Realme C25Y vs Samsung Galaxy A13: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme C25Y and the Samsung Galaxy A13. But which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the Realme C25Y thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and generally more polished software experience. While the Realme C25Y offers decent value, the A13 provides a more well-rounded package for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme C25Y	Samsung Galaxy A13

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2021, September 16	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 30	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.5 x 76 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.36 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
Weight	200 g (7.05 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 420 nits (typ)	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Unisoc T610 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52 MP2	Mali-G52
OS	Android 11, Realme UI R	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 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	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	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	18W wired	15W wired
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Glacier Blue, Metal Gray	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	RMX3265, RMX3268, RMX3269	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	About 140 EUR	€ 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)

Realme C25Y

Very affordable
Decent battery life
Large display

Underpowered chipset
Dim display
Basic camera

Samsung Galaxy A13

Better performance (Exynos 850)
Brighter display
More versatile camera
Samsung brand reliability

Slower charging (15W)
Price slightly higher than C25Y

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. unknown for C25Y) and a high contrast ratio (1324:1). While both offer a large screen, the A13's improved brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The C25Y's display is likely adequate for indoor use, but lacks the punch of the A13.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A13 generally has a more versatile camera system with more lenses and better image processing. The C25Y's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but the A13 will produce more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting conditions. Specific megapixel counts and features are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

The Exynos 850 in the Galaxy A13 is a clear winner here. Its 8nm process and more modern architecture provide noticeably better performance than the Unisoc T610 in the C25Y, which uses a 12nm process. Expect smoother multitasking and app loading on the A13.

Battery Life

Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (114h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, real-world usage will vary. The A13's more efficient chipset may give it a slight edge in longevity.

Buying Guide

The Realme C25Y is a good choice for users prioritizing a very affordable price point and basic functionality. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for those seeking a smoother performance, a better display, and the reliability of the Samsung brand, even within a budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The Samsung Galaxy A13 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Exynos 850 chipset.

❓ Does the Realme C25Y have NFC?

NFC availability on the Realme C25Y varies by region. Check the specific model's specifications for your area.

❓ What is the software experience like on each phone?

The Samsung Galaxy A13 offers a more refined and feature-rich software experience with One UI, while the Realme C25Y runs Realme UI, which is generally clean but may lack some of Samsung's advanced features.