Comparing Samsung A42 to Samsung S21

[persistentone]

I am looking at upgrading to a premium Samsung S21, and the Verizon rep happened to mention the entry level A42. Verizon is telling me the A42 has a list of $399 and they will give me a $300 credit, so effectively I would buy the phone for $99!! That got me looking and the specs on the A42 are not horrible. It is 720P instead of 1080P on the screen width, which probably I can live with for the $900 difference in my cost. Does anyone here have experience with both phones, and what are the important differences? I do not use the phone for gaming so processor speed is not a major factor for me.

Here are the camera differences between the two phones. A42 is the middle column and S21 is the right column. A42 is quad camera, but cameras two and three look weak. The primary camera is a 48 megapixel so definitely that is a serious product. But how well do they process colors and shadows? The camera is very important to me, and taking a very high quality image that handles high contrast mid-day light well is also important. I want shadow detail in high contrast images.

I am thinking to buy the A42, live with it until an S21 or S22 goes on sale at the right price, and then at that point I will use the A42 as an extra device just connected by WiFi. Is the S21 worth holding out for?

 

[mikedt]

When I was looking to buy a new Samsung phone last month. Something that was a deal breaker for me with the S21, and that is no expandable storage, i.e. no micro-SD. I have a 512GB micro-SD mainly for my music(mostly in FLAC). So I bought a Note20 Ultra 5G.

Don't know much about the A42, as I've never really paid much attention to Samsung's plethora of budget and mid-range phones.

 

[persistentone]

When I was looking to buy a new Samsung phone last month. Something that was a deal breaker for me with the S21, and that is no expandable storage, i.e. no micro-SD. I have a 512GB micro-SD mainly for my music(mostly in FLAC). So I bought a Note20 Ultra 5G.

Don't know much about the A42, as I've never really paid much attention to Samsung's plethora of budget and mid-range phones.

A42 does support a 512GB micro SD

 

[mikedt]

A42 does support a 512GB micro SD

According to GSMarena, it also has a headphone jack, which the S21 doesn't. If that's important for you. A headphone jack isn't so important for me now, as I've mostly been listening with Bluetooth headphones and speakers for a couple of years.

Don't know why Samsung didn't put a micro-SD slot in the S21 Especially when most of their other phones do.

 

[Deleted User]

If you can get $300 for your current Samsung towards a new one, I would look at the S20 FE 5G. It has all the better flagship specs, so if you can get a deal for $200 - 300 I would be very happy with that. They've come down in price here in the UK (4G and 5G versions) and I see them on the Verizon site. Plus 3 or 4 years of guaranteed updates now (I forget)
Alternatively an S21 FE 5G should be on the Verizon horizon (I'm here all week).

There are better alternatives to the A42 in the A52 and A72 but I think if you can get an S20FE for a little more. Bring in your bargaining stick!

 

[mikedt]

If you can get $300 for your current Samsung towards a new one, I would look at the S20 FE 5G. It has all the better flagship specs, so if you can get a deal for $200 - 300 I would be very happy with that. They've come down in price here in the UK (4G and 5G versions) and I see them on the Verizon site. Plus 3 or 4 years of guaranteed updates now (I forget)
Alternatively an S21 FE 5G should be on the Verizon horizon (I'm here all week).

There are better alternatives to the A42 in the A52 and A72 but I think if you can get an S20FE for a little more. Bring in your bargaining stick!

I found it interesting how Samsung kept going with their FE(Fan Edition) series phones, especially after the Note7 recall debacle. When they re-released the Note7 as Note7 FE, with a reduced battery capacity. Because the Note7 FE just gave me visions of arguing and explaining to airport security and airline staff, about what FE is.

 

[Deleted User]

Was that the original FE? LOL. I had forgotten about that lesser - batteried? Note 7 model. Can't have been many around. From the embers of a disaster rose another flop that probably nobody could sell, or travel with as you say.

I'm very happy with my Poco F2 Pro which has very similar specs and screen to the S20 FE 5G, save for missing out on 120hz, OIS, IP68, wireless charging and longer updates.

I did receive a semi major upgrade yesterday (MIUI 12.5) with efficiency and performance, gesture and graphical improvements. I had been waiting for that.
Xiaomi make good stuff and I may get suckered into buying a third model soon with their weekly price drops

I found it interesting how Samsung kept going with their FE(Fan Edition) series phones, especially after the Note7 recall debacle. When they re-released the Note7 as Note7 FE, with a reduced battery capacity. Because the Note7 FE just gave me visions of arguing and explaining to airport security and airline staff, about what FE is.