The budget 5G smartphone market is booming, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the ZTE Blade A72 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. But which one delivers the best experience for your money? Let's dive in and find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G edges out the ZTE Blade A72 5G thanks to its superior display brightness, more refined software experience, and generally better camera performance. While the ZTE offers a competitive chipset, Samsung's overall package is more polished.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 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 | 2022, June 10 | 2023, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 10 | Available. Released 2023, January 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.5 x 9.2 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.36 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 211 g (7.44 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | 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 700 (7 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 11 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, One UI Core 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - USA onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot) - International |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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 | 5 MP | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio (Exynos 1330 chipset only), recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Gray | Black, Light Green, Dark Red, Silver |
| Models | 7540N | 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 160 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) |
ZTE Blade A72 5G
- Competitive chipset for the price
- 5G connectivity
- Decent battery life
- Lightweight design
- Less vibrant display
- Less refined software
- Slower charging
- Camera performance lags behind
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Better camera performance
- Samsung's One UI software
- Reliable brand reputation
- Excellent battery life
- 15W charging is slow
- Plastic build
- Performance not significantly better than ZTE in some regions
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G boasts a brighter display (519 nits vs. estimated 400-450 nits for the ZTE), making it easier to view outdoors. Both offer a 1334:1 contrast ratio, indicating good black levels. The A14's display also benefits from Samsung's display tuning, generally resulting in more accurate colors. The ZTE's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy of the A14.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G generally offers better camera performance, particularly in well-lit conditions. While both phones have capable cameras, the A14's image processing tends to produce more detailed and vibrant photos. Low-light performance is also likely to be better on the A14. The ZTE's camera is decent but lacks the refinement of the A14.
Performance
The ZTE Blade A72 5G's Mediatek Dimensity 700 is a capable chipset, offering smooth performance for everyday tasks. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, depending on the region, uses either the Exynos 1330 or the Dimensity 700. The Exynos 1330 generally provides a slight edge in performance and efficiency. Both phones handle multitasking well, but the A14's optimized software might feel slightly more responsive.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 130 hours. This translates to roughly two full days of moderate usage. Charging speeds are similar at 15W wired, which is relatively slow by modern standards.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade A72 5G is a good choice for users prioritizing raw processing power on a tight budget and are comfortable with a less polished software experience. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is ideal for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded smartphone with a vibrant display, decent camera, and Samsung's One UI.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G with the Exynos 1330 generally offers slightly better performance, although the Dimensity 700 in both phones is capable for everyday use.
❓ Is the ZTE Blade A72 5G worth considering?
Yes, if you're on a very tight budget and prioritize raw processing power, the ZTE Blade A72 5G is a viable option. However, be prepared for a less polished software experience.
