Samsung Galaxy F42 5G Review: Powerful Features with Some Trade-offs
Introduction:
The Samsung Galaxy F42 5G is the latest addition to Samsung's smartphone lineup, aiming to compete in various economic and mid-range segments. With a focus on strong processing power, a large battery, and standout camera features, the phone seeks to offer value across different user preferences. Let's dive into the detailed specifications, features, drawbacks, and expert assessments of the device.
Design and Build:
The phone features a plastic back and frame, while the front is covered in glass. The rear houses a square camera module in the top left corner, and the front includes a small waterdrop notch for the front camera. The phone's weight is a downside, coming in at 203 grams, and its dimensions measure 167.2 x 76.4 x 9.0 mm, making it noticeably thick.
Display:
The 6.6-inch screen boasts a resolution of 2408 x 1080 pixels, with a pixel density of 400 pixels per inch. The 20:9 aspect ratio display covers 82.1% of the front interface and offers a refresh rate of 90 Hz. Although the screen type (Super AMOLED or IPS LCD) is not confirmed, the display quality is impressive.
Performance:
The Samsung Galaxy F42 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor, built on a 7nm process. It features an octa-core CPU with two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz, offering both power and efficiency. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU handles graphics and gaming tasks effectively.
Memory and Storage:
Two storage and RAM variants are available: 128GB/6GB RAM and 128GB/8GB RAM. The phone supports expandable storage via a dedicated microSDXC card slot.
Battery:
The device houses a substantial 5000mAh non-removable lithium-polymer battery. Despite its large capacity, the charging speed is limited to 15W, resulting in longer charging times.
Camera:
The triple rear camera setup includes a 64MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 5MP ultra-wide camera with a 115-degree field of view, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is an 8MP shooter with an f/2.0 aperture. While the rear cameras offer decent performance, the front camera falls short in comparison to others in its price range.
Pros:
- Strong and power-efficient processor.
- Large battery capacity.
- Standout rear camera system.
- Ample storage and RAM.
- 5G network support.
Cons:
- Slow charging speed.
- Front camera performance lags behind competitors in the same price range.
Conclusion:
The Samsung Galaxy F42 5G offers impressive features within its price range, such as its processor, rear camera system, and battery capacity. However, compromises like slower charging and a less competitive front camera should be considered.
In its price category, there are other strong contenders like the Huawei Nova 8i and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro. The phone's appeal largely depends on the user's priorities and preferences.
