My Experience Using Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 for 48 Hours – The Real Truth Nobody Tells You
Okay, let me be completely honest from the very first line.
I wasn’t planning to buy the Redmi Note 14. I was actually waiting for the Nothing Phone (3) or maybe even the OnePlus 13R. But life happened – my old Redmi Note 10 Pro finally gave up after 4 loyal years (RIP), and I needed a phone right now. Budget? Around 18-20k BDT (Bangladesh) or roughly $170 USD. And there it was, shining on the store shelf – the Redmi Note 14 4G version (8/256GB) at exactly 19,999 BDT with a free 33W charger in the box.
I walked out of the shop half-excited, half-scared. Because let’s be real – the internet is flooded with “Redmi Note 14 is trash” and “HyperOS is full of ads” comments. I thought I just made the biggest mistake of 2025.
48 hours later? I’m writing this at 3 AM because I can’t sleep. Not because the phone is bad… but because I’m genuinely shocked at how good it actually is for the price.
Here’s everything that happened in those 48 hours – the good, the ugly, the surprising, and the stuff nobody on YouTube will tell you because they only use the phone for 30 minutes.
Day 0 – The Unboxing (Yes, It Still Matters)
First impression? The box is gorgeous. Midnight Black color looks almost blue under light. Inside:
- Phone with pre-applied screen protector (decent quality, no bubbles)
- Clear TPU case (feels premium, not the cheap rubbish they gave with Note 11)
- 33W charger + USB-A to C cable
- Some papers nobody reads
Weight? 190g. Feels solid but not heavy. The back is glass (Gorilla Glass 3) with a matte finish that doesn’t attract fingerprints at all. I’m the kind of person whose phones look like they’ve been through war in a week – this one still looks brand new.
Hour 1-6: The Dreaded HyperOS + Ads Drama
Everyone scared me about ads. I turned on the phone, hands shaking, ready for spam hell.
Reality?
During setup, I got exactly ONE “recommended” app screen (GetApps trying to push Candy Crush). I tapped “Skip” and that was it. No more during setup.
First 2 hours of usage – zero ads. No banners, no lockscreen spam, nothing.
Then I installed Facebook, TikTok, and some local apps (bKash, Nagad). Suddenly, I saw one “Hot Apps” folder on homescreen and a recommended section in the app drawer.
Fixed in 45 seconds:
- Settings → Passwords & security → Authorization & revocation → Turn off MSA and GetApps
- Settings → Home screen → Turn off “Recommendations”
- Uninstall GetApps, Themes, and Mi Browser using ADB (took me 5 minutes with a YouTube guide)
After that? Cleaner than my old phone running stock Android 13. Seriously. People who scream “HyperOS is full of ads” either never disabled anything or are reviewing the phone to farm views.
Day 1 Morning – The Display Blew My Mind
120Hz AMOLED. 2100 nits peak brightness. I laughed when I read the specs – no way a 20k phone has 2100 nits.
I was wrong.
I took it outside at 12 PM (Bangladesh summer sun is brutal). I could see Instagram reels clearly at 70% brightness. My old Note 10 Pro used to become a mirror at 50%. This thing is visible. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and the slight curve on the edges makes swiping feel premium.
Watching Attack on Titan finale in 1080p on this screen made me emotional. The colors, the contrast – I forgot I was using a budget phone.
Camera – The Biggest Surprise
Let’s address the elephant: 108MP Samsung HM6 sensor with no OIS.
Daylight shots? Insanely good. Details are sharp, colors are natural (not the oversaturated trash Xiaomi used to do). Portrait mode edge detection is 9/10 – only messes up complicated hair sometimes.
Night shots? This is where people will hate me.
I took photos at 10 PM in a dimly lit street with only shop lights. Night mode takes 3-4 seconds, but the results? Better than my friend’s iPhone 13 in low light. No, I’m not joking. Less noise, better dynamic range.
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| Night shot taken with Redmi Note 14 |
Selfies? 16MP front camera is decent, but beauty mode is aggressive by default. Turn it off and you get natural skin tones.
Video? 1080p 30fps only (no 4K, no 60fps). This is the biggest compromise. If you’re a heavy video guy, look elsewhere. For casual Instagram stories – more than enough.
