The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Blade A31 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy A13. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A13 is the clear winner. While the ZTE Blade A31 Lite is a budget option, the A13's superior chipset, brighter display, and generally more polished software experience make it the better choice for most users, despite a potentially slightly higher price.
| 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, June | 2022, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 137.3 x 67.5 x 10.5 mm (5.41 x 2.66 x 0.41 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 | 143 g (5.04 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~215 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | PLS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9832E (28 nm) | Exynos 850 (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T820 MP1 | Mali-G52 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 1GB 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 | 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 | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 2000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A135F, SM-A135F/DS, SM-A135M, SM-A135U, SM-A135U1, SM-A135N |
| Price | About 80 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) |
ZTE Blade A31 Lite
- Very affordable
- Compact size
- Decent battery life
- Weak processor
- Lower display quality
- Limited software support
- Basic camera
Samsung Galaxy A13
- Better performance
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Longer software support
- Improved camera
- More reliable brand
- Slightly more expensive
- Potentially larger size
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A13 boasts a significantly brighter display (587 nits vs. likely lower on the A31 Lite) and a generally better color accuracy. While both have a high contrast ratio (1324:1), the A13's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The A31 Lite's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and clarity of the A13.
Camera Comparison
While both are marketed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Galaxy A13 is expected to offer better image quality due to its superior processing power and likely better camera sensors. The A31 Lite's camera will likely produce acceptable photos in good lighting conditions, but will struggle in low light. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are needed for a more precise comparison.
Performance
Here, the Galaxy A13 pulls ahead considerably. The Exynos 850 chipset (8nm) is a much more powerful and efficient processor than the Unisoc SC9832E (28nm) found in the Blade A31 Lite. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the A13. The A31 Lite's quad-core CPU will struggle with more demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the A13's more efficient chipset likely contributes to this longevity, allowing it to perform better under load.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the ZTE Blade A31 Lite? 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, well-rounded budget phone with a better performance, display, and camera, and a longer software support lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Blade A31 Lite good for gaming?
No, the Blade A31 Lite's weak processor makes it unsuitable for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A13 with software updates?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its Galaxy devices than ZTE. Expect at least two major Android updates and several years of security patches for the A13.
