Samsung’s Galaxy A-series smartphones are renowned for being reasonably priced without sacrificing quality. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is unquestionably suitable. It’s one of those phones that doesn’t attempt to wow you but performs all you need it to for a shockingly low price, which is great if you value economy.
However, is the Samsung Galaxy A13 genuinely exceptional, or is it simply another phone vying for consumers’ attention in a competitive market? I’ll go in-depth in my review, going over everything from its appearance to its cameras and how long that massive battery lasts. In this manner, you can decide whether the Samsung A13 is the subsequent smartphone that merits a place in your pocket.
Samsung Galaxy A13 – Full Specifications | |
|---|---|
| NETWORK | |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| LAUNCH | |
| Announced | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Released 2022, March 23 |
| BODY | |
| Dimensions | 165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| DISPLAY | |
| Type | PLS LCD |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| PLATFORM | |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 |
| MEMORY | |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 2GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM eMMC 5.1 |
| MAIN CAMERA | |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0″, 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| SELFIE CAMERA | |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| SOUND | |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| COMMS | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Radio | No |
| USB | Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| FEATURES | |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass Virtual proximity sensing |
| BATTERY | |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 15W wired |
| MISC | |
| Colors | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | $ 97.95 / € 116.95 / £ 90.00 / ₹ 9,651 |
| TESTS | |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 122822 (v8), 136286 (v9) GeekBench: 588 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1324:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.7 LUFS (Average) |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 114h |
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- Android 12, up to Android 13, One UI 5.1
- 6.6 inch Display
- 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, microSDXC
- 5000mAh | 15W
- 50MP 1080p
Design and Build Quality
Let’s be honest, the Samsung Galaxy A13 isn’t going to win any beauty contests. It has that straightforward, get-the-job-done vibe. Even though it’s primarily made of plastic, it feels very substantial in the hand. The front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which is excellent news because it should protect against scratches and bumps a little better.
Despite being a low-cost phone, I like the small details Samsung did well. Its side-mounted fingerprint sensor functions nicely, the volume controls are easily accessible, and—this is something you don’t see very often these days—it includes a headphone jack! For those who still prefer wired headphones, that is a victory.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A13 has a big ‘ol 6.6-inch screen. It’s not the fanciest AMOLED display like some higher-end Samsung phones, but honestly, it still looks decent, especially considering the price. It’s got an HD+ resolution, which is plenty sharp for everyday things, and the size makes it pretty nice for watching videos or playing some casual games.
It’s bright enough for using it inside, but it did struggle a bit in harsh sunlight. You get a 90Hz refresh rate, which is higher than normal, but it’s a shame it doesn’t adjust automatically—you know, the fancy adaptive refresh rate stuff that makes scrolling feel super smooth.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A13 runs on Samsung’s Exynos 850 chip, which is definitely on the entry-level side. It comes with a few options for RAM, too. Bottom line, it’s perfect for normal daily stuff—web browsing, social media, emails, that kind of thing.
Now, if you’re a major mobile gamer or someone who uses a ton of demanding apps, you might notice it slow down a bit here and there. But honestly, for most folks on a budget, the Samsung A13 handles the day-to-day smartphone tasks just fine.
Software
The Galaxy A13 ships with Samsung’s One UI software on top of Android 12 out of the box. Android 13 and One UI 5.1 can now be upgraded on it. One UI is my favorite since it’s user-friendly and provides a good amount of customization choices. It comes with some pre-installed applications, like most phones, which you may or may not like, but you can generally remove the majority of them. Even with their less expensive phones, Samsung has a decent history of software upgrades, so it’s great to know that security updates may be available for a while.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A13 has one of those four-camera setups on the back:
- Main camera: 50MP (wide), f/1.8, with PDAF (phase detection autofocus)
- Ultrawide camera: 5MP, f/2.2, 123-degree field of view
- Macro camera: 2MP, f/2.4
- Depth sensor: 2MP, f/2.4
When the lighting’s good, the main 50MP camera actually takes halfway decent photos. Colors mostly look natural, though it can lose some detail sometimes. The ultrawide lets you get a wider view in your shot, which is always handy, but it’s definitely not as sharp as the main camera. As for the macro and depth sensors? Well, they’re there, but you shouldn’t expect mind-blowing results.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: low-light photos are where the Samsung A13’s camera starts to show its budget roots. Things get grainy and lose detail pretty fast as the lights dim. The front-facing 8MP selfie cam is fine for the occasional selfie in good lighting or video chatting with friends and family, but, again, don’t expect miracles in low-light situations.
For video, the Samsung A13 gets the job done with 1080p recording. It’s good enough for your everyday social media stuff, but the lack of stabilization means your videos might look a tad shaky.
Overall, if you’re just snapping casual photos, the camera is perfectly fine. But if photography is a big deal for you, there are other budget phones out there with slightly better camera setups.
Recommended: The 10 Best Camera Phones for Photographers in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
Battery Life
Okay, here’s a major win for the Samsung Galaxy A13: its massive 5,000 mAh battery is awesome! I comfortably made it through a full day and even into the next with regular use. If you’re not always glued to your phone, you might even be able to squeeze out two whole days.
The downside? Charging isn’t particularly fast. It supports 15W wired charging and doesn’t have wireless charging. So, be prepared to wait a couple of hours for it to go from zero to full.
Other Notable Features
- Expandable Storage: Need more space than the built-in storage? No worries, the Samsung Galaxy A13 has a microSD card slot for extra space for your photos, videos, and stuff.
- NFC: Depending on where you live and your carrier, your Samsung A13 might come with NFC, so you can use it for mobile payments—always convenient!
Pros and Cons
Let’s sum up the highlights and lowlights of the Samsung Galaxy A13:
Pros
- Super affordable price
- Sturdy build quality despite mostly plastic construction
- Long-lasting battery life
- User-friendly software
- Expandable storage
- Headphone jack!
Coins
- Performance isn't great for demanding games or heavy multitasking
- The camera struggles in low light
- The display could be brighter in direct sunlight
- Slow charging speeds
Who is the Samsung Galaxy A13 for?
The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a great choice if:
- You’re on a tight budget: If you need a smartphone that does the basics well and has that awesome battery life, the Samsung A13 is seriously worth considering.
- You’re new to smartphones: Its simple interface and easy setup make the Samsung A13 less intimidating for those just getting into smartphones.
- You don’t need all the bells and whistles: If you mainly use your phone for calls, texts, browsing the web, and some social media, the Samsung A13 has everything you need.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
Here’s when the Samsung A13 might not be the best fit:
- Mobile gamers: If you play a lot of those fancy, graphics-heavy mobile games, the Samsung Galaxy A13 likely won’t give you the smooth experience you’re looking for.
- Serious phone photographers: If your phone’s camera is super important, you’ll find some other budget-friendly options with slightly more capable setups.
- The power users among us: If you’re one of those folks who always multitasks and runs demanding apps, a phone with a more powerful processor would be a better choice.
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a surprisingly solid smartphone for its price. Sure, it’s got a simple design and a decent, not mind-blowing, display. Performance is enough for daily tasks, battery life is phenomenal, and you get a camera that’s usable in casual situations. While it has its limits, especially with serious gaming or photography, for the price, it’s tough to complain.
If the best bang for your buck is what you’re after, and you need a no-fuss phone you can rely on for all the necessary stuff, then the Samsung A13 definitely deserves a closer look.
