Smartphone for €150: Forum warns Samsung A13 is a mistake

Smartphone for €150: The Samsung A13 no one recommended

A €150 budget, four basic uses—GPS, Telegram, WhatsApp, calls, and NFC payments—and one crucial requirement: long battery life and no lagging. This consumer inquiry turns into a heated debate between brands, operating systems, and retail staff. The initial request included a difficult condition: a non-Chinese brand. This proved to be the main issue, as the consensus was that such a requirement is almost a fantasy today.

The first recommendation was a low-to-mid-range Xiaomi Redmi, argued to be reliable and offering good value, though prices have risen recently. From there, the options shifted between a 2020 TCL 10 Plus—6 GB RAM and 256 GB for €143 with a coupon—a Motorola Moto e40 for €120–€140, and a Samsung Galaxy A22 5G for €190. Each proposal was immediately met with technical rebuttals regarding insufficient RAM, inferior processors, or screens that didn't match the advertised specs.

Proximity sensor issues and software degradation

The thread provides real-world usage experiences that outweigh any spec sheet. One Xiaomi Mi Note 10 owner, after two and a half years, describes a phone with great battery life and photos but an unbearable flaw: the virtual proximity sensor. The screen fails to turn off when held to the ear, cutting off calls and ruining voice messages. Their solution is to always use Bluetooth headphones. Given this, they won't buy that brand again.

Another case, a Redmi Note 10 Pro, points toward software issues: browser glitches, apps failing to open, and mediocre music playback. The diagnosis is that the problem lies in the custom software skin rather than the hardware, noting that a mid-range Samsung performed better. The final conclusion is drastic: retrieving an old iPhone from a drawer to switch to iOS for personal use.

Processor, RAM, and storage: where the budget fails

The discussion turns to the components that determine if a €150 phone will last two years. One user reports that MediaTek chips with 2 GB of RAM caused system hangs, reboots, and poor GPS performance; switching to a Snapdragon changed everything. Counter-arguments suggest that these processors are often used in cheaper devices with poor quality control and unoptimized firmware, meaning the fault lies with the whole package, not just the chip. The brand also faces criticism for poor update support and GPS connectivity issues when using data or Bluetooth.

Storage is another sub-topic. Whether it is worth paying for 128 GB instead of 64 GB is answered practically: if the phone isn't filled with high-res photos and videos, 64 GB is enough, especially with a microSD card. One user notes that even with a 64 GB device at only 37% capacity, an "Other" folder fills up automatically.

The fine print: updates, Google services, and second-hand buying

One maintenance tip suggests disabling automatic system and app updates on low-end devices to prevent battery drain and performance drops. Regarding the market, it is noted that some Chinese manufacturers do not include WhatsApp or Chrome by default, meaning Western apps and keyboards might perform poorly without alternatives.

The second-hand market warrants its own discussion. There are mentions of buying sealed devices without invoices on second-hand platforms, sparking suspicions of stolen goods or tax evasion. The formal alternative is buying from specialized resellers offering used Huawei phones with a two-year warranty. However, a warning is issued regarding Huawei: as they lack Google services, buying one today carries the risk of lacking spare parts in technical service during the warranty period.

The outcome: a Samsung A13 and a wave of criticism

The buyer concludes with a decision: a blue Samsung A13, 4G, 64 GB. The reaction is immediate. It is compared to the Redmi 10C, which at the same price offers 25% more RAM, double the storage, and double the CPU performance. The figures are blunt: 3 GB of RAM and 117,300 Antutu points for the chosen model, labeled a bad purchase. The underlying accusation is that the buyer listened to a salesperson instead of comparing specs.

Experience provides the final word: a Redmi Note 8 owner claims their two-year-old device outperforms the Samsung and predicts that after two updates, lag and frequent reboots will occur as the system and pre-installed software consume the 2 GB of RAM. The question remains: how much of this brand war is technical analysis and how much is simple ecosystem tribalism?