GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.5m
109k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena Team, 24 December 2020

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review

  • Comments (110)
  • User reviews
  • Galaxy A42 5G
  • 4.0

1. Introduction, specs, unboxing
  1. 1. Introduction, specs, unboxing
  2. 2. Design, build quality, handling
  3. 3. Lab tests - display, battery life, charging speed, speaker
  4. 4. Software and performance
  5. 5. Camera, photo and video quality
  6. 6. Alternatives, verdict, pros and cons
  7.  
  8. Samsung Galaxy A42 5G specification
  9. User opinions and reviews
  10. Review comments (110)

Samsung Android

Pricing
These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales.

128GB 4GB RAM $ 399.99 $ 399.99
128GB 6GB RAM $ 304.45 € 334.48
Show all prices

Introduction

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is one very odd smartphone. It was touted as the cheapest 5G phone and teased for weeks before its complete specs were finally outed. And it turned out the A42 has grown quite bigger since its compact A40 and A41 predecessors. Not only that but this new Galaxy A42 5G is also shaping to be an excellent gaming device with a pretty large battery at that. Yes, the Galaxy A42 5G is odd, but in a good way.

The Galaxy A42 5G doesn't stray from the beautiful design we saw on the Galaxy A41 and comes with an even more glamorous Prism Dot look. But it is now bigger as Samsung opted for a 6.6" Super AMOLED screen this time. Larger it may be, but the resolution has dropped to HD+, which may get some instant "ew", but bear with us for a moment.

The latest mid-range Galaxy is powered by the 5G-capable Snapdragon 750 chip, which is a real powerhouse. And with that oomph under that HD+ display, we are looking at flagship-grade performance in gaming.

Then there is the beefy 5,000mAh battery, which can keep those gaming sessions for quite some time. The older A41 and A40 aced out battery life test with considerably smaller batteries, so we have high expectations for this one.

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review

The Galaxy A42 5G borrows the Galaxy A41 camera setup and adds an additional 5MP depth sensor. This means you'd find a familiar arrangement on its back - a 48MP primary cam, an 8MP ultrawide shooter, a 5MP macro snapper, and the new depth sensor. The front camera is in the ballpark of the old one - a 20MP f/2.2 imager.

The A42 loses nothing since the A41 - it still offers a 3.5mm jack, an FM radio, a microSD slot, and many will appreciate the doubled storage of 128GB, UFS2.1 at that.

Let's take a look at the specs sheet now.

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G specs at a glance:

  • Body: 164.4x75.9x8.6mm, 193g; Plastic body.
  • Display: 6.60" Super AMOLED , 720x1600px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 266ppi.
  • Chipset: Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm): Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570); Adreno 619.
  • Memory: 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.1; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
  • OS/Software: Android 10, One UI 2.5.
  • Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 5 MP, f/2.4.
  • Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide).
  • Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
  • Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 15W.
  • Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; 3.5mm jack.

There is only one thing we would have liked even more on such a gaming-oriented smartphone, and that's a stereo speaker setup. We know it's a €299 phone with 5G and all, but seeing how Poco puts some outstanding speakers, it's not that far-fetched thing to wish for, is it?

Anyway, we just can't wait to put this phone through its paces. So, without further ado, here is the Galaxy A42 5G unboxed.

Unboxing the Galaxy A42 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is packed within a compact paper box. Its bundle contains a 15W charger, a USB-C cable, and one cheap-looking pair of headphones with a mic.

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review

There is also a silicone protective case inside the box, hidden in the paper compartment that's somewhat stuck inside the paper lid.

Next Page » 2. Design, build quality, handling
1. Introduction, specs, unboxing
  1. 1. Introduction, specs, unboxing
  2. 2. Design, build quality, handling
  3. 3. Lab tests - display, battery life, charging speed, speaker
  4. 4. Software and performance
  5. 5. Camera, photo and video quality
  6. 6. Alternatives, verdict, pros and cons
  7.  
  8. Samsung Galaxy A42 5G specification
  9. User opinions and reviews
  10. Review comments (110)

Reviews Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review
  • Comments (110)
  • User reviews
  • Galaxy A42 5G

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review - Reader comments

S
  • Srinivasan Sm
  • 6u9
  • 20 Apr 2022

Finger Print for unlock is fine but in apps completely bugs. Apps are not properly recognised. Useless phone

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • kRI
  • 04 Mar 2022

where does one find the speaker test results and what about the call quality on the phone itself?

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • kRI
  • 03 Mar 2022

where does one find the speaker test results and what about the call quality on the phone itself?

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 110

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • TCL
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Blackview
  • Acer
  • Panasonic
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Bespoke Edition's color options revealed
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip gets June 2022 Android security patch
  • Samsung Australia fined AUD 14M over misleading water resistance ads
  • Samsung brings ISOCELL HP3 200MP sensor with smallest ever pixels
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G review

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

CATL's Qilin battery increases energy density to give EVs more range CATL's Qilin battery increases energy density to give EVs more range 2023 Lotus Eletre appears at Goodwood Festival of SpeedPolestar's O2 roadster shown at Goodwood
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2022 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data