Realme 14 Pro+ Review: Mid-Range Camera Phone with Premium Aspirations

The Realme 14 Pro+ has 12,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.3/5 rating at ¥2,599 ($360). Users appreciate the periscope zoom camera at this price, large battery, and fast charging. Common complaints include the Dimensity 8300’s gaming limitations, Realme UI bloatware, and inconsistent camera processing. Conclusion: ✅ Worth Buying — the best mid-range phone for zoom photography enthusiasts on a budget.

Introduction

The Realme 14 Pro+ aims to disrupt the mid-range segment by bringing periscope zoom — a feature usually reserved for flagships — to the ¥2,599 price point. It’s a bold strategy that differentiates it from every competitor in its price range. The phone also packs a large 5,500mAh battery, fast charging, and a capable display, making it a well-rounded package with a unique camera selling point.

Priced at ¥2,599, it competes with the Oppo Reno 13, vivo S20, and Honor 400. Our assessment draws from 12,000+ JD.com reviews, camera testing, and comparison with similarly priced alternatives.

Specifications

Spec	Realme 14 Pro+	Oppo Reno 13	vivo S20	Honor 400
Price	¥2,599 ($360)	¥2,799 ($388)	¥2,499 ($347)	¥2,399 ($333)
SoC	Dimensity 8300	Dimensity 8300	Dimensity 8200	Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
Display	6.7” AMOLED 1.5K 120Hz	6.59” AMOLED 1.5K 120Hz	6.67” AMOLED 1.5K 120Hz	6.7” OLED 1.5K 120Hz
Main Camera	50MP (Sony LYT-701)	50MP (Sony LYT-600)	50MP	50MP
Telephoto	50MP 3x periscope	—	—	—
Battery	5,500mAh	5,000mAh	5,500mAh	5,000mAh
Charging	80W wired	67W wired	80W wired	66W wired
Weight	195g	180g	186g	178g
JD Rating	4.3/5	4.4/5	4.4/5	4.4/5

Design and Build Quality

The 14 Pro+ adopts a design inspired by flagship Realme phones, with a large circular camera module that prominently showcases the periscope zoom lens. The back features a “Cosmic” textured finish in black or white, with a glossy camera island. The frame is plastic, and the overall feel is solid if not premium.

At 195g and 8.4mm, it’s reasonably portable. The IP65 rating offers good dust and splash resistance — better than many mid-range phones. The AMOLED display is bright (up to 2,000 nits) with good color accuracy and thin bezels. The flat display is a welcome choice for usability and screen protector compatibility. The in-display fingerprint sensor is optical and reliable.

“The design looks much more expensive than ¥2,599. The circular camera module is eye-catching. The periscope lens is visible through the glass and looks cool. Build quality is good for the price.” — JD.com user

Performance

The Dimensity 8300 is a capable mid-range chip that handles everyday tasks smoothly. Social media, browsing, video streaming, and casual gaming are all smooth experiences. The phone can handle PUBG Mobile at 60fps and Genshin Impact at medium-low settings. It’s not a gaming powerhouse, but it’s adequate for most users.

The 5,500mAh battery is excellent for the price — most users get 7-8 hours of screen-on time and a full day and a half of moderate use. The 80W wired charging fills the battery in about 35 minutes. Realme UI 6 is smooth but has pre-installed apps, ads in some system apps, and push notification spam from the “Realme Store” and “Theme Store.” These can be disabled but require effort.

“Battery life is great — I easily get through a full day with heavy use. 80W charging is fast enough for me. The phone doesn’t lag in daily use but I’m not a heavy gamer.” — JD.com user

Camera Quality

The 14 Pro+‘s camera system is its unique selling point. The 50MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom is unprecedented at this price. It captures reasonably detailed photos at 3x zoom and usable shots up to 6x hybrid zoom. This is a feature that simply doesn’t exist on any other phone at ¥2,599.

The main camera (50MP Sony LYT-701) takes good photos in good lighting — sharp with good colors. Low-light performance is average, with visible noise and softer details. The 8MP ultrawide is the weak link, producing soft images with limited dynamic range. The periscope zoom lacks optical stabilization, so steady hands are needed at full zoom. Camera processing can be inconsistent — some photos look great, others have oversharpening or incorrect white balance.

