The budget 5G smartphone market is heating up, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Honor Play 30 and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Both offer 5G connectivity at an affordable price, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the Honor Play 30 thanks to its superior chipset (especially the Exynos variant), brighter display, and faster charging. While the Honor Play 30 is a decent option, the A14 5G provides a more polished and feature-rich experience for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 10 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 27 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm (6.60 x 3.07 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Aluminosilicate glass | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - SM-A146BOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - SM-A146P |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5.0 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Gold, Gradient | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | VNE-AN00 | SM-A146B, SM-A146B/DS, SM-A146P, SM-A146P/DS, SM-A146U, SM-A146U1, SM-A146U1/DS, SM-A146W, SM-A146P/N, SM-A146P/DSN, SM-S146VL, SM-A146M |
| Price | About 150 EUR | $ 77.63 / C$ 151.00 / £ 97.00 / € 159.79 / ₹ 14,990 |
| SAR | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.56 W/kg (head) 1.28 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 130h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1334:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.8 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 307886 (v9)
GeekBench: 1727 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play 30
- Potentially more compact design
- Affordable price point
- 5G connectivity
- Weaker chipset
- Slower charging
- Likely lower display brightness
- Less refined camera
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- More powerful chipset (Exynos or Dimensity)
- Brighter display
- Faster charging
- Reputable brand
- Likely better camera
- Potentially larger size
- Price slightly higher than Honor Play 30
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a significant advantage in display brightness, with a measured 519 nits compared to the Honor Play 30's likely lower output (typical of budget phones). Both offer a nominal contrast ratio of 1334:1, suggesting decent blacks, but the A14's brightness will make it more usable outdoors. Screen size and resolution are likely similar, around 6.5-6.6 inches with FHD+ resolution, but the A14's brightness is key.
Camera Comparison
While both phones are marketed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally offers a more refined camera experience. Samsung's image processing is typically better, and the A14 5G likely has a more versatile camera setup (potentially including an ultrawide lens). The Honor Play 30's camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots but won't compete with the A14 5G in terms of image quality and features.
Performance
Here's where the Galaxy A14 5G shines. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) is considerably more powerful than the Snapdragon 480+. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The Honor Play 30's Snapdragon 480+ is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (130h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A14 5G's slightly faster charging (15W vs 10W) gives it a practical advantage. While both will easily last a full day, the A14 5G will recharge quicker.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 30 is a good choice for users prioritizing a simple, no-frills experience and potentially a slightly more compact design. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking better performance, a brighter display, a more reputable brand, and faster charging speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset.
❓ Does the Honor Play 30 have NFC?
NFC availability on the Honor Play 30 is region-dependent and often not included. Check the specific model's specifications for your region.
❓ What is the difference between the SM-A146B and SM-A146P versions of the Galaxy A14 5G?
The SM-A146B uses the Exynos 1330 chipset, while the SM-A146P uses the MediaTek Dimensity 700. The Exynos variant generally offers better performance.
