Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G review

The competition

At the time of writing, the Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G has a starting MSRP of €300 for the 8GB/256GB variant, which we are reviewing here, and €350 for the 12GB/512GB version. Just for reference, a Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G will set you back around €399 for the 8/256GB model.

The Poco X7 in the same memory config can be purchased for around €250 at the time of writing. Sure, you'll have to source a charger for the Poco on top of that, but even so, the price difference is big.

There are plenty of viable competitors at that price point. The Poco X7 is the first phone that comes to mind. It is a very similar phone to the Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G and, in many ways, better. Some of its notable highlights include IP68 ingress protection, a 12-bit and HDR-certified display and a notably more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra chipset. You will have to live with a lower-resolution but not necessarily worse 50MP main camera on the Poco. If nothing else, the better chipset allows for 4K video capture on the Poco. Another concession is a smaller battery on the Poco.

Xiaomi Poco X7 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro • Samsung Galaxy A55

We also should mention the ever-popular Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G. It is last year's model, and you have less software updates to look forward to. And you do have to settle for a mere IP54 ingress protection rating. However, other than that, you still get excellent hardware and amazing value. Plus, 5G connectivity on a more powerful chipset.

Over in camp Samsung, you can fit a Galaxy A55 within this budget. It is a very capable and well-rounded phone. Well, except for literally, since its design is a lot flatter all around. Some of the highlights here include an IP67 ingress protection rating, which is almost as good as what Xiaomi is offering but achieved with arguably more premium materials like an aluminum frame. You also get four major OS updates instead of three. You will, arguably, have to settle for a slightly inferior display, though.

Our verdict

The Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G brings a few upgrades over last year's model, notably the IP64 ingress protection rating, overall better build quality, and the larger 5,500 mAh battery. Besides that, not much has changed about the device's hardware. The new Helio G100 chipset is basically identical to last year's Helio G99 Ultra, especially in performance. The camera setup this year isn't much different, either.

The Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G isn't a bad device in isolation. It has good build quality and protection, both in the form of IP64 ingress protection and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front. Despite lacking HDR support, the display is quite nice and offers plenty of brightness. We like that the battery capacity has grown, even if charging has been notably downgraded. The stereo speaker system is solid and does not disappoint. The same is mostly true of the camera setup. We like how the 200MP main snapper performs after dark. However, the ultrawide is a bit disappointing.

Speaking of disappointment, we already mentioned the charging speed but can't fail to mention the chipset. The MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra is essentially a slightly tweaked and rebranded Helio G99 Ultra, as seen in last year's Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G. Hence, we are practically getting no upgrade in performance this year, and this particular chipset doesn't offer much performance to begin with.

Again, even this wouldn't be a major problem in isolation, but we can't ignore the existence of other devices, like the Poco X7. You can get a lot more for your buck, and we feel that the Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G just finds itself in an awkward position in terms of value. Again, it is not a bad device in any particular way, but it does get overshadowed by other better-value options.

Pros

• Great build quality, now with an IP64 rating and GG Victus 2 glass.
• Great AMOLED, high-res, 120Hz.
• Pretty good stereo speaker setup.
• Excellent low-light photos and videos.
• IR blaster, microSD, 3.5mm audio jack.

Cons

• No HDR video support on the display.
• Slower charging than the previous model.
• No charger bundled in the EU.
• Pretty modest performance, even for the price.
• Video capture is limited to 1080p.
• Doesn't come with the latest Android 15/HyperOS 2 out of the box.