The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lenovo K14 Plus and the Huawei nova Y90. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei nova Y90 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 680 chipset offers significantly better performance, the 40W charging is a game-changer, and the overall feature set is more compelling than the Lenovo K14 Plus, despite both being budget options.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 15 | 2022, June 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March | Available. Released 2022, July 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.7 x 9.1 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) | 163.3 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.8 GHz | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T700 | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali G52 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 11 | EMUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | 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, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 40W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold | Crystal Blue, Pearl White, Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | - | CTR-LX2, CTR-LX1, CTR-LX3 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 160 EUR |
Lenovo K14 Plus
- Very affordable
- Decent battery life
- Basic functionality
- Weak performance
- Slow charging
- Limited features
- Unisoc chipset
Huawei nova Y90
- Strong performance (Snapdragon 680)
- Fast charging (40W)
- Modern design
- Better camera
- Potentially higher price than K14 Plus
- Huawei AppGallery limitations
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature LCD displays, though the nova Y90 probably boasts a slightly higher resolution and potentially better color accuracy. The nova Y90's display is likely to be brighter, improving outdoor visibility. Screen size is likely similar, around 6.5 inches.
Camera Comparison
While both phones will offer decent camera capabilities for their price range, the nova Y90 likely has a more advanced camera system with better image processing. Expect improved low-light performance and more detail in photos from the nova Y90. Specific megapixel counts are likely comparable, but Huawei's software optimization will be key.
Performance
The Huawei nova Y90's Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G is a substantial upgrade over the Lenovo K14 Plus's Unisoc T700. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the nova Y90. The Kryo 265 cores in the Snapdragon offer a significant performance advantage.
Battery Life
The Huawei nova Y90's 40W charging is a major advantage. It can charge the battery significantly faster than the Lenovo K14 Plus's 10W charging. Battery capacity is likely similar (around 5000mAh), but the charging speed makes a huge difference in daily usability.
Buying Guide
The Lenovo K14 Plus is best suited for users prioritizing basic functionality and extremely tight budgets. The Huawei nova Y90 is ideal for those seeking a smoother experience, faster charging, and a more modern feature set, even within a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Lenovo K14 Plus good for gaming?
The Lenovo K14 Plus's Unisoc T700 chipset struggles with demanding games. Casual games might be playable, but don't expect a smooth experience.
❓ Does the Huawei nova Y90 have Google Play Services?
No, the Huawei nova Y90 does not have Google Play Services. It uses Huawei's AppGallery instead. This means some apps may not be available or require workarounds.
