Samsung’s new Galaxy A series smartphone is out to give its competitors a run for their money. I’m talking about the Samsung Galaxy A14, which is the most affordable 5G offering in the company’s A-series lineup yet. It is a decent smartphone that many users would like in this price range. I used the handset for well over a week and put it through its paces. Read on this Samsung Galaxy A14 5G review to find out how the smartphone, with its mid-range Exynos chipset, a 5,000mAh battery, 90Hz refresh rate screen, a 50MP primary camera, and more, performed in real-life.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is a value-for-money smartphone. The handset gets most things right for the price, including the performance, cameras, and battery life. Only if the device had fast charging solution and slimmer bezels, the Galaxy A14 5G would have been the device to beat in the segment.
The lowdownThe Samsung Galaxy A14 5G looks good with its clean and minimalistic design approach. It doesn’t use a glass back or a huge camera module, which has become a norm in the industry. Instead, the handset sports a flat back, with a textured finish and three standalone camera rings. The design offers a couple of benefits. It helps the phone stand out among the sea of similar-looking smartphones, and ensures a smooth typing experience if you place the phone on a flat surface since the device doesn’t wobble much. Samsung uses a similar design language on its flagship Galaxy S23 series.
Apart from that, the Galaxy A14 5G has rounded edges for an easy grip. The phone is all plastic, of course, but it’s well put together and doesn’t creak or flex. The handset comes in three interesting colour choices: dark red, light green, and black. I was sent the dark red colour variant for review. The colour grows on you over time and does a decent job of hiding fingerprints and smudges. Coming to the I/O, the A14 5G packs a speaker grill, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom edge. The power button and volume rocker are on the right spine of the handset. As with many affordable phones, the fingerprint scanner is built on the power button. The scanner takes a fraction of a second to unlock the device, but the bottom line is that it is reliable. There is no IP rating on the phone so make sure it is nowhere close to water.
Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G packs a 6.6-inch FHD+ display of the LCD variety with a 90Hz refresh rate and 440ppi (pixels per inch) density. The screen has a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera atop and some chunky bezels on the sides. Samsung has also added raised edges around the front to protect the screen from scratches when lying facedown on a flat surface. The raised surface will not bother you much while scrolling or playing games. As for the display, it is decent for what you are paying. The colours look vibrant, while the details are sharp and crisp. The 90Hz screen refresh rate works well across UI and supported apps. Outdoor visibility is also fine. I had no trouble reading messages, emails, and texts on the smartphone under direct sunlight. The handset is Widevine L1 certified as well, which means it can stream HD content from Netflix, Hotstar, and other streaming platforms. However, watching movies and web series for hours may not be fun for many as the smartphone weighs a tad on the heavier side – 201 grams, to be precise.
Coming to the meat of the matter, the performance. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G has the in-house Exynos 1330 SoC ticking at its core. It is a mid-range 5G-capable chipset with a 5nm manufacturing process and 2.4GHz clock speed. The handset did not stutter or lag regardless of what was happening on-screen. I was comfortably able to play a game or two of Subway Surfer and switch between apps seamlessly. However, the phone’s performance can drop a bit under intense loads like running too many apps simultaneously. The CPU Throttle benchmark test can testify where the Galaxy A14’s performance throttles to 70 percent. Be that as it may, the handset’s AnTuTu and Geekbench scores are better than the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1-powered Redmi Note 12 (review) smartphone. The A14 scored 2,123 points on Geekbench’s multi-core test and 4,08,771 points on AnTuTu.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G's 6.6-inch display can run at a 90Hz refresh rate.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G design, specs and features
The Galaxy A14 5G comes in one color, black, and has a reflective plastic body. It feels a bit thick in-hand, with the back embracing a blocky look that lacks any rounded edges. Along the top-left corner are its three cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel depth camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
Around the front is a teardrop notch for the 13-megapixel front-facing camera. In addition to its 1,080p resolution, the 6.6-inch display has a 90Hz refresh rate. While the $200 Moto G Stylus runs at a consistent 90Hz, the A14 has an "adaptive" mode that adjusts up to 90Hz when scrolling through text and animations while swiping between apps. I found the effect noticeably smooth, especially when I was reading articles or playing games.
The phone plays audio through its single speaker, which was fairly easy for me to accidentally block when I held the phone horizontally to watch videos. It's notable since Motorola's current budget phone lineup includes stereo speakers across its Moto G phones, (though the Galaxy A14 does include a headphone jack as an option for stereo audio). While the Samsung phone's internal 64GB of storage should be enough to get you started, you do get the option of expanding storage to 1TB using the phone's microSD card slot.
