Samsung Galaxy A42 5G In-Depth Review

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G In-Depth Review Image Gallery

Author Ishan Bathla

Reviewed by Ishan Bathla

November 18, 2020

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

What We Love About Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

  • 5G connectivity
  • Large AMOLED display
  • Decent performance
  • Triple Rear Cameras
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • In-display fingerprint sensor
  • Elegant design
  • Extensive storage

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Overview

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is a mid-range 5G smartphone from the popular Galaxy A series. Specs-wise, it stands between the Galaxy A32 5G and Galaxy A52 5G, where the A32 is a budget smartphone, and the A52 is a near-flagship device. 

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G has mmWave 5G support which assures blazing-fast internet. However, you can only use this feature if you’re subscribed to Verizon. The device is also available unlocked for any other network, but the 5G internet may not be as fast as mmWave offered by Verizon.

Other features include a large AMOLED screen, 2-day battery life, and extended support for software updates. It certainly is an attractive device, especially for Verizon users, considering the affordable price. Let’s see how it can handle day-to-day tasks in our comprehensive Samsung Galaxy A42 5G review.

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Unboxing

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is packaged in an elegant white box. At the front of the box is a picture of the device. You can also see Samsung Galaxy A42 5G branding around the edge. Opening the box reveals the Samsung phone covered in a transparent sheet. 

Below the smartphone, you’ll find a charging adapter and Type-C data cable. A small box inside the package contains the Quick Start Guide and SIM ejection pin.

What’s inside the box:

  • Samsung Galaxy A42 5G smartphone
  • Quick start guide
  • SIM ejection pin
  • 15W Charging adapter
  • USB Type-C charging cable

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Related Videos

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Design

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G has a modern minimalistic design with an eye-catching color gradient on the back panel. It is available in three colors – Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot Gray, and Prism Dot White. We received the Prisma Dot Black variant. The back has four hues, including dotted patterns with different degrees of intensity. Despite constant use, the device still looks brand new.

A 6.6-inch screen with slim bezels and a small notch is on the front. Measuring 6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 inches and weighing in at 193g, the A42 is comfortable to hold and fits in the pocket easily. A squircle-shaped camera panel is hosted on the back of the device. It contains three rear cameras and an LED flash. 

The bottom edge has the speaker, microphone, USB Type-C charging port, and 3.5mm headphone jack left to right. The left edge has the SIM card/ microSD card slot. The right edge has the volume and power key. Samsung has successfully created a unique yet attractive look for the Galaxy A42 5G.

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Camera

When life is one stunning scene after another, you want to capture moments in great detail. That is why three rear cameras were built into this great phone, along with a front selfie camera. The device has the following cameras:

  • 48MP main camera
  • 8MP ultra-wide camera
  • 2MP depth camera
  • 13MP front camera

Samsung’s Galaxy A42 5G cameras utilize artificial intelligence to improve image quality. The 48MP main camera takes crisp and clear shots. Under good lighting, it can capture decent details as photos look vivid and realistic. There is no sign of over saturation or high noise. It also supports Night Mode to click pictures under low-light or when it’s dark. Images clicked under Night Mode might have noticeable noise but are still share-worthy.

Switch to the ultra-wide lens to capture more of the scene in the frame, such as landscapes or buildings. The depth camera comes into play when you want to take portrait shots and have a blur effect in the background. The camera app has some cool features, such as Live Focus and Single Take. Live Focus lets you adjust the level of background blur to your liking, whereas Single Take captures images or videos for up to 15 seconds to capture different angles created automatically. Both ultra-wide and depth sensors work well under daylight. The camera app interface is similar to other Samsung smartphones. Overall, you get your money’s worth with the Galaxy A42 5G’s cameras. 

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Display

The device comes with a large 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen that Samsung refers to as Infinity-U display. It has rounded corners and a U-shaped camera notch. Compared to LCD, the OLED display delivers better details and graphics.  

It has a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels with 266 PPI pixel density. Color reproduction and viewing angles are decent. Watching videos and playing games on the large display is entertaining. The device also has an in-display fingerprint sensor that works similar to other devices in the range. We had no problem using the device indoors; however, we advise you to keep it at full brightness under daylight. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G display worked according to our expectations.

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Battery

Say goodbye to low battery notifications with the Galaxy A42 5G. This Samsung device comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery. It’s an upgrade over its predecessor, the Galaxy A41, which had a 3,500mAh battery.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy A42 5G can last for two days on a single charge. Despite heavy usage, we managed to make it to day two. Users who are constantly on the phone or love to play games for a longer period will appreciate the long-lasting battery life. The phone also supports fast charging and is bundled with a 15W charger that can quickly refill the battery.

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Storage

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G features 128GB of internal storage, which is great for a mid range phone. This gives you the freedom to store your favorite content, including photos, videos, music, games, and apps. We believe 128GB is sufficient space for most users. However, if you’re a power user and need more space, you can further expand the storage up to 1TB with the help of a microSD card. 

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Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Performance

With plenty of processing power, Samsung Galaxy A42 5G comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G chipset and 4GB of RAM. The Galaxy M42, a modified version of the A42, also has the same processor. Upgrading to the 5G mmWave network opens up new possibilities. You can stream, share and download content at lightning-fast speeds. The gaming experience is also much better as there is minimal lag.

Multitasking on the Galaxy A42 is smooth, including basic tasks such as calling, texting, and browsing. You can play low or intense graphics games but might notice some dropped frames while running heavy games. For users who love gaming, it has a Games Booster feature to enhance your gaming experience. It optimizes performance and battery so you can focus more on gaming and less on distractions.

The device is powered by Android 11. We like the Samsung smartphone interface as it is user-friendly. You can easily find what you’re looking for and customize the app drawer to your preference. According to Samsung, the device is bound to receive two OS updates, and four years of security updates.

Galaxy A Series is protected by Knox Security, which ensures that your data and apps are safe. You can also share files privately for a limited time or set an expiration date with Private Share. Overall, Samsung Galaxy A42 offers decent performance with durability.

Where to Buy

Final Words About Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

The Samsung A42 5G is a mid-range Android smartphone released in November 2020. It is an attractive choice from the Galaxy A series, thanks to its large AMOLED display, long battery life, three cameras, and 5G support. Verizon users can enjoy the mmWave 5G network, ensuring blazing fast internet. Running on a decent processor, it can also perform well in multitasking. In our opinion, Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is an ideal choice for Verizon users who want a 5G phone with all necessary functionality at a reasonable price.

Specifications Divider

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Specifications

  • Android 11
  • 6.6 inches Super AMOLED display 
  • HD resolution: 720 x 1600 pixels
  • Pixel density: 266 PPI
  • Aspect ratio: 20:9
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G octa-core processor
  • Adreno 619 GPU
  • 4GB RAM
  • 128GB internal storage
  • Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP
  • Front camera: 13MP 
  • 5000mAh battery capacity
  • Dimensions: 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 in)

Frequently Asked Questions About Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

Yes, the Galaxy A42 5G supports NFC.

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G supports dual SIM (nano SIM).

The Google Pixel 4a 5G has Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and 6GB RAM, whereas the Galaxy A42 5G runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G chipset with 4GB RAM.

No, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G does not support wireless charging.

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Was first released on November 11, 2020.

Carrier

Verizon Prepaid Phones, Verizon Smartphones

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