Samsung Galaxy M14 vs Galaxy A14 5G: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Samsung's budget phone lineup is always a hot topic, offering incredible value for the price. The Galaxy M14 and A14 5G are two contenders vying for your attention. But which one delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy M14 edges out the A14 5G thanks to its potentially faster charging (in India) and slightly more powerful CPU configuration. However, the A14 5G's 5G connectivity and potentially brighter display make it a strong contender, especially for those prioritizing future-proofing.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy M14 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, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 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
Announced2023, March 082023, January 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 08Available. Released 2023, January 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions166.8 x 77.2 x 9.4 mm (6.57 x 3.04 x 0.37 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight206 g (7.27 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~81.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypePLS LCD, 90HzPLS LCD, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 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
ChipsetExynos 1330 (5 nm)Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P
GPUMali-G68 MP2Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P
OSAndroid 13, One UI core 5.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple50 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
Single13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedFM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only)
Battery
Charging15W wired - international 25W wired - India15W wired
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsNavy Blue, Light Blue, SilverBlack, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
ModelsSM-M146B, SM-M146B/DS, SM-M146B/DSNSM-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₹ 10,990$ 77.63 / C$ 151.00 / £ 97.00 / € 159.79 / ₹ 14,990
SAR-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.48 W/kg (head)     1.53 W/kg (body)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)

Samsung Galaxy M14

  • Potentially faster charging (India variant)
  • Slightly more powerful CPU
  • Large battery capacity
  • Good value for money

  • 15W charging internationally
  • Design may be less premium
  • Camera details are limited

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

  • 5G connectivity
  • Potentially brighter display
  • Excellent battery life (130h endurance)
  • Compact design

  • 15W charging
  • Performance slightly lower than M14 (Exynos variant)
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a similar 6.6-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering a smooth viewing experience. The A14 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 519 nits, which could provide better visibility in direct sunlight. The contrast ratio is similar on both, around 1334:1. The M14 might have slightly better color accuracy, but this is difficult to confirm without testing.

Camera Comparison

Camera specs are not fully detailed, but both phones are expected to offer a triple-camera setup with a primary sensor. Image quality will likely be comparable, with Samsung's image processing algorithms playing a significant role. Low-light performance is an area to watch for differences.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Exynos 1330 chipset, but the M14 has a slightly tweaked CPU configuration (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) compared to the A14 5G's (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). This suggests a marginal performance advantage for the M14 in demanding tasks. The A14 5G variant with the Dimensity 700 will have different performance characteristics, generally being slightly less powerful than the Exynos version.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A14 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours, suggesting exceptional battery life. The M14 also has a large battery, but its endurance rating isn't specified. Charging speeds differ: the M14 offers 15W wired charging internationally, but 25W in India, while the A14 5G is limited to 15W.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy M14 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, a slightly more powerful processor, and potentially faster charging (India variant). The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is a better choice for those who want 5G connectivity, a potentially brighter display, and a more compact design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy M14 worth buying?
The M14 is a great option if you prioritize battery life and a slightly more powerful processor, especially if you're in India and can take advantage of the 25W charging.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G support 5G?
Yes, the '5G' in the name indicates that it supports 5G connectivity, offering faster data speeds where available.