Samsung Galaxy A42 5G smartphone review: good battery with bad screen

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is another representative of the Galaxy A line and another smartphone with support for 5G networks. Prices for the A42 start at 20 thousand rubles, so the Samsung phone faces serious competition.

The Galaxy A42 5G features a large screen, long battery life and 5G support. Unlike its Galaxy A series brethren, we don't have a non-5G version. But does it offer the performance you need?

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Screen 6.6-inch, Super AMOLED, resolution 1600×720 pixels, 20:9 ratio, 266 ppi
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G SM7225 (8nm), octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 + 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
Graphic arts Adreno 619
RAM 4/6/8 GB
Inner memory 128 GB UFS 2.1, MicroSD up to 1 TB
System and software Android 11 with One UI 3.1
Front camera 20 MP, f/2.2, wide-angle, HDR, video: 1080p at 30 fps
Main camera 48-MP, f/1.8, wide-angle, 1/2.0-inch, 0.8 µm, PDAF + 8-MP, f/2.2, 123˚, ultra-wide-angle + 5-MP, f/2.4 , macro + 5-MP, f/2.4, depth

LED flash, panorama, HDR, video: 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 fps, 720p at 480 fps

Communications and connections Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, NFC, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, FM radio, USB Type-C 2.0
Networks GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G

2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 – SIM 1 and SIM 2

3G HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100

4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 – Europe

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41

5G bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – Europe

1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6

Sensors Fingerprint scanner (under-display, optical), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass
Battery Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable, fast charging 15 W
Colors Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot White, Prism Dot Gray
Dimensions and weight 164.4×75.9×8.6 mm, 193 grams
Price From 20 thousand rubles

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G specifications, review, reviews, comparisons, release date

Samsung A42 5G is a mid-range smartphone that, as the name suggests, supports 5G networks. The model has a larger memory capacity, more battery life compared to its predecessor and has an additional camera for macro photography.

Design

One of the latest models from the South Korean manufacturer, which is very popular among consumers, is the Galaxy A41. Following its winning characteristics, the company has created the Samsung A42 5G. The updated version is larger, with more memory and a new processor than Qualcomm, which supports 5G. The display of the smartphone has increased, which has affected its dimensions. Now it no longer belongs to compact models, since for some it will stand quite large. The frames around the display remain quite thin.

The body of the Samsung A42 5G is sturdy. You can't bend it with your hands. Its back part is made of high-quality plastic, pleasant to the touch. The smartphone is available in three colors - black, white and grey.

Display

Samsung A42 5G features a 6.6-inch AMOLED display. The low resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels is impressive. The pixel density per inch is 266. The standard refresh rate is 60 Hz. The display brightness is not impressive. The Galaxy A41 had a higher rating.

Performance

Under the body of the Samsung A42 5G we find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset, which gives the smartphone an edge over its competitors in this price range. It consists of 8 Kryo 570 cores, two of which operate at 2.2 GHz and six at 1.8 GHz.

Graphics performance is average. Samsung has opted for the Adreno 619 accelerator. The internal memory capacity is 128 GB, and the amount of RAM depends on the modification. It can be 4 GB, 6 GB or 8 GB. The smartphone has slots for two nanoSIM and microSD cards. The user must choose whether to use a second SIM card or insert a memory card.

Samsung A42 5G also offers NFC module and supports contactless payments via Google Play and other systems. It is based on the Android 10 operating system and One UI 2.5 interface.

Camera

Samsung A42 5G has a main camera with four sensors - standard, wide-angle and macro. An additional sensor is used to detect depth so you can create photos with a modern bokeh effect. It makes portrait photos better. The main module is 48 MP and saves photos up to 12 MP by default. The details are not the best. The amount of light in the photographs is less than desired. You may also find small imperfections when shooting with a wide-angle camera. If you like to take macro photos, then with the Samsung A42 5G they are up to modern standards.

The main camera supports 4K video recording at 30 frames per second. Interestingly, you can switch between the main and wide-angle cameras when shooting videos. The image quality is not bad. Focus is adequate. However, electronic stabilization is not available in 4K mode.

The front camera of the nice-looking Samsung A42 5G is, in turn, single, 20 MP. She will delight you with perfect selfies. A standard set of modes helps improve the final results and inspires experimentation.

Autonomous operation

The Samsung A42 5G consumes more power than its predecessor, which makes sense since the smartphone has a larger display. However, its productivity is higher. With a moderate load, you get decent battery life - a day or more. The battery capacity of the Samsung A42 5G is 5000 mAh. With heavier use, you can expect 16 hours before needing a charge.

The smartphone comes with a 15W charger that charges from 0 to 100% in just 2 hours.

Conclusion

Galaxy A42 5G is an updated version of one of Samsung's best-selling smartphones. It has support for 5G networks, increased battery life, a larger display and many additional features. Its photo capabilities are on par with its price range.

You can't help but be impressed by the size of the screen. It occupies more than 84% of the front surface of the phone. With its beautiful colors and high quality workmanship, it will prepare you to comfortably use different types of content.

The advantages of the Samsung A42 5G include an accurate and fast fingerprint scanner and support for fast charging technology.

Design and appearance

At first glance, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy A42 body is a glass sandwich, but in fact it is not.

The side frames are made of polycarbonate, the back cover is made of plastic, and the screen is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. There are three colors to choose from: black, white and gray, and the back panel is divided into four horizontal stripes with different shades. The module with the main cameras remained square.

Due to the 6.6-inch display, the dimensions of the Galaxy A42 5G are large: 164.4 × 75.9 × 8.6 mm, with a weight of 193 grams. If you like big smartphones, the A42 will definitely suit you. Since the back surface of the case slides, the device is not always comfortable to hold in your hands, and there is no IP standard protection here.

