Samsung sells the Galaxy A13 in both 5G and 4G versions in the U.S., and network technology isn't the only difference between the two phones.

The Galaxy A13 5G and Galaxy A13 4G are among the two cheapest Samsung smartphones in the U.S., but despite their similar names, the two phones are quite different. The Galaxy A12 was the best-selling Android smartphone in 2021, but supported only 4G networks. It's succeeded by the Galaxy A13, which Samsung sells in both 5G and 4G versions. Here's how they compare.

The Galaxy A13 5G and the Galaxy A13 4G may look identical from the front, but there are some differences. While both phones have a flat Infinity-V display, their screen sizes are not the same. The more glaring difference is at the back, where the Galaxy A13 5G has a triple camera array, compared to the quad-camera setup on the 4G version. Apart from these differences, the design is the same. Both phones are made of plastic and do not have dust or water resistance. The Galaxy A13 5G is available in Black and Green colors in the U.S., while the Galaxy A13 4G is sold only in Black.

Galaxy A13 5G Vs. 4G: Display, Performance, & Cameras

The Galaxy A13 4G has a larger 6.6-inch LCD display compared to the 6.5-inch panel of the 5G model. It is also sharper with a resolution of 2,408 × 1,080, compared to the A13 5G which has a resolution of 1,600 × 720. Interestingly, the 5G version has a 90Hz high refresh rate, while the 4G model sticks to a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Samsung ships the 5G model with a Dimensity 700 processor, a 7nm chip with two Cortex-A76 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores. This is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. In contrast, the 4G version has an Exynos 850 processor with eight Cortex-A55 cores, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. Both phones have an SD card slot for adding up to 1TB of extra storage.

A 50MP sensor is the primary camera on the back of both phones. There is also a 2MP depth camera and a 2MP macro camera. The Galaxy A13 4G gets an additional 5MP ultra-wide camera with a 123-degree field of view. It also has a higher-resolution 8MP front-facing camera, while the Galaxy A13 5G settles for a 5MP sensor. Both phones have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Galaxy A13 5G Vs. 4G: Battery, Software, & Price

Samsung has also been generous with the battery capacity as it ships both phones with a 5,000mAh cell and support for 15W fast wired charging. Unsurprisingly, a charger isn't included in the box. On the software side, the Galaxy A13 5G shipped with Android 11 out of the box, while the Galaxy A13 4G shipped with Android 12. Samsung has promised two OS upgrades and four years of security updates for both smartphones. The smartphones have received the Android 13 update, and while the 4G variant should get Android 14, the 5G version has probably reached the end of the road for OS updates.

Priced at $189, the Galaxy A13 4G offers a sharper display and better cameras.The $249 Galaxy A13 5G, which supports sub-6GHz 5G networks, has a more powerful processor, more RAM and storage, and a 90Hz display. The choice of which to buy will depend on a user's needs. Those who don't require 5G connectivity are better off buying the Galaxy A13 4G as it offers more value for a lower price. If 5G connectivity and performance are important, however, the Galaxy A13 5G is the better option.

How Do You Know If Your Galaxy A13 Is 5G Or 4G?

For those who have the Galaxy A13, it might not be immediately clear if the smartphone is the 5G or 4G model. Provided users can confirm they are indeed using the Galaxy A13, the easiest way to tell the difference between the two phones is by checking the number of rear cameras. The Galaxy A13 4G has four rear cameras (the fourth sensor is placed above the LED flash), while the Galaxy A13 5G has three rear cameras.

Another way to tell the difference between the two phones is to check the network indicator at the top of the status bar. If it says 5G, the phone is the Galaxy A13 5G. If the network indicator doesn't appear, make sure Wi-Fi is turned off and check again. There are times when a 5G phone might connect to a 4G network, and if only a 4G indicator shows up, there's another way to confirm 5G connectivity. Open Settings on the phone, tap 'Wi-Fi & Network,' then 'SIM & network,' and select 'Preferred network type.' If 5G is mentioned in the list of supported networks, the phone is the Galaxy A13 5G. If only 3G or 4G are mentioned in the list, it's the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G.

Source: Samsung 1, 2