Looking for a fantastic smartphone without breaking the bank? The TCL 405 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.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is the clear winner, offering a significantly more powerful chipset, better display brightness, and 5G connectivity. While the TCL 405 is a decent budget option, the A14 5G provides a superior overall experience for a slight price premium.
| 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 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 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, November 02 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 02 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.48 x 2.97 x 0.35 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 |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 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 MT6762G Helio G25 (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 (Go edition), TCL UI | 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 | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 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 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 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 stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lavender Purple, Space Dark | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | T506D | 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 100 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 405
- Very affordable
- Decent battery life
- Sleek design (subjective)
- Weak performance
- Dim display
- Slow charging (10W)
- Limited camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Powerful chipset (Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 700)
- Bright display
- 5G connectivity
- Good camera
- Fast charging (15W)
- Slightly more expensive
- Design can be considered bland (subjective)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. likely around 380-400 nits for the TCL 405) and potentially better color accuracy. Both offer a nominal contrast ratio of 1334:1, but Samsung's implementation is likely superior. The A14 5G also often features a slightly larger screen size, enhancing the viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally has a more advanced camera system with better image processing and potentially more features. Expect better low-light performance and more detailed photos from the A14 5G. The TCL 405's camera is adequate for basic snapshots.
Performance
Here's where the A14 5G truly shines. The Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700 depending on region) is significantly more powerful than the Helio G25. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A14 5G. The TCL 405 will feel noticeably slower, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (130h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A14 5G's more efficient chipset might translate to slightly better real-world battery performance, especially under load.
Buying Guide
The TCL 405 is a good choice for users prioritizing a very low price point and basic functionality. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those wanting a smoother performance, a brighter display, 5G connectivity, and a more reliable camera experience, even on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the TCL 405 good for gaming?
The TCL 405's Helio G25 chipset is not ideal for demanding games. You'll likely experience lag and low frame rates. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers a much better gaming experience.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G support 5G?
Yes, the '5G' in the name indicates that it supports 5G networks, providing faster data speeds where available. The TCL 405 does not support 5G.