The power and volume keys are located on the right side of the device. They have good travel and feedback, as well as a convenient location. On the left you will find a slot for SIM cards and microSD up to 1 TB. At the bottom there is a USB-C port for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a downward-firing speaker. The sound is loud and of good quality, but you will accidentally cover the speaker with your finger when watching a video in landscape orientation.

Detailed technical specifications

Make and model

Make and model of the device, and alternative names (if any).

Brand

Device manufacturer company.

Samsung
Model

Device name.

Galaxy A42 5G

Design

Appearance of the device including dimensions, weight, volume, colors and materials.

Width

The horizontal side of the device when used in standard orientation.

75.8 mm (millimeters)
Height

The vertical side of the device when used in standard orientation.

164.3 mm (millimeters)
Thickness

The cross-sectional size of the device.

8.6 mm (millimeters)
Weight

How much does the device weigh excluding the case, SIM and memory cards and other additional elements.

193 g (grams)
Volume

Approximate value calculated using the formula: length times width times height.

107.1 cm³ (cubic centimeters)
Colors

What colors is the device available in?

Prism Dot Black Prism Dot White Prism Dot Gray
Housing materials

What materials is the body made of?

Plastic

System on a Chip (SoC)

A system on a chip, a single-chip system (System on a Chip, SoC) is when several systems performing different device functions are connected on one chip.

System on a Chip (SoC)

A single-chip system that contains components such as a processor, graphics accelerator, memory units, communication interfaces, etc., as well as software for the operation of the system.

Samsung Exynos 980

Central processing unit (CPU)

Central processing unit (CPU)

The main component of the device is responsible for calculations and data processing.

2x 2.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A77, 6x 1.8 GHz ARM Cortex-A55
Technical process

What technological process is used to make the chip? The smaller the process technology, the better - the chips consume less power and generate less heat.

8 nm (nanometers)
Processor size

Processor capacity is a parameter that indicates how many bits of data a processor register processes in 1 clock cycle. This is usually 32 or 64 bits.

64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture

Instruction set architecture (ISA) is a programmable part of the microprocessor core used by software to control the operation of the processor.

ARMv8-A
Number of processor cores

The processor can be either single-core or multi-core. The performance of the processor depends on the number of cores (threads). The more cores working simultaneously, the higher the power consumption, so in mobile devices all cores are used only under high load.

8
CPU clock speed

Clock speed is the number of operations per second that a processor or its core can achieve. The higher the frequency, the higher the overall performance of the device, but performance also depends on the processor architecture and the number of cores.

2200 MHz (megahertz)

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is used to process and display graphics - 3D effects, games, interfaces and other visual elements. Due to the pipeline architecture, the GPU is many times more efficient in graphics processing than the processor.

ARM Mali-G76 MP5
Number of GPU cores

Similar to a processor, a GPU can have one core or several. The number of cores (threads) determines the performance and amount of information processed. The more cores, the better.

5

Random access memory (RAM)

Amount of random access memory (RAM)

RAM (Random Access Memory, RAM, RAM) is temporary memory (works only while the device is running), which stores data and code for the operational operation of programs and applications. The more RAM, the more programs you can run simultaneously without loss of performance (there will be fewer “brakes”).

4 GB (gigabytes) 6 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM)

Information about the type of RAM used by the device.

LPDDR4X
Number of RAM channels

1 is a single-channel RAM operating mode, basic, when 1 memory module is used. 2 is already a two-channel mode - a mode of parallel operation of 2 modules or pairs of modules, memory channels - this mode is 2 times faster than a single-channel one. 3 – three-channel mode is 3 times faster than single-channel mode.

Dual channel
RAM frequency

The frequency of RAM determines the speed of RAM, or rather the speed of data transfer and reception. In theory, the higher the frequency, the more powerful the RAM.

1866 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Most mobile devices have built-in Flash memory, which is used as a storage for system data, the operating system, as well as user data - photos, videos, recordings and much more.

Built-in memory capacity

The higher the amount of built-in memory, the more games, programs, music, videos and your other files will fit in the device, especially the amount of memory is important when the device does not support memory cards.

128 GB (gigabytes)

Operating system

A mobile operating system (OS) is pre-installed software with a well-thought-out interface for user control of device functions.

Operating system (OS)

The operating system installed by default by the device manufacturer, as well as its version.

Android 10
User interface

User interface (UI - user interface) is usually a graphical shell that ensures the transfer of information between the user and the operating system.

OneUI 2.5

Battery

To operate autonomously, a mobile device requires a battery that powers all its components.

Battery capacity

The main characteristic of a battery is its maximum capacity, that is, the charge it can store. Capacity is measured in mAh (mAh, milliamp-hour). The higher the capacity, the longer the mobile device can work.

5000 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Battery type

Many types of batteries have been used in portable devices, but NiCd (nickel-cadmium), NiMH (nickel-metal hydride), and even more so SLA (lead-acid) batteries are already considered obsolete. Instead, modern mobile devices use Li-Ion (lithium-ion) and Li-Pol, Li-Poly (lithium-polymer) batteries.

Li-polymer
Power adapter

Characteristics of the charger (adapter, power supply) included in the standard package of the mobile device. More precisely, the output voltage in volts (V) and the output current in amperes (A).

5 V (volts) / 3 A (amps)
Fast charging

Fast charging is when the device charges very quickly. For example, up to 50-70% of a full battery charge in ten minutes.

Yes

Screen

The screen (display) is the main element for displaying graphic information.

Technology

The technology used to make the screen. There are many types of display manufacturing with their pros and cons.

Super AMOLED
Diagonal

The screen diagonal of a device is measured in inches (inch, in or simply ″), and 1″ is equal to 2.54 cm.

