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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a high-quality camera and better overall performance and you don't mind the smaller screen size, the Apple iPhone 13 mini is a strong choice, but it will cost more than the Samsung Galaxy A42. On the other hand, if you prefer a larger screen, longer battery life, and are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Samsung Galaxy A42 will provide these benefits at a lower price point. Keep in mind that the operating system is different: the iPhone 13 mini uses iOS, which is known for its ecosystem and smooth user experience, whereas the Samsung Galaxy A42 runs on Android, which offers more customization options. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 mini
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
5.3
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A42 in camera capabilities, particularly in selfie quality, which is very important, with the iPhone 13 mini offering "very good" performance in this aspect while the Galaxy A42 provides a "good" experience.
Photo Quality
7.5
5.3
The Apple iPhone 13 mini takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini's camera system provides a very good selfie experience, supported by strong software and good performance in dynamic range and low light situations. In contrast, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 offers a good selfie experience, its overall performance is limited by fair ratings in software, dynamic range, and low light capabilities.
Video Quality
8.0
5.2
The Apple iPhone 13 mini takes very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 mini delivers very good videos due to its top-rated video stabilization and dynamic range, excellent low-light performance, and high-quality mic, making for a smooth and clear video experience. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A42 offers poorer video capabilities, with low scores in video stabilization and dynamic range, fair low-light performance, and just fair mic quality, which results in a less impressive video experience.
Battery
5.6 Hours
10.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A42 is 6.6 inches.
Cost
$600
$360
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy A42 costs $360.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 mini and the Samsung Galaxy A42 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 mini | Samsung Galaxy A42 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $360 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | November 11, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.6" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 1600 x 720 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 266 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD750 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 10.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2438 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 6.47" x 2.99" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.97 oz | 6.81 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | Black, Gray, White | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 mini
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"It’s the best small phone you can possibly buy, outpacing anything Android can offer. With the A15 Bionic system-on-chip, which includes a quad-core GPU, the iPhone 13 mini is a very powerful little phone. Fans of smaller handsets will love this phone, as it fits in many a pocket."
Samsung Galaxy A42
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Ara Wagoner | July 2021
"I need a battery that won't care if I forget to charge it every night, and I need a nice big screen for watching my shows on the go. The 5,000mAh battery will let you get two full days out of the A42. The A42 is right up your alley as an affordable 5G phone that won't die just because you had to crash at a friend's and forgot your phone charger at home."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 mini or the Samsung Galaxy A42
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Recommendations made
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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