The smartphone market is excitedly buzzing after Realme unveiled its latest gem—the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G—at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this month. Promising a standout design, robust gaming performance, and a camera system that punches above its weight, this mid-range contender has a lot to offer. I recently took the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G on a trip with my media crew, putting it through its paces all day. From snapping pics to gaming sessions, we tested it all. So, does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into this detailed review and find out!

Design & Build: A Color-Changing Marvel

The Realme 14 Pro+ 5G immediately catches the eye with its innovative design. Sporting a plastic back panel, it introduces the world’s first cold-sensitive, color-changing technology—thermochromic magic at its finest. Available exclusively in the Pearl White variant, this feature shifts the back from a sleek white to a vibrant blue with an ocean wave pattern when temperatures dip below 16°C. Developed in collaboration with Copenhagen-based Valeur Designers, this aesthetic twist screams modern and forward-thinking.

While it’s undeniably cool, there’s a lingering question: will this effect fade over time? Only long-term use will tell. If you prefer a subtler vibe, realme also offers Suede Gray and Beacon Purple options. Weighing just 194 grams, the phone feels surprisingly light and comfy to hold despite its size. The seamless convergence of the display and frame adds a premium touch, and the layout is practical—power and volume buttons on the right, a clean left side, and a USB-C port, dual SIM slot, speaker grille, and noise-canceling mics on the top and bottom.

Display: A Visual Treat

The Realme 14 Pro+ 5G boasts a 6.83-inch 1.5K Quad-Curved OLED display, shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. In our testing, it delivered a stellar viewing experience—vibrant colors, sharp contrast, and buttery-smooth scrolling thanks to its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Whether I was browsing social media or binge-watching videos, the screen impressed me. With a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, it held up beautifully outdoors, even under harsh sunlight—no squinting required.

The dual stereo speakers complement the display perfectly, offering rich sound without needing to crank the volume to the max. At mid-level, the audio detail was still immersive, making it a solid pick for media lovers on the go.

Camera: Flagship-Level Snaps in a Mid-Range Package?

For shutterbugs and Instagram enthusiasts, the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G’s camera system is a major highlight. It rocks a triple-camera setup: a 50MP main shooter with OIS, a 50MP periscope lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, all housed in a circular module with Realme’s “MagicLO Triple Flash.” This flash lets you tweak tones to match your mood—adjustable right in the camera app. Up front, a 32MP selfie camera sits in a punch-hole notch.

Both the main and selfie lenses can shoot 4K video at 30fps, though the cinematic-style depth-of-field mode drops to 1080p at 30fps—ideal for less shaky shots. Daytime photos were a delight, with vivid colors and great clarity. At night, the output leaned slightly warm, but the detail remained impressive. We also loved the AI Erase feature in the gallery app (Wi-Fi required), which effortlessly removes clutter from shots. Another standout? The underwater mode—perfect for poolside snaps, complete with water ejection post-shoot.

Check out our sample images and videos in the original YouTube video (linked below)—some lightly edited in the gallery app for that extra pop. For a mid-ranger, this camera setup feels borderline flagship.

Performance: Gaming and Beyond

Under the hood, the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, paired with 12GB of RAM (expandable up to 14GB via Dynamic RAM Expansion) and 512GB of storage in our unit. Daily tasks like social media scrolling, photo editing, and movie streaming were a breeze. Gaming? My friend Ara raved about her lag-free Mobile Legends sessions, and even graphic-intensive titles ran smoothly on low-to-medium settings. There was a slight warmup after prolonged play, but nothing uncomfortable.

In benchmarks, the phone scored over 800K on AnTuTu—a 300K jump from its predecessor—solidifying its mid-range prowess. Occasional minor lags cropped up, but they didn’t derail the experience. Running on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0, the interface is clean and bloatware-light, resembling the polished Oppo Reno 13 Pro UI. Handy AI features like Smart Loop, AI Assistant, and Hyper Boost for gaming add extra flair, with AI Screen Recognition being a personal favorite for quick info grabs.

Battery & Connectivity: All-Day Power

The Realme 14 Pro+ 5G packs a hefty 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging—a combo that sounds unbeatable. In our PCMark battery test, it lasted 11 hours and 28 minutes, which was surprising given the capacity. Real-world use told a different story, though—I squeezed out a day and a half with moderate use (social media, photos, and light gaming). Battery life will vary by user, but it’s reliable enough for most.

Connectivity is top-notch: dual nano-SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC keep you linked up seamlessly.

Final Thoughts: Worth Your Money?

The realme 14 Pro+ 5G left me impressed. It nails the essentials—premium design, a gorgeous display, and a camera that rivals pricier phones—while delivering solid performance for gamers and multitaskers alike. If you’re hunting for a mid-range smartphone with flagship-level camera chops and a unique flair, this could be your match.

Pricing details are still under wraps as of March 20, 2025, but we’ll update this post (or the video’s description) once they drop. For now, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G feels like a steal for what it offers.

About the Author

Earl Javier
Tech Reviewer & Mobile Enthusiast

Earl Javier is a seasoned tech journalist and mobile device expert with over eight years of experience in the gadget industry. Specializing in smartphone reviews, he has tested and critiqued hundreds of devices, from budget-friendly mid-rangers to cutting-edge flagships. Earl’s passion for technology started during his time as a product tester for a leading consumer electronics magazine, where he honed his skills in performance analysis, camera evaluation, and user experience insights.