Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G Unboxing, First impressions, and Camera Samples - Durability meets performance?
We received the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G—an improved and now "more durable" mid-range smartphone from Xiaomi.
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| The Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G |
To recap, Xiaomi boasts that the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G brings several upgrades in durability, processing performance, IP rating, and AI features if compared to the previous Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G.
It now offers plenty of premium to flagship-worthy features such as an IP68 dust and water-resistant body, a 6.67-inch curved Gorilla Glass Victus 2-protected 12-bit AMOLED 120Hz panel with 1.5K resolution, and retains the 200MP + 8MP + 2MP camera setup.
Inside, it has a faster 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra octa-core processor with sufficient 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB/512 UFS 2.2 internal storage, stereo speakers, and an IR Blaster remote control.
In the Philippines, the price starts at PHP 16,999 for 12GB/256GB and PHP 19,999 for 12GB/512GB model.
Now let's dive below to unbox the device.
Unboxing/Accessories
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| The box |
The experience is straightforward and similar to most of the smartphone packages today.
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| Inside the box |
Upon opening, you will see the secondary carton box containing the flexible case followed by the SIM ejector tool and the paper docs. Underneath, you will find the phone itself, the 45W power brick, and the USB-C data/charging cable.
By default, the handset has a screen protector on top.
Overall, while it is a nice package Xiaomi toned down the power brick to 45W vs the 67W of the predecessor. On paper, it's still fast but you'll definitely feel the difference in speed over the other.
Build Quality/Design
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| The back design |
At the back, you'll see a polycarbonate material with a shiny and smooth surface that is free from attracting fingerprint smudges.
The frame on the side uses high-strength aluminum material so it won't bend easily. Xiaomi also added polymer buffering material—an energy-absorbing foam to disperse impact forces ensuring a safe landing during accidental drops.
Xiaomi also reinforced the 4 corners of the phone and the inner core to bolster its overall structure and survive sudden impacts.
The key upgrade on the curved front panel is the inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 technology—a feature typically reserved for flagship models. This ensures the glass is highly resistant to scratches and significantly improves the display's durability against accidental drops.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 + IP68 water and dust resistance
Another significant upgrade is the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a major step up from the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G's IP54 rating. This means the device can withstand freshwater submersion up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes. Such a feature is typically reserved for premium high-end smartphones, so credit goes to Xiaomi for making this kind of protection accessible under PHP 20K.
For aesthetics, the unit we received features a two-tone Coral Green design. We also noticed subtle shimmering glitters that catch the light when you tilt it. If this color isn't your style, you might want to explore the Midnight Black or Lavender Purple options instead.
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| The cameras |
The sensors on the back still protrude from the large square camera island, but their new top-center placement reduces wobbliness when the phone is placed on a flat surface. If this is a concern for you, using the included case will completely eliminate the issue.
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| The display |
In front, it has a curved glass design with a top-center punch-hole for a cleaner and more balanced look.
What stands out here are the super-slim bezels, offering a more immersive viewing experience similar to high-end smartphones. Xiaomi claims the device achieves a 93.35% screen-to-body ratio
The previous Pro model featured a flat display, which is preferred by many, especially gamers. Now, the Note 14 Pro has adopted a curved glass display, similar to its older Pro+ sibling. While the curved design adds a sleek and modern aesthetic, those transitioning from a flat panel may need some time to adjust to the touch response and handling of the curved edges.
The rest of the ports and buttons are found in standard locations.
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| The top and bottom view |
At the top, you’ll find an IR blaster, microphones, and a top-firing speaker. On the bottom, there’s the SIM tray slot, an additional microphone, and a bottom-firing speaker, completing the stereo speaker setup.
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| The right side shows the volume keys and power button |
There is nothing on the left side and on the right part, you will find the power button along with the volume up and down keys as well.
