TCL 408 vs Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G

The TCL 408 and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G represent two compelling options in the increasingly competitive sub-$200 smartphone market. Both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, but they take drastically different approaches to achieving this, particularly in chipset selection and overall performance. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a smoother overall experience and better future-proofing, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is the stronger choice. Its Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700 depending on region) offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the TCL 408’s Helio G25, justifying the slight price premium.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 408	Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - T507A, T507U, T507U1, T507U2, T507J	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - T507U, T507U1, T507U2	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 - T507D1	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India

Launch
Announced	2023, January 05	2023, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 31	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 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~84.3% 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	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 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	-

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	LED flash	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4", 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
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (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 stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (T507U only)	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	Fingerprint (side-mounted), 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	Gravity Grey, Midnight Blue	Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver
Models	T507D1, T507A, T507U, T507U1, T507U2, T507J	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 130 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 408

Lower price point
Acceptable battery life
Functional for basic tasks

Weak processor performance
Slow charging speed
Limited display brightness

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

Significantly faster processor
Brighter display
Faster charging (15W)

Slightly higher price
Potential regional chipset variation (Exynos vs Dimensity)
Basic camera system

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display, measured at 519 nits, compared to the TCL 408’s unspecified brightness. Both share a 1334:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color reproduction quality. However, the brighter panel on the A14 5G will be noticeably more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While neither phone is expected to feature high refresh rates, the A14 5G’s larger screen size (6.6 inches vs. 6.56 inches) provides a more immersive viewing experience. The TCL 408’s display specifications are minimal, suggesting a focus on cost reduction rather than visual fidelity.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but details are sparse. The TCL 408’s camera specifications are largely unknown, suggesting a basic camera setup. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G likely features a more capable main sensor, though resolution details are missing. It’s important to note that the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing tactic, offering minimal practical benefit due to the low resolution and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS). Image processing will likely be a key differentiator, with Samsung’s software generally providing more refined results.

Performance

This is where the most significant difference lies. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G utilizes either the Exynos 1330 (SM-A146B) or the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (SM-A146P), both built on more advanced process nodes (5nm and 7nm respectively) than the TCL 408’s 12nm Mediatek Helio G25. The Exynos 1330 features a more modern CPU architecture with 2x Cortex-A78 cores alongside 6x Cortex-A55 cores, offering a substantial performance uplift over the TCL 408’s 4x Cortex-A53 and 4x Cortex-A53 configuration. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the A14 5G. The Dimensity 700, while less powerful than the Exynos, still provides a significant advantage over the Helio G25. The TCL 408’s Helio G25 is geared towards basic functionality and will struggle with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both the TCL 408 and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G achieve an endurance rating of 130 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G supports 15W wired charging, compared to the TCL 408’s slower 10W charging. This means the A14 5G will recharge from 0-100% significantly faster, a crucial advantage for users who rely heavily on their smartphones throughout the day. While the battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the more efficient chipset in the A14 5G likely contributes to comparable endurance despite potentially having a smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the TCL 408 if you need a basic, functional smartphone for essential tasks like calls, texts, and light social media browsing, and are extremely budget-constrained. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if you prefer a more responsive device capable of handling moderate multitasking, occasional gaming, and benefit from a brighter display and potentially faster 5G speeds depending on the variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700) in the Galaxy A14 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?

While neither chipset is a flagship performer, the 5nm/7nm process nodes used in the Exynos 1330 and Dimensity 700 are significantly more efficient than the 12nm Helio G25. This translates to better thermal management, meaning the A14 5G is less likely to experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions, though it won't deliver high frame rates in demanding titles.

❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone worth using?

Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras offer limited detail and often produce blurry, unusable images. The small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization result in poor low-light performance. They are primarily included as a marketing feature rather than a genuinely useful photographic tool.

❓ What 5G bands does the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G support, and will it work with my carrier?

5G band support varies by region and carrier. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G supports a wide range of 5G bands, but it's crucial to check compatibility with your specific carrier before purchasing. Refer to your carrier's website or Samsung's official specifications for your region to confirm support.

❓ How does the TCL 408 perform with multitasking and running multiple apps simultaneously?

The TCL 408’s Mediatek Helio G25 is not well-suited for heavy multitasking. Running multiple apps simultaneously will likely result in noticeable lag and slowdowns. It’s best suited for running one app at a time for optimal performance.