The phone has a single speaker for audio, and a headphone jack can be used for stereo sound.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
In benchmark testing, the Galaxy A14 5G's Geekbench score came out ahead of the Moto G Stylus, but it certainly doesn't feel like it in my real-world use. The phone's Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor is sluggish, and I often noticed the A14 needing an extra beat to unlock itself when I had another app open, when I tapped a text box to launch the keyboard and when moving between apps. Software updates can refine this in time, and its current performance is totally fine for casual use. But this wouldn't be a phone that could handle lots of productivity documents or more graphically demanding apps.
Geekbench 6 Benchmarks
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G6931,824Moto G 5G (2023)7401790Moto G Stylus (2023)4481471Single-core
Multi-coreNote: Higher scores are better.
However the Galaxy A14's inclusion of NFC is quite meaningful, providing full compatibility with Google Wallet for contactless payments. I rarely find NFC for contactless payments in phones under $300, even though it's accepted everywhere from transit systems to convenience stores. I hope this creates a trend and we'll finally start seeing NFC become a feature on every phone regardless of cost.
The Galaxy A14 5G's cameras are good for still subjects, but moving ones are particularly challenging.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G cameras and photography
The Galaxy A14's cameras, despite the inclusion of a 50-megapixel main camera, are a mixed bag. I took the phone on several day trips, including a visit to a Brooklyn anime food festival and during a weekend stop-in to San Diego Comic-Con.
Outdoor photos came out decent as long as there was very little movement. During the anime food festival, my dessert photos of a cheesecake and rabbit milk pudding looked nice, but there was blurriness in most of my other photos whether due to the crowds or movement by the performers during a Taiko drum show.
This exaggeration also holds true for my test photo of the grass wall in CNET's office. Photos taken with the Moto G Stylus and the $250 Moto G 5G captured more accurate shades of green than those taken with the Galaxy A14 5G.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G's depiction of the grass wall in CNET's office. Mike Sorrentino/CNET
And much like other phones in this price range, photo quality proves challenging when moving indoors. Even on the well-lit San Diego Comic-Con floor, my photo taken with Final Fantasy 16's Ifrit looks fuzzy.
The Comic-Con Hall is fairly well-lit, but there's some image noise in this indoor photo.David Lumb/CNET
When I moved to Amazon's Good Omens party, the dim lighting made it a challenge for the A14 to find focus.
The darker environment of the Good Omens party in San Diego makes some parts of this image appear out of focus.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Returning to New York, there's plenty of image noise in this selfie, which I took in the underground La Caverna restaurant, but my photo of the restaurant itself looks better since there weren't many other people moving around.
Front-facing camera photo taken inside of La Caverna in New York.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Overall the Samsung Galaxy A14's photography is definitely not punching above its price range. If finding a $200 phone with decent cameras is important to you, Motorola's latest G-series phones could be a better option. While the Moto G phones have similar issues in darker environments, from my testing I feel like the photos taken by those cameras are slightly better.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G streaming music on YouTube Music.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Bottom line
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is one of the most functional phones I've tested for under $200. Even though the phone has noticeable issues -- including the slower processor and mixed photography performance -- the device is capable of performing most essential tasks. The inclusion of NFC is a clear highlight, and hopefully it means that contactless payment features will now make their way into phones at all prices. The longer security update timeline also means the phone will be safe to use for several years, which could be especially helpful for someone just looking for an affordable device to stay in contact with friends and family.
This makes the Galaxy A14 5G particularly easy to recommend for most people shopping for a phone on a budget, or if the phone is offered for free. But keep in mind that the phone won't be getting any faster, and should deals or incentives drop the price of a better-equipped phone that normally costs $300, don't pass that up.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs. Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Moto G 5G (2023)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5GMoto G Stylus (2023)Moto G 5G (2023)Display size, resolution 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display, (1,400x1,080 pixels), 90Hz 6.5-inch IPS LCD; 1,600x720; 90Hz refresh rate 6.5-inch HD Plus LCD display (720p resolution); 120Hz refresh rate
Pixel density 268 ppi 269 ppi 269 ppi
Dimensions (inches) 6.6x3.07x0.36 in 6.41x2.91x0.36 in 6.45x2.95x0.33 in.