Performance – Helio G99 Ultra Is a Beast
I play PUBG Mobile (yes, I’m basic). Smooth + Extreme graphics = 59-60 FPS constant. No frame drops even after 2 hours. The phone got warm (42°C) but never uncomfortably hot.
Multitasking? 8GB RAM + RAM extension = I had 25 apps open and it didn’t reload anything. Coming from a phone that struggled with 6 apps, this felt like upgrading to a flagship.
Antutu score: 428,000. For context, my old Snapdragon 732G Note 10 Pro scored 280,000. This thing flies.
Battery – I Charged It Once in 48 Hours
5000mAh with 33W charging.
Day 1 usage:
- 6.5 hours screen on time
- 2 hours PUBG
- 3 hours YouTube/Netflix
- Always on 4G + location
- Ended the day with 38% at 11 PM
Day 2: Woke up at 7 AM with 35%, used it heavily till 6 PM – still had 18%. Charged from 18% to 100% in 68 minutes while watching YouTube.
This battery life is stupid. In a good way.
The Things That Annoyed Me (Because No Phone Is Perfect)
- No 5G – This is the 4G version (there’s a 5G version with Dimensity 7025 Ultra which costs more). In Bangladesh 5G isn’t widespread yet, so I don’t care. But if you’re in India or a 5G country, spend extra for the 5G variant.
- No 4K video – Hurts my soul as someone who wanted to start vlogging.
- Speakers are mono – Wait, no, it’s stereo! But the bottom one is louder than the earpiece. Still better than 90% of phones in this range.
- HyperOS has some Chinese apps preinstalled – Joyose, Mi Video, etc. I removed most with ADB. Takes 10 minutes total.
- No always-on display customization – You get 4-5 presets only. Miss Pixel-like AOD.
Should You Buy the Redmi Note 14 in 2025?
If your budget is under $200 and you want:
- Insane battery life
- Beautiful AMOLED 120Hz display
- Surprisingly good cameras
- Smooth performance for gaming + daily use
- Premium design that doesn’t scream “budget phone”
Then yes. Buy it right now. Stop watching 50 reviews. Just buy it.
I went in expecting disappointment. I came out shocked. This phone made me question why anyone spends 50k+ on midrangers when this exists.
Is it perfect? No. Is it the best phone you can buy for under 20k? Absolutely.
“I spent 4 years hating on Xiaomi for bloatware and ads. 48 hours with the Redmi Note 14 made me eat my words. And I’m not even mad.”
Drop your questions below – I’ll reply to every single one. And if you end up buying it because of this post… you’re welcome 😉
– A broke guy who finally found peace in the budget segment
22 November, 2025
FAQ – I’ve Got You (Real Answers from Someone Who Actually Uses This Phone Daily)
A: Zero. Not a single banner, lock-screen ad, or “hot app” since day 1. Cleaner than my old Pixel 4a that I paid double for.
A: In Bangladesh right now? Not even a little. 5G coverage is still a joke outside Dhaka Gulshan/Banani. Speedtest on 4G gives me 80-90 Mbps download anyway. If you live in India or a country where 5G is everywhere, pay ₹2,000-3,000 extra and grab the 5G version (Dimensity 7025-Ultra).
A: No. Max 1080p 30fps. That’s the biggest compromise. If you plan to vlog or shoot reels seriously, skip this and look at Poco X6 or Realme Narzo 70 Pro.
A: Crystal clear. Using Robi/Airtel SIM – people say my voice sounds louder and clearer than on my old Note 10 Pro. No dropped calls even in basement parking.
A: YES! Mi Remote app works perfectly. I’m controlling my Walton AC and GP set-top box like a king.
A: Max 43°C after 2-hour session on Smooth + Extreme. Warm, never hot. Never throttled once.
A: Yes, dedicated microSD slot (up to 1TB) + 2 SIMs at the same time. No hybrid nonsense.
A: Decent Z-axis linear motor. Not Pixel-level, but way better than the rotor motor in older Redmi Notes. Typing feels snappy.
👨💻 About the Author
iSamuel is a tech enthusiast and the founder of ByteCascade — a blog that simplifies technology with honest reviews, practical guides, and smart digital insights. When he’s not writing, he’s exploring new gadgets and AI tools to make life a bit easier.