6.6 in (inches) 167.64 mm (millimeters) 16.76 cm (centimeters)
Width

Approximate screen width

68.79 mm (millimeters) 6.88 cm (centimeters)
Height

Approximate screen height

152.87 mm (millimeters) 15.29 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the ratio of the shorter side of the screen, which is considered to be 1, to the longer side, which is denoted by a decimal fraction indicating the ratio to the short side.

2.222:1
Screen resolution

Screen resolution is the number of horizontal pixels (dots) multiplied by the number of vertical pixels. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be.

720 x 1600 pixels
Pixel Density

The number of pixels per inch or PPI (pixels per inch) indicates the density of pixels per 1 inch (2.54 cm) of the screen. The higher the PPI, the sharper the image, and the less visible or even invisible “squares and dots” (pixels).

266 ppi (pixels per inch) 104 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth

Color depth means how many bits are used in 1 pixel to display color (bits per pixel).

24 bit 16777216 colors
Screen area

Approximate usable area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. The higher the percentage, the narrower the frames around the display or the smaller the “chin with bangs.”

84.72% (percent)
Touch screen

A touch screen is a device that usually covers the display and is a touch input tool. In fact, in mobile devices, the touchscreen is a replacement for the keyboard and mouse.

Yes
Touch screen type

There are many types of touch screens, with their pros and cons. Mobile devices often use capacitive touchscreens, but technology does not stand still and new types of sensors are appearing.

Capacitive
Multi-touch

Touch screen support for two or more touches. For example, zooming photos with two fingers.

Yes
Additional Information

Additional information about screen functions and characteristics.

Always-On Display HDR10

Main camera

The main camera, usually built into the rear of the device, is designed for creating photo and video content.

Maximum image resolution

This is the maximum number of pixels (dots) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be. Resolution can also be indicated in megapixels - this is the total number of pixels that can be in the image, calculated by the formula: vertical pixels multiplied by the number of horizontal pixels and divide the resulting amount by 1 million.

8000 x 6000 pixels 48 MP (megapixels)
Matrix type

There are two main types of photomatrix, CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). Mobile devices mainly use a CMOS matrix - it requires less space, has low power consumption and heating. Recently, new types of sensors have begun to appear, for example PureCel from OmniVision.

CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Matrix size

The larger the physical dimensions of the sensor, the larger pixels can be installed there or the greater their number, increasing the luminous flux and exposure. That is, the larger the size, the better.

1/2″
Matrix pixel size

Pixel size is one of the matrix parameters that determines what size pixels are used in the matrix. The larger the size, the better - less noise and a larger light-sensitive area.

0.8 µm (micrometers) 0.000800 mm (millimeters)
Diaphragm

Aperture (f-number, f) is used to control the light flux passing through the lens. The aperture is indicated by a fraction, and the smaller the fractional number, the higher the aperture passing through the lens. The more light that passes through the lens, the better overall, less noise in your photos and better night photography.

f/1.8
Flash type

Most mobile devices are equipped with light-emitting diode (LED) flashes, but there are also xenon flashes. As a flash, xenon is better - it is more powerful, but LED is more versatile (can work as a flashlight) and consumes less electricity.

LED
Maximum video resolution

This is the maximum number of pixels (dots) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be.

1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
FPS video recording at maximum resolution

FPS (Frames per Second, frame rate) is the number of frames that changes in 1 second. The higher the number of frames per second, the smoother the image will be. In this case, we mean the number of frames that the camera can achieve at its maximum resolution; the lower the resolution, the higher the FPS can be.

30 fps (frames per second)
Presence of flash

Incorporating a flash into a mobile device allows you to take pictures in low light conditions. Creates the necessary lighting and compensates for the lack of natural light.

Yes
Digital zoom

With digital zoom (zoom, enlargement), the subject is brought closer due to software image algorithms. The higher the magnification with digital zoom, the worse the image quality (noise, blur) will be compared to a non-zoomed one.

Yes
Focus on face

Function of auto-detection of living objects and autofocus on their face or head.

Yes
Panoramic shooting mode

Panoramic photography is a series of frames where each subsequent frame is a continuation of the previous one; at the end of the shooting, all frames are stitched together at the software level to create a panoramic photograph. Frames can be shot both vertically and horizontally, and their width can be up to 360 degrees. This type of shooting is used when the camera's viewing angle is not enough to capture the entire scene.

Yes
HDR shooting mode

HDR photography takes a quick series of shots with highlights, midtones, and shadows, then combines them into a single frame with high dynamic range.

Yes
White balance

White balance is a setting that helps ensure the correct color reproduction in an image by determining the color temperature of the light source in the frame. The balance can be set either automatically or manually.

Yes
ISO Setting

ISO is the level of light sensitivity. The lower the ISO, the less sensitive the camera's light sensor and the smoother the image with less noise. The higher the ISO, the higher the light sensitivity, but more noise, graininess, or decreased sharpness.

Yes
Additional Information

Additional information about the functions and characteristics of cameras.

Autofocus Continuous shooting Geo-tagging Touch focus Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene selection mode Macro mode Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)

Additional cameras

Secondary cameras allow you to expand the capabilities of the main camera, such as adding a wide shooting angle, sharpness, optical zoom and other functions depending on the type of secondary camera.

Second additional camera5 MP (megapixels) f/2.4 (aperture)
Third additional camera8 MP (megapixels) f/2.2 aperture

Front-camera

The front camera of a mobile device (selfie camera, rear camera) is a camera on the front part, which is usually used for video communication, recognition of gestures or faces, and selfie photographs.

Photo resolution

The maximum image resolution that the camera can produce. As resolution increases, image detail increases. Resolution can also be indicated in megapixels (the total number of pixels that an image can consist of) - these are vertical pixels multiplied by horizontal pixels and divided by 1 million.

