As a nature lover, mountain trails and hovering trees excite me. This is why when PhilSTAR Tech was invited to join realme’s Clarity Camp in Mt. Daraitan, Rizal, there was no way of declining the invitation.
And what better way to test the realme 14 Pro+ 5G than in the great outdoors, where its camera prowess, battery life, and rugged durability could truly shine?
The realme 14 Pro+ 5G immediately stands out with its 6.83-inch 1.5K Quad-curved OLED display. With a resolution of 2800 x 1272 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling feels fluid, and visuals appear crisp.
The 1500-nit local peak brightness ensures the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight, a feature I appreciated while trekking under the bright morning sky.
The curved edges and thin bezels add a premium feel to the phone. Available in Pearl White, Bikaner Purple, and Suede Grey, the device looks sleek and modern.
The IP66/IP68/IP69 rating makes it resistant to dust and water, which is reassuring for those who love the outdoors. We got to test this out there too, since the weather couldn’t decide whether it wanted to rain or shine.
Under the hood, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, built on a 4-nm architecture. It’s an 8-core chipset with speeds reaching 2.5GHz, making it powerful enough for multitasking, gaming, and everyday productivity.
While on the trail, I used the phone for streaming music and taking plenty of photos—all without any noticeable lag.
Smooth and intuitive
Running on realme UI 6.0 based on Android 15, the phone offers a smooth and customizable experience. The interface is user-friendly, and features like NFC, under-display fingerprint sensor, and dual stereo speakers add to the premium feel.
The phone also includes realme’s AI enhancements, which optimize performance based on usage habits. This means the phone learns and adjusts to how you use it, ensuring smoother multitasking and extended battery efficiency over time.
Clarity and detail in every shot
A trip to Mt. Daraitan calls for a smartphone camera that can capture its breathtaking landscapes, and the realme 14 Pro+ 5G delivered. The triple rear camera setup includes 50MP f/2.65 periscope (Sony IMX882) with OIS, 50MP f/1.8 main (Sony IMX896) with OIS, 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide.
The periscope zoom lens allowed me to capture distant views with incredible detail, while the main sensor handled both daylight and low-light shots exceptionally well. Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helped prevent blurry photos, even when shooting while walking.
To further explain how stabilized the video-taking experience was, here’s a video from the water tubing activity we did along the Tinipak rock formation.
One of my favorite features was the AI-enhanced Night Mode, which brought out vibrant colors and details in low-light conditions. During our overnight camp, I captured the ambience of the entire camp as the shade of the skies turned from orange to purple hues.
The 32MP front camera also impressed with sharp and natural selfies, perfect for documenting our adventure.
Comparison with realme 13 Pro+ 5G: camera and battery upgrades
Having tested the realme 13 Pro+ 5G last year, I was particularly curious to see how the 14 Pro+ 5G improved upon its predecessor. The most noticeable upgrades lie in the camera system and battery life.
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G featured a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 main sensor, which delivered ultra-high-resolution images with excellent detail. However, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G takes a different approach, opting for a 50MP Sony IMX896 sensor with OIS. While the resolution is lower, the larger pixel size and improved image processing result in better low-light performance and more balanced dynamic range.
The addition of a periscope zoom lens also gives the 14 Pro+ an edge in versatility, making it a great option for users who want to capture distant subjects without losing quality.
In terms of battery life, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G gains a significant upgrade with its 6000mAh battery, compared to the 13 Pro+ 5G’s 5000mAh.
This extra capacity translates to longer screen-on time, which I noticed during my field test. Combined with 80W fast charging, the newer model ensures users can go longer without worrying about running out of power.
When I needed to recharge, the 80W wired charging quickly powered up the phone. In just 30 minutes, I was back to 75% battery, which is impressive for a device with such a large capacity.
What’s the mountain girl’s verdict?
The realme 14 Pro+ 5G proves to be a solid contender in the mid-range category. It excels in display quality, camera performance, battery life, and durability, making it a great choice for both everyday users and adventure seekers.
At P27,999, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G is a fantastic deal for those who want a powerful, camera-focused smartphone that can keep up with an active lifestyle. Whether you’re a photographer, gamer, or traveler, this device is worth considering.
For nature lovers like me, it’s a gadget that seamlessly blends into an adventurous lifestyle: durable, long-lasting, and always ready to capture the next breathtaking view.
