Samsung Star II vs. iPhone 14 Plus: A Generational Leap?

The Samsung S5260 Star II, a nostalgic throwback, faces off against the modern powerhouse, the Apple iPhone 14 Plus. This comparison explores how a budget-friendly classic stacks up against a flagship device, considering design, performance, camera capabilities, and overall value. Prepare for a surprising look at two very different smartphone eras.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Plus utterly dominates in almost every category. Its superior performance, advanced camera system, and modern features make it the clear winner. However, the Star II offers a compelling option for those seeking a basic, affordable phone with a classic design and simple functionality.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung S5260 Star II Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands-HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2886, A2888
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2886, A2888
EDGEYes-
GPRSClass 12-
Speed-HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSMGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2887
Launch
Announced2011, January. Released 2011, February2022, September 07
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, October 07
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions107.5 x 54 x 12.4 mm (4.23 x 2.13 x 0.49 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight94 g (3.32 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~44.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 256K colorsSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
 TouchWiz UI 3.0-
Platform
CPU-Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
Chipset-Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPU-Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OS-iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Call records30 dialed, 30 received, 30 missed calls-
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)No
Internal30MB128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
PhonebookYes, Photocall-
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Features-Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single3.15 MP12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video320p@15fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video-4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth3.0, A2DP5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC-Yes
PositioningNoGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDSNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
BrowserWAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML-
GamesYes + downloadable-
JavaYes, MIDP 2.0-
MessagingSMS, MMS, Email, IM-
SensorsAccelerometerFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Facebook, Twitter Gtalk, AIM, Facebook chat, Yahoo IM MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC+ player H.264/MP4 player Organizer Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Voice memo Predictive text inputUltra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Stand-byUp to 900 h-
Talk timeUp to 8 h 20 min-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1000 mAh batteryLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteMidnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, Yellow
Models-A2886, A2632, A2885, A2888, A2887, iphone14,8
PriceAbout 70 EUR€ 391.58 / $ 329.97 / £ 335.00
SAR0.68 W/kg (head)     0.63 W/kg (body)1.14 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.96 W/kg (head)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -85.6dB / Crosstalk -61.2dB-
Battery life- Endurance rating 102h
Camera Photo Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 70dB -24.7 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 797976 (v9) GeekBench: 4582 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung S5260 Star II

  • Ultra-affordable
  • Classic Samsung design
  • Simple to use
  • Decent battery life for basic tasks

  • Outdated hardware
  • Poor camera quality
  • Low-resolution display
  • Limited app compatibility
  • No 4G/5G

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Advanced camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Access to Apple ecosystem
  • 5G connectivity

  • Expensive
  • Can be fragile
  • Limited customization compared to Android

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Plus boasts a significantly larger and brighter 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with a peak brightness of 797 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The Star II's display is smaller, likely with lower resolution and brightness, offering a much less immersive visual experience. Color accuracy and viewing angles are also vastly superior on the iPhone.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Plus offers a dual-camera system capable of capturing stunning photos and videos, with advanced features like Cinematic mode and Photographic Styles. The Star II's camera is basic, likely limited to still photos and offering significantly lower image quality and fewer features. Video recording capabilities are likely minimal on the Star II.

Performance

The iPhone 14 Plus's A15 Bionic chip is a beast, delivering blazing-fast performance for demanding apps and games. The Star II, with its likely older and less powerful processor, will struggle with modern applications and multitasking. Expect noticeable lag and slower loading times on the Star II.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 Plus delivers exceptional battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 102 hours. While the Star II likely has a smaller battery, its less demanding hardware might result in decent battery life for basic usage, but it won't come close to the iPhone's longevity.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Star II? Users seeking a very basic, ultra-budget phone primarily for calls and texts, or those with a strong nostalgic attachment to older Samsung designs. Who should buy the Apple iPhone 14 Plus? Anyone wanting a premium smartphone experience with top-tier performance, a fantastic camera, and access to the Apple ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Star II worth buying in 2024?
Only if you need a very basic phone for calls and texts and are on an extremely tight budget. Otherwise, there are better options available.
❓ Can the Samsung Star II run modern apps?
It will struggle with many modern apps and may not be compatible with some. Its older hardware and operating system are a significant limitation.
❓ What is the main advantage of the iPhone 14 Plus?
Its superior performance, advanced camera, and long battery life make it a top-tier smartphone experience.