1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly more compact and thinner, which may feel more comfortable in hand. The A42 5G is bulkier and might feel less ergonomic for some users. |
| Weight | 193g | 183g | Honor 90 is lighter, which can be noticeable during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.6" | 6.7" | Honor 90 has a slightly larger screen providing a more immersive experience. |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 | 1200 x 2664 | Honor 90 has significantly sharper text and images, resulting in a much more pleasant viewing experience. |
| Pixel Density | 266 ppi | 435 ppi | The Honor 90's higher pixel density will make the display look much clearer and less pixelated. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED, ensuring good viewing quality. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Honor 90's 120Hz display results in smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | The Honor 90's much higher brightness will be significantly better for visibility outdoors in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | The Honor 90’s newer chipset offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance due to its more advanced architecture. |
| AnTuTu Score | 392,400 | 701,227 | Honor 90 demonstrates significantly superior performance in benchmarks, indicating a much snappier device overall. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 644 | The Honor 90 has a more powerful GPU, offering superior graphics capabilities for gaming and demanding apps. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8µm | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4", 0.56µm | The Honor 90's 200MP sensor captures significantly more detail, potentially leading to better image quality, despite the smaller pixels size. |
| Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90's 50MP selfie camera provides higher resolution for sharper selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 5MP, f/2.2 | None | The Samsung A42 5G has a dedicated wide angle lens for capturing wider scenes, while the Honor 90 uses the ultrawide in combination with macro lens. |
| Portrait Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Samsung A42 has a higher resolution dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | The Samsung A42 5G has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, while the Honor 90 does not offer a dedicated macro lens. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2 | The Honor 90's single 12MP ultrawide lens doubles as the macro lens. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | Both offer 4K video. Honor 90 has additional 1080p recording at 60fps with EIS, and a better slow motion at 960fps. |
| DxoMark | Not Tested | Overall: 122, Photo: 128, Video: 126 | Honor 90 has been tested by DxoMark with an overall score of 122, indicating its camera's capabilities. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Panorama | Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, RAW, Front Flash, Night Mode | Honor 90 offers advanced features like RAW capture and Night Mode, while the Samsung has dedicated macro and wide angle lenses. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, but due to more efficient chipset, Honor 90 will have longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 90 charges much faster, meaning less downtime waiting for the device to charge. |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Both phones use different battery technologies with a negligible real world performance difference. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 | The Honor 90 has a newer version of Android out of the box with additional updates, while the A42 has reached its final update. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | The Honor 90 supports faster Wi-Fi 6 for higher speeds, lower latency, and better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | The Honor 90 has a newer Bluetooth version with better efficiency, speed, and codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 has additional support for satellite systems which may improve location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support dual SIM, which allows to use two SIMs simultaneously. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB | 256/512 GB | The Honor 90 provides more storage space for apps, media and files. |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 8/12/16 GB | Honor 90 has more RAM available, leading to better multitasking and overall responsiveness. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither of the devices allows expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic Audio Features | Noise Cancellation Microphone | The Honor 90 has a noise cancellation microphone, which leads to better audio quality during calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones include a basic fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones offer an unknown screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, RGB | Both devices provide common sensors, with the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G having a Gyroscope, and the Honor 90 having an RGB sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Advantages:
- Dedicated Wide and Macro Lenses: Offers a dedicated ultrawide lens and a macro lens, allowing for a more varied shooting experience.
- Gyroscope: A dedicated Gyroscope may provide better motion control in games or AR apps.
- Lower Price: The A42 5G is an older device so it is likely cheaper than the Honor 90.
Practical Implications: The additional lenses on the A42 5G will allow for more flexibility in the type of photos users can take. Its dedicated Gyroscope may be preferable for gamers or AR users, and with its lower price, it may be more accessible for budget users.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher pixel density, and a 120Hz refresh rate provide a much sharper, smoother, and more vibrant visual experience. The dramatically higher brightness also helps outdoors.
- Significantly Faster Performance: The newer Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset results in much faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming performance.
