Review Summary
Expert Rating
Xiaomi has refreshed its popular Redmi Note-series lineup in India, retaining the same number of models as the previous iteration. The series includes the Redmi Note 14, Redmi Note 14 Pro, and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (review), each catering to a different segment of users. Among these, the Redmi Note 14 stands out as the most affordable, targeting buyers seeking a reliable smartphone under Rs 20,000. Based on our in-depth reviews of its performance, battery, and camera, it proves to be a dependable choice for everyday use. Here’s a detailed overview of what the smartphone has to offer.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The Redmi Note 14 is a budget-friendly yet dependable option for productivity-focused users. It boasts a vibrant AMOLED display, reliable cameras, and impressive battery life. Powered by a MediaTek chipset, the phone delivers lag-free performance, though there’s room for improvement in the software experience.
Design and display
Design-wise, it hasn’t changed much for the Redmi Note 14 from its predecessor – Note 13, except for the camera module. The module on the new note-series smartphone has curved edges – making it look more squircle than squarish, and you will find the third ‘auxiliary’ camera sensor positioned in the middle rather than at the corner. As subjective as it may be, the new setup appears more symmetrical than the previous iteration. Moreover, the LED flash comes in a more modern-looking pill-shaped casing, which is sleeker than the circular/ ring-shaped flash.
| Smartphones | Thickness | Weight | IP rating |
| Redmi Note 14 | 7.99mm | 190 grams | IP64 |
| Realme 13 | 7.49mm | 190 grams | IP64 |
| iQOO Z9s | 7.79mm | 180 grams | IP64 |
Apart from this, the Redmi Note 14’s rear panel features a marble-finish, which can be prone to fingerprints and smudges if you go for a dark colour variant. The lighter colour variant, like the Mystique White, we received for review, does a good job of hiding some of those smudges. You would still need a case to keep the phone in mint condition for a longer duration (included in the box). The handset is IP64 certified for dust and water resistance, which is pretty standard for the price.
The edges of the phone are flat, with nicely curved corners, providing a comfortable grip. The power button and volume rockers are on the right spine, while the fingerprint scanner for security is under the display. The scanner unlocks the device accurately and in a jiffy. As for I/O, the Redmi Note 14 boasts a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, while a USB-C port is at the bottom. The handset also features dual speakers for stereo output, which gets decently loud (83.7 decibels), however the audio crackles a bit at maximum level.
On the front side, the Redmi Note 14’s display is 6.67-inch tall and of AMOLED variety with 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, and 2,100 nits peak brightness. For added durability, it comes equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection – a rarity in the segment. The viewing experience is excellent, delivering vibrant and bright colours even at wide angles. Additionally, Netflix and other OTT platforms support HDR playback, with a maximum resolution of 1080p. This enhances the viewing experience with a superior contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks and a richer colour gamut, especially in indoor settings.
| Smartphones | Display size | Peak brightness |
| Redmi Note 14 | 6.67-inch AMOLED | 2,100 nits |
| Realme 13 | 6.72-inch LCD | 580 nits |
| iQOO Z9s | 6.77-inch AMOLED | 1,800 nits |
Outdoor visibility is equally impressive for the price, with content remaining clear and readable even in harsh lighting. In our test, the handset achieved a peak brightness of 701 nits under ambient lighting conditions of 1,700 nits. This is higher than the Realme 13 and on par with the Samsung Galaxy A16 in a similar scenario.
Cameras
The Redmi Note 14 features a versatile setup comprising an 8MP ultrawide lens, along with a 50MP OIS Sony LYT600 main sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. The ultrawide lens, which you won’t find on many devices within the segment, is particularly useful for capturing likeable landscape shots at least in daylight, providing users with greater creative flexibility. While the level of detailing appears underwhelming, it certainly offers a colour profile similar to that of the primary camera. Speaking of which, the 50MP primary camera captures images with warm tones and nearly-accurate sky colours. Overall, the final output looks aesthetically pleasing.
