- Samsung recently launched the Galaxy M14 5G budget smartphone in India.
- The device is priced starting at ₹13,990 and is available in two variants.
- Here’s my review of the Galaxy M14 5G that will help you decide whether to buy the device or not.
The Galaxy M14 5G is the successor of the Galaxy M13 5G that was launched last year and comes with several improvements, including a larger battery, powerful processor, improved cameras, and more.
I have been using the Galaxy M14 5G for a few days now, and here is my review of the latest budget offering from the smartphone maker.
The
The device is available in Berry Blue, Icy Silver and Smoke Teal colour options from Amazon India, Samsung online store and the company’s authorised retail stores across the country.
Pros
- 5G connectivity at an affordable price.
- 6,000mAh battery.
- Does not come with a charger in the box.
- Bulky and boring design.
The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G has a minimalistic design and a plastic back. While Samsung has offered the device in good colour options, it does not stand apart, but it is expected at this price point. The Berry Blue variant I received looked good, but its back is a fingerprint magnet. You will have to use a case with the device.
Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy M14 5G features a triple camera setup at the back. The three sensors come with their own cutouts and an LED flash. Apart from this, the back comes with Samsung’s branding at the bottom.
The device features the SIM tray on the left side, and the right side houses the volume rockers and the power button, doubling up as the fingerprint sensor.
The device weighs 206 grams, which is all right considering the large display and the 6,000mAh battery. While I did not have any issues while using the device, people with small hands may find it difficult to use the device with one hand for a long period.
The device sports a large 6.6-inch Full HD+ LCD on the front with a 90Hz refresh rate. First, you will notice that Samsung has opted for an older waterdrop notch instead of a punch-hole notch.
The device offers a good experience indoors but struggles a bit when you use the device outdoors in direct sunlight.
The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G comes with Android 13 out of the box with the company’s OneUI Core 5.1 on top. The company has promised two years of Android OS updates and four years of security updates for the device.
For those unaware, OneUI Core is a toned-down version of OneUI and misses out on features such as Bixby Routines, Windows Link, Edge Lighting, and more.
The Galaxy M14 5G has many bloatware apps, including Samsung apps, Netflix, Facebook, Amazon, Candy Crush, and more. While some Samsung apps cannot be removed, you can easily uninstall third-party apps.
The user interface is easy to understand and offers a clutter-free experience.
Coming to performance, the device is equipped with the company’s Exynos 1330 chipset coupled with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. We found the device performs well in day-to-day tasks, but there are occasional stutters while launching an app or performing heavy tasks.
I tried playing Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 on the device. While the device could handle Call of Duty: Mobile decently, I noticed occasional lags while playing Asphalt 9.
Overall, the Galaxy M14 5G offers decent performance, and if you are not a hardcore gamer, you will have no issues with the device. It is worth considering if you are a casual gamer looking for an affordable device.
The Galaxy M14 5G is powered by a 6,000mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging. The battery life is easily the highlight of the device. The device lasts for two days with regular usage, a few hours of streaming, and some light gaming. As the device offers only 25W charging, it takes nearly 100 minutes to be fully charged.
Despite being a budget device, it does not have a charging brick inside the box. All you get is a Type-C to Type-C charging cable with the device.
The Galaxy M14 5G features a triple camera setup at the back, consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. Being a budget device, it is not equipped with a fancy setup.
The primary camera performs well in daylight and normal lighting conditions. The device can capture good details and colours.
The device can capture good images in indoor lighting, but there is some noise. Regarding low-light images, the night mode kicks in, but the camera struggles a bit.
On the front, the device comes with a 13MP selfie camera. Just like the rear camera, the selfie camera works well in daylight but struggles to capture details in low light.
The Samsung Galaxy M14 is a good option if you want an affordable device from Samsung. It has a long battery life and a large display fits the use case for those who watch a lot of videos on the phone. This, coupled with 5G support, makes it a good option for users looking for a reliable smartphone without burning a hole in their pocket.
For some, the device’s average camera, bulky design, and slow charging may be an issue. The Redmi Note 12 is another option worth considering in this range but does not offer 5G support.
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