TCL 40 XL vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: The Ultimate Budget Battle

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the TCL 40 XL and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. 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 5G edges out the TCL 40 XL thanks to its superior chipset (especially the Exynos version), brighter display, and Samsung's generally reliable software. While the TCL offers a larger screen, the A14's performance and brand recognition make it the slightly better pick.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 40 XL	Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 - USA	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - USA	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, LTE	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	2023, February 26	2023, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2023, May	Available. Released 2023, January 12

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	167.9 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.61 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)	167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm (6.60 x 3.07 x 0.36 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	195 g (6.88 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.75 inches, 110.0 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz	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 MT6765 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 13, TCL UI	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International
Internal	128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, (wide)	13 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple	50 MP, (wide), 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
Single	8 MP, (wide)	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	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio	FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only)

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

Misc
Colors	Dark Gray	Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
Models	T608M	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 140 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 XL

Large 6.78-inch display
Very affordable price
Decent battery life

Less powerful chipset
Slower charging
Less polished software

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

More powerful chipset (Exynos or Dimensity)
Brighter display
Samsung's One UI software
Good battery life

Slower charging (15W)
Slightly smaller display than TCL

Display Comparison

The TCL 40 XL boasts a larger 6.78-inch display, potentially appealing to those who enjoy immersive viewing. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G's display, while slightly smaller at 6.6 inches, shines with a measured 519 nits of brightness, offering better visibility in outdoor conditions. Both have a nominal contrast ratio of 1334:1, suggesting good image depth, but the A14's brightness gives it an edge.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting. However, Samsung's image processing often results in more vibrant and pleasing photos. The A14 5G likely has a slight advantage in low-light conditions due to its more powerful processor assisting with image processing. Specific camera specs are missing, but Samsung's reputation for camera quality gives it a slight edge.

Performance

Here's where the A14 5G pulls ahead. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) chipset is significantly more powerful than the TCL 40 XL's Helio G37. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14. The TCL's chipset is adequate for basic tasks, but struggles with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 130 hours. This suggests all-day usage is easily achievable for both devices. Charging speeds are slower on both, with 18W for the TCL and 15W for the Samsung.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the TCL 40 XL? Users prioritizing a large display for media consumption and those seeking a very budget-friendly option. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G? Those wanting a smoother experience, a brighter screen, and the reliability of the Samsung ecosystem, even with a slightly smaller display.