Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

The Galaxy A42 5G features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel running at HD+ resolution (720 x 1600 pixels), delivering 270 pixels per inch. While the PPI falls short of Full HD standards, the AMOLED technology ensures excellent contrast, vibrant colour saturation, and true blacks that LCD panels at this price simply cannot match. The large screen size makes it well-suited for media consumption, scrolling social feeds, and video calls.

The A42 5G features a multi-lens rear camera system anchored by an ultrawide lens at 8MP alongside a 6.5MP depth sensor for portrait effects. The 13MP front-facing camera provides sharp selfies and capable video calling. Digital zoom extends up to 10x for flexible framing. The camera suite covers the essential shooting scenarios expected at this price tier, with Samsung's image processing pipeline helping to optimise shots in varied lighting conditions.

Samsung rates the Galaxy A42 5G at an impressive 31 hours of 3G talk time, with standby time reaching 360 hours — figures that speak to the Snapdragon 750G's efficient power management. Fast charging is supported, reducing downtime when you do need to top up. The combination of efficient 5G modem and large battery capacity makes the A42 5G a reliable all-day companion for moderate to heavy users.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (SM7225) drives the A42 5G, built on TSMC's 8nm process. It features an octa-core CPU configuration with two performance Kryo 570 cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six efficiency cores at 1.8GHz, paired with the Adreno 619 GPU. This chipset delivers competent everyday performance, handles 5G modem duties efficiently, and manages graphics-light gaming without issue. Paired with 4GB of RAM, day-to-day tasks run smoothly.

The Galaxy A42 5G ships with 128GB of internal storage — generous for its class — and adds a dedicated microSD card slot supporting expansion up to 1TB. This combination makes storage anxiety essentially a non-issue: you have ample room for apps, photos, and videos right out of the box, with room to grow as your library expands. USB 2.0 via the Type-C port handles file transfers to a computer.

The Galaxy A42 5G features a single bottom-firing speaker for audio output. While it lacks a stereo speaker configuration, the single driver delivers adequate loudness for calls, notifications, and casual media playback. Wired headphone connectivity is not available on this model, so Bluetooth 5.0 audio via wireless headphones or earbuds is the preferred route for private listening.

The Galaxy A42 5G includes a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, providing a convenient and secure way to unlock the device. The sensor handles daily unlock duties reliably and integrates with Samsung's security framework for app and payment authentication where supported.

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G does not carry an official IP water resistance rating. While the device can handle minor splashes in everyday scenarios, it is not designed or certified for submersion or exposure to heavy rain. Users who require dedicated water resistance should consider Samsung's IP-rated alternatives in the Galaxy lineup.