Michael Crider
When LTE started arriving on the scene, it took a while for cheaper phones to be equipped with the new high-speed radios. So it goes with 5G: so far we’ve only seen it on more expensive devices. Samsung is apparently ready to push it into the mid-range: today the company announced the Galaxy A42 5G, an “affordable” 5G phone.
“Affordable” gets those quote marks because, like most such announcements, Samsung hasn’t provided any pricing details. We’re assuming the Galaxy A42 5G will be much less expensive that the 5G-equipped Galaxy S and Galaxy Note phones because it’s in the mid-range A series: the Galaxy A40 and A41 have inconsistent prices, but tend to be in the mid-$200 USD range of local currency. The Galaxy A51 5G is $504 at T-Mobile. So even with a 5G radio, it’s unlikely that Samsung would ask for more than around $400 for the Galaxy A42 5G.
Other details on the phone are also pretty scarce. Samsung says it has a 6.6-inch AMOLED screen, and the design appears to be pretty standard Samsung with a centered “teardrop” notch. It uses four cameras. That’s all we know (not even a chipset to go on), aside from the fact that it’s coming out later this year.
In the same press release, Samsung announced a new tablet, fitness tracker, and triple wireless charger. The Galaxy Tab A7 uses a 10.4-inch screen, quad speakers, and a “long-lasting battery.” Based on Samsung’s description of the tablet as “perfect for kids,” it seems like this will be on the cheaper side, too.
The Galaxy Fit2 is a band-style fitness tracker, not to be confused with the Gear Fit 2 from 2016. Or maybe it IS to be confused, since they’re both thin bands with color screens and heart rate sensors. Samsung says it can automatically detect five types of activity and tracks sleep, with a 15-day battery life.
Lastly, the Wireless Charger Trio is…wait for it…a wireless charger that can handle three devices at once. Pricing and availability for all of these devices hasn’t been announced, but they should arrive before the end of the year.
Source: Samsung Press via 9to5Google
