Samsung Galaxy A04 vs. A13: A Detailed Budget Phone Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy A series offers excellent value for money, but choosing the right model can be tricky. We're pitting the entry-level Galaxy A04 against the slightly more premium Galaxy A13 to see which phone reigns supreme in the budget smartphone arena. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 is the clear winner. While the A04 is cheaper, the A13's superior chipset, brighter display, and longer software support make it a significantly better overall package, justifying the slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A04	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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2022, August 24	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, October 10	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm (6.47 x 3.00 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	192 g (6.77 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 (~81.3% 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 (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G52
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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
Dual	50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, AF Auxiliary lens	-
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	5 MP, f/2.2	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	Yes	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, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, 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-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Green, White, Copper	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	SM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	About 70 EUR	€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00
SAR	-	0.49 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	0.32 W/kg (head) 1.10 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 A04

Most Affordable
Decent Battery Life (claimed)

Slow Performance
Dim Display
Outdated Chipset
Limited Software Support

Samsung Galaxy A13

Faster Performance (Exynos 850)
Brighter Display
Better Camera (likely)
Longer Software Support (likely)
15W Charging

Slightly More Expensive

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A13 boasts a noticeable advantage with its measured 587 nits max brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. Both offer a 1324:1 contrast ratio, but the A13's brightness elevates the viewing experience. The A04's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the A13.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities (specific megapixels are missing from the provided specs), the A13's more powerful chipset generally translates to better image processing and overall camera performance. Expect improved low-light performance and more detailed photos from the A13. The A04's camera is functional but lacks the refinement of the A13.

Performance

The Exynos 850 in the Galaxy A13 is a significant upgrade over the Helio P35 in the A04. The A13 offers smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience. The A04 can feel sluggish, especially when handling demanding apps or games.

Battery Life

Both phones claim an impressive endurance rating of 114h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A13's more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (general knowledge) likely contribute to slightly better real-world performance. The A13 also includes 15W wired charging, a welcome addition.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A04 is best suited for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize affordability above all else and don't need high performance. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich smartphone with a better display, faster performance, and longer software support, even if it means spending a bit more.