Competitor comparison: the Oppo Reno 13, vivo S20, and Honor 400 all lack telephoto lenses entirely. The 14 Pro+‘s zoom capability is genuinely unique in its price bracket. For users who frequently zoom in on distant subjects, it’s a compelling reason to choose the Realme.

“The periscope zoom is a game-changer at this price. I took photos of a concert from the back row and they’re surprisingly good. No other phone at ¥2,599 can do this. The main camera is okay but not as good as my friend’s Oppo Reno 13.” — JD.com user

User Reviews by Theme

Zoom Camera

“The periscope zoom is why I bought this phone. Photos at 3x are genuinely good. At 6x they’re usable. Nothing else at this price comes close. Best zoom phone under ¥3,000.” — JD.com user 💡 Periscope zoom is the undisputed standout feature and the #1 reason for purchase.

Battery

“5,500mAh battery lasts two days with my usage. 80W charging is fast. Battery life is better than my old phone.” — JD.com user 💡 Battery life is well-regarded, with fast charging being a plus.

Performance

“Performance is fine for daily use but not for gaming. Genshin Impact stutters on high settings. The Dimensity 8300 is good enough for social media and videos though.” — JD.com user 💡 Performance is adequate for daily use but gamers should look elsewhere.

Software

“Realme UI has too many pre-installed apps and ads. I spent the first hour disabling notifications and uninstalling apps. After cleaning up, it runs fine.” — JD.com user 💡 Software bloat is the most common negative point.

Purchase Recommendations

✅ Worth Buying: The Realme 14 Pro+ is for budget-conscious users who want optical zoom photography. The periscope lens is genuinely unique at this price, making it the go-to choice for concertgoers, travelers, and anyone who frequently needs zoom.

💰 Premium Pick: Consider the Honor 400 or Oppo Reno 13 for better overall camera quality (even without zoom), cleaner software, and better build materials. The vivo S20 offers a better main camera.

⚠️ Budget Warning: Skip the 14 Pro+ if you’re a serious gamer — the Dimensity 8300 isn’t up to demanding games at high settings. Also skip if you want the cleanest possible Android experience — the software bloat requires cleanup.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Periscope zoom camera at an unprecedented price	Main camera quality is just average
Large 5,500mAh battery with great endurance	Dimensity 8300 limits gaming performance
80W fast charging is quick and convenient	Realme UI bloatware and ads
Unique feature set for the price point	Periscope lacks OIS — needs steady hands
IP65 water resistance (good for class)	Camera processing can be inconsistent
Bright and colorful AMOLED display	Build uses plastic frame

FAQ

Q1: Is the periscope zoom on the 14 Pro+ actually good? It’s good for the price. At 3x optical zoom, photos are noticeably sharper than digital zoom from phones without a telephoto. At 6x, results are usable but not spectacular. It doesn’t match flagship periscope quality, but it’s the best zoom you’ll find under ¥3,000.

Q2: Can this phone handle Genshin Impact? Yes, but only at medium-low settings for smooth performance. At high settings, frame rates drop to 30-40fps. The Dimensity 8300 is designed for efficiency, not gaming. If Genshin at max settings is important, look at the Redmi K80 or OnePlus Ace 5 Pro.

Q3: How does the Realme 14 Pro+ compare to the Oppo Reno 13? The Realme has a periscope zoom (the Reno doesn’t), a larger battery, and faster charging. The Oppo has a better main camera, cleaner software, better build quality, and wireless charging. The Realme is better for zoom; the Oppo is better for everything else.

Q4: Can I remove Realme UI ads and bloatware? Yes, most can be removed. Go to Settings > Passwords & Security > System Security > Ad Services to disable ads. Pre-installed apps can be uninstalled. The Realme Store and Theme Store can have notifications disabled. It takes about 15 minutes to clean up.

Q5: Does the phone support Google services? Yes, Realme supports Google Play Services. Google Play Store can be installed from Realme’s app store. Google apps work normally.