The Samsung Galaxy M42 5G marks a significant step for the M-series as it’s the first phone in this budget-friendly lineup to boast 5G connectivity. At a starting price of ₹21,999, this phone aggressively targets the value-conscious consumer seeking enhanced speeds and future-proofing. However, under the hood, Samsung has made some choices that might raise eyebrows, particularly the inclusion of an HD+ display, a feature typically found in far more affordable models. This begs the question: Does the Galaxy M42 5G truly deliver value, or has Samsung sacrificed key features for the sake of affordability? Let’s delve into the detailed review to find out.
Galaxy M42 5G: A Big Phone with a Price Tag to Match
The Galaxy M42 5G is a large smartphone, bearing similarities to the Galaxy A42 5G, both in terms of its 6.6-inch Infinity-U display and its overall dimensions. The phone’s polycarbonate back panel sports a glossy finish that Samsung calls "Glasstic," aptly named as it captures fingerprints and smudges with alarming efficiency.
Visually, the back panel is segmented into four blocks, each with a varying shade of black, growing lighter as you move down. The lower three segments feature a subtle dotted pattern that disperses light into different hues. Samsung cleverly christened this color Prism Dot Black, while its lighter counterpart is termed Prism Dot Gray.
With a thickness of 8.6mm and a weight of 193g, the Galaxy M42 5G is relatively manageable. It feels comfortable in hand, with buttons that are easy to reach. The inclusion of an in-display fingerprint sensor for convenient unlocking is praiseworthy, especially for one-handed use. The SIM tray sits on the left of the plastic frame, while the bottom houses the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port, and loudspeaker. The top is reserved solely for the secondary microphone. The quad-camera setup is neatly contained within a single module in the top left corner of the back, thankfully avoiding excessive protrusion. The 5,000mAh battery boasts 15W fast charging support, but the bundled charger falls behind the competition, offering only 15W compared to the 25W charger provided with the Galaxy M51, a slightly less expensive phone.
Specifications: A Mixed Bag of Features
The most striking element of the Galaxy M42 5G is the 6.6-inch AMOLED display sporting an HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. This low-resolution display, especially at this price point, feels like a significant compromise. Samsung offers a much lower-priced phone, the Galaxy M21, that features a full-HD+ AMOLED display. On the bright side, the in-display fingerprint sensor is a welcome addition, marking its debut in the Galaxy M series. However, a full-HD+ display with a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor would have been a more logical choice in this price bracket.
Performance-wise, the Galaxy M42 5G is powered by the robust Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G processor, a chip also seen in rivals such as the Xiaomi Mi 10i and Moto G 5G. Samsung offers two RAM variants: 6GB and 8GB, both packaged with 128GB of storage. Expandable storage is offered, but the hybrid dual-SIM tray means it requires sacrificing a SIM card slot. It would have been more consumer-friendly to offer a higher storage variant to cater to users demanding larger storage capacity.
The Galaxy M42 5G runs OneUI 3.1 on top of Android 11, a standard version of OneUI, not the Core version that other Galaxy M series phones utilize. The phone came equipped with the April Android security patch at the time of review. OneUI feels familiar for users accustomed to Samsung devices, and its user-friendliness makes it easy to adopt even for newcomers. Unfortunately, preinstalled bloatware that’s likely to be unwanted by most users detracts from the experience.
Performance: A Solid Performer, Despite the Display Bottleneck
Samsung has selected a capable processor for the Galaxy M42 5G, resulting in a noteworthy performance. Real-world use revealed no perceptible lag or stutters. App loading times were acceptable, and multitasking on my review unit with 6GB of RAM felt smooth and effortless. While the AMOLED display delivers impressive colors, the low resolution is a constant irritant. Brightness is adequate for indoor use, but outdoor visibility could be better. The in-display fingerprint sensor proved quick and reliable for unlocking, never requiring more than one attempt.
Benchmark tests demonstrated the phone’s capabilities: AnTuTu gave it a score of 357,881, it notched 652 and 1,837 in Geekbench 5’s single-core and multi-core benchmarks respectively. The advantage of its HD+ display was evident in the graphics benchmark, GFXBench Manhattan 3.1, where it achieved 56fps.
Gaming on the Galaxy M42 5G was a smooth experience. "Call of Duty Mobile" defaulted to the High preset for both graphics and frame rate, delivering playable performance without any noticeable hiccups. The top of the phone warmed up slightly after a twenty-minute gaming session, but it wasn’t overly concerning. Casual games ran without issues and the phone didn’t exhibit any signs of overheating.
The 5,000mAh battery powering the Galaxy M42 5G comfortably extends beyond a full day of use without requiring a recharge. In our HD video loop test, the phone clocked a remarkable 22 hours and 55 minutes. However, this impressive battery life is slightly hampered by Samsung’s decision to dim the display brightness when the battery level drops below 15 percent. 15W charging is relatively slow, with the phone reaching only 26 percent in 30 minutes and 51 percent in an hour.
Cameras: A Standard Quad-Camera Setup
The Galaxy M42 5G packs a standard quad-camera setup. It boasts a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, there’s a 20-megapixel shooter housed within the dewdrop notch. Samsung’s camera software remains unchanged, offering a familiar and user-friendly experience. The camera app’s AI is quick to recognize the subject, efficiently adjusting settings for optimal results.
Camera Performance: A Mixed Bag of Results
Daylight shots taken in overcast conditions produced good outcomes on the Galaxy M42 5G. Colors looked pleasing, albeit slightly boosted, with good detail. The ultra-wide camera, however, suffers from a lower resolution, resulting in inferior detail compared to the primary camera. Some distortion was present at the edges of each frame.
Close-up shots were impressive, capturing excellent color and detail. The phone also manages a convincing background blur effect. Portraits boasted precise edge detection, allowing blur level adjustment before capturing the image. Edit options within the Photo Gallery extend this functionality, offering more effects post-capture. Macro shots were decent, displaying commendable detail.
Low-light landscape images exhibited average detail and lacked crispness, although noise was well-controlled. The Night mode, while cropping the frame slightly, yielded brighter output with slightly improved detail.
Selfies benefit from beautification that’s enabled by default, smoothening skin textures. Portrait selfies turned out well, with the phone accurately detecting faces, even when wearing masks. Low-light selfies also showed decent detail.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 30fps for the primary camera. Stabilization is enabled by default, but its effectiveness was average, as minor shaking was noticeable in the output. The Super Steady mode, relying on the ultra-wide-angle camera, provides better stabilization. Unfortunately, 4K footage lacked stabilization, and the low-light video was mediocre.
Verdict: A Mixed Bag for 5G Enthusiasts
The Galaxy M42 5G currently sits as the most affordable 5G smartphone offered by Samsung. It packs a capable processor, delivering smooth performance. However, the HD+ display feels like a significant compromise, particularly at the ₹21,999 price point. Considering the lack of widespread 5G network availability in India, the Galaxy F62 emerges as a compelling alternative.
For those specifically seeking a 5G-ready phone, the Xiaomi Mi 10i and Realme X7 offer superior value and performance at this price point. The Galaxy M42 5G proves to be a solid option for budget-conscious consumers looking for a device with future-proof 5G capability and a comfortable design. However, it’s vital to acknowledge that the HD+ display and slow charging are significant drawbacks that might deter some buyers. ultimately, its appeal rests on the individual’s priorities and the balance of features that they seek.
