TCL 40R vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Snapdragon 695, built on a more efficient 6nm process, offers a small but noticeable advantage in sustained performance, and the 25W charging significantly reduces downtime compared to the TCL 40R’s 15W charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 40R | Samsung Galaxy A23 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - T771K, T771K1 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 7, 28, 66, 71, 78 SA/NSA - T771A | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 26 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 21 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.48 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 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 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ) | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, TCL UI 4.0 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (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, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | 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, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Stardust Purple, Starlight Black | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | T771K, T771K1, T771H, T771A | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 240 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 138h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
TCL 40R
- Potentially lower price point
- Capable 5G connectivity with Dimensity 700
- Solid performance for basic tasks
- Slower 15W charging
- Less efficient chipset (7nm vs 6nm)
- Limited brightness data
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 (6nm)
- Faster 25W charging
- Higher peak display brightness
- Potentially higher price
- Similar battery endurance rating despite faster charging
- Camera performance dependent on sensor quality
Display Comparison
Both the TCL 40R and Samsung Galaxy A23 5G share a similar contrast ratio of 1328:1, suggesting comparable color reproduction. However, the Galaxy A23 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 508 nits, which will translate to better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the TCL 40R, for which brightness data is unavailable. While both likely utilize LCD panels, the A23’s higher brightness provides a tangible advantage for outdoor use. Bezels are expected to be similar, typical of this price segment.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, if equipped (brand history suggests it's possible on some variants), would provide a significant advantage in low-light photography and video recording, reducing blur and improving image stability. The ubiquitous 2MP macro cameras found on both devices are unlikely to deliver significant image quality improvements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the TCL 40R utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm) while the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The 6nm process of the Snapdragon 695 offers improved power efficiency, potentially leading to better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. Both CPUs feature a similar octa-core configuration with 2x high-performance cores (Cortex-A76 vs Kryo 660 Gold) and 6x efficiency cores, but the Snapdragon’s Kryo cores are generally more efficient. The TCL 40R’s Dimensity 700 is still capable, but the A23 5G has a slight edge in overall processing power.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 138 hours, indicating similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G’s 25W wired charging is a substantial advantage over the TCL 40R’s 15W charging. This translates to significantly faster charging times – potentially reducing a full charge from over 2 hours on the TCL 40R to around 90 minutes on the Samsung. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed provides a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 40R if you prioritize a lower upfront cost and are comfortable with potentially slower charging speeds. It’s a solid option for basic smartphone tasks and light 5G usage. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G if you value a more refined user experience, slightly better performance for multitasking and gaming, and the convenience of faster 25W charging. It’s ideal for users who want a reliable 5G phone that can handle a bit more demanding tasks.