Tecno Camon 18i vs Samsung Galaxy A13: A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Tecno Camon 18i and the Samsung Galaxy A13. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the Tecno Camon 18i thanks to its brighter display, more established brand reputation, and slightly more efficient chipset. While the Camon 18i offers a decent gaming experience, the A13 provides a more well-rounded and reliable user experience for everyday tasks.

PHONES
Phone Names	Tecno Camon 18i	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	LTE	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2021, November 01	2022, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, November 01	Available. Released 2022, March 23

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.5 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.48 x 3.01 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
Weight	-	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1640 pixels (~271 ppi density)	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz	PLS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm)	Exynos 850 (8 nm)
GPU	Mali-G52 MC2	Mali-G52
OS	Android 11, HIOS 7.6	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1

Memory
Card slot	Unspecified	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	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	Quad-LED flash	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	16 MP, f/2.0	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Triple	48 MP, (wide), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	Dual-LED flash	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.0	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	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	18W wired	15W wired
Type	5000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Deep Sea, Frost Silver, Tranquil Green	Black, White, Peach, Blue
Models	CG6	SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N
Price	About 150 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)

Tecno Camon 18i

Potentially better gaming performance
Modern design
Often features a good selfie camera

Lower display brightness
Less established brand reputation
Potentially less efficient chipset

Samsung Galaxy A13

Brighter display
More efficient chipset
Reliable brand reputation
Excellent battery life

Gaming performance slightly behind Camon 18i
Design is more basic

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. likely around 400-450 nits for the Camon 18i), making it easier to view outdoors. Both offer a high contrast ratio (1324:1), ensuring deep blacks and vibrant colors. The A13's display is the clear winner here.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Both phones offer decent camera setups for their price range. The Galaxy A13 likely has better image processing due to Samsung's software optimization. The Camon 18i often emphasizes selfie camera capabilities, so it might be preferable for selfie enthusiasts. Detailed camera specs are missing, making a definitive winner difficult to declare.

Performance

The Tecno Camon 18i's Helio G85 chipset is generally considered slightly better for gaming than the Exynos 850 in the Galaxy A13. However, for everyday tasks like browsing and social media, the Exynos 850's efficiency gives the A13 a slight edge in overall smoothness and responsiveness. Both are entry-level chips, so don't expect flagship performance.

Battery Life

Both phones claim exceptional battery life with an endurance rating of 114 hours. In real-world usage, both should easily last a full day, and potentially longer depending on usage patterns. This is a draw.

Buying Guide

The Tecno Camon 18i is a good choice for users prioritizing gaming and a slightly more modern design. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is ideal for those seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with a vibrant display and the backing of a trusted brand.