Redmi Note 14: Great display, decent camera, good battery on a budget

Xiaomi and its Note series don't even need an introduction at this point. Budget smartphones come and go, and then Xiaomi drops an absolute banger out of nowhere, disseminating all its competition. 

This has been happening since 2014, the year Xiaomi launched its Redmi Note series for the first time. The company launched one model after another over the years. The consumers, however, couldn't care any less. 

I remember getting my first Redmi phone, The Redmi Note 3, back in 2016. That phone got all the everyday work going for two years before I made a switch to the Mi A1. 

Nine years later, after I got my hands on the Redmi Note 14 and have used it for almost three weeks now, I can say that this phone works as fluently as the Redmi Note 3 that I had nine years ago. Obviously, with way more additional features, a nicer and bigger AMOLED display, a massive performance improvement, battery life and tweaks that will be delved into further as this review goes on. 

This is purely from a user's perspective. When I personally get a budget smartphone, I don't expect it to perform better than an iPhone or the latest flagship that Google or Samsung launched. 

I expect it to get things done without any hiccups. 

Now, keep in mind that smartphone technology has evolved a lot over the past nine years. Apps and Android OS itself became more demanding. But Xiaomi managed to maintain the stability of the Redmi Note line up by incorporating newer hardware with each release and better software optimisation, the latest of which is its move from MIUI to HyperOS. 

First impressions: Looks and feel

Unboxing the Redmi Note 14, I immediately noticed how sleek and premium the phone looks. If you had told me to make a blind guess on the price solely based on the look of it, I wouldn't have guessed that this phone cost as low as Tk23,999. Not in this inflation-ridden market. 

Illustration: Duniya Jahan/TBS

Xiaomi ships their phones with a cover. I am not a big fan of phone covers, as they usually make the phones bulkier. However, with this one, the cover has an even nicer hand feel than the actual phone. 

The phone is surprisingly lightweight [196 grams] and comfortable to hold, even with the cover on. Which made the mindless scrolling sessions of Facebook and YouTube reels much more pleasant. 

Xiaomi sent me the black-coloured one for review, which is a more formal one. The phone also comes in blue for those who would want their smartphones to look a bit more vibrant [for whatever reasons]. 

Display: A visual treat

The 6.67-inch AMOLED display is a visual treat for the users. With the HDR10+ support, the display is vibrant, and the 120Hz refresh rate isn't just a gimmick. It makes a significant difference in terms of scrolling and animated transitions. 

The bright and clear display makes everything from watching YouTube videos to browsing social media a pleasant experience. Even though it is a budget phone, the peak brightness goes up to 1800 nits, which makes it less difficult to use the phone under direct sunlight. 

The phone is clearly not meant for heavy gaming. But you will notice the difference if you play lighter games like Subway Surfers, which support a higher refresh rate. 

For protection against scratches, the display has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. 

Performance: Powering through the day

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 14 packs a MediaTek Helio G99-Ultra processor with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. 

The one Xiaomi sent me was the 8GB RAM version, and it handles everyday tasks like browsing, texting, and watching videos without a hitch. Apps open quickly, and multitasking is smooth. 

The only time I witnessed the phone struggling was during the first launch when it synced the phone with the cloud, which is quite common for many smartphones at this price point. 

A storage option of 256GB is also generous for a smartphone in this range. Many people often call me and ask for recommendations for a smartphone that would be lower in price and still have a 256GB option. I can recommend this to them now. 

Now, while the Helio G99-Ultra is a decent processor for everyday use, it's not a powerhouse for demanding games. However, games like Genshin Impact or PUBG still work. But with lower graphics settings to get a smooth experience. 

If gaming is your top priority, you might want to consider spending more on something with a more powerful chip. 

But the Redmi Note 14 is capable of doing all the everyday tasks fluently.

Camera: Good for the bucks

Redmi Note 14 comes with a three-camera setup on the back. A 108MP main camera, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. 

While this might not win some smartphone awards when compared with the photos taken with flagship smartphones, images captured with the primary camera do surprisingly well with a budget smartphone. 

Photos captured with the main camera during the daytime are vibrant and crispy, with a decent dynamic range. Some of the photos may look a little too vibrant on the display. But that's more or less the vibrant AMOLED display of the phone. 

During the night, the smartphone captures decent shots. But if you are looking for some Instagram-worthy shots, especially if the subjects are moving fast, you have to make sure there are enough lights. 

The front cameras in certain budget smartphones often end up over-beautifying the selfies. With the Redmi Note 14, you will get some control over how much you want it to beautify. However, having enough lights is a must in this case as well. 

For videos, the rear camera supports recording up to 1080p at 60fps while the front camera supports 1080p at 30fps. 

Battery lasts whole day

One of the best things about the Redmi Note 14 is its 5,500mAh battery. It easily lasted me a whole day during the review period, most of which involved watching content. [Yes. I cannot stress enough how beautiful and vibrant the phone's display is.]

The cherry on top is the phone comes with a 33-watt "turbocharging," as Xiaomi calls it. It took around half an hour to fully charge the phone using the in-box charger, with the battery on 30-40% before I put it on charge. 

Should you buy this?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 is a nice package. If you want a smartphone that you will use for day-to-day usage, such as web browsing, watching content, listening to music, and playing some lightweight games, you can and should consider getting it. 

The phone will be able to do all of it without breaking your wallet. You will also be getting a decent camera setup and an option for a 256GB variant. 

However, if you need a phone to deal with tasks that solely depend on the capabilities of the chipset, you may need to consider spending more bucks and buy something with a better chipset.