Samsung Galaxy M42 5G Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a feature-packed smartphone that was released in May 2021. It comes with a host of impressive specifications, including a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, up to 8GB of RAM, and a quad-camera setup on the rear. The phone is also equipped with 5G connectivity, making it future-proof and ideal for users who want to take advantage of next-gen data speeds.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a sleek and stylish device that boasts a modern and sophisticated design. The phone is available in two colors, Prism Dot Black and Prism Dot Gray, which give it a striking look. The device measures 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm and weighs 190 g, making it quite portable and easy to handle. The phone has a premium look and feel, thanks to its glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame.

Ergonomically, the device is designed to fit comfortably in hand and operate with ease. The buttons are well placed, and the fingerprint sensor is located under the display, making it easily accessible. The phone also has an IP52 rating, which means it is resistant to dust and water splashes.

The build quality of the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is top-notch and feels sturdy. The phone is well-constructed with a solid build that gives it a premium feel. The plastic back panel is durable and doesn't flex or creak when pressure is applied. Overall, the phone feels like it can withstand daily wear and tear without any issues.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G has a modern and premium design that feels great in hand. The phone is well-built and sturdy, making it durable and able to withstand daily use. The device's IP52 rating adds an extra layer of protection, making it resistant to dust and water splashes. The phone's design and build quality are impressive and contribute to its overall appeal.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. While the resolution may seem low compared to other devices, the display still manages to produce vibrant colors and contrast. The screen-to-body ratio of 84.3% provides an immersive viewing experience, which is further enhanced by the Super AMOLED technology that delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors.

The display's brightness is adequate for indoor use, but it struggles in bright outdoor conditions. However, the device comes with an auto-brightness feature that adjusts the brightness level according to ambient lighting. The touch sensitivity is impressive, and the device responds swiftly to touch inputs, making it ideal for gaming and other intensive tasks.

Overall, the display on the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is impressive, and the Super AMOLED technology provides a rich and immersive viewing experience. While the resolution may not be the highest, the display still produces vibrant colors and contrast. The only downside is the device's poor outdoor visibility, which can be improved in future models.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset, which offers impressive performance for a mid-range phone. The octa-core processor is comprised of two Kryo 570 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six Kryo 570 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. This is paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the variant you choose.

In terms of real-world usage, the Galaxy M42 5G performs smoothly without any lag or stuttering. Multitasking is a breeze, and apps launch quickly. The phone is also capable of handling graphically-demanding games with ease.

In benchmark tests, the Galaxy M42 5G scores well. It achieves a score of 329,000 on AnTuTu, which is higher than some other mid-range devices. Geekbench 5 scores are also impressive, with single-core and multi-core scores of 632 and 1,791, respectively.

Storage options on the Galaxy M42 5G include 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. This provides ample space for storing photos, videos, apps, and other files.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G provides a smooth and snappy performance that is more than sufficient for most users. Whether you're browsing the web, streaming videos, or playing games, the Galaxy M42 5G delivers a reliable and responsive experience.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G runs on Android 11 with One UI 3.1 on top, which is a user-friendly interface that offers a lot of customization options. The phone comes with a lot of pre-installed apps, but most of them can be uninstalled if the user wishes to do so. The user interface is easy to navigate, and the icons are well-organized, which makes it easy to find what you need. The phone also supports gesture-based navigation, which is a welcome addition.

The software on the Galaxy M42 5G is optimized to run smoothly, and the phone offers a lag-free experience when navigating through the menus or running apps. The phone also comes with a Game Launcher app that optimizes the phone's performance for gaming, and it offers features like screen recording and the ability to block notifications during gameplay.

Samsung is known for providing timely software updates, and the Galaxy M42 5G is no exception. The phone is upgradable to Android 13, which means that users can expect to receive updates for at least the next few years.

Overall, the software and user interface on the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G are well-designed, easy to use, and offer a lot of customization options. The phone runs smoothly and offers a good user experience, and the timely software updates are a big plus. However, some users may find the pre-installed apps to be a bit too much, and the lack of a dedicated app drawer may be a turn-off for some.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is equipped with a quad-camera setup at the back. The primary camera is a 48-megapixel shooter with an f/1.8 aperture, which delivers sharp and detailed images in daylight conditions. The phone also has an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The macro camera lets you take close-up shots of small objects with good detail and color accuracy. The depth sensor helps in achieving a good bokeh effect in portrait shots.

