Samsung Galaxy A23 vs A13: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Samsung's Galaxy A series consistently delivers excellent value, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we're pitting the Galaxy A23 against the A13 to see which budget champion reigns supreme. We'll dive deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you make the right decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A23 edges out the A13 thanks to its brighter display, more efficient chipset, and faster charging. While the A13 remains a solid choice, the A23 offers a noticeable upgrade in key areas, justifying its slightly higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy A23	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, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2022, March 04	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, March 25	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 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	195 g (6.88 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	PLS LCD, 90Hz	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	Mali-G52
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 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, (wide)	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	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	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	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass
	Virtual proximity sensing	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	25W wired	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Peach, Blue	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	SM-A235F, SM-A235F/DS, SM-A235F/DSN, SM-A235M, SM-A235M/DS, SM-A235N	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	£ 99.00 / ₹ 14,999	€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00
SAR	0.48 W/kg (head)	0.49 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	0.36 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body)	0.37 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 130h	Endurance rating 114h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1241:1	Contrast ratio: 1324:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-27.6 LUFS (Good)	-29.7 LUFS (Average)
Performance	AnTuTu: 273554 (v9) GeekBench: 1632 (v5.1) GFXBench: 6.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 122822 (v8), 136286 (v9) GeekBench: 588 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A23

Brighter Display
More Efficient Chipset
Faster Charging (25W)
Longer Battery Life (130h Endurance)
Slightly Better Camera Performance

Potentially Higher Price
Design may be less appealing to some

Samsung Galaxy A13

More Affordable
Decent Battery Life (114h Endurance)
Familiar Samsung Software Experience
Good Outdoor Visibility (587 nits)

Slower Charging (15W)
Less Efficient Chipset
Slightly Lower Camera Quality
Shorter Battery Life

Display Comparison

The A23 boasts a measured peak brightness of 464 nits, while the A13 hits 587 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (1241:1 and 1324:1 respectively), resulting in vibrant colors and deep blacks. However, the A13's higher brightness gives it a slight advantage in outdoor visibility. Both feature similar display resolutions and sizes, making the brightness the key differentiator.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature multi-lens camera setups, but the A23 typically offers slightly improved image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The A23 often has a higher resolution main sensor. Video recording capabilities are comparable, with both offering 1080p recording at various frame rates. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) vary slightly between configurations, so check the exact model you're considering.

Performance

The A23's Snapdragon 680 (6nm) generally outperforms the A13's Exynos 850 (8nm) in real-world usage. The Snapdragon 680's efficiency translates to smoother multitasking and app loading. While both handle everyday tasks well, the A23 provides a more responsive experience, especially with more demanding apps. Gaming performance is also slightly better on the A23.

Battery Life

The A23 holds a significant advantage with an endurance rating of 130 hours, compared to the A13's 114 hours. This translates to noticeably longer battery life on a single charge. The A23 also supports 25W wired charging, while the A13 is limited to 15W, further reducing charging times.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A23? Users prioritizing a vibrant display, smoother performance for everyday tasks, and faster charging. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A13? Those seeking a reliable and affordable Samsung phone with a decent battery life and a familiar Samsung experience, and are less concerned with top-tier performance.