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Nokia G42 5G smartphone review - With this eye-catcher, you can even swap the battery

Fix me!

Nokia's G42 surprises with a daring purple color scheme on request, is supposed to be easy to repair, and brings 5G connectivity at a low price. Does Nokia give important impetus with recycled materials and update promises, or is it just one smartphone among many?
Nokia G42
Nokia G42 (G Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G 8 x 1.8 - 2.2 GHz, Cortex-A76 / 55
Graphics adapter
Memory
6 GB 
Display
6.56 inch 20:9, 1612 x 720 pixel 269 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, Gorilla Glass 3, glossy: yes, 90 Hz
Storage
128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash, 128 GB 
, 110 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5mm audio jack, Card Reader: microSD (shared, up to 1TB) , 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: acceleration sensor, proximity sensor, compass
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.1, 2G (850/​900/​1800/​1900), 3G (B1/​B2/​B4/​B5/​B8), 4G (B1/​B2/​B3/​B4/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B12/​B13/​B17/​B20/​B28/​B38/​B39/​B40/​B41/​B66), 5G (n1/​n2/​n3/​n5/​n7/​n8/​n28/​n40/​n41/​n66/​n77/​n78) , Dual SIM, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.6 x 165 x 75.8 ( = 0.34 x 6.5 x 2.98 in)
Battery
5000 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 20 Watt charging
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 13
Camera
Primary Camera: 50 MPix f/​1.8, phase comparison-AF, LED-flash, Videos @1080p/​30fps (Camera 1); 2.0MP, macro lens (Camera 2); 2.0MP, depth of field (Camera 3)
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix f/​2.0, Videos @1080p/​30fps
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, USB cable, SIM tool, 24 Months Warranty, FM radio, IP52-certified
Weight
194 g ( = 6.84 oz / 0.43 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
249 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible competitors in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Drive
Size
Resolution
Price
78.3 %
v7 (old)
08 / 2023
Nokia G42
SD 480+, Adreno 619
194 g128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash6.56"1612x720
79.1 %
v7 (old)
03 / 2023
Motorola Moto G53
SD 480+, Adreno 619
183 g128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash6.50"1600x720
79.4 %
v7 (old)
05 / 2023
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2
202 g64 GB UFS 2.2 Flash6.60"2408x1080
81.7 %
v7 (old)
06 / 2023
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
SD 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619
189 g128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash6.67"2400x1080

Case and features - Very eye-catching when desired

Sure, you could choose the "So Grey" color variant of Nokia's G42 and then get a rather classically designed phone with rounded corners, a plastic back that also contains recycled materials, and the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. However, the phone only gets really exciting when the violet "So Purple" variant is selected: Then small particles glitter and light reflections twitch across the back, and the camera module also adapts to the purple design in terms of color.

In any case, you get a cell phone that sits comfortably in the hand with its 194 grams and cannot be twisted. However, you can press the back cover in a bit in the middle, pressure also gets through to the screen's liquid crystal. Nokia ships the phone in a plastic-free package and offers in cooperation with iFixit relatively inexpensive replacement parts, as well as instructions with which one can exchange the battery, screen, or the back itself. This is not witchcraft but also not so easy that any layman will dare to do it.

The phone is equipped with NFC so that mobile payment services can be used without problems. It is also possible to use an FM radio, which is convenient when you do not have an Internet connection or do not want to spend data volume. However, a suitable headset as an antenna replacement is not included in the package.

The Nokia G42 is a dual-SIM phone, but one SIM slot is also used as a microSD slot, so you have to decide which to use. If it is to be the microSD, the reader proves to be a bit slow in the copy test with the reference microSD Angelbird V60 in our test, but again delivers good results in the CPDT benchmark, so a medium speed is to be expected overall.

