Having spent the better part of 2024 in the company of Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 Pro+, we were keen to see what Xiaomi had in store for this year. At a launch event in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 11 February, Xiaomi announced the new Redmi Note 14 series comprising five devices – Redmi Note 14 (4G + 5G), 14 Pro (4G+5G), and the 14 Pro+ 5G.

Xiaomi hasn’t wasted any time getting these out to the public, unusually selling a few models through the regular storefronts a whole week before the official launch. Xiaomi took the opportunity to put the spotlight on its five-strong 2025 smartphone array anyway, giving us a glimpse of its mid-range AI prowess.

Sticking to a budget

Don’t get it twisted. Aside from the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, there are 4G and 5G versions of both the Redmi Note 14 and 14 Pro. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, you’ll be stuck with the 4G versions, rocking weaker MediaTek Helio chipsets rather than the Dimensity SoC that you’d find in the 5G models. The mid-range Pro+ on the other hand, has only one 5G variant and features the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset.

Chipset discrepancies aside, Xiaomi’s cooked up what appears to be decent 4G smartphones this year. Both the Note 14 and 14 Pro (4G) feature 6.67in 120Hz AMOLED displays up front, surrounded by either Midnight Black or Ocean Blue colourways. Buried under the displays are the Helio G99 Ultra and G100 Ultra chipsets respectively. The two even share a 5,500mAh battery (33W and 45W charging respectively) that we’re eager to put to the test.

But it’s Xiaomi’s claims of a “flagship-level” camera that intrigue us most. The cheaper of the two, the regular Note 14 delivers three shooters; a 108MP main, 2MP depth, and 2MP macro sensor to round out the back, while a 20MP shooter sits up front. The Pro kicks it up to a 200MP main camera and 8MP ultrawide, capping it off with the same 2MP depth sensor found on the cheaper variant. A 32MP snapper adorns the front.

As for the Redmi Note 14 and 14 Pro (5G), expect a tougher, brighter display that supports HDR10+, improved sensors (particularly the addition of an 8MP ultrawide in the case of the Redmi Note 14 5G), better selfie cameras, and most importantly, improved chipsets. The Redmi Note 14 and 14 Pro 5G feature the Dimensity 7025 Ultra and 7300 Ultra respectively.

Unfortunately, a better SoC means taking a big hit to the expected battery life. While the Redmi Note 14 and 14 Pro (4G) sport huge 5,500mAh batteries, the 5G variants mimic their Pro+ counterpart with a still-decent 5,110mAh battery.

Going Pro+

The head of the Redmi Note 14 family is the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ which sports a new camera hump on the back, shared by the Pro (4G) model and nearly every other Chinese smartphone these days. It houses a 200MP sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP depth sensor, with the promise of Xiaomi’s newfound AI smarts that’ll supposedly take it to the next level. We’ll be the judge of that.

Otherwise, it’s a pretty standard affair. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC is a nice touch for this price range, as is the 6.67in 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display you’ll be looking at. Less impressive is the 5,110mAh battery (don’t be fooled by the promises of a 6,200mAh battery on Incredible’s listing) that’s only made up for by its 120W charger. Xiaomi reckons it’ll be more than enough to get you through the day.

Xiaomi also briefly mentioned that it would be bringing a TV – the TV A Pro – available in four sizes (43in, 55in, 65in, and 75in) to the South African market in 2026, with a starting price of R15,000.

All three devices are available locally from the regulars like Takealot, Incredible Connection, and Vodacom. The Redmi Note 14 (4G) is available for R5,000, featuring 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, while the Pro variant sports a R7,000 price and 8GB/256GB innards. The mid-range Pro+ debuted for R10,000, including a disappointing 8GB and 256GB storage.

As for the Redmi Note 14 and 14 Pro (5G), both devices are already available on Vodacom’s online store, featuring a price of R8,000 and R12,000 respectively.