The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Alcatel 3L (2021) and the Samsung Galaxy A13. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the winner.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 takes the crown. While the Alcatel 3L is a budget-friendly option, the A13's superior processor, better camera, faster charging, and Samsung's brand recognition make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, January 12 | 2022, June |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | Available. Released 2022, July |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 165.6 x 75.6 x 8.7 mm (6.52 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) | 165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762D Helio P22 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (only single sim model) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Jewelry Blue, Jewelry Black | Black, White, Blue |
| Models | 6056D | SM-A137F, SM-A137F/DSN, SM-A137F/DS |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) |
alcatel 3L (2021)
- Very affordable
- Large display
- Decent battery life
- Weak processor
- Slow charging
- Basic camera
- Less brand recognition
Samsung Galaxy A13 (SM-A137)
- Better performance
- Improved camera
- Faster charging
- Samsung brand
- Larger display
- Slightly more expensive than Alcatel 3L
- LCD display (not AMOLED)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a larger 6.6-inch display compared to the Alcatel 3L's 6.5-inch screen. Both utilize an LCD panel, but the A13 generally offers slightly better color accuracy and brightness. The A13's higher resolution also contributes to a sharper image.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A13 generally offers a more versatile and higher-quality camera system. While both phones have multiple lenses, the A13's main sensor and image processing are superior, resulting in better photos in various lighting conditions. The A13 also typically includes features like optical image stabilization (OIS) which the 3L lacks.
Performance
Here's where the A13 truly shines. The Helio G80 chipset in the A13 is significantly more powerful than the Helio P22 in the Alcatel 3L. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A13. The A13's CPU architecture (Cortex-A75 cores) provides a noticeable performance boost.
Battery Life
Both phones offer large batteries, but the A13's 15W charging is faster than the 3L's 10W charging. While battery life is comparable in real-world usage, the A13's faster charging provides a significant convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Alcatel 3L (2021)? Users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and a large screen. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A13 (SM-A137)? Anyone seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with a decent camera and good performance without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Alcatel 3L good for gaming?
The Alcatel 3L's processor is not ideal for demanding games. You'll likely experience lag and low frame rates. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a much better choice for gaming.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Alcatel. You can expect more Android updates and security patches on the Galaxy A13.