In low-light conditions, the camera performance is average. The phone uses pixel binning to improve low-light photography, but the images still lack detail and appear grainy. The night mode feature helps in capturing better images in low light. The 20-megapixel front-facing camera takes good selfies with accurate skin tones and good detail.

The camera app is easy to use and provides quick access to different shooting modes such as panorama, slow-motion, and hyper-lapse. The phone also has a single-take feature that captures multiple images and videos in different modes with just one click.

Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G's camera performance is not the best in its price range, it is still capable of taking good photos in well-lit conditions. It is suitable for casual photography and social media sharing.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G offers a comprehensive range of connectivity and networking features that make it a versatile and capable device. It supports all major cellular networks, including GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G, making it compatible with most carriers worldwide.

Additionally, the device features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, and Wi-Fi Direct for fast and reliable wireless internet connectivity. Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, and LE are also supported, allowing users to connect to a variety of wireless devices, including headphones, speakers, and smartwatches.

NFC is available on the device, enabling contactless payments and file sharing with other NFC-enabled devices. GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS are all supported, ensuring accurate and reliable location services.

The device also features a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support, allowing users to connect to other devices and peripherals. Additionally, the device features an FM radio and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing users with multiple options for audio playback.

Finally, the device features a range of sensors, including a fingerprint sensor (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, and compass. It also supports virtual proximity sensing, adding an extra layer of security to the device.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G offers a comprehensive range of connectivity and networking features, making it a versatile and capable device suitable for a wide range of users.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G comes with a range of additional features that make it an attractive option for those in the market for a new smartphone.

Firstly, this device boasts water and dust resistance, which is a great feature for those who are always on the go and need a phone that can handle a bit of wear and tear. Additionally, the Galaxy M42 5G offers expandable storage options, allowing users to store more photos, videos, and apps without having to constantly delete files to free up space.

The audio quality on this phone is also noteworthy, with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The speaker performance is particularly impressive, delivering clear and crisp sound that is perfect for streaming music and watching videos.

Other unique features of the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G include virtual proximity sensing and a fingerprint scanner that is located under the display. These features add an extra layer of security to the device, ensuring that users' personal information is protected at all times.

Overall, the additional features of the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G make it a highly attractive option for anyone in need of a new smartphone that offers a range of useful features and high-end performance.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Samsung Galaxy M42 to other related phones, there are a few notable competitors worth mentioning. One such competitor is the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro, which is similarly priced and offers a more powerful processor with a Snapdragon 860 chipset. However, the Samsung Galaxy M42 has the advantage of 5G connectivity, which the Poco X3 Pro does not have.

Another related phone to consider is the Realme 8 Pro, which is also in the same price range as the Samsung Galaxy M42. The Realme 8 Pro has a 108MP primary camera, which is significantly higher than the Samsung Galaxy M42's 48MP camera. However, the Galaxy M42 has a larger display and a bigger battery, which may be more appealing to some users.

Lastly, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is another phone that could be considered when comparing to the Samsung Galaxy M42. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a more premium design and a slightly higher resolution display. However, the Samsung Galaxy M42 has a bigger battery and expandable storage, which could be important factors for some users.

Overall, while there are some competitors that may offer certain advantages over the Samsung Galaxy M42, it still holds up well in terms of its overall performance, camera quality, and 5G connectivity.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

To conclude, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a great balance of features and performance for its price range. With its 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset, and a versatile quad-camera setup, the M42 delivers a solid user experience that is hard to beat.

While it may not be the most premium smartphone on the market, the M42 does offer a great value proposition for those who are looking for a reliable 5G-enabled device without breaking the bank. The phone also comes with a durable and ergonomic design, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.

However, the M42 is not without its downsides. The 720p resolution display may not be as sharp as some of its competitors, and the 15W wired charging may be slower compared to other devices in its price range.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a great choice for budget-conscious consumers who want a solid 5G smartphone that delivers a great user experience. Its combination of performance, features, and affordability make it a standout device in its category.