Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 LTE smartphone review - More power and stamina

Xiaomi does many things right with the Redmi Note 14 LTE. The smartphone performs better than its predecessor, and the AMOLED display is bright and displays accurate colors. There is also an IR blaster, an audio jack connector and expandable storage. However, the crowning glory is the very good battery life.

Despite this, the camera left us with mixed feelings. In good lighting conditions, the main camera delivers usable results. Low-light performance, zoom and video quality, on the other hand, are rather mediocre. The images from the front camera also fall short of expectations.

The brief drops in the Wi-Fi connection during testing were annoying, but hopefully, this can be fixed with an update. We would also like to see a crisper vibration motor, a higher quality audio jack connector and a real always-on display.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 LTE's RRP is $200 for the smallest version, but an additional 2 GB of RAM will set you back an extra $30. The largest version comes with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage space and costs around $250.

However, at the time of this review, the prices in stores were already below the RRP.

With the Redmi 14, Xiaomi doesn't only offer a single smartphone but a whole series. In addition to the Note 14, there is a Note 14 Pro and a Note 14 Pro+. The Note 14 and Note 14 Pro are also available in 5G and LTE versions.

This review concerns the entry-level model, the Redmi Note 14 LTE. This device comes in differently specced variants. The basic smartphone packs 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space. There is also the option of 8 GB of RAM with 128 or 256 GB of storage.

Three colors are available: Lime Green, Midnight Black and Ocean Blue. Our review model is black and has the largest storage configuration.

Redmi uses a plastic back for its Note 14, and the frame is made of an aluminum alloy. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. There is even IP certification on board, albeit only IP54.

The build quality is impressive: gaps are small and even, and the smartphone is not only sturdy but is also difficult to bend even when force is applied. The frame and rear are matte and relatively resistant to fingerprints. Only the glass-like element around the three lenses is a real dust magnet.

Xiaomi advertizes the Redmi Note 14 as having a 108 MPix camera, a 5500 mAh battery and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The smartphone also offers features such as a 3.5 mm audio jack, NFC, an IR blaster and memory expansion via a microSD card in a hybrid slot.

The USB-C port only supports USB 2.0, but exFAT and NTFS are supported as file systems for external data storage devices. In our tests, we measured a transfer speed of 24.7 MB/s when paired with a Samsung 980 Pro SSD.

The Redmi Note 14's internal storage can be expanded using a microSD card. The Redmi 14 can accommodate memory cards of up to 1 TB, and in our test, we used the AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60 as a reference card.

From three measurements, we achieved an average transfer speed of 24.7 MB/s. This puts the Note 14 on par with its predecessor. The Samsung Galaxy A15 proves that you can go significantly faster in this class, with a transfer speed that is almost twice as high.

The Redmi Note 14 comes with Android 14 and Xiaomi's HyperOS 1.0. At the time of reviewing, the security patch is from November 2024. There is no uniform update policy for the Note 14 series. Surprisingly, the cheapest Redmi Note 14 gets the longest support: The Redmi Note 14 will receive four years of OS updates and six years of security updates.

The HyperOS offers a variety of settings options. However, the device also comes with a ton of bloatware. In addition to numerous Xiaomi and Google apps, there is also software from Microsoft, game providers and third-party providers such as TikToc, Facebook, Alibaba, Booking and many more. With the exception of the Xiaomi apps, all programs can be easily deleted.

Xiaomi hasn't provided any information regarding the Redmi Note 14's carbon footprint. The device comes with packaging containing very little plastic, and the manufacturer advertizes the smartphone as being particularly durable. Xiaomi aims to achieve this through robust construction, using materials such as absorbent foam elements and reinforced corners.

Xiaomi promises a battery life of 4 years, which is said to be achieved through intelligent charging management.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 only supports Wi-Fi 5. In our tests, it achieved transfer speeds that are typical for its class when paired with our reference router, an Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000.

