The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme V30 and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. Both offer compelling features at affordable prices, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the Realme V30 thanks to its more powerful chipset (Exynos 1330), proven brand reliability, and impressive battery life. While the Realme V30 might offer slightly better value depending on pricing, the A14 5G provides a more consistently robust 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 | LTE | 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 | 2023, February 09 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 20 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 8.1 mm thickness | 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) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 600 nits | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | 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 | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | - | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | 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 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, (wide), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP (wide) | 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 | 5 MP (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes |
| Positioning | Yes | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Yes | 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 | - | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | RMX3618 | 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 150 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) |
Realme V30
- Potentially lower price
- Large display
- Modern design
- Unknown chipset performance
- Unconfirmed battery capacity
- Less established brand support
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Powerful Exynos 1330 chipset
- Excellent battery life (130h endurance)
- Reliable brand and software support
- Brighter display
- 15W charging is slow
- Plastic build quality
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large displays with a nominal contrast ratio of 1334:1. The Galaxy A14 5G boasts a measured brightness of 519 nits, which is noticeably brighter than what we'd expect from the V30, potentially offering better visibility in sunlight. Screen resolution and panel type (likely IPS LCD for both) will be key factors in overall viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is difficult to definitively assess without detailed testing. Both phones are advertised as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities. However, Samsung's image processing is generally considered more refined. The A14 5G likely offers better low-light performance and more consistent results.
Performance
Here's where the Galaxy A14 5G takes a significant lead. The Exynos 1330 (5nm) is considerably more powerful than the Mediatek chipset in the V30 (7nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The CPU differences further solidify this advantage.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A14 5G shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 130 hours. While the V30's battery capacity is unknown, this rating suggests the A14 5G will easily last a full day, even with heavy usage. The 15W charging on both is relatively slow, but the larger battery capacity of the A14 5G makes it less of a concern.
Buying Guide
The Realme V30 is a good choice for users prioritizing a potentially lower price point and are comfortable with a Mediatek chipset. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a reliable, well-supported device with a strong battery and a more powerful processor, even if it means spending a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Exynos 1330 chipset.
❓ Does the Realme V30 have 5G connectivity?
While the name suggests it, the Realme V30's 5G capabilities are unconfirmed. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G explicitly supports 5G.