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Updated January 12, 2024·
If a better camera is important to you, the Galaxy S23 FE has a more advanced setup with higher resolution sensors, promising better photo quality; it's also more recent and offers a smoother experience with a higher refresh rate screen. However, it has a slightly smaller battery, meaning you may need to charge it more often than the Galaxy A42. In contrast, the A42 is more budget-friendly, has a larger battery for longer usage between charges, and includes a headphone jack, which is absent on the S23 FE. Both phones run on Android, have OLED displays, and offer 5G connectivity. Choose the S23 FE for better overall performance and camera capabilities, or the A42 for a more affordable option with longer battery life and a headphone jack. 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 FE
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.3
7.7
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE boasts superior camera capabilities, with high-quality selfie functionality, enhanced resolution, and better performance in various lighting conditions, including low light, due to its advanced camera software and additional features such as dynamic range. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A42 offers fair selfie quality and generally entry-level camera specifications that are acceptable for basic use but lack the versatility and performance found in the higher-end S23 FE.
Photo Quality
5.3
7.7
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes very good selfies due to a combination of high-quality resolution, advanced software for image processing, better performance in low light, and more dynamic range which contribute to a richer photo experience. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A42 delivers fair quality selfies, mainly due to its limitations in these same areas, which results in less versatile camera performance and overall less impressive photo output.
Video Quality
5.2
7.2
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good videos due to its higher video resolution/framerate, advanced video stabilization, and superior microphone quality compared to the Samsung Galaxy A42, which takes poor videos because of its lower video resolution/framerate and less effective video stabilization and microphone quality. Additionally, the S23 FE's video software experience and dynamic range performance, especially in low light conditions, are rated significantly better than those of the A42.
Battery
10.7 Hours
6.4 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has 6.4 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a screen size of 6.6 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is 6.4 inches.
Cost
$360
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Samsung Galaxy A42 has a price of $360 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE costs $600.
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How the Samsung Galaxy A42 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$360 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 11, 2020 | October 26, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.6" | 6.4" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1600 x 720 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 266 | 403 | |
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 | 7.8/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.2/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 6.4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 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" | 6.22" x 3.01" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.81 oz | 7.37 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)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | |
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 | Mint, Purple, Tangerine, Indigo, Cream, 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 FE
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Iyaz Akhtar | October 2023
"The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is easily one of the best midrange Android phones on the market. The S23 FE has some appealing features you won't find on the Pixel 8 like a dedicated telephoto camera, a bigger screen, and the ability to use it like a computer via Samsung's Dex mode. So if productivity is more important to you than camera tricks, you won't find a better phone than the Galaxy S23 FE."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy A42 or the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
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
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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
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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
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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