Honor X6c vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Exynos 1330 chipset (or Dimensity 700 variant) provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Honor X6c’s Helio G81, despite the slower 15W charging. The A14 5G’s slightly brighter display and established brand reputation further solidify its position.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor X6c | Samsung Galaxy A14 5G |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - LATAM | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, June 06 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, June 06 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.6 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 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 | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.61 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz, 1010 nits (peak) | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | 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 | Mediatek Helio G81 Ultra (12 nm) | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 15, Magic OS 9 | 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 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 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 |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (NIC-LX1, NIC-LX2 only) | 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, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 35W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5300 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Ocean Cyan, Moonlight White | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | NIC-LX1, NIC-LX2, NIC-LX3 | 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 130 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 X6c
- Faster 35W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Decent battery endurance
- Less powerful Helio G81 chipset
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less established brand reputation
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- More powerful Exynos 1330/Dimensity 700 chipset
- Brighter display for outdoor use
- Samsung’s software ecosystem and support
- Slower 15W wired charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Similar battery endurance to X6c
Display Comparison
Both the Honor X6c and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G feature displays with a 1334:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar image quality in terms of blacks and whites. However, the Galaxy A14 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 519 nits, significantly outshining the X6c (brightness data unavailable). This difference translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both lack high refresh rates, the A14 5G’s higher brightness makes it the more practical choice for outdoor users.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but details are sparse. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the A14 5G (if equipped) would provide a significant advantage in low-light photography and video recording, reducing blur and improving stability. The X6c likely relies on software stabilization, which is less effective. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely inconsequential, offering limited practical benefit due to its low resolution.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G utilizes either the Exynos 1330 (SM-A146B) built on a 5nm process or the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (SM-A146P) on a 7nm process, both offering superior efficiency and processing power compared to the Honor X6c’s 12nm Mediatek Helio G81. The Exynos 1330’s Cortex-A78 cores (2x2.4 GHz) provide a substantial uplift in CPU performance over the X6c’s Cortex-A75 cores (2x2.0 GHz). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience. The 5nm/7nm fabrication process also implies better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 130 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Honor X6c’s 35W wired charging is a clear advantage over the Galaxy A14 5G’s 15W charging. This means the X6c can replenish its battery significantly faster, minimizing downtime. While the A14 5G’s battery life is respectable, the X6c’s faster charging offers a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X6c if you prioritize faster charging (35W) and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if you value smoother performance for multitasking and gaming, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the broader ecosystem of Samsung’s software and support.