The Galaxy A14 5G we have for review runs Android 13 with One UI Core 5.0 on top - so it's on the latest OS version and on the 'basic' branch of Samsung's in-house customized overlay, also in a current version. You'd be getting the same looks as higher-end Galaxy models, minus some of the more niche features.
The list of things that didn't make the cut includes Samsung Pay service (GPay is available), Easy Mode, the Bixby assistant, Secure Folder, Windows Link service, and the Good Lock app for advanced customizations.
The Android experience with One UI 5.0 Core is rather straightforward and familiar, though. The app drawer, notification shade, recent apps, lock screen and home screen, are all business as usual, as is the general Settings menu.
The accent color palette is automatically generated based on your wallpaper, but this time around, the system gives you a wider choice of color combinations and that palette can also be applied to app icons.
There's no Always-on display on the Galaxy A14 5G.
Widgets can now be stacked, and you can switch between stacked widgets with a simple swipe. Keep in mind that not all widgets support stacking, so app developers might have to get around that pretty soon.
Modes and routines, a feature similar to Apple's Focus, is present on the Galaxy A14 5G's Core build too. You can choose a mode based on what you are doing right now and execute certain actions, change sound profiles, display settings, notifications, etc. For instance, the driving Routines profile can be set up to turn on DnD mode and launch Spotify automatically, for example. You can even trigger certain Routines with actions of your choice, such as turning on the hotspot or airplane mode.
The side-mounted fingerprint reader will likely be the primary method of unlocking for most, but you can still use face unlock either instead of or alongside it. It can be more convenient in certain situations, but it generally is less secure since it's just using the selfie camera. The phone can be set to require a press on the button instead of the default touch-to-unlock operation. A swipe-down gesture can be enabled for pulling the notification shade from the fingerprint reader.
Security options • Biometrics • Fingerprint settings • Fingerprint enrollment • Swipe down gesture
Familiar proprietary Samsung features present in One UI 5.0, even in this Core variant, include the Edge panels - the panes that show up when you swipe in from the side and provide tools and shortcuts to apps and contacts. Game launcher, the hub for all your games, which also provides options for limiting distraction when gaming is here to stay as well.
Otherwise, the software package is similar to other Samsung phones, with an in-house Gallery app and a proprietary file manager, as well as Samsung's Internet web browser. Split-screen multi-tasking is also an option.
Edge panel • Game Launcher • Gallery • File manager • Split-screen
The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G we have here runs on the Dimensity 700, a low-end 5G-capable platform that dates a while back. The Galaxy A22 5G used it, and that's a two-year-old handset, plus it was also on the Galaxy A13 5G from last year. So there's no change in the core of the A14 5G.
That said, just like last year there were multiple A13s, this year there's another version of the Galaxy A14 5G - it's packing the Exynos 1330, Samsung's own 5G chipset for more affordable devices. That one has a slightly beefier CPU - the two powerful cores are the newer Cortex-A78 ones and are clocked higher at 2.4GHz (2x Cortex-A76 at 2.2GHz in the Dimensity). There's also the matter of the GPU, which is a Mali-G68 MC4 on the Exynos and Mali-G57 MC2 on the Dimensity, and that reads like a thorough improvement. Overall, you can expect higher performance out of the Exynos-equipped Galaxy A14 5G.
Unfortunately, we haven't tested an Exynos 1330 handset to include here for comparison, so we'll do the next best thing. We'll throw in a Galaxy M53 - its Dimensity 900 has the same CPU and GPU configuration as the Exynos 1330 so numbers should be fairly similar.
The Exynos version is the one sold in India, while the US gets the Dimensity. For other regions, you'd best check with your retailer, carrier, or local Samsung website. While Samsung doesn't normally list specific chipsets, they do usually quote the clock rates, and the 2.4GHz vs. 2.2GHz difference should be a dead giveaway.
With that preamble behind us, let's look at some benchmark numbers from the US-bound Dimensity 700-equipped Galaxy A14 5G.
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
You'll note from the above numbers that the Galaxy's implementation of the Dimensity 700 is on par with other handsets with the same chipset and delivers about average performance for the class. That applies to the US version, however, while the one for India should deliver scores in line with the Galaxy M53's above and that one is more of front-runner. So, the Indian version is looking a lot more appealing from a performance standpoint.
What's good about chipsets of the Dimensity 700 caliber is that they can maintain their initial level of performance under prolonged load. That's what we observed on the Galaxy A14 too, for the most part - other than a small dip in CPU results almost an hour into the test. The GPU stress test scores were solid, though.
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