TCL 30 vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Looking for a fantastic smartphone without breaking the bank? The TCL 30 and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G are both contenders in the budget arena, offering compelling features at affordable prices. But which one deserves your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G takes the crown thanks to its superior chipset (especially the Exynos version), 5G connectivity, brighter display, and generally more polished software experience. While the TCL 30 offers decent value, the A14 5G provides a more future-proof and enjoyable overall experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 30	Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	-	2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India

Launch
Announced	2022, February 27	2023, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 20	Available. Released 2023, January 12

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	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	184 g (6.49 oz)	202 g (7.13 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, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	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 MT6765V/CB Helio G37 (12 nm)	Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P
OS	Android 12, TCL UI 4.0	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm	13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple	50 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	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
Features	HDR	-
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Radio	Unspecified	FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording
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, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only)

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

Misc
Colors	Tech Black, Muse Blue	Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
Models	T676H	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 200 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 30

Potentially lower price
Larger screen (likely)
Decent battery life

Weaker processor
Lower brightness display
Less refined camera
No 5G

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Faster processor (Exynos or Dimensity)
5G connectivity
Brighter display
Better camera
Samsung's software support

Slightly smaller screen (potentially)
15W charging (slower than some competitors)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. TCL 30's likely lower brightness) and potentially better color accuracy. While both offer a nominal contrast ratio of 1334:1, Samsung's implementation is generally superior. The A14 5G also often features a higher resolution panel, leading to sharper visuals.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the A14 5G generally has a more versatile camera system with potentially better image processing. Expect improved low-light performance and more detailed photos from the A14 5G. The TCL 30's camera is adequate but lacks the refinement of the A14 5G.

Performance

Here's where the A14 5G truly shines. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) significantly outperforms the TCL 30's Helio G37. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the A14 5G. The A14 5G's CPU architecture is also more modern and efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (130h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A14 5G's more efficient chipset might give it a slight edge in real-world usage, especially with 5G enabled.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the TCL 30? Those prioritizing a slightly larger screen and potentially a lower price point (depending on deals). Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G? Anyone wanting 5G connectivity, a faster processor, a brighter display, and the reliability of the Samsung brand.