03.03.2025 
The mid-range smartphone market is very competitive, with many manufacturers offering better phones than ever before at reasonable prices. In Europe, as well as in other regions, realme has recently launched their 14 series, which includes the 14 Pro, and the 14 Pro+. These smartphones pack new hardware, slightly larger displays, an IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, and some surprising changes to the camera system. If you want to learn more about the Realme 14 Pro and what it has to offer, read this in-depth review:
Realme 14 Pro: Who is it good for?
This smartphone is an excellent choice if you:
- Want an affordable smartphone with generous battery capacity
- Are looking for a device with improved water, dust, and shock resistance
- Want to take pictures underwater
Pros and cons
These are the things I like most about the Realme 14 Pro:
- Affordable pricing
- Excellent battery life
- Good quality OLED display
- IP69-certified resistance to dust and water
- It’s lighter than most competitors in its price range
- Can be used to take pictures underwater
- Five years of security updates
As for downsides:
- Downgraded camera system compared to previous models
- A bloated software experience
- Slow Wi-Fi connectivity
- In some regions like the EU, users don’t get a charger
Verdict
Evaluating the Realme 14 Pro is not easy. If you assess it on its own, without considering its predecessors or competition, this smartphone is a competent mid-range choice likely to satisfy many users. Compared to its forerunners, the Realme 14 Pro features slightly better hardware and an IP69 rating for improved durability, but downgrades the camera system and omits the charger from its packaging. If you're contemplating purchasing it at its launch price, you might find a better deal with one of its precursors (the Realme 13 Pro or the Realme 12 Pro). However, if you can wait a few months, its retail price is likely to drop, making it a more attractive option for those in search of a midrange smartphone with solid hardware and the latest version of Android.
Unboxing the Realme 14 Pro
Realme has a tradition of creating simple product packaging, using yellow as the dominant color. The Realme 14 Pro is no exception to this rule. On the top cover, you get to see the product name and an AI logo in the top right corner. On the back of the box, you find a bit of information about the device, including details on the main camera, its battery, the chipset powering this smartphone, and its IP69 dust and water resistance rating.
Realme 14 Pro comes in a yellow cardboard cox
When you open the box, you immediately see another small yellow box. Take it out, and you find the smartphone covered in a thin protective foil. Unboxing everything reveals the following items: the Realme 14 Pro, its USB cable, a protective case, a SIM ejection tool, the quick start guide, and other leaflets. Realme has decided to no longer bundle a charger in the European Union and other regions, which is unfortunate. However, markets like India do get a charger included with their smartphone.
You don't get a charger in the box
Unboxing the Realme 14 Pro doesn’t take long, and users will appreciate having a protective case bundled with their smartphone. Unfortunately, not all regions get chargers in the standard packaging, and in markets like the European Union, users need to buy one separately.
Design and build quality
The Realme 14 Pro comes in Pearl White (left) and Suede Grey (right). Unfortunately, both are quite dull and fail to stand out. This is particularly noticeable when comparing the 14 Pro to its predecessors. I loved the colors of the Realme 12 Pro that we reviewed last year and the materials used for the back cover. This year’s model appears more conservative than earlier versions. Even the Realme 13 Pro featured more vibrant colors that attracted a younger audience.
The color options for Realme 14 Pro
While both color versions of the Realme 14 Pro have a display size of 6.77 inches, their dimensions and weights differ. The Pearl White version is slightly thinner, measuring 162.75 × 74.92 × 7.55 mm (6.41 × 2.95 × 0.30 inches) and weighs 179 grams (6.31 ounces). In contrast, the Suede Grey model is a bit thicker at 7.79 mm (0.31 inches) and weighs 181.5 grams (6.4 ounces). On the back of the Realme 14 Pro, you see a large camera ring with what appears to be three camera lenses. Unfortunately, one of them is fake. I don’t like this approach as it feels like cheating.
The camera ring is large and appears to include three lenses
There’s also a selfie camera on the front, with a dedicated punch hole on the top side of the display. If you look at the pictures I’ve taken, you’ll notice that the corners of the Realme 14 Pro are rounded, making it more comfortable to hold.