Dimensions (millimeters) 167.6x77.9x9.1 mm 162.9x74.1x9.2 mm 163.94x74.98x8.39mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 203 g (7.19 oz) 195 g 189g (6.66 oz.)
Mobile software Android 13 Android 13 Android 13
Camera 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth) 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro) 48-megapixel main, 2-megapixel macro
Front-facing camera 13-megapixel 8-megapixel 8-megapixel
Video capture 1080p at 30 fps 1080p at 30 fps 720p at 30fps
Processor MediaTek Dimensity 700 MediaTek Helio G85 Snapdragon 480 Plus
RAM/Storage 4GB + 64GB 4GB + 64GB; 4GB + 128GB 4GB + 128GB
Expandable storage Yes Yes Yes
Battery/Charger 5,000 mAh (15W charging) 5,000 mAh (15W charging) 5,000 mAh (15W charging)
Fingerprint sensor Side Side Side
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack Yes Yes Yes
Special features 5G-enabled, NFC, 15W charging Stylus, Moto Gestures 5G enabled, dual stereo speakers, Moto Gestures
Price off-contract (USD) $200 $200 $250
Price (GBP) £179 Converts to £160 N/A, Converts to £195
Price (AUD) AU$379 Converts to AU$295 N/A, Converts to £380
How we test phones
Every phone tested by CNET's reviews team was actually used in the real world. We test a phone's features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it's bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor's performance to the extremes using both standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.
All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, foldable displays among others that can be useful. And we balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.
Coming to the meat of the matter, the performance. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G has the in-house Exynos 1330 SoC ticking at its core. It is a mid-range 5G-capable chipset with a 5nm manufacturing process and 2.4GHz clock speed. The handset did not stutter or lag regardless of what was happening on-screen. I was comfortably able to play a game or two of Subway Surfer and switch between apps seamlessly. However, the phone’s performance can drop a bit under intense loads like running too many apps simultaneously. The CPU Throttle benchmark test can testify where the Galaxy A14’s performance throttles to 70 percent. Be that as it may, the handset’s AnTuTu and Geekbench scores are better than the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1-powered Redmi Note 12 (review) smartphone. The A14 scored 2,123 points on Geekbench’s multi-core test and 4,08,771 points on AnTuTu.
Alongside the chipset, the handset is equipped with 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, or 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. Going with the 6GB RAM option would be a balanced approach, but of course, that will push up the price a little. The storage is further expandable using a microSD card in a dedicated slot. The phone also comes with a RAM Plus feature, which lets you add up to 8GB of virtual memory using the phone’s storage to keep more apps open in the background.
The 50MP primary + 2MP depth + 2MP macro lens in the triple camera setup at the back will impress you with its daylight performance. The 50MP primary sensor clicks some crisp shots with good colour reproduction and ample details when the sun is out. The sensor is also quick to focus and process images. The 2MP depth sensor works in tandem with the primary shooter and gets nice portrait shots every time. There might be slight issues with edge detection, but for the price, you can let it pass. The camera viewfinder helps you focus on the subject and adjust the bokeh effect to your liking. The phone’s portrait mode also offers a ‘colourpoint’ filter that keeps the subject in colour and turns the background in a black and white colourway. Coming to the 2MP macro sensor, it captures okayish close-up shots. However, given its small sensor size, the images will have a slight loss in detail.
Like many other mid-rangers, the lowlight performance of the Samsung Galaxy A14 is not that impressive. However, you can still get a decent shot from the handset’s primary camera with night mode. The latter does its best to capture the highlights and reduce graininess in the images. For selfies and video calling, the handset relies on a 13MP front camera, which outputs images with crisp details and accurate skin tones under natural light.
Software-wise, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G comes with OneUI 5.0 atop Android 13 out of the box. The interface is clean and not all that different from the previous iteration of the software, but Android’s material UI design looks nice. There are now more colour palettes for the wallpaper than ever before and a new gradient colour scheme for calls. The phone also comes with some new features, such as stacked widgets, a customised call background option for different callers, multi-window gestures, and new watermarking tools. However, the software is not without bloatware. The Galaxy A14 5G has a bunch of pre-installed third-party apps, which you can get rid of, but it is a task. Be that as it may, the handset is future-proof with two years of major OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
Like many other mid-rangers, the lowlight performance of the Samsung Galaxy A14 is not that impressive. However, you can still get a decent shot from the handset’s primary camera with night mode. The latter does its best to capture the highlights and reduce graininess in the images. For selfies and video calling, the handset relies on a 13MP front camera, which outputs images with crisp details and accurate skin tones under natural light.
