Looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank? The Realme C35 and Samsung Galaxy A13 are popular contenders in the budget segment. But which one offers the best value for your money? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the Realme C35 thanks to its superior chipset, brighter display, and generally more polished software experience. While the C35 offers a sleek design, the A13's performance and display make it the better all-around choice for most users.
| 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 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 | 2022, February 10 | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 14 | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.6 x 8.1 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.32 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 | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB 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 |
| | UFS 2.2 | 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), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, 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 | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, 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 | Glowing Black, Glowing Green | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | RMX3511 | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | £ 129.99 / ₹ 7,999 | € 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) | 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 C35
- Sleek and modern design
- Decent battery life
- Affordable price
- Underpowered chipset
- Dim display
- Less refined software
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Better performance (Exynos 850)
- Brighter display
- More reliable software support
- Versatile camera system
- Less exciting design
- Slower charging (15W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. unknown for C35) and while both have a 1324:1 contrast ratio, the A13's higher brightness makes content more vibrant and viewable in sunlight. The A13 likely has better color accuracy as well, a common Samsung strength.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A13 generally has a more versatile camera system with better image processing. Expect better low-light performance and more consistent results from the A13. The C35's camera is acceptable for casual snapshots but lacks the refinement of the A13.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850 (8nm) is a noticeable upgrade over the Realme C35's Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm). The Exynos 850 offers better CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive overall experience. The C35's chipset is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (114h), suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy A13's more efficient chipset likely contributes to slightly better real-world battery performance, especially under load.
Buying Guide
The Realme C35 is a good option for users prioritizing aesthetics and a slightly more modern design on a very tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for those seeking a more reliable performer with a brighter display, longer software support, and a generally smoother user experience, even if it means a slightly less flashy design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850 chipset provides significantly better gaming performance than the Realme C35's Unisoc Tiger T616.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A13 with software updates?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its Galaxy devices compared to Realme. Expect more Android updates and security patches on the Galaxy A13.
