The Samsung Galaxy A series consistently delivers excellent value in the budget smartphone market. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the A12 Nacho and the A13. Both offer compelling features, but which one reigns supreme?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the A12 Nacho thanks to its brighter display and slightly improved overall user experience. While both share the same chipset, the A13's display and potentially better software support give it a slight advantage 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 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 09 | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 09 | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 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 | 205 g (7.23 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 (~82.1% 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 (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 850 (8 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | 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 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB 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, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), AF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@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, RDS, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | SM-A127F/DSN, SM-A127F/DS, SM-A127F, SM-A127M, SM-A127U | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | About 130 EUR | € 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00 |
| SAR | - | 0.49 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.67 W/kg (head) 1.38 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 A12 Nacho
- Very affordable
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Large display
- Lower brightness display
- Potentially shorter software support
- Basic camera features
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Brighter and sharper display
- Potentially longer software support
- Improved battery life
- Modern design
- Slightly more expensive
- Performance similar to A12
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large displays, but the A13 boasts a significantly brighter screen with a measured 587 nits peak brightness compared to the A12's likely lower brightness. The A13's 1324:1 contrast ratio (nominal) is also a slight improvement, contributing to better image quality. The A12 likely has a standard 720p resolution, while the A13 has a 1080p resolution, offering sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely similar, though the A13 may have slightly improved image processing. Both phones offer a versatile camera setup, including a main sensor, ultrawide lens, and macro lens. Low-light performance will be adequate but not exceptional on either device. The A13 may offer slightly better video recording capabilities.
Performance
Performance is virtually identical. Both devices are powered by the Exynos 850 chipset and Octa-core CPU, meaning you can expect similar performance in everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. Don't expect flagship-level performance from either device.
Battery Life
The A13 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting superior battery life compared to the A12. While the A12's battery capacity is likely similar (around 5000mAh), software optimization and other factors contribute to the A13's longer runtime.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy A12 Nacho is a good choice for users on a very tight budget who prioritize affordability above all else. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for those seeking a slightly better display, potentially longer software support, and a more modern design, even if the price is a bit higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Exynos 850 a good chipset?
The Exynos 850 is a decent chipset for budget smartphones, offering adequate performance for everyday tasks. However, it's not a powerhouse and won't handle demanding games or applications smoothly.
❓ How long will Samsung support these phones with software updates?
Samsung typically provides 2-3 years of software updates for its A-series phones. The A13 is likely to receive slightly longer support than the A12.
