For better or worse, Xiaomi’s best-selling Redmi Note series continues to blur the lines between budget and mid-range market segments. And those lines are perhaps more blurred than they have ever been before with the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G.
This feature-rich, all-around performer, on paper, I found hard to fault; it packs a premium-feeling build, a decent camera system, a bright 6.67-inch display, and above-average performance and battery life, while keeping a fairly palatable P22,999 starting price for configurations with 12GB of RAM. It’s only when I started comparing it to similarly-specced competitors did I realize that it might be a tougher sell than it initially led me to believe.
Does that mean I don’t recommend the phone? No, I actually like the Note 14 Pro+; I just think there are a number of things you must consider before you decide to get one.
Chief of which perhaps is that Xiaomi has a more affordable version of the phone, and I’m not referring to any of its Note series stablemates. Instead, I’m referring to the recently announced Poco X7 Pro, a budget-friendly alternative that has the same size display, the same battery capacity, the same design language, retailing for a starting price of P17,999 for configurations with 12GB of RAM. That’s P5,000 less than the Note 14 Pro+.
But the Note 14 Pro+’s higher price tag does get you a higher-resolution main lens and faster charging. So I’ll be taking a closer look at these two to see if they’re worth the extra few thousand pesos.
Cameras
Let’s start with the cameras. The Note 14 Pro+ features a triple-rear camera setup, highlighted by a 200MP, f/1.65 main lens. Generally-speaking, this lens performs well in just about every environment, capturing plenty of detail with a wide dynamic range. Shots also come out looking crisp and sharp but not to the extent that it looks over-processed, which is good. Nighttime performance could be a tad better, though I was still able to get some decent shots in dark outdoor areas.
The X7 Pro, in contrast, only features a 50MP main lens, so you’re sure to get clearer and sharper shots with the Note 14 Pro+.
The two other lenses, however, aren’t as impressive as the main lens. The 8MP ultra-wide lens mostly underwhelms in terms of quality and color contrast, while the 2MP macro lens is too finicky to be useful.
I should also point out that this is the same camera setup Xiaomi has been using for a couple of generations now, and, apart from a few additional AI chops, the overall performance has been mostly the same. That means if you’re coming from the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or even the 12 Pro+, don’t expect significant improvements in the camera department.
Despite these issues, I still think the whole setup holds up rather well against most of the competition.
Battery, performance
For battery, the Note 14 Pro+’s 5,110mAh can easily last a full day of moderate to heavy usage, which is about par for the course for a mid-ranger. Meanwhile, the X7 Pro has a bigger 6,000mAH cell, which can last between 20 to 21 hours. While there are other factors that determine how long a phone can last on a single charge, it’s undeniable that having bigger battery capacity does help a lot. The Note 14 Pro+ does charge faster though, supporting up to 120W fast charging versus the X7 Pro’s 90W. You can get the battery up to about 65% from empty in about half an hour.
Design-wise, the Note 14 Pro+ opts for a familiar look, accentuated by a large camera array housing the three lenses and the dual-LED flash. I like the symmetrical arrangement of the lenses as well as its positioning in the top-center of the rear panel. I also like the soft curves on the edges, which lends to a comfortable grip. The rear panel is made of plastic material, but the build does feel sturdy and durable, which I love. It’s also nice that the display is now protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and the phone itself boasts IP68 water and dust resistance.
As far as performance is concerned, the Note 14 Pro+ should handle everyday tasks just fine. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset won’t blow your socks off, though it is a relatively capable mid-range chipset. I didn’t run into any issues running and switching between social media and streaming apps, but I did observe some slowdowns during gaming. Turning down the graphics settings did help, so you can try that if you run into the same issue.
I do want to mention, however, that Xiaomi’s HyperOS software remains a mixed bag. The Android reskin doesn’t feel as polished as others like it, plus it has plenty of ads and bloatware. What’s more, the Note 14 Pro+ ships with Android 14, not Android 15. These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers for me, but they do bring down the overall experience a bit.
All in all, I think the Note 14 Pro+ is another solid addition to Xiaomi’s ever-growing mid-range stable, packing everything you could possibly expect from a phone in this price segment. That said, when it comes to value for money, I think it could be better. Peso-for-peso, the X7 Pro, in my opinion, gives you more for what you’re paying for. Then again, if you want higher-resolution cameras, I’d lean more towards the Note 14 Pro+.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G series is available for pre-order in the Philippines from January 16 to 23, 2025 at a starting price of P17,999. – Rappler.com