TCL 40 SE vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the TCL 40 SE and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. But which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally edges out the TCL 40 SE thanks to its superior chipset (especially the Exynos version), brighter display, and 5G connectivity. While the TCL offers a slightly faster-charging experience, the A14's overall performance and Samsung's brand reputation make it the stronger pick.

PHONES
Phone Names TCL 40 SE Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - T610KHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - T610K1, 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
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 38, 40, 66 - T610E, T610P1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India
Launch
Announced2023, January 052023, January 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 04Available. Released 2023, January 12
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions167.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm (6.61 x 3.01 x 0.33 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
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
Display
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ)PLS LCD, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-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
ChipsetMediatek MT6765 Helio G37 (12 nm)Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P
GPUPowerVR GE8320Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P
OSAndroid 13, TCL UI 5.0Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, 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
FeaturesHDR-
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (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 Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (T610K, T610K2, T610P, T610P2)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, 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, proximityFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only)
Battery
Charging18W wired15W wired
TypeLi-Po 5010 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsDark grey, Twilight purpleBlack, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
ModelsT610KSM-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 120 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 40 SE

  • Faster charging (18W)
  • More affordable
  • Decent display
  • Good battery life

  • Weaker chipset
  • Lower brightness display
  • Less refined camera
  • No 5G connectivity

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

  • Superior chipset (Exynos/Dimensity)
  • Brighter display
  • Better camera
  • 5G connectivity
  • Samsung brand reliability

  • Slower charging (15W)
  • Slightly more expensive
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. estimated 400-450 nits for the TCL 40 SE) and a slightly better contrast ratio, resulting in more vibrant colors and better visibility in sunlight. Both offer a similar resolution, but Samsung's panel generally provides a more pleasing viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer decent camera capabilities for their price range, the Galaxy A14 5G likely holds an advantage. Samsung's image processing is generally more refined, and the A14 5G often features a more versatile camera system with potentially better low-light performance. The TCL 40 SE's camera is acceptable but lacks the polish of the A14 5G.

Performance

Here's where the Galaxy A14 5G truly shines. The Exynos 1330 (SM-A146B) or Dimensity 700 (SM-A146P) chipsets significantly outperform the Helio G37 in the TCL 40 SE. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The TCL 40 SE's chipset is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Galaxy A14 5G achieving an impressive endurance rating of 130 hours. The TCL 40 SE's battery capacity is comparable, suggesting similar real-world usage. However, the TCL 40 SE's 18W charging is slightly faster than the A14 5G's 15W charging.

Buying Guide

The TCL 40 SE is a good choice for users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more affordable price point. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking better performance, a brighter display, 5G connectivity, and the reliability of the Samsung ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the TCL 40 SE good for gaming?
The TCL 40 SE can handle basic games, but it will struggle with more demanding titles due to its weaker chipset. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G support 5G?
Yes, the '5G' in the name indicates that the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G supports 5G connectivity, offering faster data speeds where available. The TCL 40 SE is a 4G-only device.