Pros
- Has a rugged drop resistant build
- Rain-water smart touch display feature
- Sonic drain water eject feature and up to 1.5 meters water submerging resistivity
- Beefy 6,000 mAh battery provides backup of more than one day
- Quick re-charging using 45W power adapter
- Decent performance and overall multitasking speeds
Cons
- Bit bulky and might not be apt for single hand use
- Lots of bloatware
- Standard LCD panel
- Display supports only 720p HD+ resolution
Realme’s number series recently got refreshed with a new model – the Realme 14x. And just like previous-generation, this time too Realme has tried to upgrade its game by adding unique industry-first features to its mid-range smartphone lineup. The Realme 14x 5G comes as a great example of new innovations and tech which helps it secure the top spot in the sub Rs. 15,000 segment. But what exactly helps the Realme 14x 5G crawl up the ladder? Is it the design or performance or the camera? We have been using this handset for a while and here we are listing down its hits and the misses.
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Box Contents
- Realme 14x 5G (unit)
- Soft TPU case
- User manuals
- SIM Card ejector tool
- Power adapter
- USB Type-C charging cable
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Realme 14x 5G: Variants And Prices
Realme 14x 5G 6GB RAM and 128GB Storage: Rs. 14,999
Realme 14x 5G 8GB RAM and 128GB Storage: Rs. 15,999
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Design Review: Rugged Military-Grade Build A Major Upgrade
For a change, Realme isn’t just targeting the youth or the family-segment masses with its latest smartphone. In fact, the brand claims the Realme 14x is an ideal companion for challenging environments and will be fit to carry along on outdoor ventures and even construction sites.
Well, the rugged construction of this handset courtesy the IP68 IP69 certification along with SGS military-grade shock resistance makes it all special. Seems like, Realme is now stepping up its game in terms of design and build as well besides taking leaps in the performance segment. This handset is capable of resisting a water dip of up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes making it amongst the only few handsets to offer this feature. And that’s not where Realme has stopped.
The 14x 5G additionally offers a unique SonicWave Water ejection option as well. This is the only handset in its segment that can eject water out of the speaker port via vibrations at specific frequency. Realme has been offering this water drainage feature with its high-end devices and now have set new standard in the affordable segment as well. So, if in case you plan to click an underwater pic or have accidentally got your device wet, you simply need to pull down the notification drawer and tap on the SonicDrain icon.
Realme has used an ArmorShell protection for the 14x 5G making it drop-resistant. All the crucial components and the corners of this device gets the added durability with the cushioned sponge design protection. Despite being a rugged phone, the Realme 14x 5G doesn’t really miss out on the looks. It still is a handsome looking unit where the diamond back panel design reflecting lights under sunlight will grab your attention. Single hand usage experience is average. It is a big phone and you might struggle while scrolling or playing games if your palms are tiny.
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Display Review: Clear Visuals Fluid Touch Response
Realme have been equipping its number series with premium display panels despite their lower costs. The 14x 5G also has a substantially big screen measuring 6.67-inches. The panel type is LCD which is decent with overall color production, clarity, and brightness levels. It has a standard 720p screen resolution support. To make up for this, Realme has made this handset compatible with 120Hz refresh rate.
With this, the screen offers a fluid touch response and also smoother frame transitions. This panel is designed in a way that it avoids screen flickers hence you wouldn’t find your eyes straining despite prolonged usage. We had a decent experience overall using this handset for content consumption. It didn’t disappoint while streaming videos online from YouTube and other platforms.
Gaming visuals are also decent, but you might have to stick to the medium to low settings. Brightness levels are decent too with the handset offering a peak brightness of 625 nits. While this is not as bright as some of the recent Realme phones, it does its job fine. Toggling the brightness level to max will make visbility outdoors less straining on the eyes.
Realme has further made the 14x 5G’s screen more functional this time by adding rain-water smart touch feature. This is nothing but an advanced tech used for the display panel that allows using the screen even with wet hands. You can easily scroll or launch any app using when your fingers are slightly wet.
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Performance Review: Handles Daily Tasks Efficiently
Realme 14x 5G is yet another performance-oriented handset which can easily complete all the given tasks quickly. Under its hood, there is the Dimensity 6300 chipset which is 5G-ready and is build using 6nm fabrication process. Realme has tuned the performance settings and the 14x 5G is smooth with overall usage. App firing rate is almost instant, specifically, if there are limited high-power apps running in the background. You can switch between the already open apps swiftly.
This handset has been introduced with dual configuration options. The base model equips 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Whereas, the top-spec variant features 8GB RAM and the same 128GB storage option. You can expand the storage if required using an external microSD card. However, that will limit you to use a single SIM and the microSD card together. That’s because the handset has an hybrid SIM card slot and not a dedicated 3-way SIM stray.
Coming to the daily performance, the Realme 14x is well capable of handling web browsing and other general usage ranging from media playback to light gameplay. Multitasking speeds are fairly good with both variants. But for better smoothness with the multitasking, opt for the high-end variant offering 8GB RAM. Thanks to the added virtual RAM feature, the Realme 14x’s top variant can offer up to 18GB RAM collectively (8GB physical+ 10GB virtual) delivering refined speeds.
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Camera Review: Gets The Job Done Right!
Imaging setup on the Realme 14x comprises a 50MP primary camera at the rear. Unlike most of the budget handset featuring multiple sensor, the 14x only employs this main camera at the rear. This lens comes with an f/1.8 aperture and has AI compatabilty that helps it to click refined bokeh shots and overall better clarity. Scenes captured in broad daylight or in areas with well lit conditions are good.
It manages to capture maximum details if the subject is within range. You will notice decent level of edge detection and the overall dynamic range. Apart from the portrait mode, you get access to other camera modes such as Pro, Panorama, Hi-Res, Slow-motion, and Time lapse video recordings. Max video recording supported by the Realme 14x 5G is 1080p@30 fps.
The camera app also offers a dedicated night mode that helps with shooting low-light photos and videos. Th refinement levels in this mode during low-light conditions is decent and you wouldn’t need to make any additional adjustments. There might be slight grains and noise visible in the night shots but the quality doesn’t deteriorate completely.
The Realme 14x 5G relies on an 8MP front camera to click selfies. Now, selfie might not the strongest game for the 14x 5G, but it is fairly decent. The self portraits are decent to be featured on social media platforms. Video calling experience is good with apt level of clarity when the network is strong.
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Battery Backup
Realme 14x is a beast with its massive 6,000 mAh battery. This big battery pack surely acts as a powerhouse and can drive the handset for an entire day even when the usage is extensive. We hardly required a second plug-in in a single day after using this handset with media playback and occasional gaming. The usage also included frequent internet browsing. And if in case the battery is entirely drained, you don’t have to wait longer for refuels. The 45W fast charging support allows quick battery re-charges.
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Final Verdict
Realem 14x is amongst the top contenders in the budget 5G smartphone race. With its price bracket starting under Rs. 15,000, it stands out as an advanced Android handset offering an amalgamation of tough build and solid performance. This phone has arrived as one of the best options to consider as a daily driver. You hardly will be concerned with the accidental drops and will also get good performance delivery with daily tasks. This handset makes for a solid investment if you are looking for a drop and water resistant phone for everyday use.
