TCL 50 NxtPaper vs. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget Brilliance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing all-day (and multi-day) battery life and a unique paper-like display, the TCL 50 NxtPaper is the clear winner. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G appeals to those needing 5G access and a brighter screen, despite its significantly shorter battery life.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 50 NxtPaper | 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 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 2, 5, 66, 77 Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, September 04 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167.6 x 75.5 x 8 mm (6.60 x 2.97 x 0.31 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 |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 7 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | PLS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | 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 Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) | Exynos 1330 (5 nm) - SM-A146BMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) - SM-A146P |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP2 - SM-A146BMali-G57 MC2 - SM-A146P |
| OS | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades | 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 | 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (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 |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5010 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Moon Gray, Midnight Blue, Pale Gold, Rosy Purple | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | T702D | 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 230 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) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 45:11h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class B (180 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
TCL 50 NxtPaper
- Exceptional battery life (45:11h endurance)
- Unique NxtPaper display for eye comfort
- Faster 33W charging
- Long-lasting battery health (1000 cycles)
- Display brightness likely lower than competitors
- Limited camera details available
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Brighter display (519 nits) for outdoor visibility
- More established brand reputation
- Potentially more software features
- Significantly shorter battery life (130h endurance)
- Slower 15W charging
- Performance varies significantly between Exynos and Dimensity variants
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display, peaking at 519 nits, crucial for outdoor use, while the TCL 50 NxtPaper’s display characteristics aren’t specified beyond its ‘NxtPaper’ technology. The A14 5G’s 1334:1 contrast ratio is standard for its class, but the NxtPaper’s focus is on reducing blue light and mimicking the texture of paper, potentially offering a more comfortable viewing experience for extended reading. The lack of detailed display specs for the TCL suggests a trade-off in brightness for its unique paper-like qualities.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison difficult. The TCL 50 NxtPaper’s camera system is not detailed, while the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G likely features a standard configuration for its price point. Given the market segment, image quality will likely be similar, with the Samsung potentially offering more software features and processing options. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the A14 5G is a common, but often underwhelming, addition.
Performance
The TCL 50 NxtPaper utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G comes in two variants: the Exynos 1330 (5nm - SM-A146B) and the Dimensity 700 (7nm - SM-A146P). The 6nm Dimensity 6300 and 5nm Exynos 1330 offer superior efficiency compared to the 7nm Dimensity 700. Both phones feature an octa-core CPU configuration with similar core arrangements (2x2.4GHz Cortex-A76/A78 and 6x2.0GHz Cortex-A55), suggesting comparable everyday performance. However, the more advanced node of the Dimensity 6300 and Exynos 1330 should translate to better sustained performance and thermal management under load. The specific A14 5G variant significantly impacts performance; the Exynos version is notably more powerful.
Battery Life
The TCL 50 NxtPaper dominates in battery endurance with a remarkable 45:11h rating and a 1000-cycle lifespan, indicating long-term battery health. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G’s 130h endurance is significantly lower. The TCL also benefits from 33W wired charging, while the Samsung is limited to 15W. This means the TCL 50 NxtPaper will not only last much longer on a single charge but also recharge faster when needed. The difference in charging speed is substantial, potentially saving users considerable time.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 50 NxtPaper if you need a phone that can reliably last through two full days of moderate use, value eye comfort, and don't heavily rely on 5G connectivity. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if you prioritize 5G network access, require a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are comfortable charging your phone daily.