The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Tecno Spark 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A13. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 edges out the Tecno Spark 9 Pro thanks to its superior display brightness, more established brand reputation, and excellent battery life. While the Spark 9 Pro offers a slightly more powerful chipset, the A13's overall package is more polished and reliable.
| 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 | 2022, June 02 | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 75.6 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.98 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 |
| Weight | - | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | 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 12, HIOS 8.6 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-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 | 32 MP, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | - |
| Single | 32 MP, (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 | Yes | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (KH7n only) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Quantum Black, Burano Blue, Glacier White, Hacker Storm, Sport Edition, Kyanite Blue | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | KH7, KH7n | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | - | € 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 Spark 9 Pro
- Slightly more powerful chipset for gaming
- Generally more affordable
- Modern design
- Less bright display
- Less efficient chipset
- Potentially less refined software
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Excellent battery life
- Reliable Samsung brand
- Better image processing
- Slightly less powerful chipset
- Slower charging (15W)
- Can be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a measured peak brightness of 587 nits and a 1324:1 contrast ratio, providing a noticeably brighter and more vibrant viewing experience compared to the Spark 9 Pro. While the Spark 9 Pro's display is adequate, it lacks the A13's punch. Both offer a similar resolution, but Samsung's implementation is superior.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer decent camera systems for their price range. The Galaxy A13 likely has better image processing and a more consistent camera experience. The Spark 9 Pro might offer slightly more detail in certain lighting conditions due to its chipset, but the A13's software optimization is likely to result in more pleasing images overall. Specific camera specs are missing, but the A13 generally has a reputation for better camera performance in this segment.
Performance
The Tecno Spark 9 Pro's MediaTek Helio G85 chipset generally offers slightly better gaming performance than the Samsung Galaxy A13's Exynos 850. However, in everyday tasks, the difference is minimal. The A13's chipset is more efficient, contributing to its excellent battery life. The Spark 9 Pro's 12nm process is less efficient than the A13's 8nm.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A13 shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours. This is a significant advantage over the Spark 9 Pro, which, while offering good battery life, doesn't match the A13's longevity. Both phones support 18W/15W charging, respectively, but the A13's larger battery capacity means it will take longer to fully charge.
Buying Guide
The Tecno Spark 9 Pro is ideal for gamers and users prioritizing raw processing power on a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A13 is a better choice for those seeking a reliable, well-rounded smartphone with a vibrant display, long battery life, and the Samsung ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Tecno Spark 9 Pro has a slightly more powerful chipset, making it a marginally better choice for demanding games.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A13 worth the extra money?
If you prioritize display quality, battery life, and brand reliability, the Galaxy A13 is likely worth the extra investment.