Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Review
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Review
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G, priced at $199.99, offers an economical route to accessing rapid 5G networks, coupled with one of the more commendable Android update policies currently available. In comparison, the Moto G Play, priced at $169.99, may be cheaper but lacks 5G capability. Meanwhile, the TCL 40 X 5G, also priced at $199.99, closely matches the A14 in specifications but falls short with a less impressive display and a weaker commitment to software upgrades. Given its superiority over competitors, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G earns our Editors’ Choice accolade for budget-friendly Android smartphones
Big and Grippy
Upon encountering the Galaxy A14 5G, the screen immediately captivates attention, showcasing significant enhancements over its predecessor, the Galaxy A13. Notable upgrades include a slight size increase from 6.5 inches to 6.6 inches, maintaining the 90Hz refresh rate, and most notably, a resolution boost from 1,600 by 720 pixels to 2,400 by 1,080 pixels. This elevation in resolution elevates the pixel density from 270ppi to 399ppi, resulting in a substantial improvement in sharpness. In contrast, both the Moto G Play and the TCL 40 X 5G feature lower-resolution 1,600-by-720-pixel screens, making the difference in clarity striking and significantly contributing to the superior overall experience of the A14 5G
Samsung had the opportunity to enhance the user experience further by increasing the brightness of the display. Regrettably, the display’s peak brightness reaches only 500 nits, which is half of what modern flagship devices typically achieve. Consequently, reading the phone’s screen outdoors in bright sunlight can occasionally pose challenges. However, it’s worth noting that this limitation is common among smartphones in the $200 price range
Considering its screen size, the Galaxy A14 5G is a substantial device. Its dimensions measure at 6.60 by 3.07 by 0.36 inches (HWD), with a weight of 7.13 ounces
Devices in this price bracket generally lack the ruggedness found in higher-priced alternatives. Samsung remains mum about the type of glass adorning the display; typically, if it were protected by Gorilla Glass, the company would tout it, suggesting otherwise. The chassis is predominantly composed of plastic. While this reduces concerns about rear glass shattering, durability over extended periods raises some doubts, despite the device enduring a few inadvertent drops during testing. Moreover, lacking an IP rating, it’s advisable to keep the phone clear of water and dirt exposure.
The plastic rear panel of the device boasts a textured finish, providing users with a secure grip. Samsung opts for a straightforward yet practical design, arranging the three rear cameras vertically in the upper corner. Available only in black, the color options are limited to what you see in the provided pictures
The phone’s side edges host the standard assortment of buttons and controls. To the left, there’s a combined slot for the SIM card and microSD card. On the right side, you’ll find the power button, which also functions as a fingerprint scanner, along with the volume rocker. During testing, the fingerprint scanner performed admirably. At the bottom edge, you’ll spot a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C charging port
Respectable Performance for the Price
Samsung continues to utilize the 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor from the previous A13 5G model. This octa-core chip comprises two 2.4GHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 2.0GHz Cortex-A55 cores. While cost-effective devices commonly opt for budget-friendly components to manage expenses, a slight upgrade in this area would have been preferable
Samsung retains the same configuration of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage from its previous model. While the RAM should suffice for most users, the 64GB storage capacity may seem somewhat limited, especially considering that only 45GB is available out of the box, and mobile games are progressively becoming larger in size (such as titles like Genshin Impact consuming upwards of 32GB alone). However, the microSD slot allows for expanding storage by up to 1TB, though the experience of utilizing expandable storage may not always be seamless
We conducted our standard benchmarks on the Galaxy A14 5G, and it delivered commendable results. In the PC Mark Work 3.0 test, assessing the device’s performance in everyday activities like spreadsheet work and image editing, it achieved a score of 7,886. For comparison, the OnePlus Nord N300, priced at $228, scored 8,159 in the same test, falling within a similar range. Conversely, the slightly less expensive Motorola Moto G Play scored only 5,243
We conducted a thorough evaluation of the phone’s performance using the Geek bench 5 test, a benchmark that rigorously assesses the capabilities of a device’s CPU. The results revealed scores of 525 for the single-core test and 1,696 for the multi-core test. Comparatively, the Nord N300 also underwent the same assessment and attained scores of 589 for single-core performance and 1,747 for multi-core performance
Putting these scores into context, the flagship Galaxy S23 Ultra achieved impressive results with 15,841 on the PC Mark test and 1,545 for single-core and 5,078 for multi-core performance on Geek bench. Undoubtedly, there exists a substantial gap between these figures. However, this comparison effectively illustrates the distinction between a $1,199 phone equipped with cutting-edge technology and a $200 phone.