- Significantly Better Camera: The 200MP main camera offers more details and better image quality in most conditions, backed by significantly higher DxOMark score.
- Faster Charging: 66W charging significantly reduces charging time, with an improvement over 15W by a large margin.
- More Storage & RAM: Comes with higher internal storage options and more RAM, resulting in smoother performance and space for more media.
- Newer Software and Connectivity: The Honor 90 comes with a newer version of Android, faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 LE for improved wireless performance.
- Noise Cancellation Microphone: Offers clearer calls in noisy environments.
Practical Implications: The Honor 90 will provide a superior user experience in almost every aspect, from visuals to performance, and battery life, offering a much smoother and enjoyable device. The better camera will result in better pictures and videos.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A42 5G: Lacks the advanced performance and display of the Honor 90. Older technology will be outpaced very quickly.
- Honor 90: Doesn't have dedicated wide and macro lenses and may be more expensive.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who want a 5G phone and are not demanding on performance or image quality.
- Use Cases: Basic daily tasks, social media browsing, casual gaming, and users who value having a dedicated wide-angle and macro camera lenses.
- Price-to-Value: Good value for users on a tight budget, but the older technology limits its longevity and overall value.
Honor 90:
- Ideal User: Users who value performance, camera quality, display, and a modern experience.
- Use Cases: Heavy multitasking, demanding mobile games, high-quality photography and videography, and content consumption in various lighting conditions.
- Price-to-Value: Provides excellent value for those who want advanced features and superior performance, making it a wise investment for long-term use.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? If the budget is extremely limited, the A42 5G is likely to be cheaper, but the Honor 90 offers significantly better performance for a higher price.
- How important are camera quality and features? If camera quality is a priority, the Honor 90 is far superior. If dedicated wide and macro lenses are important then the A42 may be preferable.
- How important is performance, display, and user experience? For users who demand smooth performance, a high-quality display, and modern features, the Honor 90 is the clear winner.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User: If you primarily need a basic smartphone with 5G connectivity and a lower price tag, the Samsung A42 5G is a suitable option, but keep in mind it is an older device and won't perform as well as modern devices, it will likely not receive any more updates.
- Enthusiast Photographer: If you prioritize camera quality, the Honor 90's high-resolution main camera and advanced features make it much more appealing, with noticeably better photo quality and versatility.
- Gaming and Performance User: The Honor 90 will provide a much better gaming experience due to its powerful chipset, high refresh rate display, and ample RAM.
- Everyday User: For everyday tasks and media consumption, the Honor 90 is significantly better in all key areas, with superior performance, display, and battery life.
My Choice and Why:
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would overwhelmingly choose the Honor 90. While the Samsung A42 5G has some merits, the Honor 90's superiority in almost every critical area is too significant to ignore.
Here's a more detailed explanation of why:
- Display Quality: The difference in display quality alone is a major factor. The Honor 90's higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness make for a significantly more enjoyable viewing experience, especially for media consumption and gaming. The A42's display will appear washed out in comparison.
- Performance: The Honor 90 is considerably faster, which makes all the difference when navigating apps, multitasking, and playing games. The A42's older chipset would feel noticeably sluggish in comparison.
- Camera: Despite some differences in lens configuration, the Honor 90's 200MP camera provides far more detail, and better overall image quality, backed by its higher DxOMark score. The A42's camera is a capable system, but will not be able to match the performance of the Honor 90.
- Charging Speed: The 66W fast charging is a game-changer, reducing charging times considerably compared to the A42's 15W.
- Modern Features: The Honor 90 benefits from a newer version of Android, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and more RAM. This guarantees a more future-proofed device with an overall smoother experience.
- User Experience: The combination of a better screen, faster performance, and more modern features makes the Honor 90 a far more enjoyable device to use on a day-to-day basis, while the A42 would feel like an older device from the beginning.
While the A42 5G might be slightly more affordable, I believe the improved experience of the Honor 90 is well worth the extra cost. It provides a significant upgrade in almost every aspect and will likely last longer. It is a clear winner for me in terms of overall value and user satisfaction.
