Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G Review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 5G Intro
Тhe Redmi Note 14 5G stands out with its distinct look with geometric shapes on the back, but what else is new?
The Redmi Note 14 5G costs the same as the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G, so it clearly has some tough competition. Compared to the Galaxy, with the Redmi you get faster charging and a slightly bigger battery, but there is one downside too.
Also, let us clarifty that this particular review is for the Redmi Note 14 5G, one of the more affordable phones in the Note 14 series at a price of 300 euro.
Here are the reviews for the remaining models in the Redmi Note 14 series:
- Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Review (most advanced model)
- Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G Review
- Redmi Note 14 Pro 4G Review
- Redmi Note 14 4G Review (most basic model)
What’s new about the Redmi Note 14 5G
- 6.7-inch OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate
- Faster MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra chip
- 108MP main camera with sensor crop zoom
- 8MP ultra-wide camera, but no telephoto camera
- Slightly bigger 5,110 mAh battery
- IP64 protection (vs IP54 before)
- Faster 45W wired charging, no wireless charging support
- 300 euro MSRP for 8/256GB model
Table of Contents:
Redmi Note 14 5G Specs
It has an ultra-wide camera, which is missing on the 4G model
Let's get the Redmi Note 14 5G specs out of the way first:
| Specs | Redmi Note 14 5G |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | 162.4 x 75.7 x 8mm 190 g |
| Display Specs | 6.7" AMOLED 120Hz 1080p up to 2100 nits GGlass 5 |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra |
| Configurations | 8/256GB - for Europe *Expandable storage |
| Camera specs | 108MP main cam, f/1.7 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 2MP macro 20MP front |
| Battery | 5,110 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired No wireless |
| Biometrics | In-screen fingerprint |
| Others | IP64 water and dust resistance |
- Compare the Redmi Note 14 5G vs Galaxy A26 5G specs
Redmi Note 14 5G Unboxing (Image by PhoneArena)
Redmi Note 14 5G Design
Plastic but with a beautiful finish
(Image by PhoneArena)
We like that Xiaomi experiments with some new design elements and doesn't just release a bunch of boring phones. The Redmi Note 14 5G has these rectangular shapes on the back, which give it a bit more character.
The thickness of the phone is average at 8 mm and it is a bit lighter than the 4G model at 190 grams.
(Image by PhoneArena)
Power and volume buttons are located on the right, there is nothing on the left side and on the bottom you have a USB-C port and the speaker, and on top you get a 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as an IR blaster.
Redmi Note 14 5G colors:
- Coral Green
- Lavender Purple
- Midnight Black
Redmi Note 14 5G Unboxing
Here is what you can find in the box:
- Phone with pre-applied plastic screen protector
- 45W charging brick with USB-A output
- Charging cable (USB-A to USB-C)
- Silicone case
- SIM tool
- User manuals
Having a case and a pre-applied screen protector are two great extras, and yes, you also get a charger. Now, that's what we call a good unboxing experience.
Redmi Note 14 5G Display
(Image by PhoneArena)
As all other phones in the series, the Redmi Note 14 5G features a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate.
Those are the norm at this price point, so we wouldn't expect any less.
The screen uses Gorilla Glass 5 for protection, which is also fine. The more expensive Redmi models use Gorilla Glass Victus 2, though.
We run a number of display tests in our lab, so here are the results we got:
Display Measurements:
The max brightness of this phone is particularly impressive as it reaches 1,915 nits, on par with many flagship phones. It's much easier to use a phone with a brighter screen when you are outdoors.
Sadly, the minimum brightness is no longer as dim as on the previous generation (2.6 nits vs 1.8 nits). With minimum brightness, lower is better as the dimmer your phone gets at night the less it strains your eyes.
For biometrics, the Redmi uses an optical fingerprint scanner. It did a good job in our testing and we found it to be reliable and worry-free.
Redmi Note 14 5G Camera
A main camera and an ultra-wide do most of the lifting
(Image by PhoneArena)
On our PhoneArane Camera Test, this Redmi scores solid points for photo quality, but the lack of 4K video on the video side really brings down the total score.