5184 x 3880 pixels 20.11 MP (megapixels)
Diaphragm

An aperture (or aperture) is essentially an adjustable baffle to control the amount of light passing through the lens. The aperture is indicated by a fraction, and the smaller it is, the more light passes through the lens, which has a positive effect on photographs - there will be less noise and better night photography. While the main cameras also come with an adjustable aperture, most front cameras have a fixed aperture.

f/2.2
Video resolution

This is the maximum resolution the camera can record video at. The higher the resolution, the better.

1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Frame rate (FPS) of video shooting

This is talking about FPS at maximum video resolution; at lower resolutions, the frame rate per second can be higher. FPS determines the smoothness of the video, as well as the ability to speed up or slow down it.

30 fps (frames per second)
Camera focal length

Focal length is the distance from the center of the lens to the sensor. The focal length determines the viewing angle, scale and degree of blur.

3.75 mm (millimeters)
Face unlock

This is a new way to unlock your phone using facial recognition

Yes
Additional Information

Additional information about the functions and characteristics of cameras.

Memory card

A memory card (flash card) is an external data storage device that is used in many devices to increase memory capacity.

Memory card type and formats

Mobile devices usually use 3 types of memory cards - SD, miniSD and the most common microSD. Each type has its own formats that the device supports.

microSD microSDHC microSDXC

SIM card

Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) used in mobile devices to identify subscribers in cellular networks.

Type, size of SIM card

A regular (mini SIM) card has dimensions of 25x15 mm. Micro SIM - 15x12 mm. Nano SIM - 12.3x8.8 mm. The sizes of SIM cards are different and not interchangeable. There is also an eSIM (virtual, electronic SIM card), it is built into the device and does not take up space.

Nano-SIM (4FF - fourth form factor, since 2012, 12.30 x 8.80 x 0.67 mm) Nano-SIM / microSD
Number of SIM cards

How many SIM cards does the device support?

2
Additionally

Additional information about the operation of SIM cards in the device.

Dual SIM stand-by (Both cards are active. When one is busy talking, the other is deactivated.)

Mobile networks

This is a system in which communication and data transfer is carried out between subscribers, the location of one or more of which changes. This section lists the supported mobile communication standards and frequencies.

GSM

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is a standard for digital mobile cellular communications of the second generation 2G with time and frequency division of channels. GSM came to replace analog cellular communications 1G (first generation).

GSM 850 MHz (B5) GSM 900 MHz (B8) GSM 1800 MHz (B3) GSM 1900 MHz (B2)
UMTS

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), also called 3GSM, is a third generation (3G) mobile communications standard based on the WCDMA air interface.

UMTS 850 MHz (B5) UMTS 900 MHz (B8) UMTS 1700 MHz (B4) UMTS 1900 MHz (B2) UMTS 2100 MHz (B1)
LTE

LTE (Long-Term Evolution, often referred to as 4G LTE) is a standard for wireless high-speed data transmission, which, although it belongs to fourth generation networks (4G), is essentially a transitional stage from 3G to 4G, greatly accelerating data transfer speeds. The standard has an improved version, LTE Advanced (LTE-A), which can already be considered a full-fledged 4th generation network.

LTE-FDD 800 MHz (B20) LTE-FDD 850 MHz (B5) LTE-FDD 900 MHz (B8) LTE-FDD 1700 MHz (B4) LTE-FDD 2100 MHz (B1) LTE-FDD 2600 MHz (B7) LTE- TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38)
5G NR

5G or fifth generation mobile networks use new radio access technology developed by 3GPP. It is called 5G NR and is considered a global standard for wireless interfaces in 5G networks. 5G NR operates in two frequency bands - FR1 (less than 6 GHz) and FR2 (above 24 GHz). In the case of FR1, 5G mobile networks use some frequencies used by older standards (2G and 3G). The second frequency band, FR2, has a smaller coverage but offers higher data rates than FR1.

5G-FDD 1800 MHz (n3) 5G-FDD 2100 MHz (n1) 5G-TDD 2500 MHz (n41) 5G-TDD 3500 MHz (n78) 5G-TDD 3700 MHz (n77)

Mobile network data standards

What data transfer standards in cellular networks are supported by the device, as well as their speed.

Data transmission technologies

Technologies for receiving and transmitting data, as well as their maximum speed.

UMTS (384 kbit/s) EDGE HSPA+ LTE 5G NSA 5G SA

WiFi

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a technology for wireless data transmission over a local network among devices based on IEEE 802.11 standards.

Wi-Fi Direct support

The Wi-Fi Direct protocol allows multiple devices to connect directly, bypassing the use of routers or access points.

Yes
Wi-Fi Hot-Spot

A hotspot is a Wi-Fi access point. In a mobile device, Hot-Spot turns the smartphone into a Wi-Fi access point, essentially turning it into a router capable of distributing the Internet.

Yes
Dual-band Wi-Fi

DUAL-BAND (dual-band) Wi-Fi is the ability of a device to immediately receive or broadcast wireless signals in two frequency bands 2.4 and 5 GHz. 5GHz is a less congested frequency, due to which the connection will be of better quality.

Yes
WiFi

Supported WIFI wireless network standards.

802.11a (IEEE 802.11a-1999) 802.11b (IEEE 802.11b-1999) 802.11g (IEEE 802.11g-2003) 802.11n (IEEE 802.11n-2009) 802.11n 5GHz 802.11ac (IEEE 802.11ac) Wi-Fi Display

Bluetooth

Bluetooth (BT, bluetooth (z), “blue tooth”) is a short-range wireless network (up to 10, sometimes 100 meters) operating on radio waves to transmit voice and data between devices.

