Ulefone Note 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Detailed Showdown

The smartphone market offers a dizzying array of choices, from ultra-budget options to premium flagships. Today, we're putting two very different devices head-to-head: the Ulefone Note 14, a budget-friendly contender, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, a more established flagship. Let's see how they stack up.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner in almost every category, boasting superior performance, a better camera, and a brighter display. However, the Ulefone Note 14 offers incredible value for its price, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Ulefone Note 14	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 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, 12, 17, 19, 20, 28	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	eMMC 5.1	41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2022, September 29	2022, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, September 29	Available. Released 2022, January 07

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	164.8 x 76 x 9 mm (6.49 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)	155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	189 g (6.67 oz)	177 g (6.24 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2
Chipset	Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPU	PowerVR GE8300	Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OS	Android 12	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	16GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, AF (64/4 model) 8 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1.12µm, AF (16/3 model) Depth camera	-
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Triple	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS, recording	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)

Battery
Charging	-	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Black, Mint Green, Lavender Purple	White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
Models	-	SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3
Price	About 100 EUR	€ 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990
SAR	-	0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Note 14

Extremely affordable
Decent battery life
Reliable for basic tasks
Large battery capacity (likely)

Weak performance
Low-resolution display
Basic camera
Slow charging

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Excellent performance
High-quality display
Versatile camera system
Fast charging (wired & wireless)
Premium build quality

Higher price
Battery life, while good, not exceptional compared to some competitors
Older model (may lack latest software updates)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s display is significantly better. It boasts a higher resolution, a much brighter peak brightness (792 nits vs. likely around 350-400 nits for the Note 14), and a superior contrast ratio. The Note 14 will be adequate for everyday use, but the S21 FE offers a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G’s camera system is a major upgrade. It offers better image quality, more features (like optical image stabilization), and superior video recording capabilities. While the Note 14’s camera is functional, it won't compete with the S21 FE's results in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Performance

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G absolutely dominates in performance. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset is leagues ahead of the Ulefone Note 14's Helio A22. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and significantly better gaming performance on the S21 FE. The Note 14 will handle basic tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the S21 FE achieving an endurance rating of 92h. The Note 14 likely has a larger battery capacity, but the S21 FE’s efficiency gives it a slight edge. The S21 FE also supports faster charging (25W wired, 15W wireless) and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Note 14.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Note 14 is ideal for users prioritizing affordability and basic functionality – those needing a reliable phone for calls, texts, and light social media use. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is perfect for users who demand high performance, a great camera, and a premium experience, and are willing to pay a higher price.