The budget 5G smartphone market is heating up, and the Lava Blaze 5G and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G are two contenders vying for your attention. 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 Lava Blaze 5G thanks to its superior display, slightly better performance (depending on variant), and faster charging. While the Blaze 5G offers a competitive price, the A14 5G's Samsung brand recognition and overall polish make it the slightly better choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 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, October 3 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 24 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.3 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.51 x 3.01 x 0.35 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 | 207 g (7.30 oz) | 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 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 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 Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 12 | 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 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| 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 | 50 MP, (wide), 0.64µm, AF
2 MP (macro)
0.3 MP | 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 | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | 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 b/g/n/ac | 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 | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Green, Blue | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | LXX503 | 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) |
Lava Blaze 5G
- Very affordable
- 5G connectivity
- Decent performance for the price
- Slower charging (10W)
- Less refined display
- Potentially less polished software
- Camera likely inferior
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Brighter and better display
- Faster charging (15W)
- Generally better performance (Exynos variant)
- Samsung's brand and software support
- Excellent battery life
- Slightly more expensive
- Design may be considered less exciting
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. likely around 400-450 nits for the Blaze 5G) and a generally better color accuracy. While both have a high contrast ratio, Samsung's display technology typically provides a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience. The A14 5G also likely has better viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is expected to have a more refined camera system with better image processing and potentially more features. Samsung's software optimization typically results in better photos, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Blaze 5G's camera is likely adequate but won't compete with Samsung's offering.
Performance
The Exynos 1330 (in the SM-A146B variant) generally outperforms the Dimensity 700 in real-world usage, offering smoother multitasking and gaming. The SM-A146P variant with the Dimensity 700 is more comparable, but still likely trails the A14 5G. Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs, but the Cortex-A78 cores in the Exynos provide a noticeable boost.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A14 5G's endurance rating of 130 hours is significantly better than what's typically expected from the Lava Blaze 5G. This translates to longer battery life in real-world usage. The A14 5G's 15W charging is also faster than the Blaze 5G's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The Lava Blaze 5G is a good option for users prioritizing the absolute lowest price and are comfortable with a less refined software experience. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a more reliable and polished experience, a better display, and faster charging, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G has a significantly better endurance rating (130h) and is expected to offer longer battery life than the Lava Blaze 5G.
❓ Is the Lava Blaze 5G worth buying if I'm on a very tight budget?
Yes, the Lava Blaze 5G is a viable option if you're looking for the absolute lowest price with 5G connectivity. However, be prepared for compromises in display quality, charging speed, and camera performance.