Bluetooth version

Bluetooth technology is actively developing and, since 1998, has been constantly updating versions of the standard. Each subsequent version introduces one or several improvements in data exchange speed, range, facilitates pairing, reduces power consumption, or introduces some new protocols and operating profiles. The higher the Bluetooth version, the better. The technology is also backward compatible, for example, if your mobile device has version 5.0, then it will work with accessories version 4.2 and lower, but the improvements introduced in version 5.0 will not work; they will work only if both the device and accessories are version 5.

5.0
A2DP profile

The A2DP Bluetooth profile is designed to transmit a high-quality two-channel stereo signal via Bluetooth to wireless headphones, speakers and other acoustics.

Yes

Sensors

Modern devices have many sensors that help in measurements, trigger functions, and make using the device more pleasant.

Light sensor

The light sensor reacts to the light level and is able to adjust the screen brightness automatically based on this. This is necessary to reduce power consumption and ease of use of the device.

Yes
Proximity sensor

The proximity sensor reacts to the proximity of the mobile device to some object. For example, the sensor is used when talking on the phone to turn off the screen, which saves energy and prevents you from pressing buttons with your ear or cheek.

Yes
Gyroscope

Gyroscope (gyroscope, gyro sensor) is a sensor for orientation in space that tracks the angle of inclination of even a stationary device along three coordinate axes. The sensor is mainly used in conjunction with an accelerometer in games and applications.

Yes
Accelerometer

An accelerometer is a sensor that measures apparent acceleration, that is, it determines the position and distance at which a mobile device moves in space. Based on the data from this sensor, the screen orientation change, pedometer, control using tilts and gestures in games and applications, etc. work.

Yes
Hall Sensor

The Hall sensor in mobile devices is capable of responding to strengthening and weakening of the magnetic field. It is used to operate Smart cases (cases with a magnet; when the case is closed, the screen turns off or switches to another mode), folding phones, and sometimes, when paired with a magnetometer, it helps the geopositioning system.

Yes
Fingerprint's scanner

The scanner is responsible for authorization using a previously saved fingerprint, as a result of which the device is unlocked, payment is made, some action is confirmed - just put your finger on the scanner. Scanners can be either built into the body or built into a button or screen.

Yes
Digital compass

This is software that displays data from a magnetic sensor or GPS in the form of a compass on the screen of a mobile device. If there are no sensors or GPS, then the digital compass will not work.

Yes
Additional sensors—-

Audio

Audio - characteristics and capabilities of a mobile device in terms of sound.

Music speaker

There are two types of speakers in mobile devices - auditory and musical. The auditory speaker (speaker) is used for conversation, the music speaker (buzzer) is used to play music and sounds.

Loudspeaker Earphone

Radio

The radio in a mobile device can be built-in by the manufacturer (catch local radio channels, no internet required, often works only with headphones (as an antenna), but not always) or installed as an online application (requires internet, but more channels and often better quality) .

Built-in radio

Is a radio tuner integrated into the mobile device?

Yes

Navigation and location

The location is determined by satellite navigation systems that track the device's autonomous geospatial location at multiple points. The most common satellite navigation systems are GPS, GLONASS, and the Chinese BeiDou.

GPS

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a global satellite navigation system that can determine the position of a mobile device, build routes and find the desired object on the map with an accuracy of several meters.

Yes
A-GPS

A-GPS (Assisted GPS) is an assistive technology that will help you quickly find the location of your cellular device without waiting for satellite data, which is especially important in indoors and cities. Location is determined in various ways, for example, Wi-Fi access points, mobile towers, bluetooth and others.

Yes
GLONASS

GLONASS is a Russian Global Navigation Satellite System, which is similar to GPS and works in tandem with it, increasing the accuracy and speed of navigation.

Yes
Additional navigation systemsBeidou Galileo

USB connector

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial interface for connecting peripherals to computers, smartphones, laptops and much more. The interface allows you to exchange data and power a peripheral device with energy, as well as connect several peripheral devices to one USB connector at once.

Connector type

What type of USB connector is used in the device.

USB Type-C
USB standard

The higher the standard, the faster the throughput, or more precisely the data exchange rate. With version 3.0 of the standard, the current was increased to 0.9A, eliminating the need for additional power for some devices.

2.0
USB Mass Storage

Connecting a mobile device via USB as a data storage device. That is, when you enable this mode, your device can be used as a flash drive.

Yes
USB OTG support

OTG is the ability to connect peripherals, such as keyboards and mice, flash drives, card readers, and much more, to the USB port of your device via an adapter or directly. You can connect devices that do not require specialized drivers or additional power.

Yes
Additional characteristics

Additional features of the USB connector, for example, OTG, whether the connection is supported, peripheral devices and additional memory.

Charging via USB

Headphone jack

A TRS headphone jack (or jack) is a common standard of connectors used for transmitting audio signals. By diameter there are jack (6.5 mm), mini-jack (3.5 mm) and micro-jack (2.5 mm). In mobile devices, the 3.5mm jack was considered the most popular and widespread, but recently they began to be removed, leaving only USB connectors, through which headphones are connected with a corresponding plug or using adapters.

3.5mm headphone jack

Does the device have a 3.5 mm audio jack?

Yes

Connection and synchronization

Options for synchronizing your mobile device and connecting it to other devices.

NFC

NFC (Near field communication, near contactless communication) is a technology for contactless communication between devices over a short distance. Widely used for contactless payment, in the form of a travel card or pass, and is also used for reading and interacting with NFC tags and for exchanging data between devices.

Yes
Connection, synchronization

Types of synchronization and connection technologies supported by the device.

Computer sync OTA sync Tethering VoLTE ANT+

Browser

A browser is a browser program for viewing sites and their content on the Internet. Through the browser, you can open websites, search for information, download necessary files, watch streaming videos, play browser games, etc.

