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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If camera quality is a priority, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the superior choice, offering better photo and overall camera quality. For those who value battery life, the Samsung Galaxy A42 has a longer battery life. The OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher screen resolution and refresh rate, providing a sharper and smoother visual experience, but this does come with a glass back as opposed to the plastic back of the A42, which may affect durability. While both run Android, the OnePlus 9 Pro provides a more powerful processor and more RAM, which could lead to better performance for multitasking and demanding apps. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the OnePlus 9 Pro
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
- Best in class display quality
- Good performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy A42
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.2
5.3
The OnePlus 9 Pro has good overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 has poor overall camera quality.
The OnePlus 9 Pro has better cameras than the Samsung Galaxy A42, primarily because it provides a good selfie quality, which is very important, along with strong performance in photo software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, the Galaxy A42 offers only fair selfie quality and poorer performance in dynamic range and low light, which makes it less capable for photography enthusiasts.
Photo Quality
7.0
5.3
The OnePlus 9 Pro takes good photos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor photos.
The OnePlus 9 Pro captures better selfies than the Samsung Galaxy A42, primarily because it has a higher selfie quality. Additionally, the OnePlus 9 Pro delivers a solid overall photo experience, with good photo software, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, the Galaxy A42 falls short particularly in dynamic range and low light, contributing to its fair photo quality.
Video Quality
6.0
5.2
The OnePlus 9 Pro takes only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy A42 takes poor videos.
The OnePlus 9 Pro excels in capturing videos with higher resolution and frame rate, offering a very good video stabilization system which is essential for smooth footage, alongside better performance in dynamic range and in low light situations, as well as superior microphone quality. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy A42 falls short in these areas, providing a subpar video experience with poorer stabilization, limited dynamic range, weaker low light performance, and inferior microphone quality.
Battery
6.9 Hours
10.7 Hours
The OnePlus 9 Pro has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A42 has 10.7 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The OnePlus 9 Pro has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy A42 is 6.6 inches.
Cost
$350
$360
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The OnePlus 9 Pro has a price of $350 and the Samsung Galaxy A42 costs $360.
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How the OnePlus 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A42 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A42 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$350 | $360 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 30, 2021 | November 11, 2020 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.6" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3216 x 1440 | 1600 x 720 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 525 | 266 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD750 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 64 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 12 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Macro | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 48 megapixels | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 10.7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 50 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.43" x 2.9" | 6.47" x 2.99" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.95 oz | 6.81 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Plastic | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | No | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 5 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)41, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78, 79 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Stellar Black, Forest Green, Morning Mist | Black, Gray, White | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
OnePlus 9 Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | April 2021
"The OnePlus 9 Pro offers phenomenal performance, a vastly superior camera to the brand’s previous smartphones, and a variety of top-end features that make this a serious contender for anyone who’s in the market for a premium Android handset.The 6.7-inch 120Hz QHD display is among the best we’ve seen on a smartphone, with plenty of detail, strong brightness, and a variety of other tweaks. If you like to watch a lot of video on your phone in particular, this is a great option."
Samsung Galaxy A42
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Ara Wagoner | July 2021
"I need a battery that won't care if I forget to charge it every night, and I need a nice big screen for watching my shows on the go. The 5,000mAh battery will let you get two full days out of the A42. The A42 is right up your alley as an affordable 5G phone that won't die just because you had to crash at a friend's and forgot your phone charger at home."
Get a great deal on the OnePlus 9 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy A42
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Recommendations made
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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