Samsung A237 vs. iPhone 13 mini: A Clash of Titans (and a Mystery)

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Today, we're pitting the enigmatic Samsung A237 against the compact powerhouse, the Apple iPhone 13 mini. While details on the A237 are scarce, we'll leverage general Samsung A-series knowledge to provide a comprehensive comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 mini clearly takes the lead due to its proven A15 Bionic chip, excellent camera, and impressive battery life. The A237's value proposition is unclear due to the lack of specifications, but it likely targets budget-conscious buyers. Ultimately, performance and features favor the iPhone.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung A237 Apple iPhone 13 mini
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands-HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2628, A2629, A2630
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 Sub6/mmWave - A2628
EDGEClass 10-
GPRSClass 10-
Speed-HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSMGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2629, A2630
Launch
Announced2008, September. Released 2008, September2021, September 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, September 24
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions95 x 48 x 16 mm (3.74 x 1.89 x 0.63 in)131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 in)
SIMMini-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight82 g (2.89 oz)141 g (4.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
Protection-Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution128 x 160 pixels (~102 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)
Size2.0 inches, 12.6 cm2 (~27.6% screen-to-body ratio)5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTFT, 65K colorsSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
 External monochrome display(96 x 96 pixels), 1-inch Downloadable wallpapers and tones-
Platform
CPU-Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
Chipset-Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPU-Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OS-iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Call records20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls-
Card slotNoNo
Internal-128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM
Phonebook500 entries, Photocall-
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.9", 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Features-Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
SingleVGA12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
VideoNo4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video-4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker NoYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth2.05.0, A2DP, LE
NFC-Yes
PositioningNoGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBProprietaryLightning, USB 2.0
WLANNoWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
BrowserWAP/xHTML-
GamesYes-
JavaYes-
MessagingSMS, MMS, Email, IM-
Sensors-Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Organizer Built-in speakerphone Voice memo Predictive text inputUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Stand-byUp to 250 h-
Talk timeUp to 5 h-
TypeRemovable Li-Ion 800 mAh batteryLi-Ion 2438 mAh (9.34 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue on Black, Red on BlackStarlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green
Models-A2628, A2481, A2626, A2629, A2630, iphone14,4
PriceAbout 60 EUR€ 299.00 / $ 240.00 / £ 244.89
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)     0.47 W/kg (body)1.19 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.97 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 75h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 772512 (v9) GeekBench: 4681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung A237

  • Likely more affordable
  • Samsung brand recognition
  • Potentially larger screen (speculative)

  • Unknown specifications
  • Likely lower performance
  • Potentially inferior camera
  • Uncertain software support

Apple iPhone 13 mini

  • Powerful A15 Bionic chip
  • Excellent camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Compact design
  • iOS ecosystem
  • MagSafe wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Smaller screen size
  • Lightning port (older standard)

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 mini boasts a stunning OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 831 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The A237 likely features an LCD display, which will be less vibrant and have lower brightness, though Samsung's LCDs are generally quite good. Expect a smaller resolution on the A237.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13 mini's camera system is renowned for its image quality and video recording capabilities. Expect excellent detail, dynamic range, and cinematic mode. The A237 will likely have a multi-lens setup, but image quality will likely be inferior to the iPhone, especially in low light.

Performance

The iPhone 13 mini's A15 Bionic chip is a performance beast, handling demanding tasks and games with ease. The A237 will likely use a mid-range processor, offering adequate performance for everyday tasks but struggling with more intensive applications. iOS optimization also gives the iPhone an edge.

Battery Life

The iPhone 13 mini's endurance rating of 75 hours is exceptional. The A237's battery capacity and efficiency are unknown, but it's unlikely to match the iPhone's longevity.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung A237? Likely those seeking a very budget-friendly option and prioritizing affordability over premium features. Who should buy the Apple iPhone 13 mini? Users who want a powerful, compact phone with a great camera and long-term software support, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung A237 a good value phone?
It depends on the price. If it's significantly cheaper than the iPhone 13 mini, it could be a good value for budget-conscious users, but be aware of the potential trade-offs in performance and features.
❓ What operating system does the iPhone 13 mini use?
The iPhone 13 mini runs iOS, known for its user-friendliness, security, and access to a vast app ecosystem.