The Realme 14 Pro+ is the latest addition to the brand’s mid-range lineup, offering an impressive set of features that push the boundaries of what we expect from a mid-tier smartphone. Realme has focused heavily on design, camera capabilities, and overall user experience, making this device an appealing option for those looking for flagship-like features at a more accessible price. With its premium aesthetics, a camera system designed for versatility, and a capable chipset, the Realme 14 Pro+ positions itself as a strong competitor in the crowded smartphone market.
This review will take a deep dive into every aspect of the Realme 14 Pro+, including its design, display, performance, software, camera system, battery life, and overall usability. By the end of this hands-on analysis, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of whether this phone is worth your investment.
Design and Build Quality: A Stylish Transformation
The Realme 14 Pro+ brings a fresh and premium feel to the mid-range segment with its innovative design. One of the standout elements is the color-changing back panel, which reacts to temperature changes. The marbled swirls on the back transition from yellow at room temperature to blue when exposed to colder temperatures below 16°C, making the phone visually dynamic. Realme also offers a more traditional vegan leather option for those who prefer a classic finish.
Aside from the striking back panel, the Realme 14 Pro+ boasts a large, circular camera bump that mimics the look of high-end flagship devices. The rounded edges and glossy plastic frame contribute to a sleek and comfortable grip. Despite the plastic frame, the phone feels sturdy and premium, ensuring a solid in-hand experience.
Durability is another strong point of this phone. With an IP68 and IP69 rating, the Realme 14 Pro+ offers high resistance to dust and water. It can withstand full submersion and even heated water jets, making it one of the most rugged mid-range smartphones available.
It also meets U.S. military-grade standards for shock resistance, ensuring better longevity against accidental drops.
Display: A Visual Delight with Minor Shortcomings
Realme has made significant upgrades to the display of the 14 Pro+, equipping it with a 6.83-inch OLED panel. The screen offers a high resolution, enhanced clarity with a pixel density of 450 PPI, and a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This combination ensures a visually immersive experience whether you’re gaming, scrolling, or watching content.
The display also features Gorilla Glass 7 for durability and an advanced eye protection mode to reduce strain during extended use. While the screen supports 10-bit color, which enhances color vibrancy, it lacks official HDR video support. This might be a slight disappointment for those who consume a lot of HDR content on streaming platforms.
Brightness levels are solid but slightly lower than previous models. With manual settings, the display reaches around 560 nits, while auto mode can push brightness beyond 1,160 nits. This ensures decent outdoor visibility, but some competitors in this segment offer even higher brightness levels. The adaptive refresh rate efficiently drops to 60Hz when the screen is idle to help conserve battery life.
Performance: A Capable but Not Chart-Topping Chipset
At the heart of the Realme 14 Pro+ is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, which promises a noticeable improvement over its predecessor. In benchmark tests, the graphics performance shows a significant leap forward, but the CPU performance remains relatively unchanged compared to the previous generation. While it doesn’t outperform flagship processors, it delivers smooth performance for daily use, gaming, and multitasking.
The device offers multiple storage configurations, including 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. However, storage is not expandable, which means users will need to choose a model with sufficient internal space from the start. The phone also features an optical under-display fingerprint scanner that is both fast and reliable, ensuring quick access to the device.
Thermal management on the Realme 14 Pro+ is commendable. Even during prolonged gaming sessions and intensive tasks, the device shows minimal throttling, allowing for sustained performance. This makes it a reliable option for users who prioritize efficiency without worrying about excessive overheating.
Software: A Smooth Experience with Realme UI 6
The Realme 14 Pro+ runs on Realme UI 6, which is built on top of Android 15. The interface is highly polished, offering smooth navigation and a range of useful customization options. Since Realme shares its software DNA with Oppo and OnePlus, users familiar with those brands will find a similar experience here.
One of the notable UI enhancements is the split notification and quick settings panel, allowing users to access different controls by swiping from specific corners. Google’s Circle to Search is also integrated, alongside Realme’s Gemini AI Assistant, which provides smart assistance for various tasks. The gallery app comes equipped with AI-powered tools, such as an AI eraser for removing unwanted objects from photos.
Software support is decent, but not exceptional. The Realme 14 Pro+ is expected to receive two major Android updates and three years of security patches. While this is sufficient for most users, some competitors offer longer software support, which may be a consideration for those who prioritize longevity.
Camera System: A Versatile Setup with Strong Performance
Realme has equipped the 14 Pro+ with a robust camera system consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP 3x telephoto zoom lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. This setup provides a good balance of versatility, allowing users to capture a variety of shots with impressive detail.
The main camera captures well-balanced 12.5MP images by default, thanks to pixel binning. Photos exhibit accurate colors, good contrast, and a commendable dynamic range. However, finer details can sometimes appear slightly processed, with a waxy texture upon close inspection. The dedicated night mode delivers excellent low-light performance, producing well-exposed shots with minimal noise.
The 3x telephoto lens offers sharp zoomed-in photos with vibrant colors and no visible noise. It can also capture portrait shots with great subject isolation. However, its minimum focusing distance of 60cm means it isn’t ideal for macro shots. The ultra-wide camera, while above average for a mid-range device, doesn’t match the detail levels of the primary and telephoto sensors.
For selfies, the 32MP front camera delivers wide-angle shots with good detail, accurate colors, and low noise. Autofocus is an added advantage, ensuring consistently sharp images. Video capabilities are solid, with 4K recording available on most cameras, except for the ultra-wide lens, which is limited to 1080p.
Battery and Charging: Big Capacity, Fast Refueling
Battery life is a strong suit of the Realme 14 Pro+, thanks to its massive 6,000mAh capacity. Despite the increase in size, battery endurance is comparable to previous models, lasting around 14 hours of active use. This means users can comfortably get through a full day on a single charge, even with heavy usage.
The phone supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging, allowing it to reach 72% in just 30 minutes and a full charge in 55 minutes. However, in some regions, the charger is not included in the box, which might be an inconvenience for certain buyers.
Final Verdict: A Strong Mid-Range Contender
The Realme 14 Pro+ successfully blends premium features with a mid-range price tag, making it an attractive choice for users seeking value. With its stylish design, strong camera performance, long battery life, and durable build, it checks many of the right boxes.
However, the phone is not without its drawbacks. The lack of an IR blaster, slightly underwhelming speaker quality, and the absence of expandable storage may be dealbreakers for some. Additionally, while its chipset performs well, there are other mid-range phones with more powerful processors.
Overall, if you’re looking for a well-rounded smartphone that balances design, performance, and camera versatility, the Realme 14 Pro+ is a strong contender in the mid-range category.
