Samsung Galaxy M42 5G review
The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is the most affordable smartphone in the entire Samsung lineup to get 5G support, priced at ₹21,999. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, which is also used in direct competitors like Xiaomi Mi 10i and Moto G5G. The phone comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, expandable up to 1TB. The biggest letdown, however, is the HD+ display, which seems outdated given the price tag. While it's punchy and has adequate brightness for indoor use, outdoor visibility could be better. On a positive note, the phone features an in-display fingerprint scanner and supports fast charging at 15W. In terms of performance, the Galaxy M42 5G handles everyday tasks with ease and is capable of gaming, although it does get warm to the touch after extended usage. The phone runs One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11, but has some pre-installed bloatware that can be uninstalled. The quad-camera setup features a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 5MP macro camera, all housed in a compact module. The camera app is quick to recognize subjects, but the ultra-wide-angle camera has lower resolution and inferior details compared to the primary camera. Low-light landscape shots have average detail, while selfies are decent with beautification enabled by default. The phone's battery lasts for over 22 hours of HD video playback and supports fast charging, although it takes around an hour to charge from empty to full. Overall, while the Galaxy M42 5G is a capable device, its subpar display and bloatware hold it back from being a top contender in this segment.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a big smartphone with a polycarbonate back panel that has a glossy finish. While it's visually appealing, the surface tends to smudge and attract fingerprints easily. The device measures 6.61 inches in length and 0.31 inches in thickness, making it quite comfortable to hold. The AMOLED display is punchy, but its HD+ resolution (720x1600 pixels) and 60Hz refresh rate are a letdown at this price point. Outdoor visibility could have been better, especially considering the device's screen size. On the plus side, the in-display fingerprint scanner is quick to unlock the smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G has a plastic frame with the SIM tray on the left side and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom. The USB Type-C port and loudspeaker are also located at the bottom, while the top only features a secondary microphone. The device's buttons were easy to reach during my hands-on time. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G has a decent build quality and design, but it falls short in some areas. While it looks good on paper, the HD+ display resolution is a compromise at this price point. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with 5G connectivity, there are other options available that offer better displays, such as the Xiaomi Mi 10i or Realme X7.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a standout feature that exceeded my expectations. The device comes with a large 5000mAh battery, which provides an impressive level of power for extended periods. In our HD video loop test, the phone lasted for an astonishing 22 hours and 55 minutes, which is truly remarkable considering the demanding nature of this test. This indicates that the Galaxy M42 5G can easily get through a day's worth of usage without needing to be topped up. The battery life also holds up well in real-world usage scenarios. With moderate use, including social media scrolling, messaging, and occasional gaming, I found that the phone lasted for around 18-20 hours on a single charge. One notable aspect of the Galaxy M42 5G's battery management is its ability to dynamically adjust the display brightness based on the remaining battery percentage. Once the level drops below 15%, the phone automatically reduces the screen brightness, which helps conserve power and extend the overall battery life even further. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G's battery performance is one of its strongest selling points, making it an excellent choice for users who need a device that can keep up with their daily demands without needing frequent recharging.
Display
One of the most anticipated features of any smartphone is its display. Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G falls short in this department. Despite being a big phone with a 6.6-inch AMOLED display, it only boasts an HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. This is particularly disappointing considering the price tag of ₹21,999. The AMOLED display itself is punchy, but the low resolution is a major letdown. Indoor visibility is adequate, but outdoor visibility could have been better. The lack of high refresh rates and lower resolution make it feel like an older generation display. Given the current market standards, this display is below par for a smartphone in this price range. The HD+ resolution means that text and icons may appear pixelated at times, which can be distracting while browsing or watching videos. The 60Hz refresh rate also means that scrolling and animations can feel choppy compared to higher refresh rate displays found on other smartphones. It's worth noting that the display is comfortable to look at for extended periods, but the low resolution and lack of high refresh rates make it a major drawback in an otherwise capable smartphone like the Galaxy M42 5G. Overall, Samsung has cut corners with the display, which may be a deal-breaker for some potential buyers. In comparison to its competitors, such as the Xiaomi Mi 10i and the Realme X7, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G's display is not on par with them. If you're in the market for a smartphone with a good display, you might want to consider other options before settling for this one.
