Oukitel C38 vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is the better choice. While the Oukitel C38 offers a slightly faster CPU clock speed in some cores, the A14 5G’s more efficient Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) and optimized software provide a smoother, more reliable experience, alongside Samsung’s established software support.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Oukitel C38 | Samsung Galaxy A14 5G |
| 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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 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, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, May | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, June | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.47 x 2.97 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 | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | 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 MT8788 (12 nm) | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 13 | 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 | 256GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 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 | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 1/2.8" | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS | 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 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5150 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Green | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | - | 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 140 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) |
Oukitel C38
- Faster charging speed (18W)
- Potentially lower price point
- Higher CPU clock speed on some cores
- Older, less efficient chipset (MT8788)
- Limited software support
- Sparse display specifications
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- More modern and efficient chipset (Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 700)
- Brighter display (519 nits)
- Better long-term software support
- Established brand reputation
- Slower charging speed (15W)
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 519 nits compared to an unlisted value for the Oukitel C38, making it more usable outdoors. Both share a 1334:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color depth. However, the A14 5G’s larger brand recognition suggests potential for better color calibration out of the box. The Oukitel C38’s display specifications are sparse, making a definitive assessment difficult, but the A14 5G clearly has the edge in brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for the Oukitel C38. The Galaxy A14 5G’s camera system likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing expertise, offering potentially better dynamic range and color accuracy. Without knowing the sensor sizes or apertures on the Oukitel C38, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but Samsung’s track record suggests a more refined camera experience. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A14 5G is largely a marketing gimmick and shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
Performance
The chipset is where the biggest difference lies. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G utilizes either the Exynos 1330 (5nm) or the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm), both significantly more modern than the Oukitel C38’s Mediatek MT8788 (12nm). The 5nm and 7nm processes offer superior power efficiency and transistor density, translating to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling. While the C38’s CPU has a higher clock speed on its Cortex-A73 cores (2.0 GHz vs 2.4 GHz on the A78 in the Exynos 1330), the A78 architecture is more efficient and powerful. The A14 5G’s CPU configuration (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) provides a more balanced and ultimately faster experience for demanding tasks. The Dimensity 700 variant, while less powerful than the Exynos, still outperforms the MT8788.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 130 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G’s 15W charging is slower than the Oukitel C38’s 18W charging. This means the C38 will likely charge from 0-100% faster, but the A14 5G’s more efficient chipset may offset this difference in real-world usage by consuming less power overall. The A14 5G’s endurance rating suggests optimized power management despite the slower charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oukitel C38 if you prioritize raw CPU clock speed for basic tasks and are comfortable with a less refined software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if you value a more modern chipset, better long-term software support, a brighter display, and a generally more polished user experience, even if it means sacrificing some theoretical CPU performance.