The selfie camera has a punch hole on the top side of the display
The buttons are placed on the right side of the device. You get the usual Power button and the Volume rocker. Even if the smartphone is large and tall, the position of these buttons makes it easy to press them while holding the device with one hand. The Realme 14 Pro's left edge does not have buttons.
The buttons are on the right edge
The SIM tray, the USB charging port, a speaker, and a microphone are located on the bottom of the device.
The SIM tray is on the bottom of the Realme 14 Pro
On the top edge, you find an infrared blaster and a secondary microphone. The second speaker, which is barely visible, is placed above the screen.
The top edge of the Realme 14 Pro
One of the Realme 14 Pro's standout features is its IP69-rated dust and water resistance, which is rare in smartphones at its price point. It also offers enhanced strength and drop protection, passing the TÜV Rheinland Rugged Smartphone Certification and the Military Grade Shock-Resistance Test.
Design-wise, the Realme 14 Pro isn’t standing out in today’s crowded budget smartphone market. It doesn’t look bad, but it isn’t beautiful either. Even though it is a large device, it doesn’t feel too heavy and is one of the thinnest in its price range. Its standout feature is its IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, which will be appreciated by users looking for a more rugged smartphone.
Hardware specifications
The Realme 14 Pro features relatively powerful mid-range hardware. The smartphone is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek 7300 Energy 5G chipset and comes in various RAM and storage configurations: 8 or 12 GB of RAM, while storage options include 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card slot to expand the storage capacity. Therefore, if you take many pictures and regularly record videos, choose one of the versions with more storage space.
Details about the hardware inside the Realme 14 Pro
The 6.77-inch display uses an OLED panel with a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Its resolution is 2392 x 1080, and the typical brightness is 800 nits, with a maximum of 1400 nits. The selfie camera on the top side of the display can also be used for face unlock, while the optical fingerprint scanner is on the bottom. Unfortunately, the display isn’t protected by Corning Gorilla Glass like the one on the previous model, the Realme 13 Pro. This is available only on the more expensive Realme 14 Pro+.
The display features an OLED panel and also houses the fingerprint sensor
While the camera system on the back is prominent and looks just as large as the one on previous models, the Realme 14 Pro comes with a downgraded camera system. You don’t get three lenses on the back of the smartphone like it appears, but two: a wide 50 Megapixel Sony IMX882 camera with optical image stabilization, which can record video in 4K and 30 frames per second (fps), and a 2 Megapixel monochrome camera, used to enhance the results you get from the main camera.
The selfie camera features a 16-megapixel sensor, an 85-degree field of view, and an f/2.4 aperture. It can record in 1080p at 30 frames per second without optical image stabilisation. Spec-wise, the camera system represents a downgrade over the older Realme 12 Pro and even the Realme 13 Pro, which is bound to disappoint some users.
On the back of the phone, you get two real camera lenses
Realme 14 Pro has a battery with a capacity of 6000 mAh, which charges at a speed of 45 Watts. As I mentioned before, you don’t get a charger in markets like the European Union, and you have to purchase one separately. If you have a SUPERVOOC charger, the battery is supposed to charge from 1% to 50% in 36 minutes. Unfortunately, the charging speed has also been downgraded when compared to the 67 Watts offered by the Realme 12 Pro.
Details about the battery on the Realme 14 Pro
Connectivity-wise, the Realme 14 Pro offers 5G mobile connections, GPS, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6. I find it odd that we don’t get Wi-Fi 6E since the MediaTek 7300 chipset is compatible with such networks. The smartphone also features dual speakers and dual-mic noise cancellation. It can use two nano SIM cards and provides eSIM support.
Regarding specifications, the Realme 14 Pro is a decent mid-range Android smartphone. Its chipset should provide an enjoyable experience for everyday use and casual gaming. Unfortunately, this new model also features slower charging and a downgraded camera system compared to the Realme 12 Pro we reviewed last year. For more details about the smartphone’s key features and hardware specifications, check out its official webpage: Realme 14 Pro.
Now that you have a solid understanding of this smartphone’s design and hardware, let’s explore its real-life performance, the quality of its camera system, and its benchmark results. Click or tap on the next page to keep reading this review.
