Samsung Galaxy A42 Review: Is It Still Relevant in 2024?

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G was released in late 2020 as a mid-range smartphone designed to bring 5G connectivity to a broader audience. With its sleek design, decent performance, and affordable price point, it quickly gained attention. However, as smartphone technology evolves rapidly, many users wonder whether the Galaxy A42 remains a viable option in 2024. This review examines its key features, performance, and overall value to determine if it’s still worth considering.

Design and Build Quality

The Galaxy A42 5G features a modern, minimalist design with a glossy plastic back that mimics glass, giving it a premium look without the fragility. The phone measures 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6mm and weighs 193g, making it slightly bulky but still comfortable to hold.

The front is dominated by a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a V-shaped notch housing the 20MP front camera. While the notch is noticeable, it doesn’t significantly hinder the viewing experience. The phone also includes an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is responsive but not as fast as physical or side-mounted alternatives.

The device is available in Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot White, and Prism Dot Gray, offering a few color options to suit different preferences. The build quality is solid, though the plastic back is prone to smudges and scratches over time.

Display: Vibrant but Not Perfect

The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display is one of the Galaxy A42’s strongest features. With a 720 x 1600 (HD+) resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio, it delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and good contrast—typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels.

However, the HD+ resolution is a noticeable downgrade compared to competitors offering Full HD+ displays in the same price range. While the screen is sharp enough for everyday use, text and images lack the crispness seen in higher-resolution displays. The 60Hz refresh rate is another limitation, as many budget and mid-range phones now offer 90Hz or 120Hz screens for smoother scrolling and gaming.

Despite these drawbacks, the display remains one of the best in its class for media consumption, thanks to its 480 nits peak brightness and HDR10+ support.

Performance: Capable but Not Future-Proof

The Galaxy A42 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm) chipset, paired with the Adreno 619 GPU. This mid-range processor was a solid choice in 2020, offering 5G connectivity and decent performance for everyday tasks, light gaming, and multitasking.

Benchmark Scores (Approximate)

• AnTuTu: ~300,000
• Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~600
• Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~1,800

In real-world usage, the Galaxy A42 handles social media, web browsing, and video streaming smoothly. However, gaming performance is mediocre—titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile run at low to medium settings with occasional frame drops. More demanding games like Genshin Impact struggle to maintain playable frame rates.

The phone comes with 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB of RAM, depending on the variant, and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD up to 1TB). While the 8GB RAM model offers better multitasking, the 4GB variant may feel sluggish with multiple apps running in the background.

Software and Updates

The Galaxy A42 launched with Android 10 (One UI 2.5) and has since received Android 13 (One UI 5.1) as its final major update. Samsung has committed to three years of major Android updates and four years of security patches, meaning the phone will no longer receive new OS versions after 2023.

While One UI is one of the most polished Android skins, the lack of future updates may be a concern for users looking for long-term software support.

Cameras: Decent but Not Exceptional

The Galaxy A42 features a quad-camera setup on the rear:

• 48MP (f/1.8) main sensor (with PDAF)
• 8MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens
• 5MP (f/2.4) macro lens
• 5MP (f/2.4) depth sensor

Photo Quality

• Daylight: The 48MP main camera captures sharp and detailed images with good color accuracy. However, dynamic range is limited, leading to slightly overexposed highlights in high-contrast scenes.
• Low Light: Performance drops significantly in low-light conditions, with noisy and soft images. Night Mode helps slightly but doesn’t match the results of flagship or even some mid-range competitors.
• Ultrawide: The 8MP ultrawide lens is useful for landscapes but suffers from distortion and soft edges.
• Macro & Depth: The 5MP macro and depth sensors are gimmicky and rarely produce high-quality results.

Video Recording

The Galaxy A42 can record 4K video at 30fps, but stabilization is poor, leading to shaky footage. 1080p at 30fps is the more practical option, though autofocus struggles in dynamic scenes.

