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Review: realme 14 Pro 5G (12GB+256GB) – Power Packed Performance and Unmatched Durability
Review: realme 14 Pro 5G (12GB+256GB) – Power Packed Performance and Unmatched Durability

Review: realme 14 Pro 5G (12GB+256GB) – Power Packed Performance and Unmatched Durability

realme Philippines has officially unveiled its top mid-range flagship smartphone, the realme 14 Series 5G. The brand is introducing two new variants, the realme 14 Pro 5G and  realme 14 Pro+ 5G.

We already gave you a first look at the realme 14 Pro 5G, which we received for our review, and now we’re ready to share its features along with our hands on experiences.

Last March 10, we joined realme Philippines’ Clarity Camp event at Nature Escape Camp in Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal, where we spent an afternoon testing the new realme 14 Series 5G through various activities. We’ll also share some of our experiences with the phone during that event.

So, let’s dive into the review and see how the realme 14 Pro 5G performs.

Design and Build Quality

Let’s start with its color variants. The realme 14 Pro 5G will be available in two colorways with a Pearl White and Suede Grey for our review unit. There’s no doubt the new colors are both interesting and attractive, especially the Pearl White variant, which has a color-changing body when exposed to temperatures below 16°C. If you want a standout design to impress your friends, then this is the shade for you.

Going back to our test device, the entire back panel’s Suede Grey colorway has a soft, premium and smooth velvety-like material which was inspired by luxury handbags. We like how it feels smooth, comfortable to hold, and is easy on the skin. The texture and the material used also helps prevent fingerprints and smudges, so your phone stays clean and stylish.

At the top center, realme retains its signature circular camera module design surrounded by a thick silver ring. The good thing on the camera module, it doesn’t protrude excessively which ensures the phone can be easily flat on a table without wobbling.

While inside the camera module, it houses three camera sensors, only two are functional while the third is purely for aesthetics, creating a triangular layout. Instead of the usual single LED flash, the realme 14 Pro 5G now features a Magic Glow Triple Flash, with three LED flashes positioned around the camera sensors in a Y formation. We’ll discuss this further in the Camera section.

Lastly, a glossy realme logo is placed at the bottom center for branding.

The phone weighs 181.5 grams and features an aluminum frame with curved edges on both sides that measures at 7.99mm thick. Its ergonomic design makes it comfortable to hold and easy to grip.

Going over the button placements and ports, the power/sleep button is located alongside the volume rockers on the right edge side, it’s easy to reach with our thumb when needed.

The left side is completely clean allowing us to appreciate the slim aluminum frame with the curved edges of the display and rear panel on it.

The bottom edge holds the SIM card tray, microphone, USB Type-C port and the speaker grille.

The secondary microphone and another small speaker grille to provide better audio balance.

The front display features a nice curved edges with thin evenly distributed bezels providing an engaging viewing experience. A small punch-hole design for the front camera at the center, while just above it, the speaker ensures balanced audio output instead of sound coming primarily from the bottom.

Durability

One of the key highlights of the new realme 14 Pro 5G is the durability features.

The phone received a TÜV Rheinland-Certification for rugged smartphone protection, and it also has a Military-level shock resistance certification making it resistant to various environmental conditions from drops, scratches, bumps etc.

It comes with an all-around waterproof design with three IP ratings – IP66, IP68, and IP69 attaining a highest level of water and dust resistance.

We can personally attest to the phone’s durability. During the Clarity Camp event, we had to complete photo requirements for a contest and create additional content for our review. Despite the slight rain that day, we had no worries using the phone, thanks to its IP69 rating.

One of the tasks involved was to capture some underwater shots using the realme 14 Pro 5G. Without hesitation, we activated Underwater Mode and took some photos in the river. Additionally, we placed our phones, along with  the Pearl White color variant we borrowed from another media, side by side in the flowing water for some cool dursbility lifestyle shots.

After all these activities, the phone remained fully functional.

Display

The realme 14 Pro 5G sports a 6.7-inch curved display using and OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 2392 x 1080 pixels and a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio. Smoothly scroll through your social media feeds with the display panel’s 120Hz refresh rate for a fluid experience. You can also switch to the standard 60Hz refresh rate to save battery.