When it comes to everyday tasks, the Galaxy A14 5G delivers commendable performance. From making calls to sending texts, managing photos, or indulging in basic gaming, the Galaxy A14 5G handles these tasks with ease. However, its capability to run graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact falls short, providing a less-than-optimal experience due to performance constraints
Battery performance is a crucial aspect to consider, and the Galaxy A14 5G performs reasonably well in this regard. However, its 5,000mAh battery didn’t quite meet our expectations in terms of longevity. While streaming a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with maximum screen brightness, the phone managed to last for 9 hours and 40 minutes. Although this isn’t significantly lower than the 10 hours and 16 minutes achieved by the OnePlus Nord N300 under similar conditions, it falls noticeably short compared to the 11 hours and 15 minutes provided by the Moto G Play
The device is compatible with 15W wired charging, although it doesn’t support wireless charging. Charging the battery is a relatively slow process, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes to reach full capacity based on testing
Affordable 5G
While not every $200 phone offers 5G connectivity, the options are gradually expanding. The Galaxy A14 5G, although somewhat constrained in its 5G capabilities, does support bands for AT&T and T-Mobile, encompassing sub-5GHz and Band C frequencies
Our testing of the phone was conducted on AT&T’s 5G network in Danbury, CT. It’s important to note that AT&T’s network performance in this particular area is not optimal, which may have influenced our results. Testing the phone in different locations or on alternative networks could potentially yield different and possibly more impressive outcomes
Commencing with AT&T’s fundamental 5G network, the phone attained download speeds of 81.6Mbps and upload speeds of 1.41Mbps. Despite these figures sounding modest, it’s important to note that they are comparable to the performance of the $700 OnePlus 11 5G, which achieved similar speeds of 79.3Mbps down and 1.99Mbps up in the same location. Thus, the Galaxy A14 5G effectively utilizes the service available to it
Next, we ventured to an area marked on AT&T’s coverage map as having 5G+ service, which is purported to be AT&T’s swiftest network. In this location, the Galaxy A14 5G exhibited slower download speeds of 18Mbps but faster upload speeds of 23Mbps. Similarly, the OnePlus 11 5G recorded speeds of 19Mbps down and 26Mbps up. Notably, neither phone appeared to connect to the 5G+ network based on our observations
In summary, we are impressed by the 5G performance of the Galaxy A14 5G. Even in an area with moderate AT&T network signal strength, we observed that it achieved speeds comparable to those of a higher-priced phone equipped with a newer modem
Despite supporting only Wi-Fi 5, the phone performed admirably. When connected to a 1,200Mbps network and positioned in close proximity to the router, we recorded download speeds of 272Mbps and upload speeds of 266Mbps. These speeds align with our expectations for a Wi-Fi 5 device. Similarly, the Moto G Play, under identical conditions, demonstrated comparable speeds of 267Mbps down and 255Mbps up
We conducted Wi-Fi performance testing at the farthest distance within the modem’s range and observed that the phone maintained a steady connection, achieving respectable speeds of 15Mbps down and 4Mbps up
Equipped with NFC and Bluetooth 5.2 capabilities, the Galaxy A14 facilitates tap-and-go payments and seamlessly pairs with modern wireless headphones like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds
The call quality on AT&T’s network was robust. Whether using the earpiece or speaker, communication was clear and audible both ways. The speaker volume proved ample, reaching a peak of 88.7dB, which aligns with the average levels we’ve encountered in our testing of other phones.
