The Google Pixel 6a and the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G are two great budget phones. Both phones offer great value for money, but they have different strengths and weaknesses.

Google Pixel 6a

The Pixel 6a is now entering its second year on the market, it’s now an amazing, affordable phone from Google. It features the same Tensor chip that powers the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, as well as a 6.1-inch OLED display, a 12.2MP rear camera, and an 8MP front camera. The Pixel 6a also comes with a number of exclusive features, such as Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from photos, and Face Unblur, which can sharpen faces in blurry photos.

• Pros:

  • Excellent camera
  • Clean and simple software
  • Long software support

• Cons:

  • Small display
  • No expandable storage
  • No headphone jack

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

The Galaxy A42 5G is a slightly older phone than the Pixel 6a, but it still offers a lot of value for money. It features a 6.6-inch AMOLED display, a 50MP rear camera, and a 13MP front camera. The Galaxy A42 5G also has a larger battery than the Pixel 6a, at 5,000mAh compared to 4,410mAh.

• Pros:

  • Large display
  • Long battery life
  • Expandable storage
  • Headphone jack

• Cons:

  • Older processor
  • Not as good of a camera as the Pixel 6a
  • Software updates may not be as frequent

So, which phone is the best?

It really depends on what you’re looking for in a budget phone. If you want the best possible camera, the Pixel 6a is the clear winner. The Magic Eraser and Face Unblur features are truly amazing, and they can make a big difference in the quality of your photos.

If you’re looking for a phone with a larger display and a longer battery life, the Galaxy A42 5G is a great option. It also has a microSD card slot, so you can expand the storage if needed. It really comes down to which OS you prefer – Pixel or Samsung. The Pixel is objectively a better quality device, with a better processor, camera, and software updates, but that quality comes at a slightly higher price point.

A new phone is a big decision to make. Why not let one of our specialists help you out? Find a Russell Cellular near you today!

The Samsung Z Fold5:

Go big. Live large. That’s the tagline for the latest offering in Samsung’s Z Fold series: the Samsung Z Flip5. With a massive, 7.6″ screen, it’s something that’s easy to be excited about. Boasting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 as its processor, the Z Fold5 is an excellent choice for gaming and multitasking.

The rear camera is very similar in specs to the predecessor, the Z Flip4 – 50 megapixel standard, 12 megapixels Ultra Wide, with a 3x optical zoom. The front camera offers 10 megapixel Cover, 4 megapixel main. The Z Fold5 also utilizes software features to enhance its shots – Scene Optimizer to intelligently recognize scenes and optimize colors for brilliant shots, flaw detection to intelligently detect flaws such as blemishes, so it’s nearly impossible to take a bad shot.

Durability:

Anyone concerned with durability should be pleased to hear that the Z Fold5 has a redesigned Flex Hinge, tested to withstand 200,000 folds over 5 years of daily use. Internal screen protection is pre-installed on all Z products as well. The Z Fold5 also sports a 4,400 mah battery, with power to last through your day.

The Samsung Z Flip5.

Charmingly compact, and now with Flex Window, Samsung Flip’s biggest cover screen yet. The Z Flip5 is gorgeous, with a 3.4″ cover screen to access all your apps, widgets, send texts, make calls, and even access your wallet. The Z Flip5 has a redesigned flex hinge as well, making the device more durable and even easier to use!

Hardware:

The hardware on the Z Flip5 is comparable to the Z Fold5, even including the same processor, albeit with slightly less RAM, and a 12 megapixel rear camera (compared to the Z Fold5’s 50), however the Z Flip5 makes up for it with an ingenious cover screen. The battery has a rating of 3,700 mAh, more than enough to get you through the day.

Final thoughts:

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 are two great devices with different use cases. If you value gaming, movies, and other media, there’s a good chance the Z Fold5 will be a better device for you. If however, you want a more compact, unassuming device with great features and specs, the Z Flip is an excellent choice. Find a Russell Cellular store near you to get yours today!