Even though I enjoy gadgets, I never felt that way about phones, even though they are a type of gadget. I used to have a very old Samsung Galaxy S4, but it was no longer supported and had Android 7. I also found the screen too small. Over the last few years, my eyesight has worsened, and I now wear reading glasses, but I still found the phone screen small.

I came across a plan with a phone for the same price I currently pay, but with more minutes and data. I received a Samsung A14 5G with my new plan, and I didn't have to pay anything extra, so that was a good deal. The phone arrived after two days, and I immediately noticed a significant improvement.

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I understand that the European version of the Samsung A14 5G is different from the one in North America; the European version has a slightly better processor. The phone costs 169 euros in the Netherlands when purchased new or for free with a new plan. It's a budget-friendly device, but keep in mind I had a Samsung Galaxy S4 from 2013 for comparison.

The 6.6-inch screen is perfect for me. The Samsung S4 had a 5-inch screen, and it was an LCD screen, not the latest technology like OLED or QLED. The colors are also less vibrant. However, the 90Hz refresh rate makes it feel fast and responsive, which is an upgrade from most budget phones that usually have 60Hz. The screen resolution is 2400 x 1080, not 4K, but I don't mind as it helps keep the price down.

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The phone has dual SIM capabilities, which can be useful, and even a headphone jack, a feature many phones no longer offer. In terms of speed, it has a Dimensity 700 processor , not the fastest but sufficient for me. The memory is 4096MB (there's also a 6000MB version), and the storage is 128GB, which should be more than enough.

It's also expandable with a microSD card. Now, considering the usage and feel of the phone, keeping in mind that it's a budget device, and my comparison is with the old Samsung Galaxy S4 from 2013.

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I've been using the device for a few months now, and these are my observations so far, with the acknowledgment that I don't use the phone extensively.

As mentioned, it's perfect for me at 6.6 inches. The phone still fits in a jacket pocket, but it's large, somewhat bulky, and heavy. The colors aren't spectacular, but it's not an issue for me. Oled would provide better colors, but, as mentioned, this is a low-budget device.

The battery in this device is a familiar Li-Polymer 5,000mAh, and it lasts longer than more expensive Samsung phones. Charging takes longer with 15W, and it's not wireless, but that doesn't bother me.

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There is one issue with this device that also occurs with other Samsung phones - occasionally, the phone doesn't respond when you tap something, as if you have to press hard. If you press another key, everything works correctly again. This happens once a day, and I don't know if it's the norm, but I know others have reported this issue.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this device, especially considering it didn't cost me anything, and it does everything I want from a phone, including handling games well and quickly.