In the recorded measurements, the transmission was stable, and there were no drops. In everyday use, however, it is noticeable that the Redmi Note 14 often loses the Wi-Fi connection for a few seconds while other devices manage to remain connected to the network.

When it comes to mobile data, the device is unremarkable, but in our test, he transmission was stable. The cheapest model in the Note 14 series is not 5G-capable. In addition, the band coverage is relatively low, but all European-relevant bands are supported.

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 14 uses the Google telephone app. The software is uncluttered and poses no puzzles to the user. The quality of calls is fine, but the earpiece makes the other person's voice sound a bit tinny. Background noise could also be suppressed better, but interference is absent.

When making calls via the speaker, the device is loud enough.

Xiaomi no longer uses a Snapdragon CPU for its Redmi Note 14 but a MediaTek Helio G99. As the benchmark measurements show, this is a significant upgrade over the Snapdragon 685 4G found in the Redmi Note 13.

The chip might not be new, but it is also installed in other devices in this segment, such as the Poco M6 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy A15, which have both been on the market for some time now. As you would expect, these devices perform similarly to one another.

In everyday use, the Redmi Note 14 usually runs smoothly. However, with more demanding apps or many tasks running in parallel, stutters are present.

For its Redmi Note 14's graphics chip, Xiaomi uses a Mali-G57 MP2, and this is the same one put to use in the Poco M6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A15 4G. As expected, the results in the benchmarks are, therefore, very similar. However, the Motorola Moto G35 sets itself apart with its Mali-G57 MP4.

The graphics performance is sufficient to play even demanding games like PUBG Mobile quite smoothly in HD.

There are no surprises in the browser benchmarks and memory measurements. The Redmi Note 14's scores are class-typical, performing slightly better than its predecessor.

In everyday life, the Redmi Note 14's temperatures always remain low. Even when gaming, the device barely heats up. Under extreme load - in the Burnout benchmark - we reached a maximum temperature of 38.2 degrees Celsius on the upper side of the device.

The Xiaomi Radmi Note 14 has stereo speakers with the sound being emitted both to the front via the earpiece and upward, at the top of the phone. Even at full volume, no vibrations are present either on the frame or the rear.

Compared to its predecessor, the maximum volume has increased significantly. The mids are also nice and linear. However, even for a smartphone, there is a complete lack of bass and low frequencies. Xiaomi has fitted its Redmi Note 14 with a 3.5 mm audio jack connector. This has a signal-to-noise ratio of 77.25 dBFS, which is decent but not good.

In our tests, the smartphone connected easily to various Bluetooth headphones. The following standards are supported: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX TWS+, LHDC V1/V2/V3/V4/V5.

In its Redmi Note 14, Xiaomi has tuned the MediaTek Helio G99 differently compared to the Poco M6 Pro. Under load, the Redmi's power consumption is lower. The Redmi Note 14 is also more economical than the previous year's Note 13.

With the Redmi Note 14, Xiaomi has combined an economical processor with an AMOLED display and a large 5,500 mAh battery. Overall, we achieved very good runtimes. In our practical Wi-Fi internet surfing test, the Redmi Note 14 kept going for over 17.5 hours before it had to be recharged.

In everyday life, two days of use are not a problem. Even when gaming, the smartphone easily lasts a day without recharging. With the included 33-watt power adapter, the Redmi Note 14 can be charged from 10 to 60 percent in 35 minutes and from 10 to 90 percent in 60 minutes.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 is good but not a high-flyer in its class. The performance is better than its predecessor and now also competitive. However, the Note 14 is still not really a high-performing device. The Redmi smartphone doesn't make any mistakes, but, except for the battery life, it also lacks a bit of shine.

The Redmi Note 14 is a coherent overall package. Features, workmanship, and the included extras are impressive, especially concerning the price. For more demanding customers, the manufacturer also offers the Note 14 5G, Note 14 Pro, Note 14 Pro 5G and Note 14 Pro+ 5G.