Oppo A17 vs Samsung Galaxy A13: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Oppo A17 and the Samsung Galaxy A13. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the Oppo A17 thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and generally more refined software experience. While the Oppo A17 is a budget-friendly option, the A13 offers a more polished and performant package for a slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo A17 Samsung Galaxy A13
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2022, September 262022, March 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 26Available. Released 2022, March 23
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions164.2 x 75.6 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 IPX4 water resistance-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDPLS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6765 Helio G35 (12 nm)Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Mali-G52
OSAndroid 12, ColorOS 12.1Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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
Single5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
BluetoothYes5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximityFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging-15W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Lake Blue, Sunlight OrangeBlack, White, Peach, Blue
ModelsCPH2477SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price€ 159.99 / $ 168.76 / ₹ 8,999€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00
SAR-0.49 W/kg (head)
SAR EU-0.37 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 114h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1324:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.7 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 122822 (v8), 136286 (v9) GeekBench: 588 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo A17

  • Very affordable
  • Decent battery life
  • Sleek design (subjective)

  • Weak performance
  • Dim display
  • Basic camera

Samsung Galaxy A13

  • Better performance
  • Brighter display
  • Improved camera
  • More refined software

  • Slightly more expensive
  • 15W charging is slow

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. likely around 400-450 nits for the A17) and a slightly better contrast ratio. While both offer a similar resolution, the A13's improved brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Color accuracy is likely better on the A13 as well, though both are LCD panels.

Camera Comparison

While both phones have similar camera setups on paper, the Samsung Galaxy A13's image processing is generally superior. Expect better dynamic range, more accurate colors, and less noise in photos taken with the A13. The A17's camera is serviceable but lacks the refinement of the A13.

Performance

Here, the Galaxy A13 shines. The Exynos 850 chipset (8nm) is considerably more powerful than the Helio G35 (12nm) in the Oppo A17. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A13. The A17 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with an endurance rating of 114 hours. Real-world usage will likely yield a full day of moderate use on both devices. The A13's 15W charging is a slight advantage over the A17's likely slower charging speed.

Buying Guide

The Oppo A17 is ideal for users prioritizing the absolute lowest price and basic functionality. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a better choice for those seeking a smoother experience, a brighter display, and a more reliable camera, even if it means spending a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850 chipset provides significantly better gaming performance than the Oppo A17's Helio G35.
❓ Is the Oppo A17 worth buying if I'm on a very tight budget?
Yes, the Oppo A17 can be a viable option if price is your absolute top priority. However, be prepared for compromises in performance and display quality.