Samsung Galaxy A13 5G (S136DL) Tracfone Review

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Specs, Features and Review

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Specs, Features and Review

One of the cheapest 5G capable devices from Tracfone, the Galaxy A13 5G also features  a 6.5" screen, triple rear camera, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. 

To make the most of Tracfone's 5G network access, consumers will need phones that are compatible with the updated frequencies and speeds. And Samsung has been releasing a number of compatible devices, including the Galaxy A32 5G last year, and recently the A53 5G. But the A13 5G is the first device that features a sub $200 price.

The A13 is the successor of last year's A12, which was a solid performing budget device. But the big news is the 5G capability on the A13. Until now, most 5G capable phones for Tracfone (or even unlocked) have been outside the price range of most users..

Let's get straight to our pro's and con's for the A13.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Quick Facts

What we Like:
-5G capable for under $200
-Large battery and 15W fast charging
-Fast screen refresh rate
-Good internal performance

What we Don't Like:
-Screen resolution is just 720p
-No water or dust protection mentioned
-Mediocre camera

Many of the features on the A13 are a great improvement over the previous model including the processor, internal storage, RAM, screen refresh rate and 5G capability.

Let's get to the full list of features and specs.

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G (S136DL) Features and Specs

Below are the features followed by the technical specs

• Android 11 (upgrade to Android 12 likely)
• 5G (Verizon)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
• Bluetooth 5
• Alarm Clock
• GPS
• MP3 Player
• Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
• Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting
• SMS/MMS
• USB Charger (USB Type-C 2.0)
• Compatible with Samsung Gear Smartwatches
• Facial recognition for unlocking
• Fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Technical Specs
Size: 6.48 x 3.01 x 0.35 in (6.88 oz)
Camera: Triple rear camera 50+2+2MP and 5MP front camera
Screen: 6.5" HD PLS IPS display (720x1600 resolution)
Processor: Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) MediaTek Dimensity 700 

Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB internal storage, supports up to 512 GB MicroSD Card
Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (non-removable) with talk time up to 34 hrs, standby 16 days

Many consumers are familiar with the Samsung brand as they are a global manufacture and the largest consumer electronics maker (by revenue) in the world. They are based in South Korea and have a broad lineup of smartphones with their high end device, like the Samsung Galaxy S22, a contender for some of the best phones in the world.

The Galaxy A13 5G does get some of the classic design elements of Samsung phones with a familiar layout for the charging and headphone ports and it also features Samsung's UI changes. But a budget phone will have to cut some corners, and we will dive into that below.

Now let's get into the details with our review of the A13.

Tracfone Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Review

Touchscreen

Adequate is the best way to describe the 6.5" PLS-LCD screen on the A13. It is not a Super AMOLED screen (like the one on the A53 5G), but it offers a 720x1600 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. The screen features 270 ppi and a 20:9 ratio. 

In general, this screen is fairly similar to many phones in this price range. It is not the brightest, especially compared to more expensive models, but gets the job done. We would have liked to see higher resolution, but at this price point it is hard to expect it. 

Internal Performance - Processor, RAM and Storage

The MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor is a fast mid-range processor with 5G capability. It features two fast cores, and six power efficient cores. It is a very capable budget to mid-range processor and we're impressed it is included with the A13 at this price.

To complement the processor, the Tracfone Galaxy A13 also has 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage with additional external storage via a microSD card. 

The processor and 5G capability might be one of the most impressive features on the A13 and is more than capable for everyday tasks and gaming. While it is not a top of the line processor, it is a big step up from the MediaTek Processors in the A12, and in several 2022 Motorola Moto G devices (Moto G Power and Stylus). 

Overall the perform acing of the A13 is an improvement over the previous model, and a step up from many similarly priced smartphones currently available. 

Camera

The main camera on the triple rear shooter setup is a 50MP lens that offers good results in normal lighting. There is also a 2MP macro camera, and 2MP depth sensor for portrait style photos. Images from the main camera are adequate for most uses, and don't really standout compared to other phones at this level. Low light and night-time shooting situations may cause the camera to struggle. 

