Realme 14 Pro+ Review: Plenty of Refinements

Realme’s rebranded Number Series entered the India market earlier this January, and the Realme 14 Pro+ leads the pack. Consider it a flagship at an affordable price, i.e., an upgrade over the 13 Pro Series, yet somehow made lighter on the wallet. Here is a verdict on Realme’s lastest gamble following weeks of hands-on time with the Realme 14 Pro+, with a bit of new chipset, more imperious design, bigger battery, and cameras having an extra punch with the help of that outlandish flash.

The Realme 14 Pro+ 5G is now out for an introductory price of Rs. 29,999 for the 8GB + 128GB version. A need for higher storage? Then go for the 8GB + 256GB (Rs. 31,999) or even 12GB + 256GB (Rs. 34,999) model. Choose your aura: Bikaner Purple with a pop of color, pearl white with class, or classy suede grey. We obtained the review unit in Suede Grey and are about to do some benchmarking.

Realme 14 Pro+ Design: Stylish and durable

• Dimensions – 163.51×77.34×8.29mm (Suede Grey)
• Weight – 196g
• Colours – Pearl White, Suede Grey, Bikaner Purple

Coming to Realme 14 Pro+, it doesn’t want to holler revolution but rather softly whisper evolution. The backside retains the circular camera module as a point of focus, yet that hefty watch-inspired ring is replaced by a slightly understated metal bezel. And talking about cameras- forget the one or two flashes; 14 Pro+ has Realme’s “MagicGlow” system with its three LED lights for brighter, more evenly lit pictures.

The luxury watch design from last year is no more

The Suede Grey edition is singing of luxury with its vegan leather back: a feel that so much vastly outshines the very common finishes on so many phones. The idea of running fingers through that velvety surface is a discreetly luxe gesture, almost a secret ritual every time one goes to fetch one’s device.

Pearl White is always a chameleon in the pocket. Witness it transforming, as a touch of cold, anything under 16°C, streaks the rear panel with hues of cool blue: Not just a phone, it is one kind of mood ring that also happens to feel extremely elegant from about 7.9mm thin.

The suede vegan leather is soft to the touch and offers a premium feel

Elegantly sculpted, the quad-curved rear of the phone melts into the palm. While the frame could be of plastic, that’s just a trick-the finish is glossier than one would expect from a mere toy. Power and volume buttons, for tactile comfort, are placed on the right side, all within thumb’s reach. On the bottom are the usual lineup: SIM tray, microphone, loudspeaker, and a USB-C port. Attend to the top, and there you have another array of microphones and speaker, alongside the concealed IR blaster, which will happily control your entire world.

The frame is still made from plastic

Realme’s 14 Pro+ laughs at danger. This phone is more than just splash-proof really-and-dare-I-say-it-kind-of-drop-proof. Submerge it in water or blast it with high-pressure water; hell, bury it in dust, and the IP69, IP66, and IP68 certifications will cover anything. So, you see, built to US military standards (MIL-STD-810H), the 14 Pro+ can effortlessly withstand whatever life may throw at it.

Realme 14 Pro+ Display: Immersive

• Size and type – 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 450ppi, Quad curved
• Refresh rate – 120Hz
• Protection – Corning Gorilla Glass 7i

Not only does Realme 14 Pro+ boast of a good display, but it also performs visual symphony. The display, bigger than its predecessor, embraces one with all its colors. The real magician winning the hearts of the vacuous is the quad-curved lineup. In fact, bezels have barely been diminished and are strikingly symmetrical, so much so that they almost disappear into the phone’s frame. That opetation gave rise to the unprecedented level of immersion that could blend the device into reality. Fear not about phantom taps, though- the mild curve does ensure smooth control and an engaging experience by preventing mistouches.

The display is bright and vivid but lacks HDR support

One can’t help but notice the selfie camera standing out in an otherwise discreet hole-punch atop, while underneath, an optical fingerprint scanner hides, awaiting your command. The ear speaker is but a thinly veiled whisper from above. The screen further blazes with 1,500 nits of pure brightness, unmatched under any sunlight. A 10-bit canvas worth of colors awaits your look-here’s hoping HDR and Dolby Vision might get a rain check on this one.

The phone lets you choose between auto, 60Hz, and 120Hz refresh rates, and you can also change the colour profile.

Realme 14 Pro+ Software: There’s some Bloatware

• UI – Realme UI 6.0
• OS – Android 15
• Latest security patch – February 2025

The Realme 14 Pro+ is a classic bloatware sanctuary. Much of this digital junk can be easily uninstalled in a matter of seconds, yet its very presence cannot be denied at the outset. Besides the bloat, this software experience feels like the highly polished Color OS by Oppo and Oxygen OS by OnePlus. The device runs on Realme UI 6.0 based on Android 15. Realme promises to provide OS upgrades for two years, along with security updates for three. This sort of commitment is enough to provide you with a little bit of future-proofing.