Technologies

Markup and programming languages ​​supported by the built-in (standard) browser. For mobile devices, you can install additional browser applications if the standard one does not suit you.

HTML HTML5 CSS 3

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support many audio file formats, as well as codecs for playing them.

Default formats

The formats that the mobile device supports out of the box are indicated. But if the device does not support the format you need, then you can try adding support for it. Sometimes support depends on the technical characteristics of the device (“hardware”) and nothing can be added here, but often the ability to process a particular audio format depends on the software part. You can install another audio player or codec set separately.

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) AMR / AMR-NB / GSM-AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate, .amr, .3ga) AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband, .awb) eAAC+ / aacPlus v2 / HE-AAC v2 FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec, .flac) M4A (MPEG-4 Audio, .m4a) MIDI MP3 (MPEG-2 Audio Layer II, .mp3) OGG (.ogg, .ogv, .oga, .ogx, .spx, . opus) WMA (Windows Media Audio, .wma) WAV (Waveform Audio File Format, .wav, .wave)

Video file formats/codecs

Video file formats that the device supports and is capable of decoding and playing.

Default formats

Video file formats that the device is capable of playing with standard firmware and a standard (built-in) set of programs. Not all formats are supported by default, but you can install a third-party video player and/or set of codecs.

3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project, .3gp) 3GPP2 (3rd Generation Partnership Project 2, .3g2) AVI (Audio Video Interleaved, .avi) Flash Video (.flv, .f4v, .f4p, .f4a, .f4b) H. 263 H.264 / MPEG-4 Part 10 / AVC video H.265 / MPEG-H Part 2 / HEVC MKV (Matroska Multimedia Container, .mkv .mk3d .mka .mks) MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14, .mp4, .m4a, .m4p, .m4b, .m4r, .m4v) VC-1 VP8 VP9 WebM WMV (Windows Media Video, .wmv) WMV7 (Windows Media Video 7, .wmv) WMV8 (Windows Media Video 8, .wmv) Xvid

Smartphone screen

The front part of the Samsung Galaxy A42 is occupied by a large 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen with HD+ resolution (1600x720 pixels) and a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Most competitive smartphones in this segment have at least Full HD+ resolution, so the 720p display on the Galaxy A42 is disappointing. The panel has low detail, and upon closer inspection you can see individual pixels. At least the viewing angles are quite wide.

Although the display has a built-in fingerprint scanner, it is not very fast. It is often more convenient to unlock using a PIN code or using a pattern. In addition, there are quite large bezels around the screen, with the front camera housed in a large waterdrop notch at the top.

Samsung has unveiled its most affordable phone supporting 5G networks. The new product is called Samsung Galaxy A42. The manufacturer shared official images of the smartphone and revealed some technical specifications.

Samsung Galaxy A42 is equipped with a Super AMOLED panel. The diagonal is 6.6 inches, and the resolution is 1080 pixels on the narrow side. The screen has a built-in fingerprint scanner, and the matrix aspect ratio is 20 to 9. The pixel density is 399 ppi.

A front camera is installed in the drop-shaped cutout, although its resolution is not specified by the manufacturer. There is no mention of the parameters of the rear optical modules. According to official renders, the smartphone has a main Quad camera. Apparently, it will contain a standard and ultra-wide-angle modules along with two auxiliary image sensors.

There is no information about the single-chip system. If the company from South Korea has not prepared any new mobile processor, then most likely the Exynos 980 system-on-chip is installed under the hood of the new product. It is based on 8-nanometer technology, has a frequency of 1.8-2.2 GHz and a Mali graphics controller -G76 MP5.

Samsung Galaxy A42 is equipped with 128 GB of internal memory with support for expansion with microSD cards. The model will go on sale with a pre-installed Android 10 operating system, complemented by proprietary One UI 2.5 software. From what is already known, we note Wi-Fi adapters (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. The battery capacity and the amount of RAM are not specified.

The smartphone will be available to customers exclusively in black. Sales will start in 2022, but the exact date is still unknown. The manufacturer does not name the price of the Samsung Galaxy A42, but mentions that the new product will be the cheapest solution with support for fifth-generation mobile networks in its range.

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Let us remind you that at the moment the company’s most affordable 5G smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G. It is equipped with Exynos 980 paired with 6/8 GB of RAM, 128 GB storage regardless of the specification, and the battery has a capacity of 4500 mAh. We also note the main camera with a resolution of 48 MP + 12 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP and the front camera at 32 MP. The cost of the model in the USA starts from $499.

Cameras Galaxy A42 5G

Mid-price smartphones usually do not have outstanding cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is a direct confirmation of this.

We have a 48MP main lens, supported by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 5MP macro camera with a depth sensor. The front camera has a resolution of 20 MP, when you can shoot video on a smartphone in maximum quality 4K/30 fps.

In bright light, the main camera captures good frames - the photos have high detail and pleasant colors. However, in more challenging conditions noticeable grain appears and HDR mode struggles to cope. The image has many overly light and dark areas. The flash partly solves the problem, but you shouldn’t rely on it seriously. If shooting quality is important to you, I recommend getting the Pixel 4a.

The ultra-wide-angle lens has good focusing and almost no distortion at the edges. Unfortunately, the A42 does not have optical zoom – only digital zoom, up to 10x. Already after 2x the blur in the photo is very noticeable.

The macro camera works like on similar models in the series, but does not stand out as anything special. The depth sensor helps with Portrait photography by blurring the background and pinpointing the boundaries of the main subject. The quality of the front lens is also good, although the bokeh effect is inferior to Portrait shooting from the main sensor.

The photography application on the Galaxy A42 5G is standard, like for a Samsung phone. In addition to the usual modes, the Single Take and Fun functions are available - the first is a serial shooting of photos and videos from all cameras, the second allows you to add filters like in Snapchat.

