Fortunately, it so occurs that there are many telephones to select from in the marketplace – you could have price range telephones (usually, within the $100-300 worth vary); mid-range telephones (within the $300-500 worth vary; costly flagships, and the whole lot in between.
In late 2024 (nearly 2025), there’s much less must spend some huge cash to get an incredible telephone than ever earlier than, and the telephone that caught my eye as the proper instance of that’s the new Xiaomi Redmi Word 14 Professional+ – which is so “new”, it’s solely obtainable in China proper now.
However right here’s the kicker… I feel the Redmi Word 14 Professional+ could be such a very good deal (relying on the place you might be on the planet), that importing it to your nation would possibly make it the finest telephone deal you will get.
Xiaomi’s “not possible” $350 Redmi Word 14 Professional+ put my $1,200 iPhone and Samsung to disgrace with distinctive digital camera, battery, and sturdiness
I don’t need to make it boring by itemizing a bunch of specs however right here’s the shortest record I might give you to make my level…
Xiaomi Redmi Word 14 Professional+ specs
- Show – 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED with 3000 nits of peak brightness in HDR
- Digital camera – 50 MP, f/1.6, 1/1.55-inch major sensor + 50 MP, f/2.0, 2.5x optical telephoto with 50cm minimal focusing distance + 8 MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide-angle sensor, 20MP selfie digital camera
- Processor – Snapdragon 7s Gen3 with 12-16GB of RAM and 256-512GB of storage
- Battery – 6,200 mAh with 90W fast-charging
- Extras: IP68/IP69K mud/waterproof (as much as 2m for twenty-four hours), stereo audio system, 3-4 years of OS updates and safety patches
Immediately, what stood out to me is how nicely balanced of a telephone the Redmi Word 14 Professional+ is. The one drawbacks I can consider are the 8MP ultra-wide-angle digital camera, the dearth of 4K video help on the selfie digital camera, and the dearth of wi-fi charging.
Flagship-grade zoom digital camera, humongous battery with super-fast charging, and distinctive sturdiness ranking make the $350 Redmi Word 14 Professional+ probably the most particular mid-range telephone on the market
Nonetheless, in change for the dearth of wi-fi charging, you get some options you don’t actually get in different $300 telephones. In truth, the three options I’m specializing in aren’t even obtainable on Samsung, Apple, or Google’s $1,000+ flagships. Like in any respect.
An actual zoom digital camera with higher focusing capabilities than a $1,200 Apple/Samsung flagship
First is the two.5x optical zoom digital camera. Not solely is it a high-quality 50MP snapper that may sensor-crop to provide you 5x lossless zoom, nevertheless it additionally has macro capabilities due to the minimal focusing distance of 50cm.
For comparability, my iPhone 15 Professional Max wants no less than 2 metres so as to lock focus with its zoom digital camera. And the one Chinese language telephones which have macro-capable zoom lenses price almost $1,000.
2 days of battery life in a telephone you possibly can cost in not more than 40 minutes?
Then there’s the huge 6,200 mAh stacked battery in a telephone that solely weighs 210g.
In fact, such an enormous battery wants quick charging, and 90W is nearly as quick because it will get these days. Severely, this could be the dream battery-charging combo, and there’s no flagship telephone on sale proper now in a position to match that.
Extra mud and waterproof than your mud and waterproof $1,000 flagship
The cherry on prime for the clumsy and adventurous ones (I fall into the primary class), is that we have now one other standout function not discovered on different telephones – IP68/IP69K mud/water resistance.
In different phrases, if you happen to go swimming and it so occurs that your telephone falls into the pool, and it takes you “as much as 24h” to appreciate and discover it – it ought to be simply advantageous. So long as the pool isn’t too deep, or… the ocean.
For context, normal IP68 mud/water resistance ranking (Galaxy S24, iPhone 16, Pixel 9) solely ensures your telephone can keep submerged for a mere half-hour. In fact, in actuality, all of that is relative, however the level is that the IP68/IP69K ranking makes the $300 Redmi Word 14 Professional+ distinctive and probably extra sturdy than your $1,200 flagships.
Importing the Xiaomi Redmi Word 14 Professional+ to Europe or the USA – is the effort definitely worth the unmatched worth?
For one, paying $300-350 for the Xiaomi 14 Professional+ feels incorrect… However in a great way. I really wrestle to think about ANY smartphone on sale proper now that provides extra bang for the buck, which speaks volumes. In truth, I am not even certain you could find a greater used or refurbished telephone that beats the worth provided by the Redmi Word 14 Professional+.
The second factor is – I’m hyping this telephone up a lot, however how do you purchase it?! Effectively, as of now, the Redmi Word 14 collection is anticipated to debut globally in early 2025, however after all the costs of the worldwide variations (in locations like Europe and the UK) might be larger.
This implies if you wish to have the Redmi Word 14 Professional+ now and on a budget, you’d need to go down the “import route”, which carries a component of threat. That being mentioned, if web sites like Giztop are to be believed (and so they have a very good observe document), importing the telephone into the US or Europe ought to be a comparatively hassle-free expertise.
Specific delivery to the mainland United States or Europe with a promise for “no obligation charges (besides in very uncommon instances)” prices simply $30/€30, which is nothing given the worth on provide. In fact, for many who wish to play it protected, ready for the worldwide launch of the Redmi Word 14 collection could be a greater thought. However once more, this may change the worth proposition.
Would I purchase and import a Xiaomi Redmi Word 14 Professional+ from China?
All in all, importing the Xiaomi Redmi Word 14 Professional+ into the US and Europe prices as little as $340 or €325, relying on the storage choice and delivery you select. The bottom variant comes with a super-generous 12/256GB RAM and storage combo, and delivery can take 1-4 weeks.Lastly, the third and final level I really feel obligated to make is… Would I really do it? In different phrases, as unhygienic as it’d sound… Would I put my cash the place my mouth is?
And the reply is… Sure. I really do take into account pulling the set off on a Redmi Word 14 Professional+ – maybe as a telephone I may give my mum after I test it out.
The caveat is that I have already got a bunch of premium telephones just like the Galaxy S24 Extremely, iPhone 15 Professional Max, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold on my disposal, which implies I’m not *actually* going to be shopping for the telephone if that is sensible.
Nonetheless, if I didn’t have entry to all these telephones, and if I used to be in the marketplace for an Android, which doesn’t break the financial institution (as I already mentioned)… I actually don’t see a greater deal on the market. So sure, beneath these circumstances, I’d be importing the Redmi Word 14 Professional+, and I’d be importing it quick.
What do you assume? Am I being overly enthusiastic, or is the Redmi Word 14 Professional+ actually one of the best $350 deal on the market?