Realme 14X 5G review: solid durability on a budget

The new Realme 14X 5G makes a bold statement in the sub-Rs 15K segment by introducing the IP69 rating for dust and water resistance – something even premium brands like Google and Apple have yet to implement on their flagships. Beyond this unmatched durability, Realme raises the bar with a 6,000mAh battery, 120Hz display, and the Dimensity 6300 SoC to deliver a well-rounded user experience. Additionally, Realme continues to include a charger and protective case in the box, which surely will please their customers.

Do these features make the Realme 14X 5G the best choice in its segment? Let’s find out.

Verdict

The Realme 14X 5G sets a new standard by introducing IP69 certification in the sub-Rs 15K segment. The phone is also a decent choice for productivity-focused users as the Dimensity 6300 SoC offers enough power for daily tasks and mild gaming. However, Realme must improve the software experience by reducing the number of pre-loaded apps on its smartphones. I also wish the Realme 14X 5G had an ultra-wide lens to stand out against the competition in the camera department.

Design and display

Realme smartphones are generally known for their bold and striking designs, and the Realme 14X 5G stays true to this legacy. It introduces a fresh “diamond design” that will likely appeal to users who enjoy a flamboyant aesthetic. The rear panel takes inspiration from “oval-cut diamonds,” with the colours symbolising different “gems.” The naming scheme further emphasises the “sturdiness of diamonds,” reflecting the phone’s durable and eye-catching build.

The phone undoubtedly feels extremely durable and rugged, though the size may initially seem overwhelming. Realme draws inspiration from the iPhone’s flat edges on the Realme 14X 5G with the usual port and button selection on the sides. Notably, the phone skips the 3.5mm audio jack, which is unusual for a smartphone in the sub-Rs 15K segment. Fortunately, there’s a hybrid SIM card slot, meaning users still have the option to expand the storage with an external microSD card or use a secondary physical SIM card.

I reviewed the Jewel Red colour option, which looks youthful and punchy. Of the three colour options, I prefer the Golden Glow variant for its soft appeal. There’s also a classic black option called Crystal Black with the same diamond-inspired texture on the back.

As mentioned, the standout feature of the Realme 14X 5G is its IP69 certification to ensure best-in-class resistance against dust and water. Despite its plastic build, the phone does not feel cheap by any standards. Additionally, Realme continues to provide a silicone case in the box for added durability. This time, the case does not feature the usual transparent design but gets textured patterns to complement the phone’s overall appearance.

While the Realme 14X 5G raises the bar for durability and design in this segment, the overall display experience is quite average. The display utilises an LCD panel with HD+ resolution (1,604 x 720 pixels). The bezels are also considerably thick, and colours appear slightly washed out. In that case, the POCO M7 Pro is among the best options in the segment to offer the best viewing experience with its 6.67-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display. The Realme 14X 5G lacks stereo speakers, a feature that I feel is essential as we enter 2025.

In our lab test, the POCO M7 Pro (678 nits) offered a much brighter output than the Realme 14X 5G (334 nits). That also doesn’t mean phones with AMOLED displays always perform better in brightness. The iQOO Z9x (review), with its 6.67-inch LCD, achieved 747 nis peak brightness in our same lab test.

Performance and software

As mentioned, the Realme 14X 5G draws power from the Dimensity 6300 SoC, which has become a go-to choice for OEMs in the segment. The same MediaTek chipset powers several other devices, including the Tecno Pova 6 Neo (review), Infinix Note 40X (review), and iQOO Z9 Lite (review). Realme deserves credit for offering 128GB storage and 6GB RAM for the base variant, priced at Rs 14,999. The top variant, which I reviewed, has 8GB RAM and the same storage. It’s currently available for Rs 15,999, excluding offers.

Based on benchmark scores, the Dimensity 6300 SoC-powered Realme 14X 5G secures a respectable position, outperforming the iQOO Z9 Lite (review), which features the same MediaTek processor. It delivers decent performance for everyday tasks and productivity as well. However, occasional lags and stutters were noticeable when switching between apps.

On the bright side, the 120Hz display ensures a smooth and responsive scrolling experience.

I also noticed minor stutters while playing demanding titles, including BGMI and COD Mobile. Its battery management was better than rivals, including the new POCO M7 Pro. However, our lab test shows that the Realme 14X 5G’s thermals need improvement, though I didn’t notice any heating signs during long gaming sessions. It could also be because of Delhi’s cold weather conditions prevalent at the time of writing.

In terms of connectivity, Realme has been gradually expanding 5G support across its budget offerings. The Realme 14X 5G supports eight essential 5G bands, which worked reliably in my location in South Delhi. Competitors like Motorola generally provide better 5G band support in their affordable Moto G-series smartphones, and Realme can consider improving this in the next iteration.

