Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus 256GB

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ has a new 50MP Light Fusion 800 sensor with "HyperOS" and a 20MP front camera. It also has a new 50MP telephoto camera with 2.5x zoom for crisp portraits. The rear camera system houses an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Like its predecessor, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ can take crisp shots while prioritising natural tones. The photos occasionally include a warm hue but in a pleasing way. I also like the selfie performance, which surely matters to many users.

The Note 14 Pro+ features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC, which sits below the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC powering the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, also occupying the same price segment. The key difference between the two chipsets lies in the GPU performance, whereas the CPU performance remains more or less the same.In my daily usage, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ easily handled basic tasks (browsing, social media, and app load) without any stutters and lags. I also didn't notice any signs of heating during my review, though Delhi's dropping temperature also plays a part.The Note 14 Pro+ handles multitasking and heavy usage well, though some minor lags are noticeable. For instance, there's a slight delay when capturing photos in rapid succession. Additionally, it took longer to boot compared to the Edge 50 Pro, Realme 13 Pro+, and Vivo T3 Ultra.On the upside, the gaming experience was impressive, with consistently high frame rates during BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile tests. Its thermal management compared to peers is decent, if not better. While I did not face any throttle issues, the phone may struggle to maintain a consistent performance under severe workload, as suggested in the CPU Throttle test with the Burnout app.In my Note 13 Pro+ review, I mentioned that Xiaomi would need to expand AI, particularly Gen AI features to its Note series, to keep up with its rivals. The new iteration, with the latest Android 14-based HyperOS 1.0, incorporates AI (part of the AIMI umbrella) into the Notes app as well as the recorder, which I find quite useful for daily productivity. There's a Live Interpreter, which worked quite efficiently, though its usage could be restricted to some specific situations.My favourite is the "Circle to Search", which is gradually finding its way to the mid-premium smartphone segment. This search feature is enabled by default and can be highly useful for quick online results.Overall, the Note 14 Pro+ is a decent choice for productivity and gaming-focused users with room for improvement. For instance, the UI could benefit from fewer third-party apps for a refined user experience. Its three-year OS update promise is decent, but Xiaomi could've considered shipping the device directly with Android 15 out-of-the-box, which includes a couple of new security-focused tools.SmartphonesPre-installed appsOS updates (Android + security)Redmi Note 14 Pro+663 years + 4 yearsMotorola Edge 50 Pro413 years + 4 yearsRealme 13 Pro+552 years + 3 years

The new wave of Android smartphones is utilising silicon-carbon tech for batteries, which is helping OEMs reduce the size and increase capacity. Recently, OPPO introduced the Find X8 Pro with a 5,910mAh battery. Xiaomi raises the bar with a 6,200mAh capacity on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ while ensuring an ergonomic design.With the highest settings enabled (120Hz refresh rate, high brightness, and gaming included), the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ offered a terrific battery life during my test. The phone lasted an entire day, with some juice still left in the bank. Naturally, you can increase the backup by switching to moderate settings. In fact, in my comparison against the Edge 50 Pro, the Note 14 Pro+ excelled in all the tests. The only place where it lagged was the charging test, which is understandable since it houses a much bigger battery.However, the 90W charging is not slow by any means. Xiaomi continues to ship the charger in the box, which customers will surely appreciate.SmartphonesCharging speedsCharging time (20 to 100 percent)Redmi Note 14 Pro+90W53 minutesMotorola Edge 50 Pro125W16 minutesRealme 13 Pro+80W38 minutes