If you live for posting updates, sharing snaps of your daily adventures, and capturing those spontaneous moments before they pass, then you know a capable smartphone isn’t just a want but a NEED.
The new Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Sand Gold is stepping into that space with a pretty big promise: Style, performance, and powerful photography, all wrapped into a sleek device that you can proudly show off, whether you’re out with friends or documenting your solo city strolls. But the usual question is: How does it hold up for the modern, always-connected lifestyle? Here’s my review after using it for almost two weeks:
Inside the Box
First impressions matter and Redmi keeps it simple. Inside the box, you’ll find the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G in a Sand Gold finish (but it’s also available in Midnight Black and Frost Blue), a black jelly case in case you don’t feel like showing off that muted gold back panel, a 120W HyperCharge adapter, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and the usual guides.
The inclusion of a 120W fast charger is a plus, considering some brands have moved away from including chargers altogether. However, I just have to point out that it’s quite heavy for a smartphone charger. You may also need an adapter since most electric sockets in the Philippines are for flat pins.
Design and Display
Despite my reservations on the charger part, one thing’s for sure: Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G in Sand Gold is still a vibe. In terms of color, it’s not loud in an overwhelming way. Instead, it has this subtle metallic sheen that catches light just right. Whether you’re at a brunch, a beach trip, or simply holding it up for a mirror selfie, it naturally draws attention without trying too hard.
The back panel feels solid and it’s not a fingerprint magnet which is also a plus for those who prefer not using the jelly case. Although the smartphone is quite big, its curved edges make the device comfortable to hold even during extended scrolling sessions. Aside from its beautiful design, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is also a fighter with a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for durability, and IP54 dust and splash resistant rating, giving users peace of mind during unexpected drops and splashes. In case of rain, rest assured that the display can also stay usable with its Wet Touch 2.0 feature that allows you to tap on the screen even while it drizzles.
In front, you’ll find a vibrant 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display with a sharp 1.5K resolution (2712×1220), 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 3000 nits. It holds up impressively even under the harsh sun, which means it’s usable outdoors even under this scorching heat. Thanks to TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification, your eyes also get a break during late-night doomscrolling or Netflix marathons.
Cameras
The 200MP main camera here isn’t just a big number on paper. It delivers images packed with detail, even when you crop in. With Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), shaky hands won’t ruin your shots, and the Xiaomi Imaging Engine 2.0 ensures speedy capture and color balance without making everything look overly processed.
New creative tools are also really handy. It has an AI Erase Pro which removes photobombers in just a few swipes, an AI Image Expansion which magically widens a photo’s frame that fits the social media grid of your preference, a Remove Reflection option to cleanup your image, and a Sky effect to improve the appearance of clouds in your outdoor photos. These tools give casual shooters and budding content creators even more ways to level up their shots without relying on third-party apps.
While the images turn out looking decent enough, I find the colors a bit dull compared to what they look like in real life when taken under indoor lights. Take these food photos for example. Anyone who has tried ordering from Salad Stop can attest that the corn and crab sticks don’t look pale in real life. Not a deal breaker for me, though, as it’s still able to capture the details clearly and with depth.
As for its zoom capabilities, you get 1x, 2x, and 4x options upfront but you can still toggle this up to 30x when you press any of the zoom options for a few seconds. Depending on the lighting, the photos start to become grainy once you’re past 4x zoom. Still handy when you need to see something from afar, though.
Bonus: The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G supports a variety of vlog and filter modes for creating aesthetic clips for your Instagram Reels or TikToks. Dual video can be used for interviews and POV shots, time-lapse for travel clips, and slow motion for a bit of drama. There’s also a panorama and long exposure mode for artsy snaps and a pro version for those who know how to tinker with the camera.
The 20MP front camera also does a fine job. Selfies come out clear and natural, even in slightly challenging lighting, and video calls are crisp without weird skin-smoothing effects. Unlike other Android smartphones, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is able to capture actual skintone colors — not too saturated and not too pale, even against the light or under indoor lighting.
Storage and Performance
With 12GB of RAM and a spacious 512GB of internal storage, you can keep thousands of photos and videos, download large games like Roblox, Pokemon Unite, Sky: Children of the Light, and switch between apps without annoying lag. If ever this isn’t enough, there’s still Memory Extension available for an extra 24GB of RAM. All you need to do is enable it under Settings.
Powering the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor which is an efficient yet capable chip built on a 4nm process. Daily tasks like social media browsing, gaming, and content editing run buttery smooth. Even when switching between TikTok, Instagram, Capcut, Google Docs, and YouTube, the phone didn’t show signs of slowing down.
What’s more, the integration of Google Gemini AI tools boosts productivity. Whether it’s smart photo editing, voice typing via AI Notes and AI Recorder, or language translation via AI Interpreter, AI helps take off some of the load when you’re juggling tasks.
I’ve tried spending a weekend of non-stop binge-watching my favorite Netflix shows and playing Honor of Kings in between but it remained responsive despite heating up a bit. There’s also a Game Turbo support to ensure quality performance, easy screen recording and screenshots, notification management, and a lot more!
At its price point, it’s also worth mentioning that the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ supports dual SIMs — either a nano SIM paired with another nano SIM or you can use one nano SIM and an eSIM. This eSIM support would be very handy for travelers who need foreign SIM cards without needing to look for kiosks at the airport. I’ve tried traveling to Malaysia recently and all I had to do was to purchase an eSIM from Klook and activate it in a few taps!
For connectivity, the smartphone comes with a dual nano SIM, IR blaster so you can use your smartphone as a remote control, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, GPS, and NFC.
Battery
For those who almost always have a trip outdoors, no need to worry about battery life because the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G is packed with a 5110mAh battery which lasts more than a full day of moderate to heavy use. Whether you’re taking videos, uploading stories, or navigating city streets with Google Maps on full brightness, the phone keeps up.
And when you do need a quick recharge, the 120W HyperCharge support is a lifesaver! It’s capable of juicing up your phone from 10% to 100% in just about 30 minutes. Plus, with Battery Health 3.0 and Smart Charging 2.0, Redmi promises slower battery degradation over time, perfect for users who plan to stick with their phones for several years.
Price and Availability
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Sand Gold is now available through authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide and online channels priced at PHP 20,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant, PHP 22,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, and PHP 24,999 for the top-tier 12GB + 512GB model.
Overall, I’d say the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Sand Gold is not just another pretty face in the smartphone world. It combines an elegant design, dependable power, a capable camera suite, and smart everyday features that make life just a bit easier.
If you’re a content creator at heart, a memory-keeper among friends, or simply someone who values ease + quality + style in one device, this phone checks the right boxes.
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