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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a phone with a premium camera experience, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max will excel with better photo and video quality and offers more advanced features like Dolby Vision HDR video. However, it does come at a premium price. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A42 is more budget-friendly, yet still provides a decent camera and longer battery life. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a larger and higher quality OLED display, while the Galaxy A42's screen is slightly smaller with a lower resolution. The iPhone also has a fresher design with glass back versus the plastic on the A42, and boasts a more powerful processor and more RAM, which should result in better performance. The Galaxy A42 has the benefits of expandable storage via SD card and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which the iPhone lacks. Operating system preferences also come into play as the iPhone runs on iOS and the Galaxy A42 on Android. Consider what matters most to you: camera quality and performance, or a lower price point with some additional features. 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 15 Pro Max
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
10.0
5.3
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has best in class overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers outstanding camera performance across various criteria, such as resolution, software experience, and low light conditions, especially noted in its high-quality selfie camera. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A42 has a more modest camera setup, with fair performance and lower scores in resolution and low light, which is reflected in its overall average camera abilities compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's premium features.
Photo Quality
10.0
5.3
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the best photos, including selfies, which is attributed to its superior camera software and hardware that contribute to exceptional resolution, dynamic range, low light performance, and versatility. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy A42 delivers fair photo quality due to lower performance in these aspects, more significantly impacting its selfie photo quality.
Video Quality
10.0
5.2
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers superior video quality with the best stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance alongside excellent microphone quality, contributing to an impressive video software experience overall. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A42 has limitations in video dynamic range, stabilization, low light performance, and microphone quality, which collectively lead to a less satisfactory video recording experience..
Battery
9.8 Hours
10.7 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9.8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$1,100
$360
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a price of $1,100 and the Samsung Galaxy A42 costs $360.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A42 is 6.6 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy A42 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy A42 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $360 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | November 11, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 1600 x 720 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 266 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD750 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 10/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 10/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.8 Hours | 10.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4441 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.3" x 3.02" | 6.47" x 2.99" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.80 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 | 5.3 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 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 Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Black, Gray, White | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerful flagship phone that delivers upgrade-worthy features, including a lighter and more compact titanium design, a bigger 5x zoom and a useful Action button. The A17 Pro chip is the fastest around and enables console-quality gameplay, while the battery lasts an epic 14 hours."
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 15 Pro Max 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
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
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8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
71,060
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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.
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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.
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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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