The brand must also strive to improve its software experience, as the 14X 5G gets several pre-loaded apps. The phone ships with Android 14-based custom UI out-of-the-box, while it’s a matter of time before Android 15 becomes the norm from the get-go.

Cameras

Like most rivals in the segment, the Realme 14X 5G skips the ultra-wide camera, which I feel is a missed opportunity to stand out against the competition. Notably, the back features three camera cutouts, though it’s only for aesthetics, as there’s only a single 50MP camera. There’s also a secondary 2MP camera, likely to assist with depth sensing since there’s no macro mode in the Camera app. Overall, the secondary camera doesn’t practically assist with anything.

Under ample lighting conditions, the Realme 14X 5G performs well, delivering images with pleasing brightness and colours. While the level of detail isn’t always exceptional, and some noise can occasionally creep in, this is a common limitation among smartphones in this segment. The phone also takes decent selfies and portraits without compromising facial details.

However, the Realme 14X 5G needs to improve the low-light shots, as images often include lots of grains with inconsistent colour mapping. Enabling night mode can offer respite, but there’s no significant change.

I also compared the Realme 14X 5G’s shots against the POCO M7 Pro and iQOO Z9x in daylight and low-light conditions. Here’s what we found.

Daylight

If we look at all three images, there are no significant differences between the three smartphones’ outputs, though you will notice a subtle difference in their colour science. The Realme 14X 5G’s white balance is mostly neutral, while the POCO M7 Pro leans slightly on the warmer side. The POCO M7 Pro also boosts the colour of the sky for an aesthetic appeal.

The iQOO Z9, on the other hand, also resembles POCO’s shot but offers a better dynamic range. Overall, all smartphones capture similar levels of detail, so the choice ultimately comes down to your preference in colour representation.

Portrait

However, when we involve a human subject in the photo, Realme performs better than the POCO M7 Pro. The former does a better job of balancing exposure, even if it doesn’t accurately detect the skin complexion. There’s also a red tint over its photo, though the final output looks more aesthetically pleasing.

At the same time, the POCO M7 Pro offers a more natural-looking bokeh effect and better edge detection around the subject.

The iQOO Z9x performs poorly in the portrait test, failing to balance exposure, with detection also proving subpar. This issue was evident in our previous camera comparison against the Redmi 13 5G (review).

Selfie (with portrait mode)

As mentioned, the Reamle 14X 5G is capable of taking pleasing selfies, and you will notice the phone again balances exposure better than its rivals. The selfie with the POCO M7 Pro also looks good, though Realme does a better job of preserving facial details.

The selfie with iQOO Z9x is again awkwardly bright with subpar edge detection.

Low-light

Even with night mode enabled, the Realme 14X 5G fails to maintain the dynamic range, and there’s a significant amount of noise in its photo. The POCO M7 Pro performs relatively better, though its photo is nowhere near perfect.

The iQOO Z9x’s image vaguely represents natural colours, and the phone does a decent job of reducing grains. It also offers a better dynamic range than its two rivals.

Battery and charging

I’ve rarely faced battery-related issues with Realme smartphones, and the story with the Realme 14X 5G remains the same. The phone houses a massive 6,000mAh battery without significantly contributing to the overall thickness and weight. With the bundled 45W charger, the phone took over 70 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent.

However, the average charging speed is compensated by its brilliant battery backup. In my review, the phone easily lasted an entire day with the highest settings enabled.

The Realme 14X 5G is also among the best performers in our PCMark battery test, lasting for 20 hours.

Final verdict

The Realme 14X 5G sets a new benchmark by promising superior durability in the sub-Rs 15K segment with an IP69 certification for dust and water resistance. The phone is also a decent choice for productivity-focused users who value 5G connectivity and long battery backup. The Dimensity 6300 SoC onboard offers respectable grunt for daily tasks and mild gaming. However, heavy gamers can consider other options, such as the POCO M7 Pro or Vivo T3X, for a better experience.

While Realme isn’t the only brand in the segment still utilising LCD panels for its budget offerings, I believe AMOLED displays should become the standard in 2025 in this price bracket. That said, if you don’t watch too many shows and movies on your smartphone, the Realme 14X 5G’s display will suffice for everyday use.

Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10

Reasons to buy:

• The Realme 14X 5G is the only device to have IP69 certification in the segment.
• The phone delivers dependable battery backup.
• The primary camera performs decently in bright conditions.

Reasons to not buy:

• The Realme 14X 5G offers an average viewing experience.
• The phone’s software needs to be refined.