Description of the advantages and disadvantages of the Galaxy A42 5G phone

The dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G are 75.8 mm wide, 164.3 mm long and 8.6 mm thick. Men with large hands can easily operate it with one hand, but women with small hands may feel that the device is too big for them. The weight of the device is about 193 grams, this weight is quite noticeable if you hold the phone in one hand; when working with the phone with one hand for a long time, the hand may well get tired.

When looking at the overall ease of use of the phone, there are some issues with it due to the weight or size of the device, but if the other features of the device make up for its shortcomings, then buying this phone is a good choice.

The smartphone is equipped with an 8-core Samsung Exynos 980 processor, which is made on 8 nm. technical process.

The smartphone has 4 GB. RAM, which is quite enough. In very rare cases it will not be enough, but with this amount of RAM, you will rarely have problems.

The device's data storage capacity is 128 GB. and such a smartphone is highly recommended for those who often shoot videos and take photos. It is suitable for taking photos and videos, and even if you install many applications and games, you will not feel any inconvenience.

The phone is compatible with SD cards, so you can easily expand its memory. So you probably don't need to worry about storage capacity.

The Galaxy A42 5G has a display diagonal of 6.6 inches. It's quite big. Photos, videos and games will look great on this screen. It is also suitable for productive use, such as creating a business document.

The smartphone has a high-end display and any graphic content you display on it, including videos and games, will be displayed clearly.

The main camera of the phone has 48 megapixels and can take high-resolution photos and videos. While you're shooting landscapes or printing high-definition photos, you may want a higher-resolution camera, but most of the time you'll be happy with the camera.

Also, the smartphone has a 20.11 megapixel front camera, which is an extremely high figure. Since this camera can take high-quality photos, you will rarely be disappointed with its resolution. You can rely on the camera quality of this smartphone.

The battery capacity of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is 5000 mAh, which is a very large indicator. Compared to other smartphones, the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is very long. With such a capacity, you will be pleasantly surprised by the battery life. Even if you watch videos or play games for a long time, you will not have any problems with the battery.

Software

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G smartphone runs on the Android 11 operating system with One UI 3.1 shell.

Samsung's software version is the newest here, although until recently the Korean company installed the latest updates only on the most expensive models. There is a lot to be said about One UI 3.1, although overall the shell is excellent - there is an application drawer and many convenient functions known from other Samsung phones.

The only thing disappointing about the Galaxy A42 5G software is the abundance of advertising applications, although they can be easily removed. An important benefit of the A42 is three years of major system and safety feature updates.

Component Performance

The operating speed of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is not the highest, although the smartphone runs on a powerful eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor.

RAM can be 4/6 or 8 GB, while the internal storage capacity of all versions is 128 GB. The Adreno 619 accelerator is responsible for the graphics. Snapdragon 750G is a mid-level processor installed in devices in the price segment of 25–35 thousand rubles. It has slightly more powerful cores compared to the Snapdragon 765/768, however, it does not have such advanced machine learning capabilities for working with graphics.

In the Geekbench 5 performance test, the tested Galaxy A42 5G does not show the best results: 643/1910 points, in single-core and multi-core modes. Nevertheless, the A42 5G copes with everyday tasks without problems - applications open quickly and there are no lags. Light games run without problems or freezes, although heavy games like Asphalt 9 don't expect high frame rates.

Battery autonomy

One of the advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is its battery life, because the built-in battery capacity is 5000 mAh.

The HD+ resolution screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz also contributes to economical energy consumption. Recharging the Galaxy A42 5G smartphone will last for two days of normal use. A power saving mode is available, as well as a setting that allows you to limit battery consumption by background applications.

Unfortunately, charging speed is limited to 15W, and a corresponding adapter is included in the box. It takes two hours for the battery to fully recover, which is quite slow compared to many competitive smartphones. There is no wireless charging here, as well as reverse charging.

Specifications

Full characteristics and tests of all components of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G smartphone

Screen

TypeSuper AMOLED
Size6.6 inches
Permission720 x 1600 pixels
Aspect Ratio20:9
Pixel Density266 dpi
Update frequency60 Hz
HDR supportNo
Display protectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen to body ratio84.3%
Peculiarities- Always-On Display

Display testing

sRGB color gamut97.7%
PWM (PWM)242 Hz
Response time9.5 ms
Contrast∞ Infinite

Maximum brightness 573 nits

Samsung Galaxy A42 has an AMOLED display, but for a 6.6-inch diagonal it has a low resolution. 1600 by 720 pixels provide a pixel density of just 266 ppi. On the other hand, its image has high contrast and the brightness level is more than satisfactory.

Sources: NotebookCheck [1]

Design and body

Samsung Galaxy A42 case design and dimensions

Height164.4 mm
Width75.9 mm
Thickness8.6 mm
Weight193 grams
WaterproofNo
Back panel materialPlastic
Frame materialPlastic
Available colorsWhite, Black, Gray
Fingerprint's scannerYes, on display

84.3% screen-to-body ratio

Performance

All characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G chip and benchmark tests

CPU

ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G
Max. frequency 2200 MHz
CPU cores8 (2 + 6)
Architecture- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 570 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 570 Gold (Cortex-A77)
Transistor size8 nanometers
Graphic artsAdreno 619
GPU frequency950 MHz

RAM

RAM capacity4, 6, 8 GB
Memory typeLPDDR4X
Memory frequency1866 MHz
Number of channels2

Storage device

Storage capacity128 GB
Drive typeUFS 2.1
Memory cardMicroSD
Max. memory card capacity Up to 512 GB

Benchmarks

Geekbench 5 (single-core) 652 Geekbench 5 (multi-core) 1910 AnTuTu Benchmark 8 328995 Best smartphones in AnTuTu Benchmark - 162nd place

Software

operating systemAndroid 10
Shell UIOneUI 3.1
System size out of the box20 GB

Battery

Characteristics

Volume5000 mAh
Charging power15 W
Battery typeLithium polymer (Li-Po)
RemovableNo
Wireless chargerNo
Reverse chargingNo
Fast chargingYes (27% in 30 minutes)
Full charge time2:01 p.m.