Software-wise, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G comes with OneUI 5.0 atop Android 13 out of the box. The interface is clean and not all that different from the previous iteration of the software, but Android’s material UI design looks nice. There are now more colour palettes for the wallpaper than ever before and a new gradient colour scheme for calls. The phone also comes with some new features, such as stacked widgets, a customised call background option for different callers, multi-window gestures, and new watermarking tools. However, the software is not without bloatware. The Galaxy A14 5G has a bunch of pre-installed third-party apps, which you can get rid of, but it is a task. Be that as it may, the handset is future-proof with two years of major OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G offers a solid battery life and can comfortably last at least a day. The 5,000mAh battery pack on the handset did not make me look for the charger before going to bed. I used the phone primarily for gaming, reading emails, checking slack, and streaming web series/ movies, and yet there would be 20-30 percent battery left in the tank by the end of the day. While Samsung claims the handset can last up to 2 days, it scored 13 hours and 8 minutes on the PC Mark battery test. The Galaxy A14 5G only supports a 15W charging solution, which takes a while to charge the battery from zero to 100 percent. Moreover, the handset doesn’t ship with a charger. The latter needs to be purchased separately, and while you are at it, make sure it is a Type-C charger. The regular USB Type-A adaptor will not work with the charging cable bundled with the smartphone, since it’s a Type-C to C cable.
While I couldn’t test 5G on the Galaxy A14 due to network availability, the handset supports all the major bands except for the high-frequency n77 band. The latter is generally missing in budget/ affordable smartphones. Whatever the case may be, the A14 5G is compatible with both Airtel and Jio 5G sims.
Final verdict
Buyers are already spoiled for choice in the affordable segment, and now, there is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphone. Without beating around the bush, you shouldn’t buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if fast charging and a good viewing experience are your priorities. Similarly-priced phones, including the Redmi Note 12 5G (review), Moto G62 5G (review), and Realme 10 Pro 5G (review), would do a better job with that. The handsets offer superior charging speeds and display quality with slim bezels than the Galaxy A14 5G. Additionally, they also come with a charger bundled.
So, who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G? Anyone looking for a performance-focused 5G smartphone, with good camera capabilities and battery life, under Rs 20,000 will find the handset right up their alley. The long software support also makes this smartphone a future-proof device. At the time of writing this review, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is priced in India at Rs 16,499 for the entry-level 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, while The 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB options are selling at Rs 18,999 and Rs 20,999, respectively.
Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
ProsLooks good
Smooth performance
Good main camera
Decent battery life
ConsNo charger in the box
Slow charging speeds
Mono speaker
Key Specs
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Samsung Exynos 1330 | 4 GBProcessor
6.6 inches (16.76 cm)Display
50 MP + 2 MP + 2 MPRear Camera
13 MPFront Camera
5000 mAhBattery
The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G sets a new baseline for cheap phones. It's one of the few affordable phones to include NFC for contactless payments and support 5G. Even more notable is that Samsung provides two years of software updates along with five years of security updates for the A14, when most similarly priced rivals stop at one software update and three years of security updates. This means that even though the phone's a lower-cost option, it's one you could safely use for several years if you chose to -- and with perks usually found only in pricier phones, the Galaxy A14 5G is a great choice.
Over my month of testing the Galaxy A14 5G, these inclusions meant I could use the phone to buy a quick breakfast, browse the web while listening to music during my commute, reliably use the phone's camera for day trips, and with its 5,000-mAh battery, still have enough of a charge left to use the phone the next day.
That's not to say the phone is issue-free: The Galaxy A14 cuts corners with a fairly drab design and a slower processor that sometimes left me waiting for apps to load. But load they did, and if you're just looking for a phone that can handle most daily tasks, the A14 could be a solid option as long as you aren't craving speed.
While I couldn’t test 5G on the Galaxy A14 due to network availability, the handset supports all the major bands except for the high-frequency n77 band. The latter is generally missing in budget/ affordable smartphones. Whatever the case may be, the A14 5G is compatible with both Airtel and Jio 5G sims.
Final verdict
Buyers are already spoiled for choice in the affordable segment, and now, there is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphone. Without beating around the bush, you shouldn’t buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G if fast charging and a good viewing experience are your priorities. Similarly-priced phones, including the Redmi Note 12 5G (review), Moto G62 5G (review), and Realme 10 Pro 5G (review), would do a better job with that. The handsets offer superior charging speeds and display quality with slim bezels than the Galaxy A14 5G. Additionally, they also come with a charger bundled.
