Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs A14 4G: What's the difference?

Samsung has no shortage of affordable Galaxy A-series phones. In fact the Galaxy A14 5G now has a non-5G sibling, the Galaxy A14 4G LTE, despite 5G tech becoming increasingly standard. The lack of 5G isn’t the only difference, however. Which smartphone is right for you? Find out in this Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs Galaxy A14 4G LTE showdown.

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G vs A14 4G: What’s the difference?

Getting the obvious out of the way, the biggest difference is the Galaxy A14 5G’s ability to connect to 5G networks. Where available, 5G is potentially much faster than 4G/LTE, though the gap isn’t always as huge as carriers promise.

Design-wise, the phones could be twins if not for their different finishes. If you look closely, you’ll notice the Galaxy A14 5G’s back panel has a concentric circle pattern, and the Galaxy A14 4G has a linear, brushed metal pattern. Both backsides are just plastic, mind, so there shouldn’t be any change in grip or durability.

Both phones have a 6.6-inch PLS LCD display with FHD+ resolution. The Galaxy A14 5G sports a smoother 90Hz refresh rate however, while the 4G version has a slower 60Hz panel. The phones also share a 13MP selfie camera tucked inside a waterdrop notch.

Each phone has a vertical trio of rear-facing cameras, including a 50MP primary shooter. The Galaxy A14 5G has a 2MP macro camera, whereas the A14 4G has a 5MP macro for superior close-up detail. For its third camera the Galaxy A14 5G a 2MP depth sensor, while the Galaxy A14 4G has a 5MP ultra-wide. Your preferences will depend on the kind of photos you like to shoot.

In the US, the Galaxy A14 5G is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1330 processor and comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Its sibling has a MediaTek Helio G80 processor paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Exynos is a much newer chipset, mind, providing better performance and power consumption. Both phones support expandable storage up to 1TB via a microSD card slot.

Those who haven’t gone wireless for their audio will appreciate that both phones have a headphone jack. There’s also NFC and Bluetooth connectivity, although the Galaxy A14 LTE has Bluetooth 5.1, while the 5G model has Bluetooth 5.2. Neither phone supports eSIM.

Should you get the Galaxy A14 5G or 4G LTE model?

The main question you should ask yourself is what networks you typically rely on. Although 5G provides a little futureproofing, it may not be available in your area or with your phone plan, and you should never buy a phone for 5G alone. Most 4G LTE networks are still very speedy, and you don’t need 100Mbps to browse social media. If your carrier offers widespread 5G coverage, go for it, but if the infrastructure isn’t quite there, you’ll be more than fine with the 4G LTE phone.

Both models come with Samsung’s One UI Core 5, based on Android 13, and should receive two OS upgrades and four years of security updates. They’re solid mid-range workhorses that won’t break the bank. The Galaxy A14 5G is priced at $99 in the US. Despite being available in multiple colors in other markets, it’s only available in black in North America. The Galaxy A14 4G LTE can potentially be more expensive, for instance starting at $120 on Amazon. It’s available in black, green, and silver. Regardless of which product you decide to get, make sure to pick up one of the best Galaxy A14 cases for protection.