Nokia G42
Nokia G42
Nokia G42
Nokia G42
Nokia G42
Nokia G42

Size comparison

167.7 mm / 6.6 in 78 mm / 3.07 in 9.1 mm / 0.3583 in 202 g0.4453 lbs165.9 mm / 6.53 in 76.2 mm / 3 in 8 mm / 0.315 in 189 g0.4167 lbs165 mm / 6.5 in 75.8 mm / 2.98 in 8.6 mm / 0.3386 in 194 g0.4277 lbs162.7 mm / 6.41 in 74.7 mm / 2.94 in 8.2 mm / 0.3228 in 183 g0.4034 lbs148 mm / 5.83 in 105 mm / 4.13 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 1.5 g0.00331 lbs
SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
  (Angelbird AV Pro V60)
50.48 MB/s +136%
Average of class Smartphone
  (7.7 - 77, n=77, last 2 years)
29.2 MB/s +36%
Motorola Moto G53
  (Angelbird V60)
26.8 MB/s +25%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
  (Angelbird AV Pro V60)
23.14 MB/s +8%
Nokia G42
  (Angelbird V60)
21.4 MB/s

Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)

05101520253035404550556065707580Tooltip
Nokia G42 Adreno 619, SD 480+, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB: Ø44.4 (30-53.7)
Motorola Moto G53 Adreno 619, SD 480+, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB: Ø38.9 (28.3-49.6)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Mali-G57 MP2, Dimensity 700, 64 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB; Angelbird AV Pro V60: Ø37.2 (22.3-48.4)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G Adreno 619, SD 4 Gen 1, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB; Angelbird AV Pro V60: Ø36.3 (4.86-48.5)
Nokia G42 Adreno 619, SD 480+, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB: Ø76.8 (25.5-84.7)
Motorola Moto G53 Adreno 619, SD 480+, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB: Ø76.1 (26.1-84.4)
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G Mali-G57 MP2, Dimensity 700, 64 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB; Angelbird AV Pro V60: Ø75.7 (20.1-83.4)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G Adreno 619, SD 4 Gen 1, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash; SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB; Angelbird AV Pro V60: Ø61.2 (29.9-79.8)

Communication, software and operation - Modern mobile communications on board

Nokia's G42 is a 5G smartphone, so you can also use the fastest mobile standard. The phone offers enough LTE and 5G frequencies for use abroad, but you should check in advance whether you can use the phone for mobile Internet on site. The reception strength was at a high level during our test phase.

WiFi 5 is integrated as the fastest WLAN standard. Nokia's G42 shows very stable transfer rates in our test with the reference router Asus ROG Rapture AXE11000, which are within the class-standard range of 317 - 380 Mbps. A Gigabit line cannot be fully utilized, but it is still sufficient for fast page loads and downloads.

Android 13 without changes to the interface is installed on Nokia's G42 ex-works, but the manufacturer adds some third-party apps, for example from shopping portals. These can be uninstalled without any problems. The security updates are from June 2023 at the time of testing and are thus still fairly up-to-date. The manufacturer promises 3 years of security updates from market launch - until 2026. There are also supposed to be two major versions of the operating system, so phone should also receive Android 15.

The touchscreen is very fine to use and the operation seems even smoother thanks to the 90 Hz display. On the right side of the casing is the standby button, which also functions as a fingerprint sensor. The phone can be unlocked biometrically with it. This works very reliably after a one-time teach-in but Nokia's G42 occasionally allows itself a short delay before the screen is unlocked. Face recognition can also be used. This also works reliably but is not quite as secure due to the recognition of 2D images.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AXE11000
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
369 (337min - 380max) MBit/s +2%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
363 (349min - 374max) MBit/s 0%
Nokia G42
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
362 (340min - 380max) MBit/s
Motorola Moto G53
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
358 (319min - 374max) MBit/s -1%
iperf3 receive AXE11000
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
369 (361min - 371max) MBit/s +10%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
347 (336min - 351max) MBit/s +3%
Motorola Moto G53
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
345 (317min - 350max) MBit/s +3%
Nokia G42
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
336 (310min - 344max) MBit/s
020406080100120140160180200220240260280300320340360Tooltip
Nokia G42; iperf3 receive AXE11000; iperf 3.1.3: Ø335 (310-344)
Nokia G42; iperf3 transmit AXE11000; iperf 3.1.3: Ø362 (340-380)

Cameras - Good sharpness in the pictures

Photo from the front camera
Photo from the front camera

There are three camera lenses at the back. The macro lens with 2 megapixels is more for snapshots and can only be used in a special mode of the camera software. The depth camera only provides additional info for blur effects in portraits and cannot take its own photos. That leaves the main camera with 50 megapixels, which relies on the commonly found Samsung Isocell JN1 as a sensor.