Camera
The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is a quad-camera array housed in a square-shaped module at the back. This configuration includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. At the front, there's a 20-megapixel selfie snapper nestled within the dewdrop notch. In terms of performance, the camera app on the Galaxy M42 5G is quick to recognize subjects and apply appropriate effects, thanks to its AI-driven capabilities. However, the results are somewhat mixed when it comes to capturing moments with this smartphone. Daylight shots taken in overcast conditions yield decent results, with colors looking nice but slightly boosted. The primary camera captures good details, although there's some minor distortion at the edges of each frame. Close-up shots turn out well, with good color reproduction and detail, but ultra-wide-angle shots suffer from inferior details compared to those captured by the primary sensor. Portraits have decent edge detection, and you can adjust the level of blur before taking a shot. However, night mode does improve low-light landscape shots, making them slightly brighter and more detailed. Unfortunately, noise is still an issue in these scenarios. Macro shots are serviceable, with good detail in well-lit conditions, but video recording tops out at 4K 30 fps. Stabilization is enabled by default, but it's only average, as minor shakes are visible in the output. The super-steady mode uses the ultra-wide-angle camera and provides better stabilization, though 4K footage isn't stabilized. Selfies with beautification enabled by default can be smooth, and portrait selfies turn out well, even when faces are covered with masks. Low-light selfies are decent but not exceptional. Overall, while the camera setup on the Galaxy M42 5G is capable of capturing some impressive shots, it's clear that Samsung has cut corners to keep costs low. This means users may not get the same level of image quality as they would from other Samsung devices or competitors in this price segment.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is touted as the most affordable smartphone in the galaxy lineup to get 5G support, but does it live up to its price tag of ₹21,999? As I delved into the device's features, I couldn't help but feel that Samsung has cut corners on this one. While the Galaxy M42 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 G processor in India, a feature shared with direct competitors like the Xiaomi Mi 10i and the Moto G5G. The phone also comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for everyday use. However, the constant storage of 128GB feels restrictive, especially considering the price. One major letdown is the display, which boasts an HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. Given the price tag, I expected at least a Full HD+ panel, but Samsung seems to have compromised on this aspect. The AMOLED display is punchy, but the low resolution is a significant drawback. The camera setup, with a quad-camera arrangement, is decent but not exceptional. The primary camera takes good daylight shots, but the ultra-wide-angle camera's lower resolution and distortion in shots are noticeable. Night mode fares better, but it's still not up to par with other smartphones in this price range. Considering all these factors, I feel that Samsung has overpriced the Galaxy M42 5G by ₹21,999. The phone's features and performance, while capable, don't quite justify the cost. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option with 5G connectivity, there are better alternatives available in the market, such as the Xiaomi Mi 10i or the Realme X7. Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is not a bad smartphone, its price and value don't quite align.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor in India, which is also used in direct competitors such as the Xiaomi Mi 10i and the Moto G50 5G. In my usage, I didn't notice any delays or stutter, and uploading times were reasonable. With 6GB of RAM on board, multitasking wasn't an issue. For gaming, I played Call of Duty Mobile at high preset settings for both graphics and frame rate, and it was playable without any issues. However, the top of the phone did get warm to the touch after 20 minutes of playtime, but not excessively so. The Galaxy M42 5G runs One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11, with the April Android security patch at the time of my review, which is acceptable. However, I found some pre-installed bloatware on the device, which I would recommend uninstalling immediately if you don't intend to use them. In terms of performance, the Galaxy M42 5G is capable and delivers good results. The processor handles everyday tasks with ease, and multitasking is not a problem with 6GB of RAM. While it's not exceptional in any way, it's certainly competent for its price segment. One thing to note is that I didn't notice any significant improvement in performance compared to the Mi 10i or Moto G50 5G, which also use the same processor. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the Galaxy M42 5G is underpowered – it's just that the competition is quite strong in this segment. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M42 5G's performance is adequate for its price and provides a smooth experience for everyday usage. However, when compared to its competitors, it doesn't stand out as particularly exceptional, but still manages to deliver good results.
Pros
1. Capable Processor
2. Good Camera Performance
3. Impressive Battery Life
4. In-Display Fingerprint Scanner
Cons
1. HD Plus Display
2. Pre-Installed Bloatware
3. Slow Charging
4. Not Available in All Markets