Samsung Galaxy A13 vs A04: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Looking for an affordable Samsung smartphone? The Galaxy A13 and A04 are both contenders, but which one offers the best value? This detailed comparison breaks down their key features to help you make an informed decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A13 emerges as the clear winner, boasting a significantly brighter display, a more powerful chipset, and a superior camera system. While the A04 is cheaper, the A13's overall performance and features justify the slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A13 Samsung Galaxy A04
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2022, March 042022, August 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 23Available. Released 2022, October 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front, plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions165.1 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)164.4 x 76.3 x 9.1 mm (6.47 x 3.00 x 0.36 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypePLS LCDPLS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
ChipsetExynos 850 (8 nm)Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)
GPUMali-G52PowerVR GE8320
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI Core 5.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1eMMC 5.1
Main Camera
Dual-50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, AF Auxiliary lens
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)5 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)5 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/5", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fpsYes
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)No
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compassAccelerometer, proximity
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging15W wired-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Peach, BlueBlack, Green, White, Copper
ModelsSM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135NSM-A045F, SM-A045F/DS, SM-A045M
Price€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00About 70 EUR
SAR0.49 W/kg (head)-
SAR EU0.37 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)0.32 W/kg (head)     1.10 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 A13

  • Brighter Display
  • Faster Performance (Exynos 850)
  • Likely Better Camera
  • Good Battery Life

  • Slightly Higher Price
  • 15W Charging (relatively slow)

Samsung Galaxy A04

  • Lower Price
  • Good Battery Life
  • Compact Size (likely)

  • Slower Performance (Helio P35)
  • Dim Display
  • Less Capable Camera

Display Comparison

The A13's display shines with a measured 587 nits of brightness and a 1324:1 contrast ratio, offering a noticeably more vibrant and visible experience, especially outdoors. The A04's display is adequate but lacks the same level of brightness and contrast. Expect washed-out colors in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

While specific camera specs are missing for the A13, general knowledge indicates a more versatile and higher-resolution camera system. The A04's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but struggles in low light and lacks advanced features. The A13 likely offers better image quality and more shooting modes.

Performance

The Exynos 850 in the A13 provides a considerable performance advantage over the Helio P35 in the A04. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the A13. The A04 can feel sluggish at times, particularly with demanding apps.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the A13 boasting an endurance rating of 114 hours. The A04, while not explicitly stated, is expected to have good battery life due to its less power-hungry chipset. Both should easily last a full day on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for users who prioritize a better display, faster performance, and a more capable camera. The Galaxy A04 is a good option for those on a very tight budget who need basic smartphone functionality and extended battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A13 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset.
❓ Is the A04 worth buying if I'm on a very tight budget?
Yes, the A04 can be a decent option if your budget is extremely limited and you only need basic smartphone functionality.