With a large 6.6-inch OLED screen, 5,000mAh battery, and a sound support policy that will ensure it receives security upgrades for the foreseeable future, it is attractively priced at $400. That is a decent offer.
It sits between the Galaxy A32 5G and the Galaxy A52 5G in the context of Samsung’s Galaxy A lineup, two excellent choices in their respective price ranges. In comparison to the A42 5G, the $499 A52 5G has a few additional high-end features like a quick refresh screen and an IP67 waterproof rating. The less expensive A32 5G has an LCD rather than an OLED and costs $279.
Screen, battery, and performance of the Samsung A42 5G
A sizable 6.6-inch 720p OLED screen is provided by the Galaxy A42 5G. If you look closely at the photographs, you may see some pixelation because there isn’t a lot of resolution spread across a sizable display. Even with brightness set to maximum, I had trouble seeing the screen outside, even if it becomes bright enough for inside use. The display is a touch lackluster overall, although the OLED panel has good contrast compared to an LCD (what you’d get in a less priced device like the A32 5G).
The A42 5G has an in-display fingerprint sensor that can be used for biometric unlocking, and it’s one of the better ones in this low-to-midrange price range I’ve seen so far. It’s responsive and only occasionally finicky. Given how frequently we unlock our devices each day, budget phones frequently have less accurate sensors that necessitate repeated scans more frequently.
For general use, the A42 5G’s Snapdragon 750 engine and 4GB of RAM (there’s also a respectable 128GB of storage, and it’s extendable through MicroSD) deliver satisfactory performance. The only sluggishness I experienced was when opening the camera app and when using more computationally demanding camera modes like portrait mode.
Camera Samsung A42 5G
The A42 5G has a 48-megapixel main back camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, all of which are standard for the midrange class. A 13-megapixel selfie camera is also present on the front. Although the US version of the phone does not have the 5-megapixel macro and 5-megapixel depth sensors that were sold in the UK and Europe, we are not significantly losing out by doing so.
With the exception of the Pixel phones in this price range, photos taken in extremely low light exhibit a lot of blurred detail because of noise reduction, but that’s not something we’d anticipate a midrange handset to excel at. Overall, the A42 5G’s camera capabilities match those other devices in its class. Although the A52 5G, which costs a little more, has a stabilized main camera that produces sharper images in low light and somewhat better low-light performance overall, the A42 holds its own against most of its competitors in the $400 price range.
The A32 5G is a good substitute if you want to save some money and costs $280. Together with identical camera capabilities, a sizable battery, and 5G compatibility that’s prepared for impending network upgrades from Verizon and AT&T, you’ll receive the same security support lifespan as the A42 5G. Although its LCD display isn’t as attractive to look at as the A42 5G’s OLED and its processor is a little less reliable, if these factors aren’t important to you, you might as well save a little money and choose the less expensive option.
Verizon and Visible-optimized
Verizon’s 5G network is suited for use with the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G. This indicates that it has connectivity for mmWave, mid-band 5G, and LTE. Nevertheless, C-band support is absent.
I used Visible, a Verizon-powered app, to test the phone in various Chicago neighborhoods. My test speeds averaged 240 Mbps down and 71 Mbps up, which is reliable and consistent.
Great call quality. The maximum earpiece volume is 87dB, which is loud enough to be heard on a crowded street. Test calls were clear and crisp, and noise cancellation also performed well.
Keep Using Your DSLR
The Galaxy A42 does not have any of Samsung’s top-tier smartphone cameras, despite the fact that they are among the best on the market. An alternative is a rear stack that includes a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultrawide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP depth sensor for better depth of field and portrait mode. The front-facing camera sports an f/2.2 aperture and 20MP resolution.
The Galaxy A32’s Galaxy A32’s has a similar rear camera, so if it sounds familiar, it is. The camera modules are similar, with the exception of a 5MP macro sensor on the less priced Galaxy A32. It’s a decent stack for a $279.99 phone like the Galaxy A32, but it pales in comparison to what you can have for $400 with the A42.
In suitable light, the Galaxy A42’s primary lens produces respectable images. Test images taken in daylight offer good depth of field and clear foreground detail. The majority of my test shots, however, had blown-out colors and faint background detail.
With a few significant exceptions, daylight test images taken with the ultrawide lens convey a similar message. Some of my test images lack clear background features due to extremely severe noise reduction. Many photos also contain substantial distortion.
Lack of Electricity
The Galaxy A42 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor and 4GB of Memory. It comes with 128GB of storage, of which 110GB is immediately usable. The microSD slot allows you to add up to 1TB of storage.
Conclusion
Samsung’s Galaxy A-series portfolio improves a little bit each year, but there is always a strange outlier. That is the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G this year. It does provide millimeter-wave 5G, but that does not make up for its flaws. The $400 Galaxy A42 5G doesn’t stand out from the competition and isn’t a good bargain due to its slow performance, poor cameras, and low-res display. The Google Pixel 5a With 5G, which costs $50 more, is significantly better thanks to its sharper display, clearer cameras, and improved software, taking home our Editors’ Choice award for midrange phones. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is our Editors’ Choice winner for inexpensive devices and provides far greater value than the A42 if you’re looking to spend less.
