Redmi Note 14 Pro Launched in India: Detailed Review of Features and Performance

Xiaomi has officially unveiled its Redmi Note 14 series in India, offering a range of smartphones to suit diverse budgets—from affordable models to more premium options. Among these, the Redmi Note 14 Pro stands out as a model designed to provide flagship-level capabilities without the hefty price tag. But how does it perform? Here’s an in-depth review of the Redmi Note 14 Pro.

Design and Build Quality

The Redmi Note 14 Pro features a modern, sleek design that combines style with practicality. It sports a two-tone vegan leather back panel, giving it a premium look and feel. The metal-like plastic frame encircles the device, offering a balance between durability and elegance.

Despite the phone's ergonomic shape, the texture of the rear panel might not fully eliminate slipperiness, though it does provide a firm grip. The rear camera setup is centrally aligned with a quad-camera bump that adds to the phone's aesthetic but may prevent it from lying completely flat on a surface. While the wobble is minimal, it is noticeable when the phone is placed on a table.

Display and Audio Experience

The Redmi Note 14 Pro features a dual-curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 1220x2712 pixels, delivering sharp and vibrant visuals. The display is designed with subtle curves to reduce accidental touches, making it easy to handle. Offering a 120Hz refresh rate, it ensures smooth transitions across apps and games. Additionally, Dolby Vision support enhances the viewing experience for compatible content on streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making it durable against scratches and drops.

The audio experience is equally impressive, with stereo speakers delivering rich sound. Though the volume levels are sufficient, there is a slight distortion at the highest settings. Dolby Atmos support further boosts the audio experience when used with compatible headphones, making it ideal for watching movies and listening to music.

Camera Performance

The camera system on the Redmi Note 14 Pro includes a 50MP Sony LYT 600 primary sensor, capturing crisp and vibrant photos in good lighting conditions. While the camera excels in daylight, low-light performance is somewhat lacking, with finer details lost in extremely dim environments. The Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) feature improves stability in both photos and videos, especially in moderate lighting.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera offers decent performance, but the image quality is average at best. The 2MP macro camera is also underwhelming, delivering basic results for close-up shots. The 20MP front camera, however, stands out by providing solid performance in most lighting scenarios, with front-facing portrait shots often more appealing than those from the rear cameras.

When it comes to video recording, the primary camera supports 4K video at 30 fps, while the ultra-wide camera is limited to 1080p. The front camera offers 1080p video recording at 60 fps but misses out on 4K capability.

Performance and Gaming

The Redmi Note 14 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset, ensuring solid performance for day-to-day tasks. Paired with 8GB of RAM, it handles multitasking with ease, although demanding tasks such as 4K video recording might cause performance to lag, especially when background apps are running. Gaming is enjoyable on medium settings, but higher resolutions or frame rates may occasionally result in stutters.

Software Experience

Running on Xiaomi's HyperOS, based on Android 14, the Redmi Note 14 Pro offers a customized software experience with several pre-installed third-party apps, though these can be uninstalled.

Some system apps, such as Music and GetApps, cannot be removed and frequently send notifications, which can be bothersome. The presence of ads in certain areas adds to the software's less-than-ideal user experience. Navigating for updates can be a bit tricky, requiring users to locate the HyperOS logo.

Basic AI tools are included, such as Erase for removing unwanted objects from images and Sky for altering sky colors. While these tools work for simple edits, they struggle with complex backgrounds, and the software lacks advanced AI utilities. However, future updates from Xiaomi may bring improvements in this area.

Battery Life and Charging

With a 5,500mAh battery, the Redmi Note 14 Pro can easily last through a full day of moderate usage. The device supports 45W fast charging, with the included charger capable of powering the phone to 80 per cent in around an hour, making it a convenient option