The display is very responsive, thanks to its default touch sampling rate of 120Hz, which can go up to a maximum of 180Hz. It is also good for gamers, where the screen responds quickly to swipes and taps improving accuracy.

The peak brightness has been improved, reaching up to 4,500 nits at maximum, with a typical brightness of 800 nits and a high brightness mode peaking at 1,400 nits. For comparison, last year’s realme 13 Pro 5G had a peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits. The new high brightness level makes the phone easy for us to use even under direct sunlight.

With the Screen Color Mode users can adjust the color profile of the screen based on their preferences to enhance the viewing experience whether its for videos, photo editing etc. You can select from Vivid, Natural and Pro screen colour modes for two additional options – Cinematic and Brilliant.

With all these specs, the viewing experience on the smartphone remains top-notch as it offers sharp and vibrant colors which makes users to watch any video content or playing games for hours more enjoyable and immersive.

For visual health, it has eye protection features such as bedtime mode and AI eye comfort automatically and intelligently adjust the screen color temperature base on your usage.

Performance

The realme 14 Pro 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimencity 7300 Energy 5G with maximum clock speeds of up to 2.5GHz, coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage onboard. The GPU supported by the chipset is using an ARM Mali-G615 MC2.

The 12GB RAM can be boosted with an additional 14GB thru the RAM expansion giving out a total of up to 26GB of RAM. The phone can run many apps at the same time without slowing down, gaming and video editing gets smoother with less lag.

It does not have a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

Here’s the benchmark scores for the realme 14 Pro 5G.

  • GeekBench 6 CPU: 1009 Single Core / 2924 Multi-Core
  • GeekBench 6 GPU: 2485 GPU OpenCL Score
  • CPDT: 654.98 MB/s Write, 744.26 MB/s Read
  • PCMark: 13347 Work 3.0 Performance
  • 3DMark: 3170 Wild Life (18.99 fps)

The realme 14 Pro 5G was able to perform very well during the Clarity Camp event, allowing us to use the camera throughout the activity, post photos, and scroll through our social media feeds with ease. During the break, we made calls and sent texts, opened the Chrome browser to check the latest tech news, and even with multiple apps running in the background, the phone remained smooth and responsive.

The realme 14 Pro 5G can handle any game you throw at it, especially casual games. For popular titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG, and Call of Duty, the phone performs well at its default settings. With graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact, it will most likely run on medium settings.

The phone did get slightly warm during long gaming sessions and the extended camera use during the event, but it’s not as bad as other phones I’ve tested, thanks to its 6000mm² large Vapor Chamber Cooling System.

The realme 14 Pro 5G is supplemented with a dual-speaker stereo setup, the sound quality is great and offers a well-balanced sound from both the bottom and top speakers. However, the bass could be improved further. Overall, the audio quality is good for watching videos and playing games. You can increase the volume up to 300% for better audibility in noisy environments, but I wouldn’t recommend it for music.

The device offers seamless connectivity with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 2G to 5G network support, Bluetooth 5.4, a USB Type-C port, and two 5G ready Nano-SIM slots to place your preferred telecom brand.

Camera and Photo Samples

In the camera department, the realme 14 Pro 5G is equipped with a dual rear camera setup, led by a 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX882 image sensor and an f/1.88 aperture. It also includes OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) to reduce unwanted blur and hand-shake ensuring clearer photos and videos.

The secondary camera is a 2MP monochrome lens with an f/2.4 aperture and an 89-degree field of view.

For video recording on the rear camera, the phone supports up to 4K resolution at 30fps only, as well as 1080p and 720p at 30fps or 60fps.

On the front, the phone can shoot selfies effortlessly with its 16MP lens, replacing the 32MP lens from the previous model. However, it is now using a Sony IMX480 sensor, an f/2.4 aperture, and an 85-degree field of view. Front camera videos can be recorded in 1080p or 720p, both at 30fps.

We previously mentioned about the new Magic Glow Triple Flash feature, which moves away from the conventional circular mini LED flash design.

