I’ve at all times beneficial Redmi Be aware units previously, and it was simple to take action; the units mixed nice {hardware} with an unbeatable worth, and so they undercut their rivals by a substantial margin. However that hasn’t been the case within the final two years, with Xiaomi altering focus to the mid-range class. Whereas the Redmi Be aware 12 Professional+ and Redmi Be aware 13 Professional+ had beautiful designs and first rate {hardware}, they simply did not ship on the worth aspect of issues, and the rise in worth meant they did not fairly have the identical mainstream likeability.
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is far the identical; it prices simply as a lot as its predecessor, however you get higher cameras and highly effective {hardware}. The battery life is the place you will see the largest distinction, with the gadget that includes a large 6200mAh battery that simply lasts two days between expenses.
Nonetheless, Xiaomi hasn’t completed sufficient on the software program aspect of issues. The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ comes with Android 14 out of the field, and that simply is not ok on a mid-range cellphone on the finish of 2024. What’s much more annoying is that the gadget will get simply three Android OS updates, and Android 15 — which it ought to have launched with — counts as one.
Whereas the {hardware} is arguably higher, the software program state of affairs continues to be an actual drawback for Xiaomi, and the model does not appear to care about it — at the least not sufficient to do change its technique.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Pricing and availability
Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Be aware 14 collection in Q3 2024, and the telephones made their world debut in India on December 9. The Redmi Be aware 14 and 14 Professional are the reasonably priced fashions within the collection, with the Be aware 14 Professional+ delivering the very best {hardware} and cameras.
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ begins at ₹30,999 ($365) in India for the variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and the 8GB/256GB mannequin prices ₹32,999 ($390). There’s additionally a 12GB/512GB version that is out there for ₹35,999 ($425), and all three variants can be found in all three colour choices — blue, black, and purple — in order that’s good to see.
Xiaomi accelerated the launch timeline in India, with the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ debuting a month sooner than its predecessor. There isn’t any telling when the cellphone shall be out there within the U.Ok. and different world markets, but when I needed to enterprise a guess, it would be someday in January.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Design
It is clear that design is a key space of focus for Xiaomi, and the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is without doubt one of the best-looking units on this class. In actual fact, I really like this design greater than that of the Xiaomi 14; the sleek curves makes the gadget look elegant, and you do not really feel such as you’re utilizing a mid-range cellphone.
The colour I am utilizing is especially nice, because it has a vegan leather-based again — the opposite two fashions have a daily glass again as an alternative. The leather-based end feels nice, and there is a stitched sample that offers the cellphone just a little additional character. There is a new digicam island on the again as properly, and like the remainder of the design, it seems clear and chic. This space is usually an afterthought on most Xiaomi units, so it is good to see the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ getting a module that accentuates the design.
Xiaomi did the best issues with materials selections as properly, with the gadget that includes an aluminum mid-frame that offers it extra rigidity. The edges have a shiny coat, and when you get symmetric curves, there’s nonetheless sufficient width on the sides to carry the gadget. The edges are color-matched to the again, and once more, it makes the gadget {that a} bit extra upmarket.
The facility and quantity buttons have good tactility, and I did not see any issues on this space. The one problem I’ve is that the in-screen module sits just a little decrease on the display screen, making it awkward to entry one-handed; that is true of the Discover X8 Professional and several other different units I examined just lately, so Xiaomi is not the one model doing this.
Whereas the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is 6g heavier than its predecessor, you get a considerably larger 6200mAh battery. Truthfully, I did not discover the added heft, and Xiaomi did a superb job with the load distribution. The in-hand really feel is equally nice, and the cellphone is not cumbersome or unwieldy within the least.
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ retains IP68 ingress safety as properly, giving it added resilience towards mud and water. Total, Xiaomi did all the best issues with the design of the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+, and it does not find yourself trying like a mid-ranger.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Show
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ makes use of the identical 6.67-inch panel measurement as final 12 months, nevertheless it will get a lot brighter, and it will get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 as commonplace. You get the standard 120Hz refresh and a decision of 2712 x 1220, however Xiaomi makes use of the dynamic mode out of the field, so you will want to enter the settings to allow 120Hz.
Xiaomi often does a superb job with colour calibration, however my unit had cooler colours out of the field; fortunately, it is easy to regulate colour steadiness through the settings. Aside from that, I did not discover any points with the panel as such — it has good distinction and vibrancy.
There aren’t any issues utilizing the panel open air; it will get sufficiently brilliant, and there is a slight distinction from the Be aware 13 Professional+ on this regard. That stated, the ambient brightness sensor is just a little sluggish to regulate brightness, and I discovered myself having to make use of the brightness slider to manually regulate it a number of instances.