Nokia's 5G phone takes decent pictures with good sharpness, but you will quickly notice that there is only a little dynamic range on rainy days. The detail diversity is also higher in higher-quality cameras. In low light, many details are lost in both bright and dark areas, but the quality in the illuminated area is decent. The main camera performs well in the lab and hardly loses any sharpness at the edges.

Videos can be recorded in 1080p at a maximum of 30 fps. The autofocus works quickly and without pumping, and the brightness adjustment also works quite well. The resulting movies are of decent sharpness, but the lighting should be good, otherwise, there is a lot of noise.

An 8-megapixel sensor is used as the selfie camera on the front. The pictures are quite usable in good light.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main cameraMain cameraLow Light
orginal image
click to load images
ColorChecker
10.5 ∆E
4.4 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
4.4 ∆E
5.1 ∆E
3.3 ∆E
5.1 ∆E
4.8 ∆E
4.7 ∆E
5.5 ∆E
2.9 ∆E
5 ∆E
8.1 ∆E
5.1 ∆E
1.8 ∆E
3.6 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
8.2 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
6 ∆E
8 ∆E
8.5 ∆E
2.4 ∆E
ColorChecker Nokia G42: 5.88 ∆E min: 1.85 - max: 12.54 ∆E
ColorChecker
27.2 ∆E
45.3 ∆E
34.1 ∆E
35 ∆E
36.3 ∆E
51.7 ∆E
47.1 ∆E
29.7 ∆E
31.6 ∆E
21.5 ∆E
51.7 ∆E
52.8 ∆E
26.6 ∆E
42.6 ∆E
28.4 ∆E
48 ∆E
31.7 ∆E
38.9 ∆E
51.3 ∆E
52 ∆E
42.3 ∆E
31.9 ∆E
22 ∆E
13 ∆E
ColorChecker Nokia G42: 37.2 ∆E min: 12.99 - max: 52.84 ∆E

Display - Low resolution screen

Subpixel structure
Subpixel structure

Unfortunately, the Nokia G42 only has a 720p screen, which is also surpassed by other devices in the price range in terms of brightness. Right in front here is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G, which even has an AMOLED screen.

We see a rather heavy blue cast in the display, which distorts the color reproduction and makes pictures look cooler. In addition, the black value is quite high, and the contrast is only mediocre.

At least we did not notice any annoying PWM flickering at low brightness.

461
cd/m²
415
cd/m²
455
cd/m²
436
cd/m²
495
cd/m²
444
cd/m²
458
cd/m²
487
cd/m²
416
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 495 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 451.9 cd/m² Minimum: 3.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 495 cd/m²
Contrast: 990:1 (Black: 0.5 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.09 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 5.8 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
95.3% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.325
Nokia G42
IPS, 1612x720, 6.6"
Motorola Moto G53
IPS, 1600x720, 6.5"
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
PLS LCD, 2408x1080, 6.6"
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.7"
Response Times
-41%
-12%
96%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
35.5 ?(18.6, 16.9)
56 ?(32, 24)
-58%
46.48 ?(20.16, 26.32)
-31%
1.35 ?(0.691, 0.658)
96%
Response Time Black / White *
21.7 ?(11, 10.7)
26.6 ?(12.6, 14)
-23%
20.21 ?(5.638, 14.57)
7%
1 ?(0.523, 0.475)
95%
PWM Frequency
343
Screen
32%
-10%
53%
Brightness middle
495
587
19%
579
17%
658
33%
Brightness
452
559
24%
543
20%
663
47%
Brightness Distribution
84
91
8%
87
4%
98
17%
Black Level *
0.5
0.4
20%
0.57
-14%
Contrast
990
1468
48%
1016
3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.09
2.6
57%
7.6
-25%
1.4
77%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.35
5.62
40%
12.7
-36%
2.7
71%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.8
3.3
43%
8.7
-50%
1.7
71%
Gamma
2.325 95%
2.463 89%
2.23 99%
2.23 99%
CCT
8169 80%
6288 103%
9344 70%
6504 100%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-5% / 18%
-11% / -11%
75% / 63%