You can adjust the brightness and color temperature from warm to cool to enhance your photos in low-light conditions. This feature is also great for portrait shots, helping to capture clear facial details or achieve the right balanced color tones.

The three LED flash is extremely bright, it is capable of illuminating the entire interior of a car.

Here’s a sample photo with the event staff during our bonfire activity that night. You can see how the Magic Glow Triple Flash really enhanced our shots, producing a well-lit and detailed portrait. Even the facial details of the staff were more defined, and we could tweak the color tone to achieve a warmer or cooler image whatever we desired.

With its IP69 waterproof rating, the phone allows users to shoot underwater photos using a nee dedicated shooting mode in the camera app. When enabled, the Underwater Mode lets you capture and record creative shots beneath the surface, at depths of up to 2 meters for 30 minutes.

We captured this photo underwater in the river

The volume buttons act as the shutter and record controls, while the power button exits Underwater Mode and activates a water ejection feature to repel any excess water that may have entered the device.

An Important note: the Underwater Mode is designed for use in fresh water only and is not suitable for seawater or saltwater.

They also introduced the Unique Flash Filters to further enhance and add creativity to your subjects. It includes five filters: Deja Vu, Retro, Misty, Glowy, and Dreamy. You simply need to choose the best filter for your shot, but for us, we prefer Retro and Misty.

Live Photos captures a short video clip, about 1.5 seconds before and after, together with a still photo letting you to capture unforgetable moments in both still and video with sound. 

In daylight shots, the photos came out well on the new 50MP main camera sensor with great detail, minimal noise, and contrast. The colors are vibrant and saturation is on point. Turning the auto HDR will have good dynamic range.

The camera app gives you zoom switch options at 1x, 2x, and 5x going up to a maximum of 20x. There are many shooting modes available like Night mode for low-light conditions, Dual-Video mode to capture both front and rear perfect for vlogging, Starry mode and more.

Even in low light, the camera captures decent photos with just enough exposure and details, though they may appear slightly soft. Colors still remain natural as possible, and noise levels are kept low, thanks to the phone’s post-processing, which helps reduce grain after taking the shot.

Using the portrait mode produced good edge detection from the subject and background.

The front camera takes nice selfies and groufies especially in well-lit conditions or ambient lighting is bright like inside the malls.

Sharing our sample photos we took with the realme 14 Pro 5G.

1x Photo, Outdoor, Sunny Weather

2x Photo, Outdoor, Sunny Weather

5x Photo, Outdoor, Sunny Weather

1x Photo, Outdoor, Sunny Weather

1x Photo, Indoor, Ambient Lighting

1x Photo, Outdoor, Low Lighting

1x Night mode, Outdoor, Low Lighting

1x Photo, Outdoor, Low Lighting

Selfie, Outdoor, Cloudy Weather

Selfie, Right photo using Portrait mode, Indoor, Ambient Lighting

1x Long Exposure mode, Outdoor, Low Lighting

Software

The realme 14 Pro 5G ships out with its latest realme UI 6.0 on top of Android 15. The new software has good design elements we like the overall design with features dedicated for users personalization, security, and performance with some AI capabilities.

While the UI performs very smooth and snappy most of the time you still have bloatware upon opening the device for the first time. If you’re not a fan with some of the pre-installed apps you can easily uninstall them.

It’s no surprise that smartphones today, including realme devices, come with several AI-powered features for productivity and photo enhancement. However, these AI features still require an internet connection to function and process results.

Found in the camera app, you have the following AI enhancement and editing features. Starting off with AI Ultra Clarity 2.0, it helps enhance the resolution and details of low-quality photos or if you have a few blurred areas. We find it useful when we shoot our photos using the 5x or 10x zoom as it gradually improves the details or resolution but the colors are a bit toned down. Just quickly edit the photos by bumping up the colors and contrast the result will be better.

If you need to capture fast-moving subjects, like your kid making a shot on the basketball court, AI Snap Mode can freeze the action for a sharp and detailed images. I tested this feature on motorcycles passing by while inside a moving Grab car, and I was able to get clear and detailed photos.

