TCL 306 vs Samsung Galaxy A13: The Ultimate Budget Battle

Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The TCL 306 and Samsung Galaxy A13 are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But which one offers the best bang for your buck? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 emerges as the clear winner. While the TCL 306 is a budget option, the A13's superior chipset, brighter display, and faster charging provide a significantly better overall user experience, justifying its slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 306	Samsung Galaxy A13

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EMEA, APAC	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 66 - LATAM	-

Launch
Announced	2022, January 31	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2022, February	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	165.2 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.50 x 2.97 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	190 g (6.70 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ)	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	Mali-G52
OS	Android 12, TCL UI	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	32GB 3GB 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, HDR, panorama	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, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Triple	13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/5.0", 1.12µm	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	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, OTG	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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	10W wired	15W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Space Gray, Atlantic Blue	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	X668, 6102H	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	About 40 EUR	€ 94.99 / $ 129.99 / £ 89.00
SAR	-	0.49 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	-	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)

TCL 306

More compact size
Potentially lower price

Weaker processor
Lower display brightness
Slower charging
Likely inferior camera

Samsung Galaxy A13

Better performance (Exynos 850)
Brighter and higher contrast display
Faster charging (15W)
Likely better camera
Samsung's software support

Slightly higher price
Larger size

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. likely around 350-400 nits for the TCL 306) and a higher contrast ratio (1324:1 nominal). While both offer similar resolutions, the A13's improved brightness makes it much easier to view outdoors. The TCL 306's smaller size might be preferable for one-handed use for some.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A13 generally has a more versatile camera system with likely better image processing. The TCL 306's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but the A13 will deliver noticeably better results, especially in low light. Specific megapixel counts and features are not provided for the TCL 306, making a direct comparison difficult.

Performance

The Exynos 850 in the Galaxy A13 is a considerable upgrade over the Helio G25 in the TCL 306. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the A13. The A13's 8nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones claim an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A13's more efficient chipset likely contributes to slightly better real-world performance. The A13 also supports 15W charging, which is faster than the TCL 306's 10W charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the TCL 306? Those on the absolute tightest budget who prioritize basic functionality and a smaller form factor. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A13? Anyone seeking a reliable, feature-rich budget phone with a better display, performance, and longer software support.