The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Oppo A1x and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the Oppo A1x thanks to its brighter display, slightly faster processor (depending on variant), and longer software support. While the Oppo A1x is a solid contender, the A14 5G offers a more polished and future-proof experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 31 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.1 x 8 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.31 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 | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | IP54 | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | 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, ColorOS 12.1 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 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 | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | 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 | Black, Blue | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | PHJ110 | 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 180 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) |
Oppo A1x
- Compact design
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Affordable price
- Lower brightness display
- Potentially shorter software support
- Slower charging (10W)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Brighter display
- 5G connectivity
- Longer software support (Samsung's promise)
- Excellent battery life
- Slightly faster processor (SM-A146B)
- Larger size may not suit everyone
- 15W charging is still relatively slow
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. likely lower on the A1x) and a larger screen size, generally offering a more immersive viewing experience. Both have a high contrast ratio, but the A14 5G's brightness gives it an advantage for outdoor use. The A1x may have a more compact form factor, which some users prefer.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality is often a differentiator in this price range. While specific camera specs are not detailed, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally offers a more refined camera experience due to Samsung's image processing and potentially better sensors. Both phones likely offer decent photo and video capabilities for casual use.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G (SM-A146B variant) has a slight edge in performance with its Exynos 1330 (5nm) chipset compared to the Oppo A1x's Dimensity 700 (7nm). The A14 5G's Cortex-A78 cores offer better peak performance. However, the Oppo A1x's Dimensity 700 is still capable for everyday tasks. The SM-A146P variant of the A14 5G uses the Dimensity 700, making the performance difference negligible.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours. The Oppo A1x's battery life is likely good, but not as exceptional as the A14 5G. The A14 5G's larger battery capacity contributes to its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
The Oppo A1x is a good choice for users prioritizing a compact design and a decent chipset for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a larger display, 5G connectivity, and the reliability of Samsung's software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better 5G support?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, as the name suggests, is designed for 5G connectivity. The Oppo A1x may not support 5G.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A14 5G with software updates?
Samsung typically provides longer software update support for its Galaxy devices compared to many other budget brands, often offering 4 years of security updates.