The AI Eraser 2.0 isn’t new to some users, as it was the first AI feature introduced on any smartphone. It lets you remove objects or people from photos by manually selecting them with the smart lasso or paint-over options. In version 2.0, the AI now works faster and precise which automatically removes the people.

For productivity, it has the File Dock, found in the Smart Sidebar which lets you to easily transfer texts, links, images, or screenshots by dragging them into a temporary folder and dropping them into another app later. Meanwhile, AI Smart Loop works similarly by intelligently suggesting apps based on your usage habits, allowing seamless file transfers between apps for smoother multitasking and improved productivity.

Other notable features on the OS includes AI Screen Recognition, Floating Window, Live Alerts, and the Flash Capsule.

On the new realme 14 Pro 5G you can now transfer files with an iPhone thru using the O+ Connect app. Just click How to Install in the Share with iPhone settings to bring up a QR code for the iPhone to scan and download the app.

The phone includes Google tools like Circle to Search for quick lookups and Gemini an AI assistant for real-time answers and task assistance.

Battery

With a very slim profile, the realme 14 Pro 5G was able to fit a thin battery cell capacity on the phone with a massive 6000 mAh. It is paired with a 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging for a quick recharge.

There’s a smart charging and a charging limit option that stops charging at 80% to improve battery health. If you want to extend battery life, you can set the power-saving mode to activate automatically at a specific battery level.

In our test, the 6,000mAh battery reached 41% in 30 minutes and 61% after another 15 minutes. A full charge from 0 to 100% took approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes.

Charging Timeline

  • 09:15 – 09:30 : 022% 15 minutes
  • 09:30 – 09:45 : 041% 15 minutes
  • 09:45 – 10:00 : 061% 15 minutes
  • 10:00 – 10:15 : 082% 15 minutes
  • 10:15 – 10:25 : 092% 10 minutes
  • 10:25 – 10:30 : 098% 05 minutes
  • 10:30 – 10:31 : 100% 01 minutes
  • Total: 1 hour and 16 minutes

To test the battery life of the realme 14 Pro 5G during the Clarity Camp event, we got a fully charged phone by 5:00 AM. Throughout the day, we took photos and videos on the way to the venue, participated in activities, posted on social media, played some mobile games during breaks, and explored more about the phone. By 5:00 PM, the battery was still at 66%. In the evening, we captured more photos during the awarding ceremonies and arrived home around 11:00 PM with 47% battery remaining.

The battery is impressive, if I also did some additional gaming hours and a few Netflix episodes, it can still last throughout the day.

Price and Availability

The realme 14 Series 5G is priced at P27,999 for the realme 14 Pro+ 5G (12GB+512GB) and P21,999 for the realme 14 Pro 5G (12GB+256GB).

Exciting first-selling promos for realme fans who visit any realme physical store nationwide from March 20-30, 2025, can grab the realme 14 Series 5G and receive a FREE TechLife Bluetooth Speaker 2 worth P1,799.

Offline-exclusive offers from March 20-30, 2025,  customers can avail themselves of an 18-month installment term at 0% interest using Home Credit and Credit Card.

Select realme Offline Stores, customers can participate in a “Spin The Wheel” event for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a realme Watch S2, realme Pad, realme Pad Mini, or a TechLife Bluetooth Sensor Speaker on March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025.

Great deals also await online shoppers until March 27, 2025. The realme TikTok Shop offers the realme 14 Pro+ 5G for as low as P25,363. This is bundled with a FREE realme Watch S2 with a steel wristband worth P4,499 while supplies last.

On the realme Shopee Flagship Store, the realme 14 Pro 5G will be available for as low as P19,499, along with a FREE realme Watch S2 with a silicone wristband worth P3,999.

