TCL 50 XL vs. Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing sustained performance in demanding apps and games, the TCL 50 XL emerges as the winner thanks to its more modern Dimensity 6100+ chipset. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G provides a solid all-around experience with a slightly brighter display and Samsung's software ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | TCL 50 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 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 25, 41, 66, 71, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 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, June 26 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 05 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm (6.60 x 2.97 x 0.32 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 |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~86.3% 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 (2x2.2 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 6100+ (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 | 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 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF 2 MP, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 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, (wide) | 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 (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | 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 | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5010 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Slate Gray | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | T702W | 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 90 EUR | $ 77.63 / C$ 151.00 / £ 97.00 / € 159.79 / ₹ 14,990 |
| SAR | 1.22 W/kg (head) 0.87 W/kg (body) | 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 50 XL
- More powerful processor (Dimensity 6100+)
- Faster charging (18W)
- Potentially better thermal management due to 6nm process
- Display brightness not specified, potentially lower than A14 5G
- Less established brand reputation
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Brighter display (519 nits)
- Familiar Samsung One UI software
- Strong brand recognition
- Chipset performance varies (Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 700)
- Slower charging (15W)
Display Comparison
Both the TCL 50 XL and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G feature displays with a 1334:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar image quality in terms of blacks and whites. However, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 519 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the TCL 50 XL, whose brightness is not specified. While both likely utilize LCD panels, the lack of information on the TCL 50 XL’s panel type prevents a deeper analysis of color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the A14 5G is unlikely to significantly impact image quality, serving more as a marketing feature. The image processing style will likely differ between the two, with Samsung typically favoring more saturated colors and TCL potentially aiming for a more natural look. Real-world image samples are crucial for assessing the true camera performance.
Performance
The TCL 50 XL’s MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ (6nm) chipset, with its Cortex-A76 based cores, provides a significant architectural advantage over the Exynos 1330 (5nm) found in some A14 5G variants. The Dimensity 6100+’s newer core design generally translates to better single-core performance. The A14 5G has a variant with the Dimensity 700 (7nm) which is a step down in performance. The Exynos 1330’s Cortex-A78 cores are powerful, but the 6nm process of the Dimensity 6100+ offers improved power efficiency, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The TCL 50 XL is likely to handle graphically intensive tasks more smoothly.
Battery Life
Both the TCL 50 XL and Samsung Galaxy A14 5G achieve an endurance rating of 130 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the TCL 50 XL’s 18W wired charging is slightly faster than the A14 5G’s 15W charging, potentially reducing the time required to fully recharge the battery. The actual 0-100% charge time will depend on the charger used and the phone’s power management system.
Buying Guide
Buy the TCL 50 XL if you frequently stream videos, play mobile games, or run multiple apps simultaneously and need the best possible processing power for the price. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if you value a familiar user interface, a slightly brighter display for outdoor visibility, and the peace of mind that comes with the Samsung brand, even if it means a slight performance compromise.