The newest entry-level phone in the Galaxy A series is now available in the market. But is it worth your money?
If you are on a tight budget, Samsung has released the Galaxy A13 which is actually a decent phone for its price point. To manage your expectations, you must first determine what you want from a smartphone.
I have used three Samsung phones in the past and my husband is currently using Samsung Galaxy Note 10. It's a given that we trust the quality of this brand. If this will be the first time for you to purchase a Samsung phone, here's what you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy A13.
The glossy and smooth finish of Samsung Galaxy A13 makes it look expensive even if the case is made mostly of plastic. And since it's glossy, you have to deal with fingerprint marks all the time which can be remedied by a phone case. It comes in three colors: black, blue, and peach. You can choose between 4 + 128GB or 6 + 128GB for storage.
The screen is 6.6” FHD+ TFT Infinity-V Display. I find the size comfortable to hold. There is a USB-C port at the bottom and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This phone is not capable of wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy A13 has a 5,000mAh battery capacity. You can get a full day use if you are a normal user. I've been using this phone for a month. I'm a heavy social media user and the battery lasts for 12 hours at most.
The Galaxy A13 uses Samsung's own Exynos 850 processor. It's fine for undemanding needs but it's a bit slow and not advisable if you are into gaming.
The camera is very important to me. Most of my blog's photos are taken using a smartphone. Although I have a mirrorless camera, I find it efficient if I could upload the photos to my social media account direct from the phone. The first thing that I scrutinize is the camera's output.
The Galaxy A13 is equipped with a quad lens rear camera: 50MP main camera, 5MP ultra-wide camera, 2MP macro camera and depth camera. There is also an 8MP front camera. I love that the camera doesn't stick out.
This photo was taken using the 50MP main camera. You will notice the vibrant color and sharp image output. It is not advisable to use in low light though. The image is grainy and the quality is poor.
As I've mentioned, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack if you still love to use wired headphones. I was such a late bloomer when it comes to bluetooth earphones.
The Samsung Health app has helped me manage my physical activities, diet, and even sleep through the years. This is one feature that I appreciate is already available. There are also other preinstalled apps which you can remove if you don't intend to use them.
So, is the Samsung Galaxy A13 the best choice for a budget phone?
It is the best choice for those people who need a good quality phone but want to spend less. The camera can take decent shots. It's also a good starting point if you want to explore mobile photography.
Samsung Galaxy A13: Specs
Memory: 4GB or 6GB RAM
Storage: 128GB + microSD expandable up to 1TB
Display: 6.6in 20:9 1080x2400 IPS LCD
Cameras: Rear 50MP (F1.8) + 5MP (F2.2, Ultra Wide) + 2MP (F2.4 Macro) + 2MP (F2.4 Depth)
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 5000mAh
OS: Android 12 with OneUI 4.1
FM Radio: No
Dimensions: 165 x 76.5 x 9mm (6.5 x 3.0 x 0.4")
Weight: 195g
NFC
Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth 5
USB 2.0 (USB-C)
Colours: Black, Blue, and Peach