Whereas it will not win any awards, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ holds up properly throughout gaming, however you’ll discover jitter in demanding titles. Video streaming is nice sufficient; there’s HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, however switching to HDR content material in YouTube made the video jittery at instances. Exterior of that, colours regarded nice, and there wasn’t any extreme blooming.
Like earlier years, you get stereo sound, and it is detailed sufficient that you should use the onboard audio in case you’re listening to a podcast. There’s 1920Hz PWM dimming, and also you get an honest quantity of configurability in the case of always-on types.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Efficiency
After utilizing MediaTek-powered designs for the final three years, Xiaomi is again to utilizing Qualcomm within the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+. The cellphone is powered by the most recent Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 platform, and it has a higher-clocked Adreno 710 and is manufactured on the 4nm node.
On condition that Qualcomm was sluggish to change to the most recent Arm cores previously, it is good to see using Cortex A720 and A520 cores this time. I seen some lag at instances — notably when switching between a video and a recreation — however outdoors of that, there weren’t any points in common use.
| Class | Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ | POCO F6 | OnePlus Nord 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCMark Work 3.0 (Total) | 12359 | 15491 | 13396 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 (Internet Searching) | 12111 | 14944 | 12604 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Enhancing) | 7490 | 7691 | 7233 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing) | 14452 | 17327 | 13304 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 (Photograph Enhancing) | 21036 | 26584 | 20533 |
| Geekbench 6 (single-core) | 1154 | 1762 | 1000 |
| Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 3189 | 4608 | 3849 |
The cellphone does a superb job with gaming as properly, nevertheless it tends to be aggressive with thermal administration, so you will notice throttling in prolonged gaming periods. There is not a lot in the best way of overheating, however you will notice the occasional lag and jitter in demanding video games; turning down the settings makes a distinction.
Xiaomi is promoting the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ in 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/512GB configurations, and annoyingly, all storage modules of the gadget include UFS 3.1 and never UFS 4.0. You miss out on Wi-Fi 6E as properly, however there may be Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC. I did not see any points with connectivity or calling, and I obtained a dependable mobile sign.
There is a new x-axis vibration motor, and whereas it does not ship the identical degree of granular suggestions because the Xiaomi 14, it’s first rate sufficient in its personal proper — contemplating how a lot you are paying for the cellphone.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Battery life
Among the finest options of the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is the considerably larger 6200mAh battery. What’s notably nice is that Xiaomi slotted in a silicon-carbon battery, so that you get significantly better density, and the cellphone can face up to excessive chilly with none points. It is nice to see manufacturers bringing this tech to the mid-range section.
The elevated battery measurement provides the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ a definite benefit, and the cellphone manages to final two days with none points. Even with heavy use, I solely needed to cost the gadget each different day, so in case you want a cellphone with the very best battery life on this section, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is the one to get.
You additionally get 90W charging, and Xiaomi bundles the requisite charger within the field. It takes simply over 65 minutes to totally cost the gadget, and that is not dangerous contemplating the dimensions of the battery. Xiaomi has the standard battery safeguards to increase longevity, together with charging restrict and optimized charging.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Cameras
After utilizing 200MP cameras, Xiaomi is as soon as once more again to a 50MP most important digicam on the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+, and the gadget options OmniVision’s OVX8000 module, dubbed the Mild Hunter 800 by Xiaomi. This is similar sensor that is used within the POCO F6 Professional, Xiaomi 14 Civi, and even the Xiaomi Combine Flip, so the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is in good firm on this regard.
In an identical vein, Xiaomi added a 50MP Samsung JN1 telephoto lens on the again with 2.5x optical zoom, and this makes the cellphone way more versatile. After years and years of ineffectual auxiliary cameras, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ will get usable auxiliary cameras, and the 8MP wide-angle lens is first rate sufficient in its personal proper.
Nonetheless, Xiaomi is but to handle long-standing points with video recording on the Redmi Be aware collection; the cellphone nonetheless does not get 4K60 video, and what’s much more annoying is that it does not even have 60fps at 1080p when utilizing the wide-angle lens. The digicam interface itself is unchanged in 4 years, so in case you’ve used a Xiaomi or POCO cellphone previously, you will be aware of all of the settings.
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Because of the brand new sensor, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ takes unbelievable images in any state of affairs. Daylight photographs have nice element and dynamic vary, and correct colours. You do not get overly saturated pictures, and foliage rendition is detailed with none aggressive smoothing. The digicam does a unbelievable job in low-light conditions as properly, offering good colour vibrancy and loads of element, and no seen noise ranges. It takes a smidgen longer to focus in low-light than high-end telephones, however that is about the one shortcoming I seen.
