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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a superior camera system with higher photo and video quality, more storage, a more powerful processor, and a higher-quality display with a faster refresh rate, which contributes to smoother scrolling and better overall performance. It also features a glass body, wireless charging, and a newer Bluetooth version. However, the Samsung Galaxy A42 provides longer battery life and has a larger screen, a plastic body that can be more durable, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it supports expandable storage with an SD card. If a better camera and performance are more important to you, and you're okay with spending more, the S23 is the way to go. But if you prioritize a larger screen, longer battery life, and a more budget-friendly price, then the A42 could be the right choice. 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 S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.3
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts a much better selfie camera compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42, which is rated as very good against the A42's poor quality. Added to this, the S23 offers higher overall photo and video capabilities across various aspects like resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, justifying its superior camera system.
Photo Quality
5.3
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a superior photo-taking experience compared to the Galaxy A42, thanks in large part to its very good photos software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, as well as its excellent selfie quality. In contrast, the Galaxy A42 has lower scores in these categories, especially with poor dynamic range and low light performance, and a fair selfie quality, which contribute to its fair photo capability overall.
Video Quality
5.2
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 delivers excellent videos due to its superior stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42. Meanwhile, the A42 takes poorer videos as it falls behind in all these factors, including resolution and software experience, resulting in an overall less capable video capture capability.
Battery
10.7 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a screen size of 6.6 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$360
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a price of $360 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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How the Samsung Galaxy A42 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$360 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 11, 2020 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.6" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1600 x 720 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 266 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD750 | SD8G2 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10.7 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 3900 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" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.81 oz | 5.93 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 | 5.3 | |
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, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
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 | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
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 S23
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy A42 or the Samsung Galaxy S23
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
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
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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