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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Samsung Galaxy A42 is significantly cheaper and offers a durable plastic back, with a large screen and decent camera capabilities for everyday use. On the other hand, if camera quality is a priority and you're willing to pay a higher price, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra features a higher-resolution camera system with advanced video capabilities and a glass body that feels more premium. The S22 Ultra also has a larger, more vibrant screen with a higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling, and its overall performance, including battery life, is superior to the A42. Both phones run on Android and support 5G, but the S22 Ultra also has wireless charging and a higher waterproof rating. 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 Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.3
8.4
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra delivers a superior camera performance with very good photo software, good dynamic range, and good low-light performance, along with a very good selfie camera, making it ideal for high-quality photography and selfies. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A42's cameras are rated as having fair software experience, poor dynamic range, poor low-light performance, and a poor selfie camera, making it less capable in capturing high-quality photos or selfies.
Photo Quality
5.3
8.5
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a fair camera with a good software experience, but it lacks dynamic range and struggles in low light conditions; its selfie camera also falls short compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which delivers very good photos with a robust software experience and excels in dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, providing a superior selfie experience.
Video Quality
5.2
7.4
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos due to its lower video resolution/framerate, less advanced video software experience, weaker video stabilization, narrower video dynamic range, inferior low light performance, and lower microphone quality. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes good videos as it excels in these areas with higher video resolution/framerate, more sophisticated video software, better stabilization, wider dynamic range, superior low light performance, and better mic quality.
Battery
10.7 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$360
$446
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a price of $360 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra costs $446.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a screen size of 6.6 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy A42 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$360 | $446 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 11, 2020 | February 25, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.6" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1600 x 720 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 266 | 500 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD750 | SD8G1 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.2/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10.7 Hours | 7.8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | No | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 0 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.47" x 2.99" | 6.43" x 3.07" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.81 oz | 8.04 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 5 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (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 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 248 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Black, Gray, White | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Burgundy, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | No | |
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."
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Eric Zeman | February 2023
"The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a bit of a “greatest hits” compilation of Samsung’s best ideas from former devices. Moreover, it packs much of the same productivity-enabling software as previous Note devices coupled with the power of the S Pen while keeping the total package reasonable in terms of cost. The phone has more features, more cameras, and more software to put to use than many competing phones. It’s a hardcore device that nearly has it all."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy A42 or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
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
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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
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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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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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