OnePlus Nord N20 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the OnePlus Nord N20 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.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G edges out the Galaxy A14 5G thanks to its significantly faster charging and brighter display. However, the A14 5G's potentially more versatile chipset and Samsung's brand recognition make it a compelling alternative for some. It's a close call!

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus Nord N20 5G Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands2, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat15 800/200 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India
Launch
Announced2022, April 282023, January 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 28Available. Released 2023, January 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Schott Xensation Up), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm (6.30 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm (6.60 x 3.07 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
Display
ProtectionSchott Xensation Up-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLEDPLS LCD, 90Hz
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)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
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P
GPUAdreno 619Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P
OSAndroid 11, OxygenOS 11Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal128GB 6GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide)13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide)13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioNoFM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only)
Battery
Charging33W wired15W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlueBlack, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
ModelsGN2200, CPH2459SM-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
PriceAbout 120 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 129h Endurance rating 130h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1334:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 316974 (v8), 380672 (v9) GeekBench: 1945 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 307886 (v9) GeekBench: 1727 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OnePlus Nord N20 5G

  • Faster Charging (33W)
  • Brighter Display (647 nits)
  • Efficient Snapdragon 695 5G Chipset
  • Generally good software experience

  • Camera performance can be inconsistent
  • Design may be less premium than some competitors

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

  • Samsung Brand Recognition & Ecosystem
  • Potentially more versatile chipset (Exynos 1330 variant)
  • Good battery life
  • Reliable software updates (generally)

  • Slower Charging (15W)
  • Dimmer Display (519 nits)
  • Performance can vary depending on chipset variant

Display Comparison

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 647 nits, significantly brighter than the Galaxy A14 5G's 519 nits. While both offer a respectable contrast ratio (Infinite for the Nord N20 and 1334:1 for the A14), the Nord N20's brightness will be noticeable in outdoor conditions. Both likely use AMOLED panels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is subjective. Both phones feature a multi-lens setup, but detailed camera specs are missing. Generally, Samsung's image processing tends to be more saturated and vibrant, while OnePlus often aims for a more natural look. Real-world testing would be needed to determine a clear winner.

Performance

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, known for its efficiency and decent performance. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G presents a more complex scenario, with two chipset variants: Exynos 1330 and MediaTek Dimensity 700. The Exynos 1330 generally offers better performance than the Dimensity 700, potentially giving the A14 5G a slight edge in demanding tasks, but the Snapdragon 695 is still a capable performer.

Battery Life

Both phones have impressive endurance ratings (129h vs 130h). However, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G's 33W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Galaxy A14 5G's 15W charging, allowing for much faster top-ups.

Buying Guide

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a vibrant display. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is a better choice for those who value Samsung's ecosystem, potentially better software support, and a slightly more versatile chipset depending on the variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both phones have very similar battery life, with endurance ratings of 129h and 130h respectively. Real-world usage will likely be comparable.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G worth buying if I prefer Samsung's software?
Absolutely! If you're invested in the Samsung ecosystem and prefer their One UI software, the Galaxy A14 5G is a solid choice, especially if you can find the Exynos 1330 variant.