Realme 14 Pro review: A balanced upgrade with a surprising camera trade-off

• 162.8 x 75 x 7.8mm | 181 grams (grey variant)
• IP68 / IP69 rating
• Gorilla Glass 5 for display
• Colors: Suede Grey | Pearl White | Jaipur Pink

The Realme 14 Pro, particularly in the Suede Grey color I received, exudes a premium feel thanks to its vegan leather finish, which adds sophistication while providing a comfortable grip. The phone is surprisingly slim even with the camera bump and lightweight for its large battery capacity, making it easy to hold and use for extended periods. On the front, it features Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The overall design is sleek and modern, with a minimalist camera module that blends seamlessly into the back panel. The flat edges contribute to a comfortable grip and a contemporary aesthetic. The phone also features MIL-STD-810H certification and an IP68/69 rating, enhancing its durability and making it resistant to dust, water, and other environmental challenges. Inside the box, you’ll find the Realme 14 Pro, a 45W SuperVOOC charger, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, a protective case, and some documentation.

• 6.78-inch AMOLED FHD+ (2392 x 1264p), 10-bit colors
• 120Hz refresh rate, 3840Hz PWM dimming
• 4,500nits peak brightness, 1400nits HBM
• HDR: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
• Dual speakers

The Realme 14 Pro houses a stunning 6.7-inch AMOLED display with almost equal-sized thin bezes on all four sides. The screen is curved-edge, curved on the left and right sides, but not all four sides like the Realme 14 Pro+. It offers a range of display schemes such as Vivid, Natural, and Pro modes for cinematic brilliance. Users can also adjust the screen temperature. The display offers an increased screen resolution of 1.5K and features 3840Hz PWM dimming. With a maximum brightness of up to 4,500 nits, the screen is vibrant and easily visible even under direct sunlight.

The high refresh rate options include Auto-Select, 60Hz, and 230Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations, contributing to a fluid user experience. Audio quality is also commendable. The dual stereo speakers deliver loud and clear sound. While it might not match the audio fidelity of flagship phones, it’s certainly good enough for casual listening and gaming.

• Dimensity 7300 Energy
• LPDDR5x RAM | UFS 3.1
• Variants: 8GB+128GB | 8GB+256GB
• Android 15 | Realme UI 6
• 6,000mAh battery | 45W wired charging

The Realme 14 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset, which delivers slightly better performance than the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 that powered the Realme 13 Pro. When it comes to gaming, the company claims support for 120fps in select titles. In my experience with Genshin Impact and Call of Duty, the phone handled gameplay well with no major heating issues after playing each for around 45 minutes.

The 14 Pro is blessed with a massive 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 45W charging. The phone easily lasts for two days and takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to achieve a full charge. It runs on the latest Realme UI 6 and Android 16, with the promise of two major OS updates and three years of security updates. As usual, there are many preloaded apps, some of which can be uninstalled or disabled.

• Front: 16MP Sony IMX480
• Rear: 50MP Sony LYT-808 wide camera with OIS + 2MP (SmartSens SC202CS, monochrome)

The camera setup on the Realme 14 Pro is perhaps its most controversial aspect. Unlike its predecessors, which boasted multiple cameras with varying focal lengths, the 14 Pro features a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens. However, the lack of an ultra-wide camera is a glaring omission, limiting versatility. This might deter photography enthusiasts who expect more comprehensive camera options at this price point.

In good lighting conditions, the main camera captures detailed and vibrant images with good dynamic range. The performance in low-light condition is fairly acceptable. The 16-megapixel front delivers decent performance in well-lit environments and also produces impressive portrait shots.

The phone offers 1x, 2x, and up to 20x digital zoom options, along with a portrait mode supporting 1x and 2x zoom. There is an underwater photography mode due to its IP68 rating and support for Live Photo. Video recording includes 4K at 30fps and 60fps, with the Ultra Steady OIS feature capped at 4K 60fps. Adjusting the aperture is possible only in 720p 30fps mode. For lively low-light shots, users can utilise the new MagicGlow triple-LED flash system, which provides adjustable brightness and colour temperature for realistic portraits.

The Realme 14 Pro includes a 6,000mm² VC cooling system and the GT mode found on flagship Realme GT 7 Pro models. Several Next AI-driven features enhance the user experience, including Clear Voice to filter ambient noise during calls, Share with iPhone, and Live Alerts, which work like Dynamic Island on iPhones. AI Screen Recognition and AI Snap mode help capture moving objects quickly, while AI Eraser and AI Ultra Clarity further elevate photography. Its under-display fingerprint sensor has been repositioned lower, making it more accessible and user-friendly.

For health-conscious users, the Realme Lab offers a heart rate measurement feature using the under-display fingerprint scanner, though its accuracy may not match medical-grade devices. AI Eye Care detects eye fatigue and adjusts screen settings accordingly. Air Gestures allow hands-free control of the phone, and the Free Call feature supports Bluetooth calling on compatible handsets, proving useful when there’s no network. However, I wish the Next AI features were consolidated into one place in the settings. Additionally, I hope Realme adds support for AI features like AI Transcribe and AI Remove Reflection through future updates. The inclusion of an IR blaster and NFC would have been nice additions in this price point.

While Realme’s numbered series has traditionally been known for its photography capabilities, the Realme 14 Pro takes a surprising step back in camera innovation. The Realme 12 Pro offered a telephoto lens, and the 13 Pro retained an ultra-wide lens while the telephoto camera was removed. However, the 14 Pro relies primarily on its 50-megapixel main sensor, with the 2-megapixel mono sensor adding minimal value. This pared-down camera setup may disappoint fans expecting cutting-edge photography from the series.

That said, the Realme 14 Pro shines in other areas, ensuring it remains a strong contender in its segment. Its superior display, capable chipset, and remarkable battery life make it a compelling choice for users prioritising performance and longevity over photography.

The Realme 14 Pro is priced as follows in India:

• 8GB + 128GB: Rs 24,999
• 8GB + 256GB: Rs 26,999
• Colors: Pearl White, Jaipur Pink, Suede Grey
• Pre-booking began on January 16
• Sale date: January 23 via Flipkart, Realme website, and offline stores

In the competitive landscape, the Poco X7 emerges as a worthy alternative with its 50-megapixel + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple-camera setup, a robust 5,110mAh battery, and a price of Rs 21,999. Meanwhile, the iQOO Z9s Pro, priced at Rs 22,999, delivers stellar performance with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, an impressive 5,500mAh battery with 80W fast charging, and a versatile triple-camera system.

Realme’s own portfolio also provides alternatives. The 13 Pro is available for Rs 26,999, though it might soon see a price drop or discontinuation. Interestingly, the Realme 12 Pro, priced at Rs 19,999, features a more versatile camera setup, including a telephoto lens, but compromises on other specifications. Ultimately, the Realme 14 Pro strikes a balance that may not satisfy photography enthusiasts but remains a reliable choice for those prioritising overall performance. Whether it fully lives up to its legacy depends on which aspects of the series’ strengths you value most.

Don’t miss a thing! Join our Telegram community for instant updates and grab our free daily newsletter for the best tech stories! 🚀