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Updated February 13, 2024·
If you're considering battery life and screen size, the OnePlus 12R has a slightly larger battery and screen than the Samsung Galaxy A42. The OnePlus 12R also offers better overall camera performance, and its display is brighter and has a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals. However, the Samsung Galaxy A42 could be a more budget-friendly option that still provides a good quality OLED display and adequate battery life. The A42 includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is missing on the OnePlus. Both phones run Android and offer 5G connectivity, but the OnePlus 12R comes with faster-charging capabilities. 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 OnePlus 12R
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Excellent performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.5
5.3
The OnePlus 12R has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The OnePlus 12R, despite having an overall 'Good' camera performance in most areas including resolution, software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, suffers from just 'Good' selfie quality, impacting the all-important selfie experience. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A42, with only a 'Fair' rating in camera versatility and 'Poor' in photo dynamic range and low light performance, offers merely 'Poor' selfie quality, reflecting its subpar performance in this very important camera aspect.
Photo Quality
7.4
5.3
The OnePlus 12R takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The OnePlus 12R's camera performance is deemed better due to its higher photos software experience, which impacts the overall image quality and user experience, and good camera versatility, which refers to the range of photographic options and lenses available. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy A42 has a lower photos software experience, indicating the images produced might not be as refined, and only a fair camera versatility, limiting its range of photo-taking capabilities.
Video Quality
6.6
5.2
The OnePlus 12R takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The OnePlus 12R takes poor videos due to its average video resolution/framerate, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy A42 also delivers poor video quality with subpar video resolution/framerate, video stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, but with slightly worse microphone quality compared to the OnePlus 12R.
Battery
8.2 Hours
10.7 Hours
The OnePlus 12R has 8.2 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$500
$360
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The OnePlus 12R has a price of $500 and the Samsung Galaxy A42 costs $360.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The OnePlus 12R has a screen size of 6.78 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A42 is 6.6 inches.
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How the OnePlus 12R and the Samsung Galaxy A42 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 12R | Samsung Galaxy A42 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $360 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 13, 2024 | November 11, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.78" | 6.6" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2780 x 1264 | 1600 x 720 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 450 | 266 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G2 | SD750 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 50 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.2 Hours | 10.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5500 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 | 6.43" x 2.96" | 6.47" x 2.99" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.76 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 | 7 | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | (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: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Iron Grey, Cool Blue | Black, Gray, White | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
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 OnePlus 12R or the Samsung Galaxy A42
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
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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About the phone team
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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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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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