Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: Samsung’s Galaxy A-series is targeted at budget and mid-range customers, and the Galaxy A14 5G hardly strays from that formula. Billed as one of Samsung’s most value-oriented 5G phones, the A14 5G attempts to combine key features, lasting software support, and strong battery life in an affordable package.
It doesn’t have quite the flashy specs of some of Xiaomi’s Chinese rivals, but it is instead relying on stability, reliability, and a clean experience with Android.
Read along for an inside look at how it fares in day-to-day use.
Design and Build
Design The Galaxy A14 5G features a predictable, Samsung-inspired design yet a simplicity to its look that’s clean and minimalistic. It’s matte-finish plastic back with vertical lines pattern is not only for better grip, but also for fingerprint prevention.
The tricam arrangement is also positioned vertically, and the wells are likewise per-pinhole, just like in Samsung’s flagships.
The phone is big with a 6.6-inch screen, but it still feels manageable, thanks to its curved edges and even weight distribution.
The body is plastic, but it still feels rock solid, which is what I have come to expect from Samsung’s A-series.
Display and Visuals
The phone comes with a 6.6-inch PLS LCD screen with Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The display is not AMOLED, but it’s still sharp, bright and very color-accurate for the price. It also offers a faster 90Hz refresh rate for that souped up scrolling and smoother visualization while browsing or on social media.
Outdoor legibility is decent, but if you are a fan of punch-hole displays, you should know that the teardrop notch is quite passé and does date the design a bit, but it’s not something that gets in the way of day to day use. The display is more than decent for watching videos or reading.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Galaxy A14 5G is powered by the Exynos 1330 (or Dimensity 700 in some markets) processor along with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of onboard storage. In everyday use, it’s smooth for tasks like calling, browsing, messaging, and watching videos. Apps load reliably, and background multitasking is fine, if not snappy.
Gaming experience is fine for casual games like Subway Surfers and Clash Royale. PUBG or Call of Duty: Mobile are heavier games that run on low to medium settings with some frame drops.
The software is one of the best parts. The A14 5G is running One UI Core 5 on top of Android 13, and Samsung’s guaranteeing a minimum of two years’ worth of OS updates and four years of security patches here, something that’s unusual for a phone in this price sector. The UI is sleek, customisable and friendly, and nearly devoid of bloatware.
Camera Quality
The phone offers a rear camera system with a 50MP primary sensor paired with a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor. The 50MP camera takes good photos in daylight with natural color palette and moderate sharpness. Portrait snaps have decent edge detection and for the most part, the macro camera just feels like a bit of a filler.
Low-light photography is so-so, with visible noise and less detail, though Samsung’s image processing does try to compensate. The 13MP selfie shooter is good enough for selfies and video calls.
Battery and Connectivity
A 5000mAh battery means that the Galaxy A14 5G has no problem surviving a full day with moderate to heavy usage.
The phone charges at 15W, which is on the slow side by today’s standards; it takes a little over two hours for the phone to charge from 0 to 100%.
The connectivity options on the device includes dual 5G SIM, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s also a decently fast side-mounted fingerprint sensor included that works consistently well.
Pros
Reputable brand so hopefully some support from the wizards at Samsung
Good and sharp full HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate
One UI Core experience that’s clean and easy to use
Long-lasting battery life
They’d have regular security and OS patches, right?
Cons
No AMOLED display
Slow 15W charging
Average camera in low light conditions
Minimalist look with plastic construction
Not meant for heavy gaming
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G isn’t made for those looking to take on the spec sheet or the high-end smartphone space; instead, it is a made for those who want a no-frills, daily 5G phone that receives long term software support, is powerful enough to handle most day to day tasks, and snap the occasional social media image.
It may not sound exciting on paper, but when used in real-life scenarios, it offers a reliability that many can appreciate more than just a bunch of horsepower or flashy features.