Waterproof, shock-resistant, efficient heat dissipation, and high-quality photography – it’s got it all.

As the first major release in the new decade for the Redmi Note series, the Note 14 Pro series has garnered significant attention since its preheating stage. During the recently concluded press conference, attendees gained a preliminary understanding of the phone's specifications and design. Terms like “diamond-hard quality,” “Jinshajiang battery,” “flagship triple camera setup,” and “1.5K high-brightness eye-care display” have left many intrigued.

However, specifications are one thing, and real-world experience is another. How does the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, a decade's worth of sincerity condensed into one device, actually perform? Can it become Redmi's next winning card in the mid-range market? Leitech has had the opportunity to experience this new device firsthand and is now sharing our review report.

Waterproof and durable – it can even crack walnuts!

If I had to sum up my most profound impression of this year's thousand-yuan price range phones, it would be the comprehensive upgrade in both appearance and hardware configuration. Especially in terms of design, domestic manufacturers have reached new heights of competition. Metal frames, glass backs, and dual-curved displays, once exclusive to flagship phones, have now become standard features in the thousand-yuan category. Coupled with unique texture designs, some of these phones are even more eye-catching than their flagship counterparts in terms of appearance alone.

Honestly, if I hadn't known the model in advance, I would have mistaken the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ for Xiaomi's latest flagship or at least a sub-flagship series device. Both the metal frame and exquisite back design, as well as the prominent camera module, give off a “flagship” vibe. Even in terms of grip feel, it ranks among the top three among the thousand-yuan phones I've experienced this year.

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ comes in three color options: Star Sand Green, Mirror Porcelain White, and Midnight Black. The one I have is Star Sand Green, the most distinctive of the three. By blending the characteristics of star sand and water ripples, Redmi's designers have created a visually dynamic and layered effect, complemented by the serene beauty of traditional Chinese ink painting, evoking a sense of purity and tranquility.

While it might sound like an exaggeration, I genuinely love the Star Sand Green color scheme and consider it a pinnacle of Note series design.

Moreover, the camera module of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ features a brand-new design. The asymmetric central axis and triple camera setup, complemented by intricate outer textures, lend the phone a more “flagship” feel.

Beyond the comprehensive upgrade in appearance, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ has also undergone significant internal changes, which Redmi refers to as the “Diamond Structure.” Both sides of the device are protected by scratch-resistant flagship-grade Corning Gorilla Glass, while the frame employs a new encircling reinforcement design. By thickening the borders, top corners, and bottom corners, the device's ability to absorb impact is enhanced. Additionally, the center of gravity is shifted to the corners, making it more likely for the device to land on its corners upon a fall, thereby protecting the screen and back cover from direct impact.

With its comprehensive reinforcement, tasks like cracking walnuts with the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ are effortless. As you can see, the screen remains virtually unscathed. In daily life, you can rest assured that few items will leave marks on the screen. For the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, a screen protector is no longer a necessity, allowing you to fully enjoy the “bare phone” experience.

Image source: Leitech

Furthermore, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ incorporates a multi-level shock absorption design internally. By incorporating materials such as extra-large foam padding and high-molecular shock absorbers, it effectively dissipates impact forces, safeguarding critical components like the motherboard and screen. Additionally, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ boasts enhanced waterproof capabilities, achieving the highest IP69 certification. This means it can maintain waterproof performance underwater for extended periods, withstand high-pressure water jets, and even resist hot water sprays.

Apart from its robust waterproofing, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is the first to incorporate Xiaomi's self-developed THP wet-hand touch algorithm. This allows for seamless operation even when the screen or fingers are covered in oil, foam, sweat, or other liquids. During testing, I even used the phone while taking a bath, scrolling through TikTok while soaking, showcasing its unparalleled ease of use.

To demonstrate, I specifically purchased a bottle of foam hand soap. Even with foam on my fingers, the phone's operation remained as smooth as ever, barely affected. Beyond daily convenience, wet-hand touch functionality is also invaluable for outdoor workers. For instance, it enables them to operate their phones while wearing raincoats in the rain, eliminating the need to search for towels or other objects to wipe the screen and fingers.

Image source: Leitech

Moreover, to emphasize the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s robust protection and alleviate any lingering concerns, Redmi is offering a range of warranties to customers who purchase the device between September 26 and October 7. These include one year of battery cover protection, one year of shatter-resistant screen protection, one year of water ingress protection, five years of battery warranty, and a 365-day replacement policy with no repairs required.