Photo Samples
The quality on the Redmi Note 14 5G is a big step up from the 4G model.
The presence of the ultra-wide camera is great and while there are some issues with dynamic range (highlights are clipping and the 8 MP detail is not great) it's still a decent camera.
The main camera is definitely taking good-looking photos, and there is even a decent (but not great) amount of detail in the 5X zoom photos.
The front camera is not that good, though, as dynamic range issues with clipped highlights are also present here.
Video Quality
The Redmi Note 14 5G can only do 1080p video. In 2025, we expect 4K even at this price point, so that's a disappointment.
1080p video has less detail than 4K, naturally, and on this phone we see that dynamic range is not great as the highlights clip and it just looks average. On the positive side, video stabilization is very good, so there is no wobbly footage.
The maximum zoom level in video is 6X, but you don't get much detail and realistically, you would probably not want to use more than 2X zoom.
Redmi Note 14 5G Performance & Benchmarks
Here goes nothing
(Image by PhoneArena)
The Redmi Note 14 5G upgrades to a MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra chip (last year's model used a MediaTek MT6080).
This is a very good upgrade. The new chip is nearly 40% faster and this means you get less stutter and apps load faster in daily use.
Performance Benchmarks:
Compared to rivals, the Redmi is on par (slightly faster) than the Moto G Power (2025).
Unfortunately, the phone was incompatible with the 3D Mark benchmark we use for GPU performance, so we don't have an exact number for gaming.
Having 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage is one of the biggest advantages of this Redmi over the Galaxy A26 5G as Samsung model only gives you 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.
Redmi Note 14 5G Software
Hyper OS
When we talk about Redmi phones we always warn users about their aggressive software. To save power it kills apps in the background and this can mess with push notifications, so for some apps you might get your notifications with a delay. This is definitely a big issue if you rely on timely notifications.
With that out of the way, we should say that this Redmi switches to the Hyper OS interface, but it runs on the older Android 14 version. This is a bit disappointing, but not unexpected.
In terms of software updates, we have another letdown: only two years of major OS updates. Considering that other companies offer at least three or four years, that is not on par with modern standards.
Redmi Note 14 5G Battery
Okay battery life, fast charging
The frugal Hyper OS interface helps squeeze a little extra juice out of it too.
We run three in-house battery tests, so let's see how the Note 14 5G scored there.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
Not surprisingly, the phone gets very similar results to its predecessor. It scores half an hour longer runtime on our lightest, web browsing test, but for video streaming the results remains unchanged at about 10 hours and 17 minutes.
Overall, we estimate that you will average around 6 hours and 14 minutes of screen time here, which is a quite average result.
Redmi Note 14 5G Charging Speeds
The fast 45 W charging is one of the advantages of this Redmi and you get 50% charge back in 30 minutes, while a full 1-100% top up takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.
There is no wireless charging support, but that's expected at this price.
Redmi Note 14 5G Audio Quality and Haptics
(Image by PhoneArena)
Speakers on the Redmi Note 14 5G are average, but again, that comes with the price. You have some lows and volume is now louder than on the previous generation, which is nice.
Haptics, however, are a weakness: they feel vague and not nearly as sharp as optimal. For better haptics, you need to step up to the Redmi Note 14 Pro series.
We should also mention the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top, great if you still use wired headphones.
Redmi Note 14 5G Summary and Final Verdict
(Image by PhoneArena)
The Redmi Note 14 5G is a solid budget phone, but there is a strong competitor in the field: the Galaxy A26 5G. Samsung's phone offers a slightly better camera that has the upper hand in photo quality and it can record 4K video, while the Redmi can only do 1080p. Samsung also promises longer software updates and an IP67 water and dust protection. Go for the Galaxy if you value those things.
The Redmi, however, offers more value as it packs more RAM and double the storage. It also has a good chipset and thanks to a lighter Hyper OS interface it feels more fluid. There is also a slightly bigger battery, faster charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Those are not big differences in the grand scheme of things, so we imagine both phones will serve you well and it ultimately boils down to whether you prefer the look of Samsung's One UI software or the Hyper OS interface on Xiaomi.
What's your pick?
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