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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you are considering a phone based on price and battery life, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a budget-friendly option with good battery duration but offers a lower quality display and camera compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A42 offers a higher camera quality, including still photo and video, and has an OLED screen, which is generally better than the LCD screen on the Motorola for color and contrast, but it costs more. Both phones have plastic bodies, come with the same amount of storage, support 5G, and are based on the Android operating system. The Samsung Galaxy A42 also has a slightly lighter build and an under-display fingerprint sensor, which may be more convenient than the rear sensor on the Motorola. 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 Motorola One 5G Ace
- The Motorola One 5G Ace has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy A42.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
4.3
5.3
The Samsung Galaxy A42 and Motorola One 5G Ace both have poor overall camera quality, though the Samsung Galaxy A42 has somewhat better overall camera quality.
The Motorola One 5G Ace falls short in camera performance across all considered factors, including selfie camera quality which is particularly poor when compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42, which has a fair selfie camera. Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy A42 offers a better overall photos software experience, adding to its advantage, whereas the Motorola's versatility and capability in low light are weak, making it less favorable for photography enthusiasts.
Photo Quality
4.3
5.3
The Samsung Galaxy A42 and Motorola One 5G Ace both have poor photos, though the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes somewhat better photos.
The Motorola One 5G Ace takes poor photos predominantly due to its lower selfie quality and subpar performance across other factors like software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance when compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42, which achieves fair photo quality and notably has a better performance in the selfie department. While both phones struggle with low light conditions and dynamic range, the Galaxy A42's slightly superior software experience and selfie quality give it an edge over the Motorola One 5G Ace in photography.
Video Quality
4.3
5.2
The Samsung Galaxy A42 and Motorola One 5G Ace both have poor videos, though the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes somewhat better videos.
The Motorola One 5G Ace has poor ratings across the board for video features, including resolution, stabilization, and low light performance, leading to less than optimal video recording capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy A42, while having a better video software experience, also suffers from poor video stabilization and low light performance, which compromises its video quality.
Battery
9.6 Hours
10.7 Hours
The Motorola One 5G Ace has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$99
$360
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Motorola One 5G Ace has a price of $99 and the Samsung Galaxy A42 costs $360.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Motorola One 5G Ace has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A42 is 6.6 inches.
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How the Motorola One 5G Ace and the Samsung Galaxy A42 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Motorola One 5G Ace | Samsung Galaxy A42 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $360 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Motorola | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 14, 2021 | November 11, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 1600 x 720 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 393 | 266 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | LCD | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD750 | SD750 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 4.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 4.4/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 4.4/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 10.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.54" x 3" | 6.47" x 2.99" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.51 oz | 6.81 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 5 | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 | (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, Fingerprint sensor: Rear | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Volcanic Gray, Frosted Silver | Black, Gray, White | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | Yes | |
Shopping
Motorola One 5G Ace
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Mark Knapp | February 2021
"The Motorola One 5G Ace is on the affordable side, but you don’t get a phone that will expire quickly. It proves plenty speedy for most uses, and has 5G support to get you onto the latest cellular technology. With a 6.7-inch display, the Motorola One 5G Ace is about as big as they come. The display is plenty bright, as sharp as it needs to be, and even offers HDR to round out the package."
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 Motorola One 5G Ace or the Samsung Galaxy A42
About Motorola
Motorola, a well-known name in the smartphone world, has a long-standing legacy in the industry, with a history dating back to the early days of mobile phones. The brand is mostly known for striking a balance between affordability and functionality, as well as providing a clean and straightforward interface with their software skin on top of Android. While they have traditionally been prominent in the budget and midrange categories, Motorola has also occasionally ventured into the high-end category for smartphones.
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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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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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