Redmi Note 14 4G/5G review: The usual "good" Redmi Note value!

The Redmi Note 14 Series was unveiled just a week ago in Nepal. And I'm here with a review of the vanilla siblings of the lineup: Redmi Note 14 4G and Redmi Note 13 5G. Priced competitively for the already competitive scene, both are good offerings for a mid-range budget. And here in this Redmi Note 14 review, I'll share everything I have witnessed to help you pick the best as per your budget.  Before heading to the main review, let's have a quick specs of the Redmi Note 14, both 4G and 5G.

Redmi Note 14 4G & 5G Specifications:

• Buy Redmi Note 14 4G here
• Buy Redmi Note 14 5G here

Redmi Note 14 Review:

Design

Unboxing both of these guys, the experience is the same. You get a SIM ejector, Clear Case, phone itself and some paper manuals. And yeah, a compatible charging brick as well, 33W on the 4G and 45W on the 5G one. Talking of the hands-on feel, the 4G variant bears a flat-frame design while the 5G version has a slightly curved edge on the back. I personally, liked the Note 14 4G feel albeit it’s a bit heavier due to the 5500mAh battery but either way, it's a matter of personal preference. Both are well-built phones, I must say. And one common thing among the siblings is that both share a plastic back. Which is fine but a glass back would have been more appealing, right? In terms of ingress protection, the Note 14 5G sports a better rating– IP64 as compared to the basic IP54 rating of the 4G version. But still, the splash resistance stays at “4” on both, and only the dust resistance improves on the 5G sibling.  Likewise, both phones have a 3.5mm headphone jack for audiophiles and an IR blaster, which have been a very useful feature for Redmi phones over so many years.

Display

Moving to the displays, there is no day and night difference. Both phones feature a 6.67-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. In daily usage and media playback, there’s barely any difference to be honest. However, the Note 14 5G has a higher peak brightness (2100 nits vs. 1800 nits), making HDR content slightly more vivid. Both displays are protected by Gorilla Glass 5, an upgrade from the Gorilla Glass 3 on the Note 13 series. To conclude, both panels are very decent ones for the price. Moreover, Redmi does deserve praise for the fast 120Hz refresh rate especially for the Note 14 4G, as other brands only provide 90Hz refresh rate at that price point. And there is no compromise on the speaker's side too. You get a Dolby Atmos-powered dual-speaker setup on both siblings. The 5G version boasts a slightly louder output.

Performance

The Note 14 5G is powered by the new Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, while the 4G version uses the Helio G99 Ultra processor. In gaming tests, both performed similarly. In PUBG, both siblings can play PUBG at stable 39-40fps while Mobile Legends is playable at a smooth 60fps. Actually, I did anticipate the new chipset to perform better, for obvious reasons. But maybe, the Helio G99 has been here for some years now, and that's why apps and games have gotten optimized for this thing! While performing daily-life tasks such as multitasking and UI performance, the 5G sibling feels a bit more smoother. I found the 4G version to be a bit laggy while performing demanding tasks. Both phones run on Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS. Disappointingly, they didn’t launch with Android 15. Xiaomi promises two years of OS updates for both devices. So, you'll get an update until Android 16. Speaking of the HyperOS, it comes with a lot of pre-installed apps (bloatware), but most of them can be uninstalled, thankfully. But the ads are still here on some apps, devoiding you of a clean software experience!

Camera

Both phones have a 108MP primary camera, but the 5G version includes OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).

Daylight

In good lighting, both phones deliver similar results, but in challenging scenarios, the 5G version performs better dynamic range. The 5G version also has sharper low-light photos and better portraits, while the 4G version sometimes produces overly processed images.

Portraits

Night

Ultrawide

The 5G model has an 8MP ultra-wide camera, which is missing on the 4G version. But the samples are nothing extraordinary, so it's not a bummer for the absence on the Note 14 4G.

Selfies

Videos

For video, the 5G model supports 1080p at 30fps with gyro-EIS, producing stable footage. The 4G model supports 1080p at 60fps but lacks stabilization, resulting in shaky videos.

Battery and Charging

The 4G version has a larger battery, offering about an hour more backup compared to the 5G model. The 5G version charges faster, taking about 1 hour and 2 minutes with its 45W charger, while the 4G version takes 1 hour and 20 minutes with its 33W charger.

Conclusion

So, let's get to the conclusion. If your budget is tight and you need a phone with good battery life, a decent display, and acceptable performance, the Redmi Note 14 4G at NPR 25,000 is a great option. However, if you can stretch your budget a little, the Redmi Note 14 5G at NPR 31,000 offers better value with improved display brightness, IP rating, cameras, charging speed, and 5G support. Either way, both phones are providing the usual Good Redmi Note value without any doubt.

Redmi Note 14 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Nice Design and AMOLED panels for the price
• Decent Cameras
• Good value for money

Cons

• Ads on HyperOS
• No 60fps PUBG gameplay on the Note 14 5G