Ulefone Note 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S9: A Detailed Comparison

The smartphone market offers a vast range of options, from ultra-budget devices to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two very different contenders against each other: the Ulefone Note 14, a budget-friendly option, and the Samsung Galaxy S9, a former flagship known for its performance and features. Let's see how they stack up.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the clear winner in almost every category, boasting a significantly faster processor, superior camera, and a higher-quality display. However, the Ulefone Note 14 offers incredible value for its price, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Ulefone Note 14 Samsung Galaxy S9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 281, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 eMMC 5.11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
Launch
Announced2022, September 292018, February 25. Released 2018, March 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 29Discontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.8 x 76 x 9 mm (6.49 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density)
Size6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, HDR10
 -3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display
Platform
CPUQuad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
ChipsetMediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm)Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
GPUPowerVR GE8300Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China
OSAndroid 12Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal16GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual13 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-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, f/2.0, (wide)12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS (30fps)
Selfie camera
Dual-8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera)
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.0, (wide)-
Video1080p@30fps1440p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioStereo FM radio, RDS, recordingFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximityIris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
 -ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging-15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Mint Green, Lavender PurpleMidnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue
Models-SM-G960F, SM-G960, SM-G960F, SM-G960U, SM-G960W, SM-G9600, SM-G960U1, SM-G960N, SCV38, SM-G960X, SC-02K
PriceAbout 100 EURAbout 110 EUR
SAR-0.63 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.36 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -93.9dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 78h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.630 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 250156 (v7) GeekBench: 8830 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Ulefone Note 14

  • Extremely affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Large display
  • Expandable storage (likely)

  • Slow processor
  • Basic camera
  • Lower quality display
  • Limited features

Samsung Galaxy S9

  • Powerful processor
  • Excellent camera
  • Vibrant Super AMOLED display
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Wireless charging (market dependent)

  • Older model
  • Battery life may degrade over time
  • Higher price (compared to Note 14)

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S9's display is a significant advantage. It features a vibrant Super AMOLED panel with excellent contrast and color accuracy, achieving an impressive contrast ratio. The Note 14 likely has a more basic LCD display, offering acceptable visuals but lacking the punch and clarity of the S9. Resolution and brightness are also likely to favor the S9.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S9's camera system remains impressive even today. It offers excellent image quality, particularly in well-lit conditions, and features a variety of modes and enhancements. The Note 14's camera is likely to be more basic, producing acceptable photos in good lighting but struggling in low-light situations. Video recording capabilities will also be superior on the S9.

Performance

The Galaxy S9's Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 chipset (depending on region) is vastly superior to the Note 14's Helio A22. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S9. The Note 14 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones boast an endurance rating of 78h, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage. However, the S9's more efficient chipset and optimized software could provide slightly better real-world performance. The Note 14's larger battery capacity might offset this, leading to similar results.

Buying Guide

The Ulefone Note 14 is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize affordability and basic functionality. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is perfect for those who demand high performance, a great camera, and a premium experience, even if it's an older model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S9 still worth buying in 2024?
Yes, the Galaxy S9 remains a capable phone, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. Its performance and camera are still competitive, but be mindful of its age and potential battery degradation.
❓ What is the main difference between the Ulefone Note 14 and the Galaxy S9?
The primary difference is the level of performance and features. The Galaxy S9 is a flagship device with a powerful processor, excellent camera, and premium design, while the Note 14 is a budget phone focused on affordability and basic functionality.