Samsung Galaxy A42 5G vs Galaxy A41: It seems size matters

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With the Galaxy A42 5G finally having a complete specs sheet to its name, we can finally draw concrete comparisons between Samsung's upcoming mid-ranger and its direct predecessor, the Galaxy A41. Much like their names already imply, the newer smartphone comes with 5G capabilities, whereas the last year's model is limited to LTE networks, but given how this is the lower portion of the mid-range category we're talking about, this probably won't make much of a difference to the target demographic; not beyond enterprise deployments, that is.

Galaxy A41 vs A42 5G: Do you prefer your smartphones large or extra large?

What isn't as obvious, not even from looking at the images of the two, is just how much bigger the Galaxy A42 5G actually is relative to its prequel. It boasts a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display as opposed to a 6.1-inch one. In terms of overall dimensions, it measures in at 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6mm, whereas the Galaxy A41 was 149.9 x 69.8 x 7.9mm in size.

That larger physical footprint impacts weight as well, with the Galaxy A42 5G being a 190g smartphone, nearly one-third heavier than the 152g Galaxy A41.

The Galaxy A41 started at around €299 in Europe, and while its successor isn't as affordable, it's not that far off, either. While production costs went down over the 18 months between them, Samsung still had to make some sacrifices in order to maintain its profit margin which we can only speculate about at this point, but given the competition in the mid-range market segment, you can be sure we're not looking at a significant bottom line.

Size matters, but choice matters more

That is why the Galaxy A42 5G sports an HD+ (1,600 x 720) display instead of an FHD+ (2,400 x 1,080) one. On the bright side, it also comes in three times as many memory configurations as its predecessor; all of which offer 128GB of flash storage, twice as many as the Galaxy A41, but go up to 8GB of RAM. Not all of those variants are expected to release in every single market Samsung is targeting, but any degree of choice is better than no choice at all.

Combined with improved microSD support, a significantly more powerful system-on-chip, and a variety of minor generational changes, the Galaxy A42 5G appears to be the better option for informed consumers who are willing to pay more than the bare minimum for their next smartphone but want to understand what exactly does that extra money get them.

For an even more detailed look at the Galaxy A42 5G and the Galaxy A41, you can learn all about their specifications and more using our online comparison tool which lists their similarities and differences side-by-side. You can even compare up to four Samsung devices in total using the same tool, so it should come in handy if you're trying to make a purchase decision aimed at any contemporary Galaxy product.

Of course, don't forget to chime in with your own opinions regarding this comparison down in the comments, starting with whether you deem the Galaxy A42 5G to be worth it over its direct predecessor.

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