The last few years have seen Samsung make some good decisions, from focusing on regular security updates to coming up with phones across price points. The Samsung playbook, if we may call it that, is now being followed by other Android brands. Further, there has been little in way of competition as far as display panels go. And this is not just in the mid-segment and flagship categories, the change is clearly visible even in entry-level phones, like the Galaxy M13 5G.
Colours maintain its natural tone
There are a few things on the phone that will offer Redmi and Realme competition. Perhaps the most impressive feature on this budget phone is the inclusion of a 50MP main snapper, which is a rarity. Given the pricing, it’s a fast camera and captures sharp enough photographs in daylight while indoor shots under uneven lighting is good enough for most people. One has to remember that this is not a Rs 20,000 phone and Samsung had to cut corners to keep the specs within a budget. So, what you don’t get is an ultra-wide snapper, which is acceptable in this case because the 50MP shots are better than on most phones.
The camera can handle indoor photography under poor lighting
There is a sizeable crowd that wants a phone that will be used for web browsing, social media needs, streaming on YouTube for a few minutes and perhaps a bit of photography. Thus, the 50MP camera. Needless to say, video is capped at FHD (30fps). While taking selfies, make sure you have the portrait mode on because it gives better skin tones as well as a nice background blur.
The phone has a 6.5-inch HD+ display (PLS LCD) but with 90Hz refresh rate, which does add to the experience, making up for the entry-level processor. Watching videos on YouTube is perfectly fine and the audio quality is loud enough.
The main 50MP camera is sharp
Since Samsung wants to offer good 5G experience when it launches, there is the power-efficient 7nm Dimensity 700 octa-core processor with integrated 5G connectivity. It’s a processor that can power through most tasks and there is support for 11 5G bands. Remember, don’t consider a new phone simply for 5G because the technology is still months away.
Finally, the feature that matters to a lot of people — battery life (with 15W fast-charging). The 5,000mAh battery will surely make the phone stay alive for 1.5-2 days because the processor is not power hungry and the display is power efficient. We suggest you keep the 90Hz adaptive refresh rate on for a better experience.
Should you buy it?
A good use-case scenario will be a person who wants a phone for browsing and messaging needs with some extra features thrown in or a person who is looking for a secondary device. I know many people who don’t want to splurge on smartphones and simply consider them utility devices. And that’s what Samsung Galaxy M13 5G is — a budget-friendly phone that punches above its weight.
At a glance
Device: Samsung Galaxy M13 5G
Price: Upwards of Rs 13,999 (4GB+64GB)
High notes
- Very good battery life
- Audio is loud enough
- The main 50MP camera is sharp
- 90Hz display refresh rate
- Auto data switching is present