Redmi, a subsidiary of Xiaomi, has officially launched its Note 14 series in Europe, marking the Western debut of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. The Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, priced at £399/€499.90 (approximately $500), is the only phone in the series powered by the Qualcomm silicon.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a 4nm chipset that boasts Arm's v9 CPU architecture, with a 2.5GHz Cortex-A720 core at its heart. While it may have been overshadowed by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite, the 7s Gen 3 is a significant upgrade in the mid-range segment.

The Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is positioned as a direct competitor to Google's Pixel 8A, which is priced at $499. However, the Redmi phone outshines its rival in terms of hardware specs, featuring improved IP68 water-resistance, up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, and a larger, brighter OLED display protected by Corning's flagship-grade Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The trade-off lies in the software department, as Google has guaranteed Android updates for the Pixel 8A until 2031. In contrast, Redmi's software support is less comprehensive, which may be a concern for some users.

The Note 14 series comprises five phones, each with varying specs and connectivity options. The Note 14 Pro 5G shares the Pro Plus model's display, 200-megapixel camera, and IP68 rating, but uses a cheaper MediaTek 7300-Ultra chipset and slower charging. The regular Redmi Note 14 Pro ditches 5G for 4G connectivity and has a lower IP64 rating. The Note 14 and Note 14 5G have reduced specs across the board, although the 4G model's IP54 water-resistance is still impressive considering its sub-$250 price tag.

The Redmi Note 14 series initially launched in China and India late last year, but is now available in ten European countries, including the UK and Germany. Interestingly, the European models have altered specs compared to their Asian counterparts, which is not uncommon for Redmi.

The Note 14 series faces stiff competition from within the Xiaomi family, as the similarly priced Poco X7 and X7 Pro launched globally yesterday. These phones focus on IP68 ratings and large batteries – up to 6,000mAh in the Pro – to attract budget buyers away from Google and Samsung.

The arrival of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in Europe marks a significant milestone in the mid-range smartphone market. As Redmi continues to expand its presence in the region, it will be interesting to see how the Note 14 series performs against established players. With its competitive pricing and impressive specs, the Note 14 Pro Plus 5G is poised to make a significant impact in the market.