Tech Blog #202 | Budget Rivals : Redmi Falls Behind for a Samsung...

Recently I was tasked to buy a smartphone for @dasuni 's father. Looking back at the market in recent years, it is so easy to decide to go for a Redmi device as they present great Value for Money in the budget range. But this year, it's not like that. Let's go for the comparison and clarify the decision I made.

Xiaomi's budget smartphones released in 2024, such as the Redmi A3 and Redmi 13C, have received criticism for their value-for-money proposition compared to competitors like Samsung. Among these, the Samsung Galaxy A06 stands out as a compelling option in the budget segment, offering superior specifications at a competitive price. Below is a detailed comparison of these devices across various specifications.

The Samsung Galaxy A06 features a sleek design with a thickness of 8 mm and weighs 189 g, making it lighter than the Redmi 13C, which measures 8.1 mm thickness and weighs 192 g. The Redmi A3 is slightly bulkier at 8.3 mm thickness and weighs 193 g. All three devices utilize plastic materials typical for budget phones, but the Galaxy A06's design is noted for its refined aesthetics with a square build, just like its flagships. Each phone includes a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for security, though the overall build quality of the Galaxy A06 is perceived to be superior.

The Galaxy A06 sports a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 720p, while the Redmi A3 features a slightly smaller 6.71-inch display with a resolution of 720p, and the Redmi 13C has a similar size but with a refresh rate of 90Hz, enhancing fluidity during interactions. The Galaxy A06 has a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, which may affect user experience during scrolling or gaming compared to the other two models. But with bloatware-free One UI, Samsung Galaxy A06 could be ahead in long term use.

The Samsung Galaxy A06 and the Redmi 13C are powered by the more efficient MediaTek Helio G85, offering better performance than the Helio G36 in Redmi A3. The Galaxy A06 comes with options of 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, while the Redmi A3 offers variants of 3GB RAM with 64GB storage or 4GB RAM with 128GB storage, making both Xiaomi models less capable for multitasking compared to Samsung's offering.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Galaxy A06 features a dual-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor and a secondary 2 MP depth sensor, significantly outperforming the dual-camera system in the Redmi A3 that includes an 8 MP primary sensor. The Redmi 13C also lags behind with its own camera setup but offers versatility through additional sensors, yet neither can match the photographic capabilities of Samsung's offering which comes from the software end.

All three devices feature robust 5000 mAh batteries, ensuring longevity throughout daily use. However, charging speeds vary: the Galaxy A06 supports up to 25W fast charging, while the Redmi 13C supports up to 18W, and the Redmi A3 is limited to just 10W, which could impact convenience during quick top-ups. This is surprising when comparing with the battle in charging speeds in Flagship section. The thing is Samsung won't ship chargers now. So, it has to be bought separately.

The Samsung Galaxy A06 runs on Android 14 out of the box, while both Xiaomi models operate on Android 13. Samsung's commitment to software updates typically ensures longer support periods compared to Xiaomi's offerings. Samsung has promised 2 years of Android Updates which is great in this price point. Both brands include AI features that enhance camera performance and user experience, but Samsung's implementation is often regarded as more sophisticated.

The pricing for these devices varies significantly; the Galaxy A06 is priced around 32K, while the Redmi A3 starts lower at 27K and the Redmi 13C at 36K. While Xiaomi's budget offerings provided decent value for basic usage in previous, they may not meet expectations when compared directly to Samsung's Galaxy A06 in this year which delivers superior specifications at a competitive price point. That's why I went for a Samsung galaxy A06.