Samsung Galaxy A14 vs A13 – what’s new?

As the rising cost of living bites, Samsung’s timing of this latest evolution of popular and affordable A Series phones could hardly be better. Set to delight users with an awesome camera, vibrant display screen and super-fast charging, the newly released Samsung Galaxy A14 is a great option for students and those looking to maximise performance on minimal budget.

If you’ve got a bit more budget to play with, you might prefer to read how the Galaxy A14 compares to the A34 and A54, as well as how the  A34 compares to the A33 and how the A54 compares to the A53.

The Samsung A14 is a strong all-rounder in the budget phone segment. It has the essentials covered, balancing affordability and simplicity with innovative smartphone features to create something truly awesome. The A13 was also a good option for budget-conscious consumers, similarly balancing affordability with functionality.

As the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is the levelled-up version of the A13 5G, we’re keen to understand the differences between the two models. What’s stayed the same, what’s had an upgrade, and anything else we think you might find useful if you’re in the market for a new Samsung phone. 

Here’s a list of the main specs listed side by side for easy comparison:

Now let’s look at each of these key features in more detail below. 

The A14 has evolved from the A13 5G’s quad camera design to a new floating triple-lens camera design. On the rear side of the A14, you can choose between: 

• 50MP wide angle lens
• 2MP macro lens
• 2MP depth lens
  

While on the front of the A14 you’ll find a 13MP lens for taking stunning selfies.

This 13 MP front camera lens on the Samsung A14 really highlights the difference between the two device cameras, as the Samsung A13 5G has a similar suite of lenses on the rear side but only an 8MP camera on the front. So if selfies are your thing and you want to look your absolute best in them, the A14 might be the better choice for you. 

The Samsung Galaxy A14 display represents a considerable upgrade over the A13 as it has a 90Hertz refresh rate on graphics. This is an additional 30Hertz when compared to the A13, helping to make sure scrolling is oh-so smooth and colours are bright and vibrant. 

The size of the displays are equal, but where the Galaxy A14 shows itself as the newcomer to the market is in the use of a full HD display where the A13 relies on a LCD panel. 

So while the A13’s display was well liked among users and absolutely did the job, if viewing content on your phone in bright and vibrant colours is important to you, you should probably choose the Samsung Galaxy A14. 

Thinking about the overall look and feel of the devices, they seem to be relatively on par with each other. Both phones are constructed from quality materials, and the large screen size helps make a range of tasks easy to complete. Accessing each phone with your fingerprint is quick and easy thanks to the side location of the fingerprint sensor, something more premium models tend to build into the screen itself. This ultimately means that picking the right phone for you from these two options will likely come down to another factor.

The Galaxy A14 has had a pretty major upgrade in terms of its processor when compared to the A33, as the A14 uses the Exynos 1330 where the A13 runs the Exynos 850. This marked difference in processor, despite both running octa core chipsets, is where the newer A14 sets itself apart from the A13 and could sway your purchasing decision – particularly if you run high-intensity applications.

The performance of the A14 5G is an improvement when compared to the A13 5G due to the fact the A14 runs a newer, better processor. If high performance and a smooth experience is a key factor for you when buying a new smartphone, the A14 5G is likely to be the better option. The combination of 5G connectivity² and an enhanced chipset should correlate to smoother scrolling, multitasking and gaming.

Battery-wise the two devices are a decent match, offering the same typical battery size of 5,000mAh¹. Where the A14 has an edge over the A13 is in the fact that it can support 15W super-fast charging, while the A13 does not support this feature. Possibly not a big deal if you’re organised and consistently keep your phone charged up. But if you’re like me and often get caught short, it’s something to be mindful of. 

Overall it’s clear to me that the Samsung Galaxy A14 is a marked improvement on the A13. The enhanced refresh rate on graphics seems noticeable, to my eyes at least, and the uptick in processor from the Exynos 850 to Exynos 1330 delivers a smoother, more premium smartphone experience.

For the price you pay for the A14 5G, I think it really is an excellent choice among this latest release of A Series smartphones from Samsung.

Mobile innovation never stops, with the latest Galaxy S25 Series finally landing in Australia. The new Galaxy S25 Series features new Galaxy AI tools, as well as upgraded processors and camera lenses. Check out the Galaxy S25 Ultra for a look at Samsung’s newest flagship phone.

Samantha Shilton works for Optus. A dog mother and nature lover, she gets down to the beach most mornings for walkies and a quick dip. On the weekend, you might spot her whizzing past you on her Kawasaki.

^{[1] Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by Strategy Analytics. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2022.12.19-2023.1.6 in UK with pre release versions of SM-A146 under default setting using LTE and 5 G Sub 6 networks.
[2] 5G available in selected areas (excl. NT) and on selected plans.  For full coverage details see optus.com.au/5Gcoverage
[3] Charger sold separately
[4] Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacity is 4,860mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors. Please see user manual for instructions on how to care for the battery and achieve optimum battery life.}