The Xiaomi Redmi Note 14S and Samsung Galaxy A54 represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Note 14S aims to undercut the competition with aggressive pricing and fast charging, while the Galaxy A54 focuses on a more refined experience with a proven chipset and strong software support. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience and long-term software support, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the better choice. While the Redmi Note 14S boasts significantly faster 67W charging, the A54’s Exynos 1380 chipset and superior display brightness offer a smoother, more enjoyable daily experience.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 14 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 14 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 75 x 8 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 Ultra | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 15, HyperOS | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 200 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.4", 1.0µm
2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, 50% in 16 min, 100% in 46 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Aurora Purple, Ocean Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | 2502FRA65G | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | € 239.95 / $ 189.00 / £ 251.41 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14S
- Significantly faster 67W charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Helio G99 Ultra offers decent performance for everyday tasks
- Unspecified display brightness and panel type
- Less refined software experience
- Camera performance likely inferior to the A54
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Brighter and more vibrant display (980 nits)
- More powerful Exynos 1380 chipset
- Superior software support and updates from Samsung
- Slower 25W charging
- Higher price point
- May not be ideal for users who prioritize extremely fast charging
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 features a display capable of reaching 980 nits of peak brightness, a significant advantage over what we’d expect from the Redmi Note 14S, which lacks a specified brightness figure. This higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the A54’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘Infinite (nominal)’ – typical for OLED panels – the Note 14S’s panel type is unspecified, suggesting an LCD which will have lower contrast. The A54’s display is likely to offer richer colors and deeper blacks, enhancing the viewing experience for videos and games.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing for the Redmi Note 14S. The Galaxy A54 likely benefits from Samsung’s well-regarded image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor (typical for the A-series). While the Note 14S may offer competitive specs on paper, Samsung’s software optimization and potentially superior hardware will likely result in better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the Note 14S is a concern, as the A54 likely includes it for sharper photos and smoother videos.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset, with its Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, offers a performance edge over the Redmi Note 14S’s MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra. The A78 cores are architecturally superior to the A76 cores in the Helio G99 Ultra, resulting in better single-core performance and improved efficiency. The 5nm fabrication process of the Exynos 1380 also contributes to better thermal management, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones utilize 8GB of RAM (assumed for the Note 14S based on market segment), the A54’s chipset is better equipped to handle demanding tasks and multitasking.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours and a real-world active use score of 11:15h, indicating excellent battery life. While the Redmi Note 14S doesn’t have a specified endurance rating, its 67W wired charging is a major advantage, achieving 50% charge in just 16 minutes and 100% in 46 minutes. The A54’s 25W charging is considerably slower. This means the Note 14S can quickly recover from low battery situations, while the A54 prioritizes longevity between charges. The trade-off is speed versus sustained power.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 14S if you need blazing-fast charging and are comfortable with a potentially less polished software experience. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and prioritize speed over all else. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prefer a more refined user experience, a brighter and more vibrant display, and the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s long-term software update commitment. It’s the better option for multimedia consumption and consistent performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380, built on a 5nm process, is generally efficient and well-managed in the Galaxy A54. While it can get warm during extended gaming, Samsung’s thermal management system typically prevents significant throttling, maintaining consistent performance for longer periods compared to less efficient chipsets.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range offer limited detail and image quality. They are often included for marketing purposes but rarely deliver truly impressive macro photography. The Galaxy A54’s image processing may slightly improve results, but don’t expect professional-level close-up shots.
❓ Can the Redmi Note 14S maintain a stable 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio G99 Ultra can likely run PUBG Mobile at 60fps on medium settings. However, achieving consistently stable frame rates on high settings may be challenging due to the chipset’s limitations and potential thermal throttling. Expect some frame drops during intense action sequences.
❓ How does Samsung's software update policy compare to Xiaomi's for these devices?
Samsung is known for providing longer and more consistent software updates than Xiaomi. The Galaxy A54 is guaranteed to receive several years of Android OS updates and security patches, ensuring your phone remains secure and up-to-date. Xiaomi’s update schedule for the Redmi Note 14S is likely to be shorter and less frequent.
