while producing large file sizes, only truly shines when zooming in on fine details. In low-light conditions, the Night Mode performs effectively, reducing noise and reproducing light quite well.
Some photos taken in well-lit conditions by the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G
The image demonstrates the incredible detail of the 200MP shot (left) compared to the 12MP shot (right). However, the 200MP photo comes with a hefty file size of 60-80MB per image
Here are photos taken in low-light conditions. Thanks to the relatively large aperture, the quality remains decent when shooting at 1X. However, switching to the ultra-wide angle results in a noticeable drop in quality
The ultra-wide and macro cameras, on the other hand, leave less of an impression. Ultra-wide shots tend to distort at the edges, and the details aren't as sharp. The 2MP macro camera feels more like an afterthought. Overall, the camera quality on the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is commendable, as few smartphones in this segment can match the photo quality of flagship devices.
Portrait shots from the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G under different lighting conditions: Photos taken in 2X mode show less detail, and the white balance isn't particularly impressive. However, the portrait mode does a good job of background separation
The camera app on the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G also comes with a variety of color filters, among which I particularly like the Negative and KC64 filters, which produce nostalgic, vintage-style photos that can be shared on social media instantly without further editing.
The color filters on the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G are great for quick snaps, as they produce quite appealing photos
Here are original photos taken with the pre-applied color filters
Battery and Fast Charging
The 5,110mAh battery capacity of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G remains largely unchanged compared to the 5,100mAh battery in its predecessor. In real-world usage, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G provides enough battery life to last a full day, even with continuous gaming or movie-watching. For basic tasks like calling, messaging, and light web browsing, the device can last up to three days on a single charge, thanks to Xiaomi's highly optimized HyperOS, which focuses on essential features without unnecessary bloat.
The battery capacity of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G hasn't changed much from its predecessor, so the battery life remains nearly the same. Users can expect up to three days of usage with basic tasks
One minor drawback of the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G compared to its predecessor is the reduction in fast charging from 67W to 45W. While the reason for this reduction is unclear, the 45W charging is still sufficient for most scenarios. With the 67W charger on the Redmi Note 13 Pro, the device could fully charge in about 50 minutes, whereas the 45W charger on the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes for a full charge. In practice, this difference is negligible, as 45W charging is still very fast for most users. A bonus is that Xiaomi includes the fast charger in the box, unlike some other brands that require separate purchases.
It's unclear why Xiaomi reduced the charger from 67W to 45W on this year's Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G. However, the difference in full charging time is only about 15-20 minutes, which isn't significant
Circle to Search - A Feature I Use Daily
Circle to Search is an intelligent search feature integrated by Xiaomi into some of its recent smartphones, allowing users to quickly find information from any on-screen content. By simply circling an image, text, or object, the device automatically analyzes and provides relevant search results through integration with Google Gemini. This feature is particularly useful for looking up products, locations, or detailed information instantly without manual input, offering a seamless and time-saving experience.
Circle to Search has become an indispensable daily feature for me over the past year due to its convenience
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is one of the most affordable smartphones equipped with Circle to Search, marking a significant step by Xiaomi in bringing advanced technology to the masses. Previously, this feature was only available on flagship devices like the Xiaomi 14T or similar models from Samsung and Google. By integrating Circle to Search into the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, Xiaomi has added value to its mid-range lineup and provided access to smart utilities that were once exclusive to high-end devices. This is one of the features I use most on a smartphone and is likely essential for anyone who frequently searches and works with data and information, especially for products.
Worth Buying If You Fit These User Profiles
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G isn't a perfect phone, but it strikes an excellent balance between design, performance, and value. Despite minor drawbacks like charging speed and secondary camera quality, this device remains one of the most compelling options in the mid-range segment this year.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is ideal if you fall into the following user categories:
- You're a Xiaomi fan (of course).
- You want a more premium version of the "national" smartphone Redmi Note 14 standard model but don't want to spend too much on the Pro+ 5G variant.
- You want to experience Circle to Search at the most affordable price point.
- You desire the best performance in the mid-range segment above 8 million VND.
If you're looking for a versatile, durable phone and are willing to overlook minor flaws, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is an ideal choice.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is a compelling option and a perfect fit for Vietnamese users during this year-end shopping season
In Vietnam, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is officially priced at 9.49 million VND. However, during major sale events on e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada, such as on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, or double-day sales, the price can drop to just over 8 million VND with platform discounts. This is an extremely attractive price for what the device offers, especially in terms of design, camera, performance, and battery life.
