Motorola One 5G Ace vs Samsung Galaxy A42 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a brighter viewing experience, the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G emerges as the slightly better choice. Its measured 570 nits of brightness and 144-hour endurance rating provide a tangible advantage over the Motorola One 5G Ace, despite both sharing the same Snapdragon 750G processor and 15W charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola One 5G Ace | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, January 08 | 2020, September 02 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, January 14 | Available. Released 2020, November 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm (6.54 x 3.00 x 0.39 in) | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 212 g (7.48 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10 | Super AMOLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.94", 0.8µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP (macro), AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/2.78", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Volcanic Gray, Frosted Silver | Prism Dot Black, Prism Dot White, Prism Dot Gray |
| Models | XT2113-2, XT2113-5 | SM-A426B, SM-A426B/DS, SM-A4260, SM-A426U, SM-A426U1, SM-A426N |
| Price | About 50 EUR | € 279.99 / £ 139.10 |
| SAR EU | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 144h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -30.1 LUFS (Below average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 324686 (v8) GeekBench: 1910 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Motorola One 5G Ace
- Clean Android experience
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Snapdragon 750G provides solid performance
- Display brightness likely lower than A42 5G
- Battery life potentially shorter than A42 5G
- Limited information on camera capabilities
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
- Brighter display (570 nits)
- Longer battery life (144h endurance)
- Samsung’s One UI offers feature-rich software
- Samsung’s One UI can be bloated
- 15W charging is relatively slow
- Camera details are lacking
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality, achieving a measured peak brightness of 570 nits. While the Motorola One 5G Ace’s display specifications are not provided, this brightness level suggests superior visibility in direct sunlight. The A42 5G also advertises an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, indicating a VA panel likely offering deeper blacks than the Ace. This impacts media consumption and gaming, making the A42 5G more immersive. The lack of refresh rate information for both devices suggests standard 60Hz panels, limiting smoothness compared to higher refresh rate alternatives.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). This makes a direct comparison challenging. Given the market positioning, it’s likely both rely on multi-camera setups with a primary sensor and supporting lenses. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is unlikely to significantly enhance image quality, serving primarily as a marketing feature. Image processing algorithms will be a key differentiator, with Samsung typically favoring more saturated and vibrant images, while Motorola often aims for a more natural look.
Performance
Both the Motorola One 5G Ace and the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G are powered by the Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration of 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. This means CPU performance will be virtually identical in day-to-day tasks and most gaming scenarios. The 8nm process node offers a good balance of performance and efficiency. However, thermal management, which isn’t specified for either device, will dictate sustained performance under heavy load. The absence of LPDDR5 or LPDDR5x RAM specifications suggests both likely utilize LPDDR4x, limiting memory bandwidth compared to newer standards.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G claims an impressive endurance rating of 144 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Motorola One 5G Ace’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the A42 5G’s endurance rating indicates a larger battery or more efficient power management. Both devices support 15W wired charging, which is relatively slow compared to modern fast-charging standards. This means a full charge will take a considerable amount of time, potentially requiring overnight charging for optimal usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola One 5G Ace if you prioritize a clean Android experience and are comfortable with a potentially less vibrant display. It’s a solid choice for users who value simplicity and responsiveness. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G if you prefer a brighter screen for outdoor visibility and longer battery life between charges, and are comfortable with Samsung’s One UI software.