The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Infinix Hot 10i and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G emerges as the clear winner, thanks to its superior chipset (especially the Exynos 1330 variant), brighter display, and 5G connectivity. While the Infinix Hot 10i offers decent performance for its price, the A14 5G provides a more modern and refined experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 20 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 20 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 76 x 9.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.38 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 | - | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 500 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 MT6769V Helio G70 (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 11, XOS 7.5 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Quad-LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, (wide) | 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 | 1440p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | Unspecified | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | microUSB 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, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, Morandi Green, Heart of Ocean | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | X659B, PR652B, X658E, PR652C, X658B, X659 | 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 100 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) |
Infinix Hot 10i
- Very affordable
- Long battery life
- Decent performance for the price
- Large display
- Outdated chipset
- Lower display brightness
- Less capable camera
- No 5G connectivity
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- 5G connectivity
- More powerful chipset (Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 700)
- Brighter and better display
- Improved camera
- Samsung's software support
- Slower charging (15W)
- Slightly more expensive than the Hot 10i
- Design may be considered basic
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a significantly brighter display (519 nits vs. likely around 400 nits for the Hot 10i), making it easier to view in direct sunlight. Both offer a high contrast ratio (1334:1), but the A14 5G's higher brightness gives it a noticeable edge. The A14 5G also likely has better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is expected to have a more capable camera system. Samsung's image processing is generally considered superior, and the A14 5G likely has better sensors. The Hot 10i's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but the A14 5G will deliver more detailed and vibrant images.
Performance
Here's where the A14 5G truly shines. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) is a substantial upgrade over the Helio G70. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The A14 5G's CPU architecture is also more modern and efficient.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A14 5G achieving an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours. The Infinix Hot 10i also has a large battery and efficient processor, ensuring all-day usage. While both are strong, the A14 5G's efficiency gives it a slight advantage.
Buying Guide
The Infinix Hot 10i is a good choice for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and long battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a more future-proof device with 5G connectivity, a better display, and a more powerful processor, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Infinix Hot 10i good for gaming?
The Infinix Hot 10i can handle basic games, but demanding titles will struggle. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G support 5G?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G supports 5G connectivity, offering faster download and upload speeds where available.
