Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A42 5G vs. Huawei nova Y90
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm | 163.3 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm | Slightly larger overall size of A42 5G might be noticeable to some users. |
| Weight | 193g | 195g | Negligible difference in weight; both feel similar in hand. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.6" | 6.7" | The Huawei has a slightly larger screen, which could be a plus for media consumption or gaming. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2388 | The Huawei's higher resolution results in a noticeably sharper, clearer picture, reducing pixelation |
| PPI | 266 | 391 | Huawei nova Y90's higher pixel density will display sharper text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Samsung's AMOLED screen offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colours, resulting in better viewing experience, especially in darker environments or when viewing HDR content. It is also more power efficient when using dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Huawei's 90Hz refresh rate provides a smoother experience with animations and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | No information provided on peak brightness, hard to know the performance under bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | The A42 5G's chipset offers better performance overall and has 5G capability. The Nova Y90 is more energy efficient due to a smaller manufacturing process. |
| AnTuTu Score | 392,400 | 249,000 | The A42 5G is significantly faster in terms of performance, offering better gaming, multitasking, and app loading speeds. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 610 | The A42 5G’s GPU provides superior graphical performance for gaming and other graphically demanding tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Marginally higher resolution for the Huawei, but sensor quality matters more than megapixels. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.8 | Both cameras have the same aperture, suggesting similar low light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | Unspecified | The A42 has a larger sensor meaning it will perform better in low light conditions |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 0.70 µm | The Samsung phone captures more light per pixel which can help in low light. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 8MP | Samsung’s front camera captures far more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | Huawei front camera allows more light, helpful in low light conditions for selfies. |
| Wide Angle lens | 5MP f/2.2 | N/A | Samsung offers a wider field of view with its wide-angle lens, great for group photos or landscapes. |
| Portrait mode (depth) | 5MP f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung can take portrait photos using a depth sensor. |
| Macro lens | 5MP f/2.4 | N/A | Samsung can capture close-up images with its macro lens. |
| Secondary Camera | N/A | 2MP f/2.4 | The Huawei has additional cameras, likely used for depth or macro. |
| Tertiary Camera | N/A | 2MP f/2.4 | The Huawei has additional cameras, likely used for depth or macro. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 1080p@30fps | Samsung can record in 4K resolution, ideal for users wanting the highest video quality. |
| Slow Motion | Yes, 480 fps | No, 30 fps | Samsung can record in slow motion much better than the Huawei |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have similar battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 40W fast charging | Huawei's significantly faster charging will get the phone topped up much quicker. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to 13 | Unspecified | Samsung offers a fully supported Google Android experience, while the Huawei software is not specified |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Both support similar standards, offering fast wireless internet. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 LE | Samsung has more bluetooth profiles |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Huawei offers more accurate positioning due to more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Both offer dual SIM functionality, which is useful for travel or separating personal/work accounts. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128 GB | 128 GB | Both provide enough storage for most users but can be limiting for those with large media libraries. |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 4/6/8 GB | Both offer the same RAM, which is good for multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows expandable storage, meaning storage is limited to the internal size. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Huawei nova Y90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Audio | Basic audio features | Basic audio features | Both phones provide similar audio capabilities |
| Security | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Huawei side-mounted fingerprint sensor is faster and more convenient. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | The A42 has Gyroscope, making it more suitable for gaming and VR applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Advantages:
Trade-offs:
- Samsung A42 5G sacrifices display resolution and charging speed for superior processing power, camera versatility, full Android experience, and superior display technology.
- Huawei nova Y90 sacrifices processing power and camera versatility for faster charging, sharper screen, and higher refresh rate.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Ideal User:
- Gamers: The superior chipset and GPU, combined with the gyroscope, make this phone better for gaming.
- Content Creators: 4K video recording, macro lens, wide-angle lens, higher quality selfie camera are beneficial for content creation.
- Users who Value a Full Android Experience: The fully supported Google Android environment is important to some users.
- Users who value display quality: the AMOLED display will give better visual experience.
Huawei nova Y90 Ideal User:
- Frequent Chargers: If faster charging is a priority, this is a good option.
- Casual Users: Those who prioritize a sharp and smooth display for everyday use.
- Users who value GPS accuracy: The more accurate GPS is great for location-intensive applications.
- Users who value fingerprint sensor speed: Side mounted fingerprint sensor is more convenient and faster.
Use Cases:
- Samsung Galaxy A42 5G: Mobile gaming, content creation, video editing, social media content creation, watching HDR content, and everyday use.
- Huawei nova Y90: Casual web browsing, social media, navigating with GPS, and general multimedia consumption.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, content creation, basic use, etc.).
- Is display quality (sharpness, color, refresh rate) or processing power more important to you?
- Do you prioritize fast charging or better camera versatility and quality?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: If you're a gamer or frequent content creator, choose the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G for better performance and camera.
- Scenario 2: If you value a sharper display, smoother animations, and fast charging, the Huawei nova Y90 is a better fit.
- Scenario 3: If you value a full android experience, the Samsung is the only choice.
My Choice
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G. While the Huawei nova Y90 offers a sharper display and faster charging, the Samsung's superior processing power (AnTuTu score of 392,400 vs 249,000) , the superior camera system with the wide-angle lens and 4K video recording, and more importantly, full Android ecosystem support is crucial for my needs. As someone who games and does content creation, the processing power and camera features are very important. The AMOLED display is also important to me. While the faster charging and higher refresh rate of the Huawei are nice, the A42 5G is the better all-around choice for my needs. The gyroscope will also allow me to use VR apps, something the Huawei doesn't support. The much better slow motion video will also enhance my content creation capabilities.