Additionally, it features an in-display fingerprint reader with snappy performance in our tests. It also remains functional even when your thumb is slightly wet. Furthermore, the scanner also includes a heart rate monitor feature, which can come in handy if you’re not wearing your smartwatch or ring.
For cameras, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G kept the same sensor on the back such as the 1/1.4-inch 200MP f/1.65 main shooter with Super QPD Autofocus and OIS. This camera sensor allows the device to capture high-quality images in different lighting conditions in scenarios with fast focus speeds.
It is paired with an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens. Fortunately, Xiaomi upgraded the selfies to 20MP f/2.2 coming from 16MP.
Camera Samples
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| 23mm outdoor |
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| 92mm (4x zoom) outdoor |
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| Indoor 23mm |
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| Indoor food shot 1x |
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| Indoor 2nd food shot |
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| Indoor 46mm crop |
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| Indoor portrait mode 2x |
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| Low light 15mm ultra-wide |
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| 23mm (1x) low light shot |
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| 93mm (4x zoom) low light |
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| Selfie sample outdoor |
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| Low light selfie sample |
Hardware-wise we haven't seen many improvements and our best bet for that would be on the software enhancement coming from the HyperOS and better AI from its chip. Additionally, Redmi added enhanced AI functions which we are expecting faster response and usability.
Otherwise, our initial test for the Note 14 Pro 5G produced acceptable sharpness, good colors, and decent dynamic range, particularly in bright indoor or outdoor scenarios and even when using zoom.
It has up to 4x lossless zoom to take photos from a distance. Another improvement is now it can now handle up to 30x digital zoom. The previous models are still stuck at 10x digital with blurry and grainy output.
For the 8MP ultra-wide, we also saw decent image quality and less deterioration coming from the standard 23mm lens.
We especially enjoyed our indoor food shots as we got crisp images with lively colors making them ideal for flaunting on our stories on both IG and Facebook.
In low light scenarios, the phone can immediately detect when to use night mode and it produces acceptable image quality on the right areas of the subjects but you will still see little grains, glares, and deteriorated dynamic range on all focal lengths. On auto mode, it had a hard time controlling the light exposure on the Shangri-La text. We noticed that the images are violetish as well.
Coming from using the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G as a daily driver, there is a slight improvement in terms of faster image processing.
Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G Specs
Display: 6.67-inch Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protected Crystal Res 12-bit AMOLED display w/ 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1.5K 2712 x 1220 resolution at 446 ppi
CPU: 2.6GHz 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra octa-core processor
GPU: Mali-G615 MP2
RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X
ROM: 256GB/512GB UFS 2.2
Back Camera: 200MP f/1.65 w/ OIS + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro + LED flash
Selfie Camera: 20MP f/2.2
Battery: 5,110mAh w/ 45W fast charging
OS: Android 14 w/ HyperOS
Connectivity: WiFi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, OTG, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM (nano)
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, Others: In-Display fingerprint sensor, IP68 water, and dust resistance, IR Blaster, stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, USB-C, Colors: Midnight Black, Coral Green, Lavender Purple
Dimensions: 162.33 x 74.42 x 8.4 to 8.5 mm
Weight: 190 g
Price: PHP 16,999 (12GB/256GB), 19,999 (12GB/512GB)
As of the moment
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| Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G AnTuTu score |
At a starting price of PHP 16,999 you are getting a durable + performing device inside out thanks to the reinforcements added + IP68 rating, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED screen, and Dimensity 7300-Ultra.
Its 200MP camera setup remained the same with a few tweaks in the software department to provide slightly better results and extend the digital zoom up to 30x. You're also only getting Android 14 HyperOS 1.0 despite that Android 15 has been around for some time.
For now, it provides a lot of premium features for what you are paying for making it a balanced all-rounder and a promising device. It can also be an alternative for those who are looking for a faster processor while also having some toughness retained.
We still have a few more days of testing this up then we will let you know once we have our full review.
What do you guys think?
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