Galaxy A57’s newness tips the balance against the still-capable iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 still holds its own on speed and video, but at a similar price the Galaxy A57 offers a new battery, a 120Hz display and a longer support window.

In 2026, the iPhone 13 still has enough strengths to remain relevant, but it is no longer the straightforward choice it once was. Canaltech’s comparison says the older Apple handset can still compete on speed and camera quality, yet its age changes the buying equation because it is now typically sold only as a used or refurbished device, while the Galaxy A57 is available new at a similar price. That difference matters as much as the spec sheet.

At around R$1,700 to R$1,900, the two phones sit in the same price band in Brazil, but they do not offer the same level of certainty. Canaltech notes that a refurbished phone may have been inspected or repaired, but that does not automatically mean a new battery, original parts or a clean maintenance history. By contrast, the Galaxy A57 is a fresh retail purchase, which gives buyers greater protection over battery condition, warranty and provenance.

Performance is one of the areas where the iPhone 13 still looks impressive. Canaltech’s benchmark testing shows Apple’s A15 Bionic still ahead in Geekbench 6, especially in single-core work and graphics processing, while NanoReview’s figures put the iPhone slightly ahead overall in one set of AnTuTu results. Those numbers do not make the iPhone a universal winner, particularly because Android and iOS benchmark methods are not identical, but they do show that the handset is still far from sluggish. Apple’s official specifications also confirm the iPhone 13’s A15 chip and its camera and video capabilities.

The camera debate is more nuanced. Samsung has given the A57 a more modern-looking rear array, with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 5-megapixel macro unit. Canaltech found that the Samsung phone performs well in daylight and remains acceptable at night, but the iPhone 13 still has the edge in overall image quality and, more clearly, in video. Apple says the iPhone 13 records 4K video at up to 60 frames per second on both rear and front cameras, supports HDR video with Dolby Vision, and includes sensor-shift optical image stabilisation on the main camera.

The display is where the Galaxy A57 most clearly feels like the newer device. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED panel runs at up to 120Hz, which makes scrolling and animations look smoother than on the iPhone 13’s 6.1-inch OLED screen, limited to 60Hz. The Samsung phone also gives users a larger viewing area and higher brightness, while the iPhone counters with higher pixel density and Dolby Vision support. For anyone buying in 2026, the faster refresh rate on the A57 will feel more contemporary in daily use.

Battery life is another point in Samsung’s favour. The A57 has a 5,000mAh cell and 45W wired charging, while the iPhone 13 uses a 3,227mAh battery and 20W charging. Canaltech says both devices delivered solid endurance in testing, but the iPhone’s real-world condition depends heavily on how much its battery has degraded over five years of use. Samsung’s official announcement also confirms a lengthy software commitment for the A57, with up to six generations of Android and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates. That gives the newer model a much longer remaining support window.

The construction and feature set are close, but they point to different priorities. Both phones use glass and metal and carry IP68 water and dust resistance. The Galaxy A57 has USB-C and an under-display fingerprint reader, while the iPhone 13 keeps Lightning and Face ID. Apple’s device still offers MagSafe and wireless charging, features absent from Samsung’s model. Even so, Canaltech’s conclusion is clear: for most buyers, the Galaxy A57 is the more rational purchase in 2026 because it is new, better suited to long-term ownership and less dependent on the risks attached to second-hand hardware.