The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Huawei Mate 20 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy A14. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 offers a more modern chipset and software experience, making it the overall winner. While the Mate 20 Lite boasts impressive battery life, its aging hardware and potential software limitations hold it back. The A14 provides a better long-term investment.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - SNE-LX1, SNE-LX3 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - SNE-LX1 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28 - SNE-LX3 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, August. Released 2018, September | 2023, February 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.30 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 201 g (7.09 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version AOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version B |
| Chipset | Kirin 710 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769 Helio G80 (12 nm) - Version AExynos 850 (8 nm) - Version B |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 12 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 20 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.75", 0.64µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
2 MP, depth sensor | - |
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1 or 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (SNE-LX1 only) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3750 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sapphire Blue, Black, Platinum gold | Black, Dark Red, Silver, Green |
| Models | SNE-AL00, SNE-LX1, SNE-LX2, SNE-LX3, INE-LX2 | SM-A145F, SM-A145F/DSN, SM-A145M, SM-A145M/DS, SM-A145P, SM-A145R |
| Price | About 230 EUR | € 85.76 / $ 147.60 / £ 79.95 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.46 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.7dB / Crosstalk -73.1dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 97h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1470:1 (nominal), 3.051 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 84dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 136583 (v7)
GeekBench: 5574 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Huawei Mate 20 lite
- Exceptional battery life (97h endurance)
- Good sunlight display visibility
- Decent portrait photography
- Aging chipset
- Potential software limitations
- Outdated design
- Slower charging
Samsung Galaxy A14
- More powerful chipset (Helio G80/Exynos 850)
- Better software support
- Improved camera performance
- Modern design
- Slightly shorter battery life than Mate 20 Lite
- 15W charging is relatively slow
Display Comparison
The Huawei Mate 20 Lite features a 6.63-inch LCD display with a respectable 1470:1 contrast ratio and excellent sunlight visibility (3.051). The Galaxy A14 typically has a 6.6-inch PLS LCD, offering vibrant colors and decent brightness. While both are LCDs, the A14's newer panel likely offers slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles. The Mate 20 Lite's higher contrast ratio in sunlight is a notable advantage.
Camera Comparison
The Mate 20 Lite features a triple-camera setup (24MP + 16MP + 8MP) with a focus on portrait photography. The Galaxy A14 typically has a triple-camera setup as well (50MP + 5MP + 2MP), often with improved image processing and low-light performance. While the Mate 20 Lite's 24MP main sensor can produce detailed images, the A14's newer sensor and software generally result in better overall image quality.
Performance
Here's where the Galaxy A14 pulls ahead. The A14's Helio G80 (or Exynos 850) chipset is significantly more powerful than the Mate 20 Lite's Kirin 710. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14. The Kirin 710 is adequate for basic tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Mate 20 Lite's endurance rating of 97 hours is truly remarkable. It's a standout feature. The Galaxy A14, while offering good battery life, doesn't quite reach the Mate 20 Lite's longevity. However, the A14's more efficient chipset helps offset this difference.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Huawei Mate 20 Lite? Users prioritizing exceptional battery life and are comfortable with an older device. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A14? Those seeking a more modern phone with a better chipset, software support, and a brighter future.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei Mate 20 Lite still worth buying?
If battery life is your absolute top priority and you're on a very tight budget, it can be. However, be aware of its aging hardware and potential software limitations.
❓ Which phone has better performance for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A14's Helio G80 or Exynos 850 chipset provides significantly better gaming performance than the Mate 20 Lite's Kirin 710.