* ... smaller is better

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
21.7 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11 ms rise
↘ 10.7 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 44 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
35.5 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.6 ms rise
↘ 16.9 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN color space sRGB
CalMAN color space sRGB
CalMAN Saturation
CalMAN Saturation

Performance, emissions and battery life - Sufficient power

The Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G is a bit older, namely from 2021, but it still offers enough performance for mostly smooth system operation and can also be entrusted with somewhat more demanding tasks like photo editing. Although Nokia's smartphone uses high-performance UFS 2.2 storage, the storage controller cannot fully utilize the storage's possible speeds. Thus, it is only sufficient for transfer rates on the class level with occasional waiting times during data transfers and loading times.

The phone gets noticeably warm with a maximum of 43.1 °C under a longer load, but it is not a critical temperature increase. This is also shown by the long-term tests, which certify a similar performance after 20 runs of the same benchmark.

The speaker on the bottom edge of Nokia's G42 is not a revelation in terms of quality and sounds a bit muffled overall. The "Audio Boost" feature can be activated by pressing the volume up button again, then the sound becomes clearer, but also very treble-heavy and even a bit louder. If you prefer to connect headphones or speakers, you will find a jack socket and Bluetooth 5.1. The most important standards are available in terms of codecs for wireless audio transmission: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and some aptX codecs.

The 5,000 mAh battery enables Nokia's G42 5G to run for a decent 15:33 hours in our WLAN test. There are phones in this price range that last much longer, but the phone generally cuts a good figure in everyday use and usually accompanies you through the day without a charging stop.

The Nokia G42 5G can be charged with up to 20 watts, but there is no charger in the package. It takes well over 2 hours until the battery indicator is back to 100% when the battery is completely empty.