So, who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G? Anyone looking for a performance-focused 5G smartphone, with good camera capabilities and battery life, under Rs 20,000 will find the handset right up their alley. The long software support also makes this smartphone a future-proof device. At the time of writing this review, the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is priced in India at Rs 16,499 for the entry-level 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, while The 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB options are selling at Rs 18,999 and Rs 20,999, respectively.
Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
ProsLooks good
Smooth performance
Good main camera
Decent battery life
ConsNo charger in the box
Slow charging speeds
Mono speaker
Key Specs
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Samsung Exynos 1330 | 4 GBProcessor
6.6 inches (16.76 cm)Display
50 MP + 2 MP + 2 MPRear Camera
13 MPFront Camera
5000 mAhBattery
The $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G sets a new baseline for cheap phones. It's one of the few affordable phones to include NFC for contactless payments and support 5G. Even more notable is that Samsung provides two years of software updates along with five years of security updates for the A14, when most similarly priced rivals stop at one software update and three years of security updates. This means that even though the phone's a lower-cost option, it's one you could safely use for several years if you chose to -- and with perks usually found only in pricier phones, the Galaxy A14 5G is a great choice.
Over my month of testing the Galaxy A14 5G, these inclusions meant I could use the phone to buy a quick breakfast, browse the web while listening to music during my commute, reliably use the phone's camera for day trips, and with its 5,000-mAh battery, still have enough of a charge left to use the phone the next day.
That's not to say the phone is issue-free: The Galaxy A14 cuts corners with a fairly drab design and a slower processor that sometimes left me waiting for apps to load. But load they did, and if you're just looking for a phone that can handle most daily tasks, the A14 could be a solid option as long as you aren't craving speed.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G's 6.6-inch display can run at a 90Hz refresh rate.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G design, specs and features
The Galaxy A14 5G comes in one color, black, and has a reflective plastic body. It feels a bit thick in-hand, with the back embracing a blocky look that lacks any rounded edges. Along the top-left corner are its three cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel depth camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
Around the front is a teardrop notch for the 13-megapixel front-facing camera. In addition to its 1,080p resolution, the 6.6-inch display has a 90Hz refresh rate. While the $200 Moto G Stylus runs at a consistent 90Hz, the A14 has an "adaptive" mode that adjusts up to 90Hz when scrolling through text and animations while swiping between apps. I found the effect noticeably smooth, especially when I was reading articles or playing games.
The phone plays audio through its single speaker, which was fairly easy for me to accidentally block when I held the phone horizontally to watch videos. It's notable since Motorola's current budget phone lineup includes stereo speakers across its Moto G phones, (though the Galaxy A14 does include a headphone jack as an option for stereo audio). While the Samsung phone's internal 64GB of storage should be enough to get you started, you do get the option of expanding storage to 1TB using the phone's microSD card slot.
The phone has a single speaker for audio, and a headphone jack can be used for stereo sound.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
In benchmark testing, the Galaxy A14 5G's Geekbench score came out ahead of the Moto G Stylus, but it certainly doesn't feel like it in my real-world use. The phone's Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor is sluggish, and I often noticed the A14 needing an extra beat to unlock itself when I had another app open, when I tapped a text box to launch the keyboard and when moving between apps. Software updates can refine this in time, and its current performance is totally fine for casual use. But this wouldn't be a phone that could handle lots of productivity documents or more graphically demanding apps.
Geekbench 6 Benchmarks
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G6931,824Moto G 5G (2023)7401790Moto G Stylus (2023)4481471Single-core
Multi-coreNote: Higher scores are better.
However the Galaxy A14's inclusion of NFC is quite meaningful, providing full compatibility with Google Wallet for contactless payments. I rarely find NFC for contactless payments in phones under $300, even though it's accepted everywhere from transit systems to convenience stores. I hope this creates a trend and we'll finally start seeing NFC become a feature on every phone regardless of cost.
The Galaxy A14 5G's cameras are good for still subjects, but moving ones are particularly challenging.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G cameras and photography
The Galaxy A14's cameras, despite the inclusion of a 50-megapixel main camera, are a mixed bag. I took the phone on several day trips, including a visit to a Brooklyn anime food festival and during a weekend stop-in to San Diego Comic-Con.
