The budget 5G smartphone market is heating up, and the Honor X8 5G and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G are two strong contenders. Both offer 5G connectivity at an affordable price, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the Honor X8 5G thanks to its superior chipset (Exynos 1330), brighter display, and longer software support. While the Honor X8 5G boasts faster charging, the A14 5G's overall performance and Samsung's reputation for updates make it the better choice.
| 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 25 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 15 | 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 |
|---|
| 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 | 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 4.2 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (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 |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (VNE-N41 only) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Ocean Blue | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | VNE-N41 | 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 170 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 X8 5G
- Faster Charging (22.5W)
- Sleek Design
- Competitive Price
- Weaker Processor
- Lower Display Brightness
- Less Software Support
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- More Powerful Processor (Exynos 1330/Dimensity 700)
- Brighter Display
- Longer Battery Life
- Samsung's Software Support
- Slower Charging (15W)
- Design Less Premium
- Potentially Higher Price
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G takes the lead in the display department. While both offer a 1334:1 contrast ratio, the A14 5G's measured 519 nits peak brightness is noticeably higher than the X8 5G, resulting in better visibility in sunlight. Both likely use similar LCD panels, but the A14 5G's brightness advantage is significant.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. However, the A14 5G's likely better image processing and potentially more advanced features (like improved night mode) give it a slight edge. Both phones likely feature a main sensor around 50MP, but the A14 5G's software optimization is likely superior.
Performance
Here, the Galaxy A14 5G shines. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700 depending on region) is significantly more powerful than the Snapdragon 480+. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The X8 5G is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A14 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours, suggesting exceptional battery life. The Honor X8 5G's battery capacity is likely similar, but the A14 5G's power efficiency gives it the advantage. While the X8 5G charges faster (22.5W vs 15W), the A14 5G's longer battery life is more valuable overall.
Buying Guide
The Honor X8 5G is a good option for users prioritizing fast charging and a sleek design on a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a more powerful processor, a brighter display, and the assurance of longer software updates and Samsung's ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, thanks to its more powerful Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 700 chipset, offers significantly better gaming performance than the Honor X8 5G.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A14 5G with software updates?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices than Honor. Expect at least 4 years of security updates and 2 major Android OS upgrades for the Galaxy A14 5G.
