TCL 30+ vs Samsung Galaxy A14: The Ultimate Budget Battle

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the TCL 30+ and Samsung Galaxy A14 are two strong contenders. 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 make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A14 edges out the TCL 30+ thanks to its more powerful processor (especially the Exynos version), slightly better camera capabilities, and the Samsung brand reputation. However, the TCL 30+ offers a competitive price and decent performance for everyday tasks.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 30+	Samsung Galaxy A14

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM)	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA/APAC	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 66 - LATAM	-

Launch
Announced	2022, February 27	2023, February 28
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 20	Available. Released 2023, March 27

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	164.5 x 75.2 x 7.7 mm (6.48 x 2.96 x 0.30 in)	167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm (6.60 x 3.07 x 0.36 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	184 g (6.49 oz)	201 g (7.09 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 650 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version AOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version B
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm)	Mediatek MT6769 Helio G80 (12 nm) - Version AExynos 850 (8 nm) - Version B
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G52 MC2
OS	Android 12, TCL UI 4.0	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	-	13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.75", 0.64µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm	13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	-	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with dual speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1 or 5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (T676K only)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
Radio	Unspecified	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 5010 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Tech Black, Muse Blue	Black, Dark Red, Silver, Green
Models	T676K, T676J	SM-A145F, SM-A145F/DSN, SM-A145M, SM-A145M/DS, SM-A145P, SM-A145R
Price	About 220 EUR	€ 85.76 / $ 147.60 / £ 79.95
SAR EU	-	0.46 W/kg (head) 1.37 W/kg (body)

TCL 30+

Large Display
Affordable Price
Decent Battery Life
Expandable Storage

Weaker Processor
Less Refined Camera
Plastic Build Quality
Slower Software Updates

Samsung Galaxy A14

More Powerful Processor (especially Exynos version)
Better Camera System
Samsung Brand Reputation
Potentially Longer Software Support
Sleek Design

Slower Charging
Can be slightly more expensive
LCD Display

Display Comparison

Both phones feature large displays, but the Galaxy A14 typically has a slightly higher resolution and potentially better color accuracy. The TCL 30+ often boasts a larger screen size, which can be appealing for media consumption. Expect both to be LCD panels, not OLED.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A14 generally offers a more versatile camera system with potentially better image quality, especially in low light. While both have multiple lenses, Samsung's image processing is typically more refined. Expect the A14 to have a higher resolution main sensor.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A14, particularly the Exynos 850 version, holds a significant advantage in performance. The Helio G80 is noticeably faster than the Helio G37, resulting in smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. The TCL 30+ will handle basic tasks adequately, but may struggle with demanding apps.

Battery Life

Battery life is expected to be comparable on both devices, likely lasting a full day with moderate usage. The TCL 30+ might have a slightly larger battery capacity, but the Galaxy A14's more efficient processor could offset this.

Buying Guide

The TCL 30+ is ideal for users prioritizing a large display and a budget-friendly price tag for basic tasks like browsing and social media. The Samsung Galaxy A14 is a better choice for those needing more processing power for gaming or multitasking, and who value a more established brand and potentially longer software support.