TCL 20 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The budget 5G smartphone market is heating up, and the TCL 20 5G and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G are two strong contenders. Both offer 5G connectivity at an affordable price, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the TCL 20 5G thanks to its brighter display, generally better camera performance, and longer software support. While the TCL 20 5G has a slightly faster chipset, the A14's overall package makes it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names TCL 20 5G Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India
Launch
Announced2020, November 30. Released 2020, December 072023, January 04
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, January 12
Body
Build-Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions166.2 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.54 x 3.02 x 0.36 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
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10, 450 nits (typ)PLS LCD, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)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
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P
GPUAdreno 619LMali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P
OSAndroid 10, TCL UIAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB 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
Charging18W wired, QC415W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMist Gray, Placid BlueBlack, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
ModelsT781, T781K, T781HSM-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
PriceAbout 300 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)

TCL 20 5G

  • Slightly faster chipset
  • More compact design
  • QC4 charging

  • Dimmer display
  • Less consistent camera
  • Shorter battery life
  • Less software support

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

  • Brighter display
  • Better camera performance
  • Longer battery life
  • Samsung's software support
  • More reliable

  • Slightly slower chipset (depending on variant)
  • 15W charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs TCL's estimated 400-450 nits) and generally better color accuracy. While both offer a similar contrast ratio (1334:1), the A14's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both use LCD panels, so don't expect OLED-level blacks.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally delivers better camera performance, particularly in well-lit conditions. While both phones offer decent image quality, the A14's image processing tends to be more consistent and produces more pleasing results. The A14 also benefits from Samsung's established camera software.

Performance

The TCL 20 5G's Snapdragon 690 5G chipset offers a slight edge in raw processing power compared to the Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700 depending on the A14 variant). However, in real-world usage, the difference is often negligible. The A14's optimized software and efficient chipset provide a smooth and responsive experience.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours. The TCL 20 5G's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the A14's longevity. The A14's efficient chipset and larger battery capacity contribute to its superior endurance.

Buying Guide

The TCL 20 5G is a good option for users prioritizing raw processing power and a slightly more compact design. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those who value a vibrant display, reliable camera, and the peace of mind of Samsung's software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better 5G connectivity?
Both phones support 5G, but real-world performance will depend on your carrier and location. There's no significant difference in 5G capabilities between the two.
❓ How long will Samsung provide software updates for the Galaxy A14 5G?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices than TCL. Expect at least 2-3 years of OS updates and security patches for the Galaxy A14 5G.