Samsung Galaxy A14 Review: Affordably Awesome

Worth When Reviewed

$152.99

Greatest Costs At the moment: Samsung Galaxy A14

$147.00

Samsung could also be finest recognized for its flagship S-series and foldable gadgets, but it surely additionally has a variety of telephones to go well with these with a extra conservative price range.  

There are a number of telephones within the A-series, and the Samsung Galaxy A14 reviewed right here is the entry-level gadget, clocking in at a really reasonably priced $150/£179. There’s additionally a 5G model of this telephone which comes with barely greater specs, although this does bump up the associated fee barely. 

However how does this smartphone evaluate to rival telephones? Right here’s my expertise with the Samsung Galaxy A14. 

Design & construct 

• Three color choices 
• Room for 2 SIM playing cards and a micro-SD card 
• No waterproofing 

It could be created from plastic, however the Samsung Galaxy A14 is a handsome telephone that takes inspiration from the flagship Galaxy S23. I used to be a giant fan of my mild inexperienced evaluation unit, which provides it a recent and enjoyable really feel. If you happen to favor one thing extra understated, it additionally is available in black and silver, in addition to darkish crimson within the 5G model.

The ribbed again panel signifies that it doesn’t decide up too many fingerprints, although it doesn’t really feel fairly as premium as different price range telephones from the likes of Poco and Nokia. At 9.11mm thick, it isn’t the slimmest telephone, but it surely’s nonetheless comparatively light-weight at 201g.  

The triple digicam module sits on the left-hand facet and is unobtrusive in comparison with the remainder of the gadget. Actually, it’s extraordinarily much like the dearer Galaxy A34.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

The inclusion of a headphone jack is welcome – although I’d favor if it had been on the highest of the A14, slightly than the underside subsequent to the USB-C port for charging. It additionally has room for 2 SIM playing cards, in addition to a micro-SD card.  

It ought to come as no shock that this gadget as no type of waterproofing, and Samsung doesn’t embrace a case within the field to guard it from any knocks or drops.  

The fingerprint sensor is side-mounted on the facility button. I did have just a few hiccups with this after simply washing my palms – however the face recognition labored effectively, even when carrying glasses.

Display & audio system 

• 6.6in FHD LCD show 
• 60Hz refresh price 
• One downward firing speaker 

The Samsung Galaxy A14 has a 6.6in FHD LCD show. While that is completely tremendous for utilizing indoors, it’s merely not shiny sufficient if you happen to use it below direct daylight – you’ll encounter a whole lot of glare and battle to see something on the display.

In any other case, colors are daring and distinction effectively. The 60Hz refresh price is just not as easy as on different telephones’ 90Hz or 120Hz screens, however the gadget feels simply tremendous for scrolling by social media and tapping round on varied apps.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

You’ll be capable of do some primary cell gaming with non-strenuous titles like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. If you wish to play one thing extra demanding, I like to recommend both choosing a extra highly effective telephone, or taking a step as much as the A34 if you happen to’re adamant on staying with Samsung.  

The telephone solely comes outfitted with one downward firing speaker, which leaves so much to be desired. Music lacks depth and bass, and even having the amount cranked all the best way up is just not fairly as loud as I would love.  

Specs & efficiency 

• Mediatek Helio G80 
• 4GB RAM/64GB storage 
• 4G solely 

The model I examined comes with a Mediatek Helio G80, although some markets have the Samsung Exynos 850 as a substitute. That is paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, although totally different international locations have greater configurations.

This isn’t very a lot storage, however the micro-SD card slot additionally provides you 1TB extra wiggle room for photographs, movies and paperwork.

Total, efficiency is about what you’d anticipate from a telephone of this value. It’s gradual besides up, and sometimes struggles to load demanding webpages. Nonetheless, I might nonetheless multitask between movies and social media with ease.

It’s a massive enchancment over the past technology telephone, the Galaxy A13, however nonetheless behind some rivals such because the Moto G62 and the Realme 9i: 

The telephone solely comes with 4G, and that is noticeable if you happen to’re in a location that struggles with cell knowledge – I actually had points at Comedian-Con in London. If it is a dealbreaker, then you may go for the 5G model of the telephone.

Cameras 

• Triple 50Mp rear digicam 
• 13Mp front-facing digicam 
• No night time mode help 

The Galaxy A14 has a triple rear digicam set-up. That is led by a most important 50Mp lens with a f/1.8 aperture and complimented by a 5Mp ultra-wide with a f/2.2 aperture and a 2Mp f/2.4 macro lens.  

If you happen to’re utilizing the primary digicam in shiny daylight, then the A14 works surprisingly effectively for the worth. It captures an honest quantity of element in textures and the setting, and has sufficient background blur on portrait pictures. 

The picture processing appears to overcompensate so much, whacking up the brightness of colors to the purpose that it seems to be like you have got a filter on. For instance, after I took a photograph beneath an orange parasol, the entire picture obtained a really heat tinge to it that wasn’t true to life.

For close-up pictures, I wouldn’t suggest utilizing something greater than x2 zoom. That is respectable for panorama photographs, however something previous that (the A14 can do all the best way as much as x10 zoom) produces a whole lot of blur and noise.

On the alternative finish of the spectrum, the wide-angle lens appears to present every thing extra of a pale tone. Nonetheless, while some particulars usually are not as crisp on this mode, it’s nonetheless higher than what I’ve seen from different smartphone cameras at this value vary.

