Samsung Galaxy A42 Review, Pros and Cons – Korean company Samsung is preparing to incorporate a new smartphone called Samsung Galaxy A42 5G into its 5G line, which is considered the most affordable 5G enabled device from Samsung. In fact, this phone will undoubtedly benefit customers on a tight budget, but still looking for a 5G enabled device.
One more thing to note here is its three-tone textured back panel, which makes this phone a bit extraordinary compared to the others. The Galaxy A42 5G will replace the Galaxy A51 5G previously launched in terms of affordability. Let’s see a detailed review of the Galaxy A42 5G.
Table of Contents
Samsung Galaxy A42 Review
Highlights
- The 48MP quad-camera module is completely worth it in this price range.
- The device has OneUI 2.5 UI based on Android 10 ready to use, which has some important tweaks from its previous generation.
- Internal 5G capability opens up new opportunities and eliminates old speed limits.
- It is good to see a super AMOLED display with an optical fingerprint reader under the display for faster unlocking.
- The Galaxy A42 draws power from a huge 5000mAh battery with fast charging.
Design and Display
The Galaxy A42 boasts a typical design that comprises a very small U-style notch, while on the back there is a very unique three-tone texture. The bezels on the edges are really thin, taking the viewing experience to another level. On the other hand, the modern square plate of the camera is like an icing on the cake, which offers a premium style to the device.
Moving on to the screen part, Samsung did very well by providing its own 6.6 inches FHD+ super AMOLED panel, as technology enthusiasts nowadays prefer AMOLED over IPS, as it offers a good battery backup as well as decent colors and contrast. At the moment, there is no clarification about the screen saver.
Memory and Internals
As far as the processor is concerned, the Galaxy A42 5G unleashes its power with the help of the modern Qualcomm 600 series Snapdragon 690 Soc. In addition, the octa-core 690 chipset based on the 8nm architecture is considerably improved in terms of GPU, as well as overall performance.
Under the hood, the software department integrates the latest OneUI 2.5 based on Android 10 which has certain improvements and new features from its predecessor, such as enhanced WiFi, Samsung Dex, camera settings, and more. In addition, OneUI is well optimized, clean, and ad-free. In addition, the storage unit can be disappointing for most users, as it only carries a single variant with a mere 4GB of RAM, which is quite unexpected considering the launch time and price range.
However, Samsung should have gone with at least 6GB of RAM, as for games 6GB of RAM is a must today. In addition, the 4 GB RAM is coupled with an internal 128 GB UFS-type storage for faster data transfer on and off the device. If you need more storage space, the company also took care of that by extending the storage using an external SD card (up to 512 GB).
Camera
Moving on, a quad-camera module composed of a square plate looks quite attractive to camera addicts. There are basically four types of sensors – a 48 MP primary sensor to capture high-resolution images in great detail, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens that helps to include more details in the image, and two 5 MP sensors for two different purposes – one is a macro lens to take pictures of small insects and tiny objects and the other brings a bokeh effect to the frame, that is, a depth sensor.
Talking about camera functions, we have 4K video recording, live focus, and other normal features as we arrive at each mid-range smartphone. At the same time, the 20MP carved U-style camera leaves no stone unturned in terms of taking some stunning and beautiful selfies, even in low light. In addition, you can also record some memorable videos in 1080p with your loved ones and not only this facial unlock feature is also facilitated by this camera.
Battery and Others
The Galaxy A42 5G can provide a reasonable battery backup, even after playing some heavy games, as it houses a 5000mAh Li-Po battery. Thanks to the fast charging provided, it can definitely save you a lot of time compared to normal charging speed.
For advanced security, the company has installed an optical fingerprint reader on the screen so that you are always safe, as facial unlocking is not so safe. The expected price is around $ 440 (Rs 32,200), which makes it the most affordable 5G-enabled device in the Samsung catalog.
Samsung Galaxy A42 Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of Samsung Galaxy A42 phone.
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Announced | September 2020 |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, and frame |
| Weight | 193 g |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM |
| Size | 6.6 inches |
| Display | Super AMOLED touchscreen 20:9 ratio ~266 ppi density 60Hz |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels |
| OS | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Chipset | 8 nm – Snapdragon 750 5G |
| CPU | Octa-core 2x 2.2 GHz Kryo 560 6x 1.78 GHz Kryo 560 |
| GPU | Adreno 619 |
| Card slot | Yes (uses shared SIM slot) |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB, 8GB |
| Internal | 128GB UFS 2.1 |
| Camera | 48MP (wide) 8MP (ultrawide) 5MP (macro) 5MP (depth) LED flash, panorama, HDR 4K@30fps |
| Selfie | 20MP (wide) HDR 1080@30fps |
| 3.5 mm jack | Yes |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi Direct hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 with A2DP / LE |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| Sensors | Under Display Fingerprint, accelerometer gyro, proximity, and compass |
| Battery | Li-Ion 5000 mAh battery Fast charging 15W |
| Colors | Black, White, Grey |
| Expected Price | $ 400 (Rs 30,000) |
Samsung Galaxy A42 Pros and Cons
Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of Samsung Galaxy A42 phone.
Pros
- The most affordable 5G phone from Samsung.
- Exclusive rear panel with three-tone design.
- The latest OneUI 2.5 on board.
- Decent image photo and video quality with high resolution.
- Huge 5000mAh battery with fast charging.
Cons
- No wireless charging.
- Single RAM and single storage variant.
- Without any Gorilla Glass protection.
- Average processing power with Snapdragon 690
- The heating problem in heavy uses
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G replaces the model A51 5G from being the most affordable 5G device from Samsung and will also help anyone who wants to buy cheaper 5G phones with brand value. In addition, it has some decent settings that every mobile user prefers, like an AMOLED screen for vivid visuals, bigger battery for longer backup, 5G connectivity, and more. It will be the best option if you want a future-ready phone at an affordable price.
