The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lenovo K13 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A2 Core. Both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but which one comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Lenovo K13 Pro takes the win thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 662 chipset, offering a smoother and more responsive experience. While the Galaxy A2 Core boasts Samsung's brand recognition and potentially better software support, the K13 Pro's performance advantage is hard to ignore.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 900 / 1800 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - A260F/DS |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - A260F/DS |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 40, 41 - A260G/DS |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September | 2019, April. Released 2019, April |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 29 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | - | 141.6 x 71 x 9.1 mm (5.57 x 2.80 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 142 g (5.01 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~220 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Exynos 7870 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-T830 MP1 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 8.0 Oreo (Go edition) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 8GB 1GB RAM, 16GB 1GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/1.9, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Unspecified | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Blue, Red, Gold |
| Models | XT2129-3 | SM-A260F, SM-A260G |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.53 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
Lenovo K13 Pro
- More powerful processor
- Modern Android experience
- Likely larger display
- Potentially better gaming performance
- Charging speed is relatively slow (15W)
- Camera may not be as optimized as Samsung's
- Brand recognition less than Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A2 Core
- Samsung's brand reputation
- Potentially better software support
- Compact size
- Good image processing
- Weaker processor
- Older chipset
- Limited performance
- Smaller display likely
Display Comparison
The Lenovo K13 Pro likely features a larger display with a higher resolution, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The Galaxy A2 Core probably has a smaller, more compact display, which can be advantageous for one-handed use. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, offering decent color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
While specific camera specs are limited, Samsung often excels in image processing, potentially giving the Galaxy A2 Core an edge in producing pleasing photos, especially in well-lit conditions. The K13 Pro's camera will likely be decent, but may not match Samsung's optimization. Both are likely to have basic camera features.
Performance
This is where the Lenovo K13 Pro shines. The Snapdragon 662 is a considerably more powerful chipset than the Exynos 7870. Expect smoother app loading, faster multitasking, and better gaming performance on the K13 Pro. The A2 Core will handle basic tasks adequately, but may struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones likely offer all-day battery life with moderate usage. The K13 Pro's more efficient chipset might give it a slight advantage, but this will depend heavily on screen size and software optimization.
Buying Guide
The Lenovo K13 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize performance and a modern Android experience. It's great for light gaming and multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy A2 Core is a good choice for those seeking a reliable, basic smartphone with Samsung's user interface and ecosystem, and who primarily use their phone for calls, texts, and light browsing.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Lenovo K13 Pro is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 662 chipset.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung generally provides better and longer software support for its devices, so the Galaxy A2 Core might receive updates for a longer period.
