Samsung Galaxy F13 review
The Samsung Galaxy F13 is a budget smartphone that competes in a crowded market with intense rivalry from other brands. Its design language is unmistakably Samsung, but the phone's plastic build and chunky size may be off-putting to some. The rear panel has a nice texture, making it easier to hold, while the front features a dewdrop notch and thick chin. The phone's 6.6-inch LCD display with full HD resolution and 60Hz refresh rate is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the F12. While the peak brightness is underwhelming, the colors and viewing angles are good. The device is powered by Samsung's Exynos 850 chipset, which may not be the strongest performer in this segment but handles occasional gaming fine. The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, 5-megapixel ultra-wide snapper, and 2-megapixel depth sensor. While the dynamic range is limited, photos are good enough for social media posts. The phone also features an 8-megapixel selfie camera with decent results but no autofocus. One of the standout features of the Galaxy F13 is its large 6000mAh battery, which provides easily two days of battery life even with heavy usage. While charging takes a bit over two hours, the phone's great battery life more than makes up for it. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy F13 is a solid budget smartphone with impressive battery life and an ad-free UI. Its onboard ultra-wide-angle camera is also a plus, making it a good buy for those on a tight budget.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy F13 is an intriguing device that finds itself in a crowded segment with intense rivalry from other brands. One of the first things that strike you about the F13 is its design, which is unmistakably Samsung's. The phone follows the brand's ongoing design language, also seen on the A series and M series smartphones. The rear panel has a nice texture to it, which does help with grip, but it's completely made of plastic and feels pretty chunky in your hand. This bulkiness can be attributed to its large battery, more on that later. At the front, you'll find a typical budget phone design with a dewdrop notch and a thick chin. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is quick to unlock both hands, however, it may refuse to work if your fingers are sweaty. On the bottom, there's a single speaker that produces decent audio quality, and it's accompanied by a headphone jack. The Galaxy F13 has a 6.6-inch LCD display with full HD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. While its predecessor, the F12, had a higher refresh rate but lower resolution, I believe trading it for more resolution is worth it at this price point. The colors on the display are good, and viewing angles are decent as well. However, peak brightness is somewhat underwhelming, making it difficult to use in bright environments. The device's overall build quality feels solid, but it may not stand out in terms of design originality. The F13's plastic body may feel cheap to some, and its chunky size might not appeal to those with smaller hands. Nevertheless, the phone does have a dedicated micro SD card slot and is a dual sim smartphone.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy F13 boasts an impressive battery life, thanks to its large 6000mAh battery. This behemoth of a power source easily lasts for two days with moderate usage, including texting, taking calls, and scrolling through social media. Even with more demanding tasks like consuming video content, the phone still manages to last well over a day. In our testing, we found that the F13's battery life is one of its strongest features. Whether you're a casual user or someone who needs a phone that can keep up with your busy schedule, the F13's battery will not disappoint. One notable aspect of the F13's battery performance is its charging time. While it takes around two hours to fully recharge using the 15W charger provided in the box, this isn't exactly fast by today's standards. However, considering the phone's impressive battery life, we feel that this trade-off is well worth it. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy F13's battery life is a significant selling point for anyone looking for a phone that can keep up with their daily needs without needing to be recharged every other day. While its charging time may not be the quickest, its sheer battery endurance makes it a compelling option in this price segment.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy F13 boasts a 6.6-inch LCD display with full HD resolution (1080 x 2408 pixels) and a 60Hz refresh rate. While it may not be the most impressive screen, it's a welcome upgrade from its predecessor, the Galaxy F12, which had an HD resolution and a 90Hz display. Personally, I think the trade-off between a higher refresh rate display and more resolution is worth it at this price point (₹12,000). The full HD resolution provides sharper colors and better content viewing experience. However, its peak brightness is somewhat underwhelming, making it difficult to view on bright summer afternoons. Viewing angles are decent, but not exceptional. Colors appear well-saturated and vibrant, which is a plus for watching videos or browsing through social media. But, if you're someone who often uses your phone outdoors, you might find the display's brightness lacking in certain lighting conditions. One more thing to note is that the ambient light sensor on my test unit was slow to respond to changes in lighting conditions. This could be a software issue, and it's possible that Samsung will address this with a future update. Overall, the Galaxy F13's display is average at best. While it won't blow you away with its brightness or viewing angles, it gets the job done for casual use. If you're someone who primarily watches videos, browses through social media, and doesn't need extreme screen brightness, then this display might suffice. However, if you're looking for a phone that can handle intense outdoor use or offers exceptional display performance, there are better options in the same price segment.