You’ll find plenty of bloatware on the phone

Forget fumbling – Quick Settings and Notifications now have their own dedicated spaces! The Smart Sidebar is back to help with multitasking, but Air Gestures are where the real magic happens. And that’s not all: AI is showered all over like fairy dust. From Google’s Circle to Search and powered by Gemini, at your fingertips! Photo editing is also powered by AI, thanks to the Eraser and Ultra Clarity tools available in the Gallery app. The Eraser could be surprisingly effective most of the time; sometimes it would just get a little too enthusiastic.

Realme 14 Pro+ Performance: Good enough

• SoC – Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
• RAM – Up to 12GB LPDDR4X
• Storage – Up to 256GB UFS 3.1

The Realme 14 Pro+ is the idol of the improvement levels! Never get bothered by lag again because the upgraded Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset blesses you with very fast performance. A beast of a 4nm, octa-core chipset, when combined with a maximum 12GB RAM and 256GB monster storage, it has really put an end to the sluggishness. Smoothing animations, navigating about fluidly, and launching apps swiftly will give you a big question on how you ever lived without one. It just barely keeps up, the Realme 14 Pro+ instead flies!

The phone performs well in day-to-day usage

In the draconian test of synthetic benchmarks, the old 14 Pro+ managed to hang in there unfolding exactly where expected in the chipset class. But here’s the kicker: it could barely take some latest contemporaries for a spin and gave quite a stretch to a contender called the Nothing Phone 3a-a strong statement that the old beast has yet to grow weary.

The chipset is what transforms this phone into a portable gaming rig. I ran BGMI on Very High settings, and it was butter smooth. The phone stayed reasonably cool for it has never gotten heated up after long gaming. If you need an extra boost, run the phone in GT Mode for ultimate gaming performance.

Gaming on the phone is fun, and it doesn’t heat up a lot

Unlocking this phone is a cinch; the in-display fingerprint setup is fast, and not once did it go wrong during the course of this entire review. Now regarding the sound, come and get an immersive experience from the hybrid dual stereo speakers. They offer a surprisingly good punchy bass and indoor-level volume. But the purists would say that the sound is somewhat muddy. However, plugging in some headphones is where the fun really begins. Call quality is crystal clear, thanks to great microphones, and the antennas proved to be rock solid, banishing call drops to a forgotten nightmare.

Realme 14 Pro+ Cameras: Same but different

• Wide – 50-megapixel Sony IMX896, f/1.8, OIS
• Telephoto – 50-megapixel Sony IMX882, f/2.65, OIS
• Ultrawide – 8-megapixel Sony IMX896, f/2.2, 112 degree FoV
• Selfie – 32-megapixel, f/2.0, autofocus

The Realme 14 Pro+ has definitely been creating waves in mobile photography instead of just getting on the numbers game. No increment here, this one is a revolution. A total sensor transplant has happened to the primary, the ultrawide, and the selfie cameras. By virtue of this change, the selfie camera now has autofocus for crisply detailed self-portraits. While the telephoto periscope stays way, a brand new MagicGlow triple-flash system steals the show. Picture a maestro conducting light: there are three LEDs, each with a different color temperature, all blending together to cast a natural, flattering glow on your low-light portraits. Adjust the brightness to your liking and bid adieu to hard, synthetic flash.

The MagicGlow triple flash system does actually improve lowlight portrait photos

Dive in and capture the unseen world. From an intuitive interface holding just the necessary photo essentials, Realme’s camera is a place where functionality blends perfectly with the aesthetics. But are we convinced? The Underwater mode-everything else is an add-on to the mode-actually takes a stand in its own right. Swim in 1.5 m depths for 60 minutes, and an entirely new world for photography will open up to you.

Photographs commissioned with plenty of sunshine from the sky are brimming with life. Details are well-captured, with colors feeling a little juiced-up for a more tempting presentation. The zoom, however, leaves much to be desired! Landside shots impress; get closer, and pixel-peepers will notice the sharpness giving way as they peel into the frame.

Daylight samples from the primary rear camera [Tap to expand]

Bring in daylight and open the gates to ultrawide! Realme’s 8MP shooter never ceases to amaze, capturing crisply defined details and vibrant colours. Gone are the days of a bland sky-the dynamic range is spot on, and the white balance too astutely fine-tuned. Even better are the almost-on-the-spot vanishings of edge distortions usually caused in ultrawide lenses. Simply put, you have beautiful vistas without distortions. See for yourself:

[Image of daylight ultrawide photo showcasing good detail and colour] [Image of daylight ultrawide photo showcasing minimal distortion]

Daylight samples from the 8-megapixel ultrawide camera [Tap to expand]

Theater light? Three times the periscope telephoto. It doesn’t only take pictures; instead, it creates them. Expect ultra-sharp details, colors worthy of the truth, and the range of infinite drapes, just enough for the soul of a scene. Portrait mode is the jewel of this camera, fantastically isolating your subject with a bokeh so dreamy that it is an artwork in itself. While youcanzoom further after 3x, remember that this is digital zoom and best enjoyed on the phone itself to appreciate the details.

