Phone (3a) vs 13R
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 2 points overall, so it depends on you: keep phones for years → Phone (3a) (supported until Mar 2031); want maximum speed → 13R (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3).
Value Score: Phone (3a) 75 · 13R 77 — methodology
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
The 13R's screen is the better one — 6.78-inch ltpo 4.1 amoled proxdr, 2780×1264 (450 ppi), 1–120hz, up to 4500 nits peak.
The 13R's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is simply the faster chip.
Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.
6,000mAh vs 5,000mAh — the 13R lasts longer between charges.
Both phones' support windows end around the same time.
Pound for pound, these two are equally good deals.
Full spec table
| Spec | Phone (3a) | 13R |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $349 | $549 |
| Display | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak | 6.78-inch LTPO 4.1 AMOLED ProXDR, 2780×1264 (450 ppi), 1–120Hz, up to 4500 nits peak |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 6,000 mAh |
| Charging | 50W wired, no wireless | 80W SUPERVOOC wired (55W in North America), no wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 50MP telephoto 2x, 8MP ultra-wide | 50MP main, 50MP telephoto 2x, 8MP ultra-wide |
| Dimensions | 163.52 × 77.50 × 8.35 mm | 161.7 × 75.8 × 8.0 mm |
| Weight | 201 g | 206 g |
| Water resistance | IP64 | IP65 |
| Supported until | Mar 2031 | Jan 2031 |
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.