Front Camera (20MP)

The 20MP selfie camera takes decent photos in good lighting but struggles in low light. It supports 1080p video recording, which is sufficient for video calls and social media.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting but Slow Charging

One of the Galaxy A42’s biggest strengths is its 5,000mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy usage. In testing, the phone delivered:

• Screen-on time: ~7-8 hours (mixed usage)
• Standby time: Up to 2 days (with light usage)

However, the 15W fast charging is disappointingly slow. A full charge takes nearly 2 hours, which is a major drawback compared to competitors offering 18W or 25W charging.

5G Connectivity: Future-Proof but Limited

The Galaxy A42 was one of the first mid-range phones to support 5G, making it a future-proof choice at launch. However, 5G availability and speeds vary by region, and in 2024, many budget and mid-range phones now include 5G as standard.

The phone supports sub-6GHz 5G, which is more widely available than mmWave but offers slower speeds compared to flagship devices. Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC are also included, making it a well-rounded device for connectivity.

Audio and Additional Features

• Speakers: The single bottom-firing speaker delivers average sound quality—loud but tinny. For better audio, headphones are recommended.
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack: A rare inclusion in modern smartphones, allowing wired headphone use.
• Samsung DeX: Supports desktop mode when connected to a monitor, though performance is limited by the Snapdragon 750G.
• Stereo Speakers: No, only a single speaker is present.

Price and Value in 2024

When the Galaxy A42 launched, its $399 price tag was competitive for a 5G phone. However, in 2024, its value has diminished due to:

• Outdated hardware (Snapdragon 750G vs. newer mid-range chips like Snapdragon 695 or Dimensity 700)
• No more major Android updates
• HD+ display and 60Hz refresh rate (compared to Full HD+ and 90Hz/120Hz in newer phones)
• Slow charging

That said, if found at a discounted price (under $200), the Galaxy A42 can still be a budget 5G option for users who prioritize battery life, AMOLED display, and Samsung’s software experience.

Alternatives to Consider in 2024

If the Galaxy A42 no longer meets your needs, here are some better alternatives in the same price range:

Phone	Key Advantages
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G	120Hz AMOLED, Exynos 1380, better cameras, longer updates
Google Pixel 6a	Superior camera, Tensor chip, clean Android, 5 years of updates
OnePlus Nord N30 5G	120Hz display, Snapdragon 695, 50W fast charging
Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)	Clean software, large battery, 5G, affordable
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G	120Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, fast charging

Final Verdict: Is the Galaxy A42 Still Relevant?

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G was a solid mid-range phone in 2020, offering 5G connectivity, a great AMOLED display, and long battery life at an affordable price. However, in 2024, its relevance has significantly declined due to:

✅ Pros:
– 5,000mAh battery (excellent longevity)
– Super AMOLED display (vibrant colors)
– 5G support (future-proof for basic use)
– Expandable storage & headphone jack
– One UI software (polished and feature-rich)

❌ Cons:
– Outdated Snapdragon 750G (struggles with modern apps/games)
– HD+ resolution & 60Hz display (behind competitors)
– No more major Android updates (final update was Android 13)
– Slow 15W charging (frustratingly slow)
– Mediocre cameras (especially in low light)

Who Should Still Consider the Galaxy A42?

• Budget buyers looking for a cheap 5G phone (if priced under $200)
• Users who prioritize battery life over performance
• Those who prefer Samsung’s One UI and don’t need the latest features
• Secondary or backup phone for basic tasks

Who Should Avoid It?

• Gamers (struggles with demanding titles)
• Photography enthusiasts (cameras are average at best)
• Users who want long-term software support (no more major updates)
• Those who prefer high-refresh-rate displays (stuck at 60Hz)

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G was a strong contender in its time, but three years later, it feels outdated compared to newer mid-range and even budget phones. While it still offers good battery life and a decent AMOLED display, its slow performance, lack of updates, and mediocre cameras make it a hard sell in 2024.

Unless found at a heavily discounted price, potential buyers would be better off considering newer alternatives like the Galaxy A54, Pixel 6a, or OnePlus Nord N30, which offer better performance, displays, and software support. The Galaxy A42 remains a decent budget option for basic use, but it’s no longer a standout choice in today’s competitive smartphone market.