Daylight samples from the 3x Telephoto periscope camera [Tap to expand]

Portrait shot at 3x zoom using the telephoto camera [Tap to expand]

When the night falls in, so does the camera awakening. The main headset is a nocturnal eye, capable of catching cityscapes drenched in vibrant hues and shadow plays. Dynamic range is stretched with all its might to unearth the details hidden in the darkness. Exposure is finely balanced on a pinhead; night mode kicks in, and an unseen guardian shields a shot from murkiness.

Even with the telephoto lens working at twilight, it is able to deliver a respectable night performance. However, this superiority in sharpness does not go to the telephoto lens, retaining more saturated colors, good dynamic range performance, and proper exposure.

The ultrawide lens has its own tale to share. Softness creeps into detail, but these images do not really lose against time, trying to give a snapshot of the broader world even after the sun goes down.

Top to bottom: Lowlight samples from Main camera (2), Ultrawide (2), and Telephoto 3x (2)

Testing the MagicGlow flash for low-light portraits yielded more natural-looking results than a standard flash.

Taking selfies with the Realme 14 Pro+ has received a welcome upgrade. Autofocus means you can now wink at those easy-to-crisp self-portraits. Yet with digital zoom, softer, detailizing results come forth. The front camera, on the other hand, carries a better level of detail and light variation than most. Say cheese! (Besides, do not zoom).

Resolution, please: the camera’s video capabilities hit 4K such kind of detail, sparkling colors, and different respective exposure levels. Another step ahead goes the stabilization where shaky footage is an option: Keep to the main lens or the 3x telephoto, as stage setups give the cleanest results. The ultrawide is versatile but tends to generate more noise in the film. Selfies are shot in 4K, with beautifully crisp footage and surprisingly accurate skin tones.

Realme 14 Pro+ Battery: Big Upgrade

1. Capacity – 6,000mAh
2. Type – Silicon-carbon
3. Fast charging – 80W

The Realme 14 Pro+ is equipped with a next-gen silicon carbide battery, promising a leap in longevity. But here’s the twist: our tests painted a different picture. While the 14 Pro+ packs this advanced tech rarely seen at this price, surprisingly it clocked slightly fewer hours than the predecessor. In our HD video loop gauntlet, it went for approximately 28 hours, stepping back from the 32 hours of loyalty rendered by the Realme 13 Pro+, in spite of the latter having a smaller battery. Is this cutting-edge battery technology not quite ready for primetime?

The Realme 14 Pro+ offers a silicon carbon battery

Depending on what you consider normal usage, the battery life is quite dependable, providing an hour-and-a-half or so under moderate usage or a full day when pushing the device harder. A fast charger with 80W is a real lifesaver when you run low on battery. The device couldn’t quite hit Realme’s promised mark of full charge in one hour during our testing (30 minutes, 33%, 60 minutes, 68%), but Realme assures us newer firmware updates could improve charging performance further.

Realme 14 Pro+ Verdict

The Realme 14 Pro+ is not just another ordinary device; it is a statement. Starting at Rs. 29,999, it showcases an almost head-turning design, alongside a vibrant display that somehow pulls you in (though HDR and Dolby Vision are out of the specs). Capture your world with its rather capable camera, more so when you’re zooming in to nail your composition. Power through your day (and night) with a battery that just won’t quit, and don’t sweat the minor stuff: This guy’s got an IP69 rating, which means it can take practically anything you throw at it. Upgrading? Yeah, if you have the Realme 13 Pro+, maybe just hold on for a little longer. The Realme 14 Pro+ is worthy of serious consideration if you want a phone that merges style, performance, and toughness.

In this very crowded arena, it seeks to compete with the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, the alluring Nothing Phone 3a, and the powerful Poco X7 Pro. The Redmi and Nothing phones share a mind (read: the same chipset!) but Redmi somehow throws in Dolby Vision and superior charging speed. Do not discount Nothing! It provides an extraordinary design, really good bloat-free software, and a rather decent main camera. Poco X7 Pro, on the other side, does not win in photography but surely delivers performance that typical flagship would.'”

Just step aside, because OnePlus Nord 4 and Motorola Edge 50 Pro are hustling for the crown! Both have the charm of eye-candy design, cameras that immortalize a moment in glorious detail, popping displays, and software behaving almost like an extension of the user. The war for premium features and the war for your pocket money should start now.

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