Budget phones do have their appeal among users who are getting a value-for-money phone and have some extra features to go along with it. The Realme 14 5G is a Snapdragon 6-powered smartphone and priced at RM 1,289. We are going to share whether it’s a phone to get or skip in this review.

Realme 14 5G Quick Review

It’s been a while since we have reviewed a Realme smartphone, and a lot has changed, especially in the software department. Since Oppo, Realme and OnePlus share the same parent company, and the consolidation of the ColorOS with OxygenOS is very much apparent and has affected the Realme UI too. It feels more like OxygenOS with some additional bloatware, which I do not like, and it takes almost an hour to clear everything off.

This is a major turn-off in budget smartphones, and it does affect the usability of the device, especially when you consider that the phone has mid-tier hardware that may not be able to keep up with the bloatware. Realme should seriously consider bringing this down to a minimal level, and if not, a lot of users might just avoid the phone entirely. Apart from that…

Lovely AMOLED Display…

The Realme 14 5G packs a neat AMOLED display at FHD+ resolution with 120Hz refresh rate. And since it is an entry-level mid-tier smartphone, you don’t get the consistent 120Hz while using the phone, due to the lack of power and performance the phone could offer. So, there are some stutters and you will see some glitches happening, such as in games, where the 120Hz would not work at all – that kind of thing. But it isn’t too bothersome if you are consuming content like on YouTube and so on.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is Only Okay for Light to Moderate Gaming

Packed with 12GB RAM and 256GB Storage, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is not like the Snapdragon 600 series we used to know and love (RIP Snapdragon 650, a true legend). The newer Snapdragon 6 series performance doesn’t seem to be on the same page as the older processor – but it still does handle daily activities pretty alright. When it comes to gaming, this is where things get a little dicey.

Don’t expect to run games on the highest graphics because this phone is not designed to handle it very well. Games like Honkai Starrail needed to be capped to Low/Medium and have 60 fps to enjoy. Even then, we noticed stutters and drops in frames. If you do plan to play games that can rival Honkai Starrail graphics, such as ZZZ, Silver and Blood, do knock the settings down to Low or Medium.

The place where this phone does excel is in MoBA, now not to a “passing with flying” colours but with how MoBA doesn’t require the intense graphics, it runs a lot better than the RPG titles we shared earlier. So, get the phone if you intend to game but you are okay with the light to moderate settings. I have to say, the Vapor Chamber cooling they have incorporated in this phone, though its a bit overkill, it does its job very well.

Snaps Photos like a Mid-tier Phone

The dual-camera setup is just okay – with the primary 50MP sensor, which has OIS and an aperture of f/1.8, you are looking at an okay camera that does get okay photos. Nothing that would blow your mind, and since mid-tier phones in general do have a tough time handling low-light performance, that’s exactly where the phone struggles as well. The second camera is a depth sensor, which to us, serves no real purpose.

Even Realme seems to agree with us, as they have not mentioned anything about it on their official site.

Quite the Looker and has an IP69 Rating

The gamer-esque design of the Realme 14 5G is going to be the main highlight for many users because it brings this edgy look while you are using and it surely does stand out. The silver look is something I am a fan of, and I will admit, it looks a lot better in person than in renders. On top of that, the phone getting an IP69 certification is crazy and something you don’t see in this price point. Most of the time it’s just IP 67/6,8 but never 69. Nice.

6000mAh battery with 45W Fast Charging

One big W for the Realme 14 5G is the battery capacity and the charging speed. With 6000mAh under the hood, this phone lasted for close to two days with a single charge, where we used it for daily content consumption, some light gaming. Most of the time, I would charge the phone from 30% onwards, which I feel like is decent – and the 45W fast charging is awesome and much needed, when you pack a huge battery like this into the phone.

Conclusion

There isn’t a wow factor about the Realme 14 5G as it feels like just any other Realme, even after addressing the fact that it has been a while since we reviewed a Realme phone.

But if this is truly what you are signing up for, the RM 1200+ price tag is a little too steep. I would recommend waiting for sales and perhaps snag this phone when it’s under RM 1000 – that way, you won’t be disappointed. Because there are better phones if you want to purchase at this price point.

I am sure even Realme has some better selections in its lineup. So, think before you purchase this one. Especially, now that it has been 4-5 months since its release, you do have a better selection out there.

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