1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G and the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.4 × 75.9 × 8.6 mm | 163.1 × 76 × 8.8 mm | Similar size; A42 is slightly taller, Edge 30 Pro slightly thicker. Negligible difference in hand feel. |
| Weight | 193g | 196g | Both feel similar in weight; slightly heavy but acceptable for most users. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Edge 30 Pro offers better screen protection from scratches and minor impacts, enhancing durability. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.6" | 6.7" | Edge 30 Pro offers a slightly larger display, beneficial for media consumption and multi-tasking. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1080x2400 | Edge 30 Pro offers significantly sharper visuals. Text and images appear clearer and more detailed, improving the viewing experience. |
| Pixel Density | 266 PPI | 393 PPI | Edge 30 Pro provides a noticeably crisper display. The difference in sharpness will be apparent in daily usage. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. Edge 30 Pro’s display may offer minor differences in color calibration and energy consumption, but practically very similar. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | Edge 30 Pro provides significantly smoother animations, making scrolling, gaming, and general usage feel more fluid and responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits, making it hard to assess real world readability. Missing specification |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Edge 30 Pro's newer, more powerful chipset offers drastically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 392,400 | 1,061,400 | Edge 30 Pro's significantly higher score indicates much superior overall performance, better for gaming and resource-intensive applications. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 730 | Edge 30 Pro's superior GPU handles demanding games and graphics-intensive tasks much more smoothly and with better visual quality. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP (f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8µm) | 50MP (f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm) | Edge 30 Pro's larger sensor and pixel size captures more light, resulting in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. More detail is captured. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP (f/2.2, 1.0µm) | 60MP (f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.61µm) | Edge 30 Pro offers higher resolution for sharper, more detailed selfies; However smaller pixel size may result in poorer low light performance. |
| Wide Angle | 5MP (f/2.2, 1.12µm) | N/A | A42 5G has dedicated ultrawide camera for capturing landscape and group photos. Edge 30 Pro lacks this dedicated lens. |
| Depth | 5MP (f/2.4, 1/5", 1.12µm) | 2MP (f/2.4) | A42 5G depth sensor allows for better depth of field in portrait mode. Edge 30 Pro's lower res sensor may struggle with accurate bokeh. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP (f/2.4, 1/5", 1.12µm) | N/A | A42 5G has a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots, which the Edge 30 Pro lacks. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP (f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm) | Edge 30 Pro combines ultrawide with macro using high resolution sensor, more flexible in terms of shooting modes. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, 720p@480fps | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@960fps with HDR, EIS | Edge 30 Pro offers superior video recording with higher resolutions, HDR, and smoother slow motion. |
| DxOMark | N/A | 101 (Photo: 107, Video: 102) | Edge 30 Pro's camera has been tested and benchmarked; this provides an objective measure of its quality compared to other phone cameras. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, PDAF | Triple camera, OIS, Laser AF, Dual PDAF, Night Mode | Edge 30 Pro offers features like OIS for stable photos, Laser AF for quicker focus, and Night Mode for improved low light photos. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | A42 5G has a marginally larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | Edge 30 Pro charges much faster; a quick top-up can provide a significant amount of usage time. |
| Features | Non-removable | Wireless charging 15W, Reverse charging 5W, Non-removable | Edge 30 Pro offers more versatile charging options; Wireless charging offers cable free charging, and reverse charging can share battery to accessories or other phones. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 10 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 (upgradable to 13) | Edge 30 Pro launches with a more recent OS, likely receiving longer official support for updates and security patches. Both phones can upgrade to Android 13. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (WiFi 6) | Edge 30 Pro offers better WiFi speed, lower latency, and more consistent connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Edge 30 Pro’s Bluetooth version is newer with better energy efficiency and supports more codecs, improving audio quality and connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Edge 30 Pro features Dual-Band GPS for more accurate positioning. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer dual SIM functionality. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Edge 30 Pro has additional options offering much more storage for photos, videos, apps. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Edge 30 Pro offers more RAM allowing for smoother multitasking and handling demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Basic Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Edge 30 Pro provides better audio experience with clearer and more immersive sound. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Edge 30 Pro's fingerprint sensor is more accessible and ergonomic. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | A42 5G includes Geomagnetic sensor, which provides additional features related to magnetic fields. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Advantages
- Marginally larger battery: Offers slightly more battery capacity which could translate to slightly longer usage.
- Dedicated Wide Angle and Macro Lenses: Provides more flexibility in terms of shooting modes.
- Lower Price: Typically more affordable.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro Advantages
- Significantly more powerful processor: Provides much faster performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Superior display: Higher resolution, smoother refresh rate and may have better color accuracy
- Faster charging: Recharges the battery in much less time.
- Higher quality main camera: Improved low-light performance due to the larger sensor and pixel size.
- Significantly better video recording: Up to 8K resolution.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenient charging option.
- More RAM: Better for heavy multitasking and demanding games.
- Better audio quality: Features Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers for better sound output.
- Newer OS: Launches with a newer Android version.
- Advanced Connectivity: Better WiFi and Bluetooth.
Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G trades processing power and video recording for a lower price and a slightly better battery capacity along with some dedicated camera sensors.
- The Motorola Edge 30 Pro provides significant improvements in many categories, but at the cost of potentially higher price point.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Ideal Users
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritize affordability over cutting-edge performance.
- Casual users: Primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and basic tasks.
- Users who value battery life over performance: Those needing a reliable device for all-day use.
- Users who want dedicated Wide Angle and Macro lenses
Use Cases
- Everyday browsing and social media.
- Basic photography and video recording.
- Long-lasting battery for extended use.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro Ideal Users
- Performance enthusiasts: Demand smooth, lag-free performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Media consumers: Want a high-quality display for streaming videos and playing games.
- Photography enthusiasts: Value high-resolution, high-quality images and videos.
- Users who value modern features: Wireless charging, fast charging, better connectivity, higher quality audio
- Professional video content creators: Those who need to capture 8k video.
Use Cases
- Demanding mobile gaming and resource-intensive apps.
- High-quality video content consumption and creation.
- Fast-paced multitasking and productivity.
- High quality audio consumption.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers
- What is my budget? The A42 5G will be significantly cheaper than the Edge 30 Pro, price may be the main deciding factor.
- How important is performance and camera quality? If you prioritize smooth performance, high-quality photos/videos, the Edge 30 Pro is the better option.
- Do I need all-day battery life, or is fast charging more important? If you often use your phone for extended periods, the A42 5G's slightly larger battery might be better. If you prefer to charge quickly, the Edge 30 Pro wins.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Budget-constrained users: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G for decent performance, better battery, and a lower price.
- Scenario 2: Performance-focused users: Choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro for superior processing power, better display, more RAM, faster charging, and much better video capabilities.
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Enthusiasts: Choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro for its better display, audio quality, and video recording.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G is a decent budget option, the Edge 30 Pro offers a significantly better user experience across the board. Its superior performance (faster processor, more RAM), superior display (higher resolution and refresh rate), significantly better main camera with much better video recording and features, faster charging, superior connectivity, and better audio quality, makes it the clear winner for me. The added features such as wireless charging and reverse charging also make it more versatile. As someone who values a smooth, fast, and high quality mobile experience, the additional cost of the Edge 30 Pro justifies the massive improvements. I would be sacrificing dedicated Wide Angle and Macro lenses, and marginal battery life, but the Motorola Edge 30 Pro wins in most categories important to me.