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy F13's camera is an aspect that warrants attention, particularly considering the competitive landscape in the budget smartphone segment. While not exceptional, the camera performance is decent enough to justify its presence in this price category. The primary camera boasts a 50-megapixel sensor, which, at first glance, seems impressive. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the dynamic range is somewhat limited. This means that images may appear somewhat flat or lacking in depth, particularly when compared to higher-end devices. In well-lit conditions, the primary camera performs admirably, producing good enough photos for social media sharing. However, its limitations become more apparent in low-light situations, where noise and grain become noticeable. There's no dedicated night mode, but the camera still manages to produce usable shots. The ultra-wide-angle camera, though small at 5 megapixels, is a redeeming feature. In well-lit conditions, it can capture decent wide-angle shots that are often missing in budget smartphones. However, its presence is overshadowed by the limited dynamic range and noise issues in low-light scenarios. The depth sensor, a 2-megapixel unit, serves more as a cosmetic addition rather than contributing significantly to the camera's overall performance. The 8-megapixel selfie camera fares better, producing decent results when taken with care to maintain steady hands, as there is no autofocus feature. In conclusion, while not outstanding in any particular area, the Samsung Galaxy F13's camera delivers acceptable results that align with its price point. It does what it promises and can be relied upon for basic needs like social media sharing and casual photography. However, enthusiasts of photography may find themselves wanting more from their smartphone's camera capabilities.
Price and Value
In a highly competitive market, the Samsung Galaxy F13 tries to stand out with its affordable price tag of 12,000 rupees. While it faces intense rivalry from other brands, the F13 manages to hold its own with some impressive features. One of the standout aspects of the F13 is its display. The 6.6-inch LCD screen boasts a full HD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for content viewing. However, its peak brightness is somewhat underwhelming, which might be an issue in bright summer afternoons. The device is powered by Samsung's Exynos 850 chipset, which, although dated, still manages to handle occasional gaming without major lags. The 4GB RAM and up to 128GB internal storage options are standard for this price range. However, the lack of a 5G chip might make it seem less future-proof compared to its rivals. The F13's camera performance is decent, with a 50MP primary sensor, an ultra-wide-angle snapper, and a depth sensor. While not outstanding, it delivers good-enough photos for social media sharing. The phone also features an 8MP selfie camera with no autofocus. Despite these positives, the real value lies in its massive 6000mAh battery, which easily lasts over two days even with heavy usage. The included 15W charger takes some time to fully recharge, but it's a small price to pay for such impressive battery life. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy F13 is a solid budget option that offers good value for those who prioritize video content viewing and long battery life. While not the strongest contender in its segment, it still makes up for a pretty good buy, especially on a tight budget.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy F13 is powered by the company's octa-core Exynos 850 chipset, which is an entry-level processor from 2020. While it gets easily outperformed by similarly priced smartphones with more powerful chipsets like the Realme Narzo 50A and Poco M4, the Exynos 850 still manages to handle occasional gaming without major lags. However, micro stutters were quite prominent when interacting with the UI, which may be a result of the chipset's limitations. Additionally, the device does not support 5G connectivity, making it less future-proof compared to its competitors. The performance was adequate for everyday tasks like browsing, emailing, and social media scrolling, but it did show signs of strain during more demanding activities. The Exynos 850 may not be the strongest contender in this segment when it comes to raw performance, but it still manages to keep up with the expectations at this price point. One area where the Exynos 850 excels is its ability to handle power consumption. The device's large 6000mAh battery provides impressive battery life, easily lasting two days with moderate usage that includes texting, calling, and social media scrolling. However, consuming a lot of video content may push the battery life slightly longer than a day. Overall, while the Exynos 850 may not be the most powerful processor on offer, it still delivers decent performance for the price. The Galaxy F13's large battery, ad-free UI, and impressive camera capabilities make up for its limitations in terms of raw performance.
Pros
1. Good display
2. Long battery life
3. Impressive camera performance
4. Ad-free UI
5. Great battery charging time
Cons
1. Underwhelming peak brightness
2. Slow ambient light sensor
3. Limited performance
4. No stabilization in video recording
5. Older Exynos 850 chipset