What We Like

  • Slim and Lightweight
  • Design and New Colorways
  • Durability Features
  • Sharp and Vibrant AMOLED Curved Display
  • 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • High Peak Brightness
  • RAM Expansion
  • 50MP Main Camera
  • Magic Glow Triple Flash System
  • Underwater Photography
  • AI Capabilities in Photo Editing
  • Large 6000mAh Battery
  • 45W SUPERVOOC
  • 5G Ready
  • Circle To Search and Gemini

What We Want

  • Expandable Storage
  • Ultra-Wide Camera
  • Less Bloatware

Conclusion

The realme 14 Pro 5G stands out as a strong contender in the flagship midrange category, as it offers an elegant design, solid durability, and a vibrant display. The combination of its Pearl White and Suede Grey color options adds a touch of uniqueness, while its TÜV Rheinland and military-grade certifications ensure it can withstand various environmental conditions. The IP69 waterproof rating and dedicated Underwater Mode further enhance its durability.

This makes the realme 14 Pro 5G an excellent companion for adventurous users who love capturing moments in any setting or delivery riders needing a du-reliable (durable and reliable) device for work.

Performance-wise, the realme 14 Pro 5G delivers impressive results, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset and up to 26GB of dynamic RAM. It excels in multitasking, gaming, and everyday use without significant slowdowns or overheating, thanks to its large vapor cooling system. The dual-camera setup, with its 50MP primary cam using a Sony IMX882 main sensor, it can capture stunning photos and videos, while its bright Magic Glow Triple Flash enhances low-light photography. With an extended battery life of 6,000mAh and 45W fast charging, users can enjoy an all-day experience without constantly worrying about recharging.

Overall, the new realme 14 Pro 5G is a well-balanced flagship midrange smartphone that offers premium features at a competitive price. While it lacks expandable storage and its front camera resolution has been reduced, its powerful internals, immersive display, and impressive durability is enough to make up for it.

If you’re the type of user who’s looking for a stylish, high-performance phone with reliable battery life and camera capabilities, the realme 14 Pro 5G is a solid choice in its category. We enjoyed reviewing the realme 14 Pro 5G, and we’re sure you will too! Drop by the nearest realme concept store for a hands-on experience.

Full Specifications – realme 14 Pro 5G

  • Price: PHP
  • Colors: Pearl White / Suede Grey
  • Size: 162.75mm × 74.92mm × 7.55mm (White) / 7.79mm (Grey)
  • Weight: 179g (White) / 181.5g (Grey)
  • Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy 5G
  • Clock Speeds: 2.5GHz
  • 6000mm² Vapor Chamber Cooling System
  • Storage: 256GB
  • RAM:12GB
  • Display Size?77-inch
  • Panel Material: OLED (Curved)
  • Refresh Rate: 120Hz
  • Touch Sampling Rate: 180Hz (Max), 120Hz (Default)
  • Resolution: FHD+ 2392×1080 pixels
  • Brightness: 800 Nits (Typ); 1,400 Nits (HBM); 4,500 Nits (Peak)
  • Battery Capacity: 6000mAh/23.52Wh (Typical); 5860mAh/22.98Wh (Rated)*
  • Charging Power: 45W SUPERVOOC (Max)
  • Fast Charging Technology: SUPERVOOC, PD, PPS Fast Charging Protocols
  • Rear Camera 1: 50MP Sony IMX882 OIS
  • Rear Camera 2: 2MP Black & White
  • Flash: MagicGlow Triple Flash
  • Front Camera: 16MP
  • Camera Features: AI Ultra Clarity 2.0, AI Eraser 2.0 , AI Snap Mode, Underwater Mode, Live Photos
  • Wireless: 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi
  • Network: 2/3/4G/5G, 4×4 MIMO
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, USB Tpe-C Port
  • Dual Nano-SIM
  • OS: realme UI 6.0 (Android 16)
  • Speakers: Hi-Res Dual Stereo Speakers
  • Biometrics: Face Unlock, In-Display Fingerprint Sensor
  • Durability: IP66, IP68, IP69, Military-Grade Shock Resistance, TÜV Rheinland Rugged Smartphone Certified

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About The Author

Raymund Ravanera is an accomplished and experienced graphic designer with almost 20 years of creative expertise working in the graphic design industry. He loves the latest gadgets, food and movies. Currently, he owns and manages megabites.com.ph, an online technology and lifestyle blog since 2015.

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