Goods

  • Affordable
  • Offers excellent performance
  • Impressive battery life of over a day
  • Features a fingerprint reader, MicroSD card slot, headphone jack, and NFC for contactless payments
  • Samsung ensures 2 OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates
  • Compatible with all major US carriers

Bads

  • Low-resolution LCD screen with limited brightness
  • Uninspiring plasticky design
  • Mediocre low-light camera performance

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G: Affordable and Reliable

Cheap phones are currently popular, with $250 being the price range for smartphones that now receive four years of security updates. The Galaxy A13 5G from Samsung falls within this category, offering smooth performance capable of handling various tasks, including gaming, and capturing satisfactory photos.

Although the plasticky build of this Android phone may not be visually appealing and easily collects fingerprints, I have used it for almost a month without any significant issues. If you are budget-conscious and not overly concerned about having the best camera quality, the A13 5G covers the essentials at an incredibly low price.

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Samsung Galaxy A13 5G: Affordable with Solid Performance

For a cheap phone, it’s crucial to have a device that can smoothly run your favorite apps and games. The Galaxy A13 5G excels in this area, thanks to its Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor. Apps open quickly, multitasking is seamless, and the phone rarely slows down. Even demanding games like Pako Forever and Dead Cells perform admirably on this device.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G: Affordable with Solid Performance
(Image Credit: Samsung)

With its 5,000-mAh battery, the A13 5G can last over a full day. With conservative usage, it can even stretch to two full days. However, rapid charging or wireless charging is not available.

While the phone offers only 64GB of storage, it provides a MicroSD card slot for expanding storage if needed. Additional features include NFC for contactless payments using Google Pay, a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, and a headphone jack.

Samsung’s software interface may not be as streamlined as some other phones, but it allows for customization and the removal of unwanted Samsung apps. The standout feature is Samsung’s commendable software support, promising two OS upgrades and four years of security updates, setting it apart from other phones in this price range.

The screen is a disappointment, featuring a low-resolution LCD panel with a 90-Hz refresh rate. While the touch responsiveness is decent, close examination reveals fuzzy details. However, the main drawback is the poor screen brightness, especially under direct sunlight. Samsung’s auto-brightness feature is slow to adjust, necessitating manual adjustment for optimal visibility.

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Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Camera: Average Performance with Some Limitations

The camera system on the Galaxy A13 5G doesn’t stand out in any particular way. Despite having a triple-camera setup, it consists of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth camera. The macro camera is seldom useful, and the depth camera mainly improves portrait mode effects.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Camera: Average Performance with Some Limitations
(Image credit: Samsung)

In well-lit conditions, the main camera can capture decent images as long as you hold the phone steady to avoid blurriness. However, colors may not always appear natural, and it struggles with high-contrast scenes. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated night mode, resulting in low-light photos being noisy and lacking sharpness. Overall, the camera system is comparable to, if not slightly better than, the $359 Moto G 5G. During a recent trip to the Poconos for a bachelor party, I took numerous photos without feeling frustrated with the camera.

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Samsung Galaxy A13 5G: Affordable All-Rounder

The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G initially launched exclusively on AT&T but is now available unlocked and confirmed to work on T-Mobile and Verizon, including 5G connectivity. It’s important to note that Samsung also offers a Galaxy A13 4G LTE version with slightly different specifications, which I haven’t tested and thus cannot readily recommend.

In comparison to its competitors, the Moto G Stylus 2022 lacks 5G access and falls significantly short in terms of software support, while the OnePlus Nord N20 5G has a superior screen but lacks Verizon compatibility and is limited to 4G LTE on AT&T.

The A13 5G avoids these issues and comes at a lower price point than the aforementioned devices. While it may appear unassuming, it offers broad compatibility and a hassle-free experience. Without a doubt, this is the best sub-$300 phone I have encountered, capable of satisfying the majority of users.