I wouldn’t suggest utilizing the A14 in extraordinarily low mild situations. Firstly, there isn’t a devoted night time mode. Subsequently, the digicam will both massively blow out colors if synthetic lighting is current (making the night time sky an unnatural shade of blue), or will decide up hardly any particulars in any respect if little mild is current.

I additionally wouldn’t trouble with the macro mode – it’s extraordinarily arduous to get an honest shot with the quantity of wobbling throughout focus.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

I used to be pleasantly shocked by the front-facing 13Mp digicam. This picks up quantity of pores and skin particulars, and the bokeh blur in portrait mode is sort of good at not smudging rogue strands of hair into the background.  

Video is capped at 30fps at 1080p on each the entrance and rear cameras. That is tremendous for capturing informal footage, however don’t expect high-quality outcomes.

Battery life & charging 

• Two-day battery life 
• Sluggish charging 
• No brick included 

As with many different price range telephones, probably the greatest issues concerning the A14 is its lengthy battery life.  

The telephone is filled with a 5000mAh cell, and as a consequence of its undemanding processor, it lasts round two days on common – even with me watching Twitch streams and taking photographs. This was additionally mirrored within the benchmarking take a look at, the place the telephone achieved a formidable 13 hours and 28 seconds.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

The trade-off is that charging is extraordinarily gradual at 15W through USB-C. For one factor, the telephone doesn’t embrace a charging brick within the field – solely the cable. While that is higher for the setting, it could come as an annoyance if you happen to don’t have a spare charger mendacity round the home. You should buy one from Samsung within the UK, although this prices an additional £16. 

Utilizing my very own charging brick, I solely managed to juice it to a measly 21% in half an hour, so that you’re just a few hours to get it from full to flat. A number of different rivals pack in quick charging with price range gadgets, so it is a letdown for the A14.  

Software program & apps 

One of many greatest benefits of choosing a Samsung over different price range gadgets is its user-friendly OS. While it isn’t inventory Android, One UI 5.1 (based mostly on Android 13) is straightforward and doesn’t embrace a whole lot of bloatware like Xiaomi and Realme telephones do.  

That’s to not say it doesn’t come with out pre-installed apps – Netflix, Spotify, and LinkedIn had been on the gadget out of the field, and Samsung additionally asks if you happen to’d like some ‘advisable’ apps once you arrange the telephone. I might decline this, because it suggests a whole lot of obscure video games that can most definitely collect digital mud. 

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

These can all be uninstalled, fortunately. In any other case, there’s little to complain about. You may entry the fast settings by swiping down from the highest twice, which incorporates shortcuts for media management and Samsung SmartThings.  

9to5Google reported that the 5G model of the A14 will include two years of Android updates and 4 years of safety updates, so it’s probably that the 4G model may have the identical. Now we have reached out to Samsung for clarification, however haven’t heard again on the time of writing. It comes with a two-year guarantee within the UK. 

Worth & availability 

The Samsung Galaxy A14 retails for $150/£179. Within the US, the 4G model is barely accessible through Amazon as an unlocked gadget.

UK consumers can get it from Samsung, Amazon and Currys. It’s also possible to see the perfect contract offers accessible within the UK under: 

If you wish to go for the 5G model, then that is at the moment priced at $199.99/£219.99. As soon as once more, you should buy it from Samsung, Amazon and Currys within the UK.

Within the US this mannequin is extra extensively accessible, so you will get it from Samsung, Amazon, Walmart and Greatest Purchase.  

If you happen to’re selecting between the 2 fashions, then there are just a few variations moreover the apparent 4G/5G connectivity which will seal the deal. Firstly, the 5G model replaces the wide-angle lens with a 2Mp depth sensor. So, you’ll be buying and selling massive group pictures for barely higher most important digicam photographs.

The 5G model additionally runs on the marginally extra highly effective MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset within the UK, so efficiency ought to be marginally higher, and the 90Hz refresh price will make for a smoother visible expertise.

In the end, you’re a $50/£50 value distinction between these two telephones. If you happen to’d favor to economize, you received’t lose out on a lot by going for the 4G model. You may additionally think about the Moto G62, or present favorite price range telephone, or the properly designed Realme C35.  

Try our charts of the perfect price range telephones and finest Samsung telephones for additional choices. 

Verdict 

If ‘A’ within the Galaxy A sequence stands for ‘Superior’, then its protected to say that the the Galaxy A14 lives as much as that label. It affords the Samsung telephone expertise with out the hefty price ticket.

As is the case with many price range telephones, there are some compromises. While efficiency is a marked enchancment over the A13, it’s not fairly as spectacular as rivals – the identical goes for the show. The digicam additionally has points with ramping up the colors and can’t alter for nighttime images. 

If you happen to can overlook these flaws, you then’ll nonetheless get a nice-looking telephone with a formidable battery life and a easy OS for a really reasonably priced value.

Specs 

• Android 13 with One UI 5.1 
• 6.6in LCD, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz 
• Mediatek MT6769 Helio G80 chipset 
• 4GB RAM 
• 64GB of storage (expandable through microSDXC) 
• Cameras: 50Mp f/1.8 most important digicam, 5Mp f/2.2 ultrawide, 2Mp f/2.4 macro and 13Mp f/2.0 selfie digicam 
• Twin-SIM (separate microSDXC slot) 
• One downward firing speaker 
• NFC 
• GPS 
• Bluetooth 5.3 
• Wi-Fi 5 
• Aspect-mounted fingerprint sensor 
• 5000mAh battery 
• 15W wired charging 
• USB-C charging port 
• 167.7 x 78.0 x 9.1mm 
• 201g