Outdoor photos came out decent as long as there was very little movement. During the anime food festival, my dessert photos of a cheesecake and rabbit milk pudding looked nice, but there was blurriness in most of my other photos whether due to the crowds or movement by the performers during a Taiko drum show.
This exaggeration also holds true for my test photo of the grass wall in CNET's office. Photos taken with the Moto G Stylus and the $250 Moto G 5G captured more accurate shades of green than those taken with the Galaxy A14 5G.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G's depiction of the grass wall in CNET's office. Mike Sorrentino/CNET
And much like other phones in this price range, photo quality proves challenging when moving indoors. Even on the well-lit San Diego Comic-Con floor, my photo taken with Final Fantasy 16's Ifrit looks fuzzy.
The Comic-Con Hall is fairly well-lit, but there's some image noise in this indoor photo.David Lumb/CNET
When I moved to Amazon's Good Omens party, the dim lighting made it a challenge for the A14 to find focus.
The darker environment of the Good Omens party in San Diego makes some parts of this image appear out of focus.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Returning to New York, there's plenty of image noise in this selfie, which I took in the underground La Caverna restaurant, but my photo of the restaurant itself looks better since there weren't many other people moving around.
Front-facing camera photo taken inside of La Caverna in New York.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Overall the Samsung Galaxy A14's photography is definitely not punching above its price range. If finding a $200 phone with decent cameras is important to you, Motorola's latest G-series phones could be a better option. While the Moto G phones have similar issues in darker environments, from my testing I feel like the photos taken by those cameras are slightly better.
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G streaming music on YouTube Music.Mike Sorrentino/CNET
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Bottom line
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is one of the most functional phones I've tested for under $200. Even though the phone has noticeable issues -- including the slower processor and mixed photography performance -- the device is capable of performing most essential tasks. The inclusion of NFC is a clear highlight, and hopefully it means that contactless payment features will now make their way into phones at all prices. The longer security update timeline also means the phone will be safe to use for several years, which could be especially helpful for someone just looking for an affordable device to stay in contact with friends and family.
This makes the Galaxy A14 5G particularly easy to recommend for most people shopping for a phone on a budget, or if the phone is offered for free. But keep in mind that the phone won't be getting any faster, and should deals or incentives drop the price of a better-equipped phone that normally costs $300, don't pass that up.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs. Moto G Stylus (2023) vs. Moto G 5G (2023)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5GMoto G Stylus (2023)Moto G 5G (2023)Display size, resolution 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display, (1,400x1,080 pixels), 90Hz 6.5-inch IPS LCD; 1,600x720; 90Hz refresh rate 6.5-inch HD Plus LCD display (720p resolution); 120Hz refresh rate
Pixel density 268 ppi 269 ppi 269 ppi
Dimensions (inches) 6.6x3.07x0.36 in 6.41x2.91x0.36 in 6.45x2.95x0.33 in.
Dimensions (millimeters) 167.6x77.9x9.1 mm 162.9x74.1x9.2 mm 163.94x74.98x8.39mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 203 g (7.19 oz) 195 g 189g (6.66 oz.)
Mobile software Android 13 Android 13 Android 13
Camera 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth) 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (macro) 48-megapixel main, 2-megapixel macro
Front-facing camera 13-megapixel 8-megapixel 8-megapixel
Video capture 1080p at 30 fps 1080p at 30 fps 720p at 30fps
Processor MediaTek Dimensity 700 MediaTek Helio G85 Snapdragon 480 Plus
RAM/Storage 4GB + 64GB 4GB + 64GB; 4GB + 128GB 4GB + 128GB
Expandable storage Yes Yes Yes
Battery/Charger 5,000 mAh (15W charging) 5,000 mAh (15W charging) 5,000 mAh (15W charging)
Fingerprint sensor Side Side Side
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack Yes Yes Yes
Special features 5G-enabled, NFC, 15W charging Stylus, Moto Gestures 5G enabled, dual stereo speakers, Moto Gestures
Price off-contract (USD) $200 $200 $250
Price (GBP) £179 Converts to £160 N/A, Converts to £195
Price (AUD) AU$379 Converts to AU$295 N/A, Converts to £380
How we test phones
Every phone tested by CNET's reviews team was actually used in the real world. We test a phone's features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it's bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor's performance to the extremes using both standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.
All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.
We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, foldable displays among others that can be useful. And we balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.
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SAMSUNG