Samsung Galaxy A03 Core vs. Galaxy A13: A Budget Showdown

Samsung's Galaxy A series offers excellent value, but choosing the right model can be tricky. We're pitting the ultra-budget A03 Core against the slightly more premium A13 to see which phone delivers the best bang for your buck. This comparison will help you make an informed decision based on your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 is the clear winner. While the A03 Core is incredibly affordable, the A13's superior chipset, brighter display, and better camera offer a significantly improved user experience, justifying the higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A03 Core	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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2021, November 15	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, December 06	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	Plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 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 + Nano-SIM
Weight	211 g (7.44 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 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	PLS LCD	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	IMG8322	Mali-G52
OS	Android 11 (Go edition)	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 2GB 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	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, AF	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP, f/2.2	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	-	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	-	15W wired
Type	Li-Ion 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	SM-A032F, SM-A032F/DS, SM-A032M	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	£ 74.99	€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00
SAR	0.30 W/kg (head)	0.49 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	0.24 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)	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)

Samsung Galaxy A03 Core

Extremely affordable
Long battery life
Simple and easy to use

Weak performance
Basic camera
Low-resolution display
Limited storage

Samsung Galaxy A13

Better performance
Improved camera
Brighter display
More storage options
Long battery life

More expensive than A03 Core
Charging speed is relatively slow (15W)

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. likely lower on the A03 Core) and a generally better viewing experience. While both have a high contrast ratio (1324:1), the A13's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The A13 likely has a higher resolution display as well, contributing to sharper visuals.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the A13's camera system is expected to be superior. The A13 likely has more lenses and better image processing, resulting in better photos and videos, especially in low light. The A03 Core's camera is likely basic and may produce grainy images.

Performance

The Exynos 850 in the A13 is a substantial upgrade over the Unisoc SC9863A in the A03 Core. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience on the A13. The A03 Core will struggle with more demanding tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 114h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A13's more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (likely around 5000mAh) could give it a slight edge in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A03 Core is ideal for users on a very tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic calling, texting, and occasional social media. The Galaxy A13 is a better choice for those who want a smoother performance, a better camera, and longer software support, even if it means spending a bit more.