Regarding music playback, the sound quality is adequate, but the single speaker falls short in delivering an immersive experience. When listening to tracks like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the bass response felt underwhelming, and the overall sound lacked depth. While the phone serves as a functional option for music playback in a pinch, headphones, particularly with the availability of the 3.5mm port, offer a superior listening experience
A Perfectly Pleasant Picture
While the Galaxy A14 5G does have certain limitations in terms of photography, it still provides a satisfying experience for capturing photos. Additionally, the resulting pictures don’t necessarily give off the impression that they were taken with an inexpensive phone
The A14 5G maintains the same camera setup as the A13 5G. This includes a 50MP main camera at f/1.8, along with a 2MP macro shooter and a 2MP depth sensor, both at f/2.4. However, it’s important to note that these secondary lenses don’t serve as direct replacements for the wide-angle and telephoto options typically found on more expensive phones.
In general, the phone captures decent images considering its affordable price point. It performs admirably in well-lit conditions but struggles somewhat in low-light settings, which is to be expected. Additionally, it may not excel in capturing fast-moving subjects compared to higher-end devices
The front camera boasts a respectable 13MP resolution, marking a noticeable improvement from the A13 5G’s 5MP sensor. In favorable lighting conditions, photos appear sharp and clear. However, similar to the rear camera, the front camera encounters difficulties in capturing high-quality photos in low-light environments
When it comes to video recording, the Galaxy A14 5G offers 1080p video at 30fps, which should meet the needs of many users. Footage captured with this device appears satisfactory, especially considering its budget-friendly nature. While it may not compete with high-end devices, it’s not intended to do so. For those seeking to capture family moments or everyday scenes, it serves the purpose well
Android 13 and More to Come
Samsung stands as the industry frontrunner in Android upgrades for its flagship devices, typically providing four major versions. However, this exceptional upgrade policy isn’t fully extended to the company’s budget-friendly phones. In the instance of the Galaxy A14 5G, users can expect to receive two major Android updates
The phone is pre-installed with Android 13 and Samsung’s user interface skin, One UI 5. It’s slated to receive an update to Android 15 before reaching the end of its update cycle. In contrast, many competing devices in this price bracket typically commit to only one system update, if they provide an update policy at all. For instance, OnePlus offers just one Android version upgrade for the Nord N300
Regarding security updates, Samsung has stated that the device will receive patches for four years. This duration is twice as long as what OnePlus offers with the Nord N300
In terms of the user experience with One UI 5, it’s highly commendable. While it diverges from the stock Android versions seen on Google’s Pixel phones, it remains visually appealing and user-friendly. (For those seeking a closer-to-stock feel, Motorola’s budget options, such as the Moto G Play, are worth considering.) Although the phone comes with several pre-installed apps, many of them can be deleted, offering users a more streamlined experience. Overall, most casual Android users should be more than satisfied with the software experience provided here
A Lot of Phone for $200
When on the lookout for a budget-friendly phone, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G stands out as a compelling option. It offers comparable performance to similarly priced models like the Moto G Play and the OnePlus Nord N300, but with distinct advantages such as a crisper display, a superior upgrade policy, and reliable 5G connectivity (which the Moto lacks). To experience a significant improvement in quality and overall appeal, one would have to invest twice the amount in the $399 Google Pixel 6a. At $200, the Galaxy A14 5G strikes an excellent balance between power and performance, earning it our Editors’ Choice award for affordable Android phones
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers numerous appealing features for a phone priced below $200. These include a spacious screen, efficient performance, reliable connectivity options, and an enhanced software upgrade pathway
SAMSUNG GALAXY A14 5G SPECS
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 700 |
| Dimensions | 6.60 by 3.07 by 0.36 inches |
| Screen Size | 6.6 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2,400 by 1,080 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 2MP, 2MP; 13MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 9 hours, 40 minutes |
PROS
- Large, sharp display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Good performance for the price
- Excellent software update policy
CONS
- Not protected against dust or water
Screen is hard to see in sunlight
samsung galaxy A14 see it $182.50 at amazon
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G packs a lot to like for a sub-$200 phone, including a large screen, efficient performance, solid connectivity options, and a superior software upgrade path
