Samsung Galaxy A42 vs Galaxy A32
Here we compared two mid-range smartphones: the 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A42 (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G) that was released on September 2, 2020, against the Samsung Galaxy A32, which is powered by Mediatek Helio G80 and came out 6 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A42
- 71% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (380K versus 222K)
- Shows 12% longer battery life (39:16 vs 35:02 hours)
- Slow-motion recording at 480FPS
- Ability to record video in 4K resolution
- More energy-efficient CPU – Snapdragon 750 5G
- Faster storage type - UFS 2.1 versus eMMC 5.1
- 83% faster in single-core GeekBench 5 test: 647 and 353 points
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A32
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- 55% higher pixel density (411 vs 266 PPI)
- Delivers 42% higher peak brightness (818 against 575 nits)
- The phone is 6-months newer
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Review
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Performance
CPU/GPU performance in apps and games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview score
Final comparison evaluation
Value for money
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Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| PPI | 266 ppi | 411 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 500 nits | 800 nits |
| HDR support | No | No |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 84.3% | 84.6% |
| Display features | - Always-On Display | - Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | 97.7% | - |
| PWM | 242 Hz | - |
| Response time | 9.5 ms | - |
| Contrast | ∞ Infinity | - |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 164.4 mm (6.47 inches) | 158.9 mm (6.26 inches) |
| Width | 75.9 mm (2.99 inches) | 73.6 mm (2.9 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.6 mm (0.34 inches) | 8.4 mm (0.33 inches) |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Rear material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Frame material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors | White, Black, Gray | White, Black, Blue, Purple |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, in-display | Yes, in-display |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G | Mediatek Helio G80 |
| Max clock | 2200 MHz | 2000 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (2 + 6) | 8 (2 + 6) |
| Architecture | - 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 570 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 570 Gold (Cortex-A77) |
- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 2 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A75 |
| Lithography process | 8 nanometers | 12 nanometers |
| Graphics | Adreno 619 | Mali-G52 MP2 |
| GPU clock | 825 MHz | 950 MHz |
| FLOPS | - | ~54.6 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 5 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 9
| CPU | 120293 | 65278 |
| GPU | 86738 | 56558 |
| Memory | 74375 | 36467 |
| UX | 98730 | 62688 |
| Total score | 380292 | 222443 |
Memory
| RAM size | 4, 6, 8 GB | 4, 6, 8 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 1866 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 2.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Memory card | MicroSD | MicroSD |
| Memory card max size | Up to 512 GB | Up to 1024 GB |
Software
| Operating system | Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | One UI 3.1 | One UI 5.0 |
| OS size | 20 GB | 18.6 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charge power | 15 W | 15 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Reverse charging | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes (27% in 30 min) | Yes (25% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 2:01 hr | 2:19 hr |
| Web browsing | 13:46 hr | 12:46 hr |
| Watching video | 18:16 hr | 14:17 hr |
| Gaming | 06:19 hr | 06:20 hr |
| Standby | 123 hr | 115 hr |
General battery life
Smartphones With the Best Battery Life (32nd and 114th place)
Camera
| Matrix | 48 megapixels | 64 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 8000 x 6000 | 9216 x 6912 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Digital | Digital |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 30FPS | No |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 30FPS |
| Slow motion | 480 FPS (720p) | 120 FPS (720p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 123° | 123° |
| Lenses | 4 (48 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP) | 4 (64 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens | - 48 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2", Samsung S5KGM2 (ISOCELL CMOS) - Phase autofocus |
- 64 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Phase autofocus |
| Ultra-wide lens | - 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 |
- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 13 mm - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS) |
| Macro lens | - 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 |
- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 |
| Depth lens | - 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 |
- 5 MP - Aperture: f/2.4 |
| Camera features | - Bokeh mode - Pro mode |
- Bokeh mode - Pro mode |
| Megapixels | 20 megapixels | 20 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 5184 x 3880 | 5380 x 3620 |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Pixel size | 1 microns | - |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi features | - Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display |
- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot |
| Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP | PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 2 | 2 |
| USB features | - Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |
| NFC* | Yes | No |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM* | 2 | 2 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | Standby | Standby |
| eSIM support* | No | No |
| Hybrid slot | Yes | No |
| LTE Cat* | 18 | 12 |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
Sound
| Speakers | Mono | Mono |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | Yes |
| FM radio | No | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
Speakers test
Max loudness
Other
| Category | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Announced | September 2020 | February 2021 |
| Release date | November 2020 | February 2021 |
| SAR (head) | 1.15 W/kg | 0.45 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | 1.33 W/kg | 1.3 W/kg |
| Sensors | - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
If the performance, battery life, and camera are more important to you, then choose the Samsung Galaxy A42. But if the display and design are more of a priority – go for the Samsung Galaxy A32.
Cast your vote
Total votes: 146