The telephotos lens is an efficient addition on the again, and it produces usable photographs at as much as 5x zoom. There isn’t any OIS, and it might take a couple of tries to get the best shot, however once more, the inclusion of a devoted zoom lens is an enormous differentiator. The digicam is not fairly nearly as good in low-light, however you continue to get photographs which can be first rate sufficient for sharing on social media. You get first rate portraits as properly, and when you cannot regulate the focal size, there is a marked distinction over the 13 Professional+.
The wide-angle lens is healthier than earlier years, and whereas it does not measure as much as the likes of the Xiaomi 14, it positively holds its personal towards different mid-rangers. To sum up, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ has a flexible digicam system that takes nice pictures in most situations, and it’s proper up there with the very best on this class.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Software program
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ comes with Android 14 out of the field, although Google rolled out the steady model of Android practically two months previous to the launch of the cellphone. Xiaomi’s software program interface wants an overhaul; the design is 4 years previous at this level, and it is beginning to present its age.
The UI has higher fluidity than MIUI skins of yesteryear, and also you get an honest quantity of customizability. That stated, ColorOS and Funtouch OS have higher options on this space, and so they’re optimized significantly better. You additionally get loads of bloatware, and whereas most of it may be uninstalled, it is annoying that Xiaomi hasn’t addressed this but.
As an alternative of delivering the most recent Android model, Xiaomi centered its consideration on AI-assisted utilities, and like each different cellphone at this time, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ has a collection of AI instruments with questionable usability. Circle to Search and AI-backed transcribing of audio recordings are helpful, however I did not see the utility of AI summaries and translate options baked into the Notes consumer.
Gallery has an AI-assisted object eraser, a device that will increase the dimensions of the body, and one which generates brief video highlights out of your images. There’s an AI translator and AI subtitles as properly, and the primary drawback is that none of those can be found out of the field — they’re going to be rolling out through software program updates down the road. Given Xiaomi’s observe file at delivering well timed updates, I would not maintain my breath.
Then there’s the difficulty with system updates. Xiaomi is guaranteeing three Android OS updates and 4 years of safety updates, however the issue is that Android 15 counts in the direction of a type of updates, and that is simply an underhanded transfer. Xiaomi does this deliberately so it does not need to trouble with long-term updates down the road, and this observe alone makes me not need to advocate the gadget.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: The competitors
The POCO F6 is my go-to advice on this section, with the gadget providing a terrific mixture of {hardware} and battery life. The digicam is not nearly as good because the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+, nevertheless it comes shut, and it does a significantly better job at gaming. The battery lasts a day and a half, and coming in at ₹29,999 ($353), you get a significantly better worth.
Clearly, the OnePlus 12R continues to be a terrific alternative, and whereas it’s costlier at ₹35,999 ($425), you get a greater cellphone in nearly each space. The AMOLED panel will get brighter, the cellphone is considerably quicker in common use, and the primary digicam takes higher images in nearly any situation.
Nothing’s Telephone 2a Plus can be an intriguing alternative to contemplate. It has a particular design, nice software program options, and two usable cameras on the again. And beginning at ₹26,999 ($318), you are not paying a hefty premium.
Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if:
- You want a handsome mid-range cellphone
- You need nice cameras on the again
- You want the very best battery life on this class
You should not purchase this if:
- You need good software program with significant extras
- You want long-term updates
- You desire a cellphone that takes good movies
I examined each Redmi Be aware cellphone launched within the final decade, so I do know what I am speaking about in the case of these units. Whereas the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is costlier than earlier telephones that got here within the collection, there is not a worth hike this 12 months, and that is a superb factor.
The {hardware} is absolutely reasonably good, and the cameras are nice — the inclusion of a telephoto lens provides it an honest edge, and that is no small feat on this class. The battery life is definitely the very best I’ve used on any mid-ranger, and it does not take lengthy to cost the battery both.
However just like the final two years, it is the software program that finally limits the gadget. If you do not have a difficulty with the truth that the cellphone comes with Android 14 out of the field, then sure, the Redmi Be aware Professional 14+ is an honest alternative. However the software program makes a much bigger distinction in how lengthy you may really the cellphone, and on this space, Xiaomi is as soon as once more discovered to be missing.
The Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ combines terrific cameras with a large battery, and the cellphone clearly nails the fundamentals. Nonetheless, the software program is middling at greatest, and it detracts from what’s an in any other case nice gadget. If you happen to do not thoughts that and wish nice cameras and two-day battery, the Redmi Be aware 14 Professional+ is an efficient general alternative.