The selfie camera is nothing inspiring, with just 5MP it captures adequate images. Both the front and rear cameras are capable of 1080p at 30fps video recording.

For better photos, check out our list of camera phone photo tips.

Battery Life

Users can expect all day battery life from the A13 thanks to the 5,000 mAh battery and efficient processor. With light use, this device could easily last up to 2 days on a single charge. 

It does come with 15W fast charging, but be aware that it might not come with a charging block as Samsung has cut that from this year's models. 

Android OS

The A13 5G comes with Android 11 out of the box which includes some great features such as improved permissions controls and built in screen recording.  The 13 is expected to get Android 12 very soon, and Samsung has promised several security and OS updates in the future. How that will work with a Tracfone branded device is not quite clear.

Grab the best apps for Tracfone users in our full list.

Design

At this price point, plastic is the primary material and the Galaxy A13 5G is no exception. It offers a pretty similar design experience to the previous model the A12, with moderate bezels on the front and a tear-drop style selfie camera. The dual power button and fingerprint reader is quite nice and snappy, and the A13 also includes a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G covers all the basics for a good, cheap smartphone. The processor, RAM and storage are all a solid combination that provide more than enough performance for most Tracfone users. The screen and cameras are nothing exciting, but adequate and on par with other devices in this price range. 

The major feature for the A13 is the 5G capability. And while 5G networks are still somewhat limited, it does help future proof this phone while also allowing users in certain areas to take advantage.

Samsung's newly released Galaxy A23 5G may be a very attractive option for those considering the A13. The A23 comes with a far superior screen with much higher resolution, features a more powerful processor, and improved cameras. And all of that for just $50 more than the retail price of the A13.

Bottom line - for the price of under $200 from Tracfone - the A13 5G is hard to beat. But for a little more money, there are several other interesting option that offer more, especially the A23 5G (see more options below).

A13 5G Vs A03s

The Samsung Galaxy A03s is the ultra-budget option from Tracfone and shares the same size screen and battery with the A13. But the A03s has less RAM (3GB), less storage (32GB), less powerful processor, less megapixels on the rear camera, and no 5G access. 

The Galaxy A03s is under $100, and sometimes closer to $50, but we would only suggest it to users who hardly do more than talk or text with their phone, and maybe a few social media apps. The Galaxy A13 5G is far more capable for about $100 more (although we've already seen the A13 for just $100 on Amazon Prime Day).

A13 5G Vs A53 5G

Tracfone just released the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G and it comes at a surprisingly reasonable price of under $300. At that price you get quite a few more features. For users that like Samsung, and like plenty of internal storage and a powerful processor, the A53 5G may be worth spending the extra money on. It has a 120Hz Super AMOLED 6.5" screen, Android 12, quad-rear camera, IP\67 waterproof rating, and improved performance. 

There will always be something better, the question is, is it worth it? For some, the added features at just about $100 more for the A53 5G will certainly be worth it. But, if you are not a power user, the A13 should check all the required boxes.

A13 5G Vs Moto G Power (2022)

The Moto G Power 2022 shares a number of similar features with the A13 such as RAM, storage, screen size, Android OS and price. But the A13 comes with a much more powerful processor that also has 5G capability. The 2022 Power has been somewhat lackluster, and the A13 5G would likely be a better buy for most users.

Motorola devices do come with a much cleaner OS, where as Samsung adds in their own UI, so for those that prefer to avoid excess apps and software changes, Motorola is still a good option (just maybe consider some of their other smartphones).

That's it for our review of the A13 5G. It is an impressive phone for the price, and below are the best shopping options to find it for the lowest prices.

Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G

Get the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G on eBay

Find the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G on the Tracfone Website

Get the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G on Amazon

The best deals are usually with an airtime bundle included. The lowest price we've seen for the A13 was $99 on Amazon prime day. 

Samsung Galaxy A13 User Manual and Devices Tutorials

Get the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G User Manual to learn more about the device.

View the Device tutorials to see how to do various actions on the phone.

That concludes our review of the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts or questions. 

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