Samsung's budget phone lineup is always a hot topic, offering incredible value for the price. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Galaxy M13 and the Galaxy A04s. Both pack the Exynos 850, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy A04s edges out the M13 thanks to its superior display brightness and impressive battery endurance. While both share the same chipset, the A04s' display and battery life provide a noticeably better user experience, making it the slightly better choice 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, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 27 | 2022, August 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 01 | Available. Released 2022, September 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 164.7 x 76.7 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | PLS LCD | PLS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (peak) |
| 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 12, One UI Core 4.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual Proximity Sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Deep Green, Orange Copper, Light Blue | Black, Green, White, Copper |
| Models | SM-M135F, SM-M135F/DSN | SM-A047F, SM-A047F/DS, SM-A047F/DSN, SM-A047M |
| Price | £ 139.99 / € 135.81 | € 133.89 |
| SAR EU | 0.45 W/kg (head) 1.36 W/kg (body) | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 114h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1614:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.3 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 145123(v9)
GeekBench: 1100 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M13
- Potentially larger screen (regional variations)
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Reliable Samsung brand
- Lower display brightness compared to A04s
- Battery life not as impressive as A04s
- 15W charging is slow
Samsung Galaxy A04s
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Exceptional battery life (114h endurance)
- Good value for money
- Improved viewing experience
- Performance is adequate but not exceptional
- 15W charging is slow
- Build quality may feel slightly less premium than some competitors
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A04s boasts a measured peak brightness of 389 nits and a high 1614:1 contrast ratio, offering a noticeably brighter and more vibrant display compared to the M13. While both have similar resolutions, the A04s' superior brightness makes a significant difference in outdoor visibility. The M13's display is adequate but lacks the punch of the A04s.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally comparable, with both offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. The A04s may have a slight edge in low-light scenarios due to potentially better image processing algorithms. Both phones likely feature a main camera, ultrawide, and macro lens setup, but specific megapixel counts and features may vary by region. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, offering 1080p recording.
Performance
Both phones utilize the Exynos 850 chipset and Octa-core CPU, meaning performance will be largely similar for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. Don't expect flagship-level performance from either device, but they should handle basic usage without major issues. Slight differences in RAM configurations (often varying by region) could impact multitasking performance.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A04s shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 114 hours is exceptional, significantly outperforming the M13. This translates to significantly longer battery life for the A04s, allowing for multiple days of use on a single charge. Both phones share the same 15W charging speed, so charging times will be comparable.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy M13 is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly larger screen and potentially a more robust build (depending on regional variations). The Galaxy A04s is a better fit for those who value a brighter display, longer battery life, and a more immersive viewing experience, especially for media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better performance?
Both phones have similar performance due to the shared Exynos 850 chipset. Expect adequate performance for everyday tasks.
❓ Is the 15W charging slow?
Yes, 15W charging is considered relatively slow by today's standards. Expect longer charging times compared to phones with faster charging capabilities.