The design of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is not merely intended to satisfy the needs of average users; it also resonates deeply with outdoor workers. When navigating rugged terrain, such a device instills a sense of reassurance.

Superior heat dissipation, no overheating during gaming

Having discussed the visual merits of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, let's delve into its practical user experience. Starting with the display, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ boasts a 1.5K 120Hz eye-care screen with a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits. Frankly, such brightness specifications were previously exclusive to flagship devices.

Furthermore, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ supports full-link P3 color gamut and full-link HDR, delivering a display experience akin to that of flagship phones. Regarding eye protection, which has garnered significant attention in recent years, upgrades have also been made. In addition to 20,000-level automatic brightness adjustment, it now supports a 1920Hz high-frequency PWM+DC eye-care dimming strategy, intelligent color temperature adjustment, and hardware-level low-blue light features.

Visually, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s screen performance is impressive, with vibrant colors and brightness that rival even some last year's flagship devices. The ultra-narrow bezels and curved display design further enhance the overall flagship-like aesthetic.

In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile platform, scoring 794,225 on AnTuTu. This represents a nearly 33% improvement over the approximately 600,000-point score of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. Additionally, AI performance has been boosted by 30%, enabling the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ to better accommodate AI-driven features such as AI photography, AI editing, and XiaoAI's large language model.

While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3's performance is more than adequate for daily tasks, how does it fare in gaming? To find out, I tested two games: “Honor of Kings” and “Honkai: Star Rail.” In the “Honor of Kings” test, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ effortlessly met the demands of high graphics settings and 120fps gameplay, maintaining a stable frame rate throughout.

For “Honkai: Star Rail,” with graphics set to high and frame rate capped at 30fps, the game ran smoothly for most of the 30-minute test. However, due to frequent battles as a new character and minor frame drops during battle transitions, the frame rate curve appeared somewhat uneven.

Nevertheless, what impressed me most was the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s remarkable cooling performance after the 30-minute “Honkai: Star Rail” test. The rear cover peaked at just 36°C, the frame at 34.5°C, and the screen at 39.6°C – a testament to its exceptional thermal management.

In my opinion, for a thousand-yuan device, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s ability to handle demanding titles like “Honkai: Star Rail” while also providing a smooth “Honor of Kings” experience is a testament to its exceptional value proposition.

Impressive photography in the thousand-yuan range

Traditionally, imaging prowess has been the domain of flagship phones. However, this year has seen a shift, with many thousand-yuan devices now touting their camera capabilities, and the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is no exception. Equipped with the same “Light Hunter 800” sensor found in the K70 series, it boasts a large 1/1.55" sensor size, 2μm fused pixels, and dual native ISO Fusion Max support.

Furthermore, it features a 2.5X telephoto lens, enabling lossless shooting across five commonly used focal lengths (15mm, 24mm, 48mm, 60mm, and 120mm), with a maximum 8X zoom ratio. In the context of the Note series, such an imaging configuration is unprecedented.

In practical tests, this flagship-level imaging system delivered impressive results.

Despite overcast and rainy conditions during the shoot, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s performance remained commendable. Colors were rendered naturally, with a decent dynamic range thanks to native HDR support. Exposure control was also exemplary, avoiding issues like blown-out highlights or underexposed shadows. White balance was well-managed, resulting in a soft and pleasing overall look.

Of course, imperfections exist. Details at the boundaries between leaves and the sky, or buildings and the sky, were slightly lost, and the sky in the second photo appeared slightly overexposed, affecting overall image quality. Nevertheless, for a non-flagship device, the primary camera's performance is more than adequate.

Additionally, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is equipped with a capable telephoto lens.

At 5X zoom, details like the creepers climbing the wall and the wall's texture remain clearly visible, with even the dangling roots retained in sharp focus. Overall, color and exposure remained consistent, though sky exposure control was slightly inferior to that of the primary camera and 2X zoom settings.

Frankly, both the primary and telephoto cameras on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ perform admirably, placing them firmly at the forefront of their price range.

Personally, for a phone with a starting price of xxx yuan, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+'s experience has exceeded my expectations. Its design, performance, and imaging capabilities are all top-notch, making it an incredibly tempting offer. It stands poised to become Redmi's next big hit in the mid-range market.

Source: Leitech