Our camera review revealed that the Redmi Note 14 excels in capturing portraits, selfies, and low-light shots, outperforming competitors like the iQOO Z9s and Realme 13 in these scenarios. In daylight too, the phone does a respectable job, only losing against iQOO Z9s which offers superior details and dynamic range.
For selfies and video calls, the Redmi Note 14 is equipped with a 20MP front camera housed in a punch-hole design. It delivers near-accurate skin tones, impressive facial detailing for its price point, and balanced exposure that retains background details effectively.
Performance and software
The Redmi Note 14 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. We tested the base variant featuring 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, priced at Rs 18,999. Our dedicated performance review highlights that the Redmi Note 14 delivers reliable performance for daily tasks and casual gaming. It effectively handles graphically demanding games like BGMI, Call of Duty, and Real Racing 3, though its thermal efficiency lags behind the iQOO Z9s and Realme 13. Furthermore, the iQOO Z9s surpasses the Redmi Note 14 with higher AnTuTu and Geekbench scores, which may please some high-performance-seeking users.
| Smartphones | Pre-installed apps | OS updates |
| Redmi Note 14 | 66 | 2 years major + 4 years security |
| Realme 13 | 64 | 2 years major + 4 years security |
| iQOO Z9s | 51 | 2 years major + 4 years security |
Talking about the software, the Redmi Note 14 comes pre-loaded with Android 14-based HyperOS out of the box to offer a similar experience as its higher-priced Pro variants. There are as many as 66 apps pre-installed, of which 18 are third-party ones, making the UI a bit cluttered. Although most of the apps are removable, I would have preferred a cleaner software experience, which is more intuitive and user-friendly. Nevertheless, you will appreciate the customisation options of the software and two years of major OS + four years of security updates, which is on par with competitors.
The smartphone also gets a touch of AI, albeit quite basic. Using the tools, you can remove objects from images, adjust the colour of the sky, and generate a video from a set of images. While these tools are functional, there is still room for improvement at least for the AI eraser which doesn’t always generate clean, natural images.
Battery and charging
The Redmi Note 14 is driven by a 5,110mAh battery, which is slightly bigger than its predecessor’s 5,000mAh. This slight improvement saw a significant jump in the handset’s PCMark battery score – 19 hours and 21 minutes, as opposed to Redmi Note 13’s 12 hours and 50 minutes. The score is better than the Realme 13 and iQOO Z9s, despite the latter offering a larger 5,500mAh battery.
While the Redmi smartphone lags behind competitors by a slight margin of 1–2 percent in video streaming and gaming during our tests, it redeems itself with superior charging speeds. The Note 14 charges from 20 percent to 100 percent in nearly half the time taken by the iQOO Z9s and Realme 13. For a detailed analysis, check out our full Redmi Note 14 battery review.
| Smartphones | Charging speed | Charging time (20-100 percent) |
| Redmi Note 14 | 45W | 32 minutes |
| Realme 13 | 45W | 63 minutes |
| iQOO Z9s | 44W | 66 minutes |
Final verdict
The Redmi Note 14 starts at Rs 18,999 for the base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. The 8GB RAM variant is available in two storage options: 128GB priced at Rs 19,999 and 256GB at Rs 21,999.
The base model is a good choice for budget-conscious users, provided the pre-installed apps aren’t a dealbreaker. Gaming enthusiasts might find better alternatives, such as the iQOO Z9s. However, battery-focusers users will be pleased as the Redmi Note 14 excels in areas like battery life and charging speeds. Moreover, its vibrant AMOLED display, durable design, and reliable 50MP primary camera with OIS make it a compelling choice for everyday use.
The addition of basic AI tools with extended security update support adds to its value.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Reasons to buy
- Vibrant AMOLED display.
- Reliable primary camera with OIS.
- Long-lasting battery with fast charging.
Reasons not to buy
- Some pre-installed apps.
- Thermal efficiency could have been better.
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