Autonomy tests

Web surfing time (Wi-Fi) 19:12 hours Video viewing time 24:11 hours Talk time (3G) 41:19 hours Battery life rating - 5th place

Cameras

Galaxy A42 Camera Specifications and Testing

Main camera

Matrix48 megapixels
Photo resolution8000 x 6000
ZoomDigital
FlashLED
StabilizationDigital
8K video recordingNo
4K video recordingUp to 30 fps
Record 1080p videoUp to 60 fps
Slow motion480 fps (720p)
Wide angle lens123°
Number of lenses4 (48 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP)
Main lens— 48 MP — Aperture: f/1.8 — Focal length: 26 mm — Pixel size: 0.8 microns — Sensor: 1/2″, Samsung S5KGM2 (ISOCELL CMOS) — Phase detection autofocus
Ultra wide angle lens— 8 MP — Aperture: f/2.2
Macro lens— 5 MP — Aperture: f/2.4
Time-of-flight lens— 5 MP — Aperture: f/2.2
Peculiarities— Bokeh effect — “Pro” mode

Selfie camera

Number of megapixels20 megapixels
Photo resolution5184 x 3880
Aperturef/2.2
Sensor typeCMOS
Video resolution1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

The camera is not the smartphone's strong point, but achieving high-quality shooting is not that difficult. Without proper stabilization, pictures often turn out blurry; low autofocus speed also negatively affects clarity. The front camera produces acceptable frame quality, but the lack of autofocus makes itself felt.

Communications

Wi-Fi versionWi-Fi 5 (802.11 b/g/n/ac)
Wi-Fi Features— Dual Band — Wi-Fi Direct — Wi-Fi Hotspot — Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version5
Bluetooth functionsPBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP
USB typeUSB Type-C
USB version2
USB functions— Charging — USB storage mode
GPSGPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC*Yes
Infrared portNo

Connection

Number of SIM*2
SIM typeNano
SIM operating modeAlternating
eSIM support*No
Hybrid slotYes
LTE Cat*12
2G networksGSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
3G networksWCDMA B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900)
4G networksLTE B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B20(800) , B28(700)
5G supportYes

Sound

SpeakersMono
3.5mm audio portYes
FM RadioNo
Dolby AtmosYes

Speaker tests Maximum volume 82.9 dB

Other

ClassMiddle class
release dateSeptember 2022
Sales start dateNovember 2022
Availability on the marketAvailable
Head SAR level1.15 W/kg
Body SAR emission level1.33 W/kg
Sensors and sensors— Proximity sensor — Gyroscope — Accelerometer — Light sensor — Compass — Fingerprint scanner
Set*— Smartphone — USB Type-C cable — Charger — Quick start guide — SIM eject tool

Alternatives to Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Prices for the Galaxy A42 5G start at 20 thousand rubles, taking into account all the features of the smartphone, this price is too high, and the most disappointing thing is the HD+ display.

The main competitors of the Galaxy A42 5G will be other smartphones of the same line: Samsung Galaxy A32 and Samsung Galaxy A52. The A32 has less internal storage and lacks 5G mmWave technology, but the cameras are no worse. The A52 has more RAM, although it also doesn't have mmWave, and the battery capacity is 4500 mAh. On the other hand, its main camera shoots at 64 MP, while the front camera shoots at 32 MP. Both models have much better screens.

As for smartphones from other manufacturers, you should pay attention to the Motorola G Stylus 5G, with a less powerful processor, but with a stylus included. Google Pixel 4a 5G boasts a great camera and pure Android. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is a good choice - although you'll only get one year of software updates. If you don't have anything against iOS, you can take the Apple iPhone SE 2, which has IP protection and wireless charging, although there is no 5G.

Samsung Galaxy A42 presented: mid-range with 5G and quad camera

Today, September 2, Samsung announced the Galaxy A42 5G smartphone. It joins the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G and A51 5G launched earlier this year, becoming the third mid-range 5G smartphone in the South Korean brand's portfolio.

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Samsung Galaxy A42, unlike its compact predecessors Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A41, sports a gigantic 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a built-in fingerprint scanner. At the top you can see a small U-shaped notch for the front camera. At the back, the smartphone has a quad camera with a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The resolution of the other two modules in the quad camera is not specified.

Samsung did not disclose the remaining characteristics of the new Galaxy A42, promising to announce this information a little later. But, judging by numerous leaks, the smartphone will be based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 chipset and will receive at least 4 GB of RAM. Autonomous operation will be ensured by a 5,000 mAh battery. The smartphone will be available in two configurations with 64 and 128 GB of internal memory.

Samsung Galaxy A42 will go on sale at the end of the year. The exact start date for smartphone sales is still unknown, as is its cost. One can only assume that it will cost less than the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G, which was offered for $500 at launch.

Technical characteristics of Samsung Galaxy A42 5G:

  • Display: 6.6-inch, Super AMOLED, 2400x1080 pixels (Full HD+), aspect ratio 20:9, pixel density 399 PPI.
  • Processor: eight-core, presumably Qualcomm Snapdragon 690.
  • Operating system: Android 10 with One UI 2.5 shell.
  • Main camera: 64 MP + 5 MP (depth sensor) + two more sensors.
  • Battery: built-in with fast charging.
  • Port: USB Type-C.
  • Communications: 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC.
  • Other: Fingerprint scanner (in-display).
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