1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.4 × 75.9 × 8.6 mm | 161.8 × 74.2 × 8.6 mm | The Samsung is slightly taller and wider, but both have the same thickness. This difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. |
| Weight | 193g | 193.9g | Virtually identical weight; both will feel similar in the hand. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.6" | 6.5" | Minimal difference in size; both offer a similar viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2400 | The Blackview A96 offers a sharper display due to its significantly higher resolution. Text and images will look crisper and more detailed on the A96. |
| PPI | 266 | 405 | Higher pixel density on the Blackview A96 translates to a visibly sharper and more detailed display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED on the Samsung delivers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency when using dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Blackview A96's 120Hz refresh rate results in much smoother scrolling and animations, leading to a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have identical peak brightness. Brightness not specified for either phone |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | The Helio G99 (6nm) in the Blackview is slightly more efficient, and scores slightly higher in benchmark scores. |
| AnTuTu Score | 392,400 | 423,393 | The Blackview A96 demonstrates a slightly better overall performance based on benchmark tests |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G57 MC2 | The Mali-G57 MC2 is more potent than the Adreno 619, translating to better graphics performance, especially in games. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4380mAh | The Samsung A42 5G has a larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life between charges. |
| Charging | 15W | 18W | The Blackview A96 charges slightly faster. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable | Both have non-removable batteries, a common feature in modern smartphones. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Rear Standard | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2" | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/2" | The Blackview A96 has a slightly wider aperture (f/1.6) which means better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Selfie | 20MP, f/2.2 | 16MP | The Samsung A42 5G has a higher resolution selfie camera for more detailed images. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.4 | The Blackview A96 offers a higher resolution for wide-angle photos. The Samsung A42 5G features a wider aperture on the wide angle lens which would result in slightly better low light performance compared to the Blackview A96. |
| Portrait Mode | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | The Samsung A42 5G has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait photos with bokeh effects. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | The Samsung has a higher resolution macro camera which would allow for slightly more detailed macro shots |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 1440p@30fps | Samsung A42 5G can record in 4K for higher-quality videos. |
| Video Stabilization | Yes | Yes | Both phones offer stabilization for smoother video footage. |
| Slow Motion | 480fps | 30 fps | The Samsung A42 5G can record higher quality slow motion footage. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 10 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 | The Blackview A96 comes with the latest OS out of the box. |
| Internal Storage | 128GB | 256GB | The Blackview A96 offers double the internal storage for more apps, photos, and files. |
| RAM | 4, 6 or 8GB | 8 or 12 GB | The Blackview A96 offers more RAM, which means better multitasking, faster app switching, and improved performance in demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so storage space is fixed. |
| Audio | Basic | Stereo Speakers | The Blackview A96 offers superior audio with stereo speakers, providing better separation and more immersive audio. |
| Security | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | The side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the Blackview A96 is generally more convenient and faster. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | The Samsung A42 5G offers slightly better location accuracy by supporting more satellite systems, with the inclusion of Galileo for more comprehensive global coverage |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both phones include a standard suite of sensors, the Samsung A42 5G includes a geomagnetic sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display Technology: AMOLED display offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors.
- Larger Battery: Offers 12% larger battery capacity (5000mAh) for longer usage.
- 4K Video Recording: Can record videos in 4K resolution, offering sharper and more detailed footage.
- Better Slow-Motion Recording: Can record higher quality slow motion footage up to 480fps.
- More Comprehensive Satellite Support: Includes Galileo for better GPS positioning, particularly in urban environments.
- Portrait Camera: Includes a dedicated portrait sensor that provides additional quality to depth of field shots.
- Macro Camera: Includes a higher resolution macro sensor that will allow for more detailed macro shots.
Blackview A96 Advantages:
- Higher Resolution Display: Sharper display due to higher resolution and PPI, leading to clearer images and text.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides a much more fluid user experience, especially when scrolling or gaming.
- Faster Charging: Supports 18W charging compared to Samsung's 15W charging.
- More Internal Storage: 256GB storage vs Samsung's 128GB.
- More RAM: Comes with 8 or 12GB of RAM vs Samsung's 4, 6 or 8GB.
- Stereo Speakers: Offers a superior audio experience with stereo speakers.
- Newer OS: Comes with Android 13, a more recent operating system with potential new features and security updates.
- Marginally Better Performance: Higher Antutu score suggests slightly better performance in day to day tasks and gaming.
Trade-offs:
- Display Trade-off: The Samsung A42 5G's AMOLED display provides better contrast, but the Blackview A96 has a much sharper and smoother IPS LCD.
- Camera Trade-off: The Samsung A42 5G has higher resolution on the selfie camera, and includes macro and portrait lenses, while the Blackview A96 has a better aperture main camera and higher resolution on the wide-angle sensor.
- Battery vs Charging: The Samsung A42 5G has a bigger battery, but the Blackview A96 charges faster.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize display quality with vibrant colors and deep blacks, along with video recording quality, a better slow motion capture and need a longer battery life.
- Use Cases:
- Content consumption (watching movies, videos with good visual quality)
- Users who value battery life for all-day use and frequent travelers
- Users that enjoy capturing high quality content with 4k video and advanced slow motion recording capabilities.
- Users who value a variety of camera lenses and portrait / macro capabilities.
Blackview A96
- Ideal User: Users who prefer smoother, crisper and more detailed displays, enjoy gaming or other graphical intensive tasks, and need plenty of storage and memory for multitasking.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming and heavy app usage.
- Users who prefer a faster display experience.
- Users that need lots of local storage for photos, videos, and other files.
- Users who often listen to audio from their phone and want an enhanced experience.
4. Decision Framework
Here are 3 key questions to consider before choosing between the two phones:
- Display Preference: Do you prioritize vibrant colors and deep blacks (AMOLED - Samsung A42 5G) or a sharper, more detailed and smoother display with faster refresh rates (IPS LCD with 120Hz - Blackview A96)?
- Primary Use Cases: Is your priority longer battery life for extended usage (Samsung A42 5G) or performance with more RAM and storage, alongside stereo speakers (Blackview A96)?
- Camera Needs: Do you need higher resolution video recording and better slow-motion capability (Samsung A42 5G) or are you fine with slightly lower resolution video recording but an improved main camera aperture (Blackview A96)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For Media Consumption: If you primarily use your phone for watching videos and movies, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G's AMOLED display is more suitable.
- For Gaming and Performance: If you enjoy mobile gaming and prefer a smoother experience, the Blackview A96's 120Hz display and greater RAM is more suitable.
- For Photography and Videography: If you are a more serious photographer and videographer, the Samsung A42 5G offers more video capabilities with 4k recording, and a variety of camera lenses. If you prioritize better low light photos on the main camera lens, then the Blackview A96 is more suitable.
My Choice
Based on the specifications and my priorities, I would choose the Blackview A96. While the Samsung A42 5G offers a good display and 4k video recording, the Blackview A96 edges out the Samsung A42 5G with its noticeably higher resolution display and 120hz refresh rate. The higher resolution and faster refresh rate will contribute to a smoother, crisper user experience, especially when gaming and multitasking. The addition of stereo speakers, and double the storage and more RAM compared to the Samsung A42 5G would make this a more enjoyable phone to use. While the Samsung has a slightly larger battery, the Blackview A96 makes up for this with faster charging. The Samsung has some strengths in it's camera department, but the Blackview's improved main camera aperture would lead to better results in my regular use cases, and the 4k video on the Samsung isn't something I prioritize. Overall, the Blackview A96 is the better all-around option for my priorities.