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Average of class Smartphone
  (126 - 2437, n=174, last 2 years)
1021 Points +84%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
642 Points +16%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
558 Points +1%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
554 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (540 - 558, n=3)
551 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
525 Points -5%
Multi-Core
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 8816, n=174, last 2 years)
3404 Points +107%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
1954 Points +19%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
1700 Points +3%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (1632 - 1661, n=3)
1645 Points 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
1643 Points
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
1632 Points -1%
Geekbench 6.3
Single-Core
Average of class Smartphone
  (193 - 3479, n=166, last 2 years)
1471 Points +97%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
746 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  ()
746 Points 0%
Multi-Core
Average of class Smartphone
  (845 - 10401, n=166, last 2 years)
4107 Points +114%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
1917 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  ()
1917 Points 0%
PCMark for Android - Work 3.0
Average of class Smartphone
  (4609 - 27169, n=193, last 2 years)
13110 Points +25%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
10492 Points
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
10093 Points -4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (9527 - 10492, n=3)
10037 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
8038 Points -23%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
7953 Points -24%
3DMark
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1)
Average of class Smartphone
  (286 - 17553, n=71, last 2 years)
3075 Points +23%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2511 Points +1%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
2505 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2477 - 2511, n=3)
2493 Points 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2492 Points
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
2438 Points -2%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics
Average of class Smartphone
  (240 - 29890, n=71, last 2 years)
3259 Points +41%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
2382 Points +3%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2363 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2306 - 2363, n=3)
2328 Points +1%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2316 Points
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
2282 Points -1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
3391 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (858 - 7180, n=71, last 2 years)
3280 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
3208 Points -5%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
3057 Points -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2398 - 3391, n=3)
3045 Points -10%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2398 Points -29%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited
Average of class Smartphone
  (317 - 22303, n=161, last 2 years)
8023 Points +208%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
2709 Points +4%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2638 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2596 - 2638, n=3)
2613 Points 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2605 Points
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
2546 Points -2%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics
Average of class Smartphone
  (267 - 35552, n=161, last 2 years)
11952 Points +388%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
2590 Points +6%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2448 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2412 - 2448, n=3)
2435 Points -1%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2412 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
2347 Points -4%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics
Average of class Smartphone
  (877 - 10259, n=161, last 2 years)
4694 Points +40%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
3618 Points +8%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
3387 Points +1%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
3359 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (3311 - 3387, n=3)
3352 Points 0%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
3231 Points -4%
Wild Life Score
Average of class Smartphone
  (408 - 13896, n=110, last 2 years)
2839 Points +189%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
1191 Points +21%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
984 Points
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
982 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (981 - 984, n=3)
982 Points 0%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
Points -100%
Wild Life Unlimited Score
Average of class Smartphone
  (413 - 22004, n=183, last 2 years)
7722 Points +696%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
1139 Points +17%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
973 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (970 - 974, n=3)
972 Points 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
970 Points
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
Points -100%
Wild Life Extreme
Average of class Smartphone
  (114 - 7094, n=190, last 2 years)
2123 Points +622%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
324 Points +10%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
294 Points
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
293 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (293 - 294, n=3)
293 Points 0%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
Points -100%
Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
Average of class Smartphone
  (112 - 7212, n=188, last 2 years)
2117 Points +635%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
310 Points +8%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
288 Points
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
287 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (286 - 288, n=3)
287 Points 0%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
Points -100%
GFXBench
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 247, n=204, last 2 years)
51.4 fps +71%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
31 fps +3%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
30 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (15 - 31, n=3)
25.3 fps -16%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
17 fps -43%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
12 fps -60%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 263, n=204, last 2 years)
82 fps +356%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
20 fps +11%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
18 fps 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
18 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (18 - 18, n=3)
18 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
14 fps -22%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 144, n=204, last 2 years)
38.3 fps +102%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
20 fps +5%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
19 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (9.8 - 20, n=3)
16.3 fps -14%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
11 fps -42%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
7.9 fps -58%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 112, n=204, last 2 years)
33.1 fps +409%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
8.9 fps +37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (6.5 - 8.9, n=3)
7.3 fps +12%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
7.1 fps +9%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
6.5 fps
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
5.3 fps -18%
3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.38 - 52, n=204, last 2 years)
15.5 fps +434%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
3.1 fps +7%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2.9 fps 0%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
2.9 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (2.9 - 2.9, n=2)
2.9 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
2.3 fps -21%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone
  (2228 - 100368, n=206, last 2 years)
37883 Points +83%
Motorola Moto G53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
20938 Points +1%
Nokia G42
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Adreno 619, 6144
20689 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G
  (19795 - 20938, n=3)
20474 Points -1%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Adreno 619, 6144
19867 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
MediaTek Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2, 4096
15352 Points -26%
Nokia G42Motorola Moto G53Samsung Galaxy A14 5GXiaomi Redmi Note 12 5GAverage 128 GB UFS 2.2 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-18%
27%
2%
21%
159%
Sequential Read 256KB
492.5
474.6
-4%
849.3
72%
520.09
6%
Sequential Write 256KB
461.8
243.87
-47%
469.83
2%
505.55
9%
Random Read 4KB
183.3
166.24
-9%
193.63
6%
170.61
-7%
Random Write 4KB
161.1
139.83
-13%
204
27%
161.26
0%
185.8 ?(62.6 - 419, n=71)
15%

Temperature

Max. Load
 43.1 °C
110 F
34.7 °C
94 F
30.9 °C
88 F
 
 41.6 °C
107 F
34.8 °C
95 F
31 °C
88 F
 
 40.7 °C
105 F
34.4 °C
94 F
31.5 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 43.1 °C = 110 F
Average: 35.9 °C = 97 F
30 °C
86 F
35.2 °C
95 F
42.6 °C
109 F
31 °C
88 F
36.1 °C
97 F
42.9 °C
109 F
32 °C
90 F
36.3 °C
97 F
42.3 °C
108 F
Maximum: 42.9 °C = 109 F
Average: 36.5 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  42.9 °C = 109 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.9 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 32.8 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.1 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.9 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.3 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.


Heatmap Front
Heatmap Front
Heatmap Back side
Heatmap Back side
3DMark
Wild Life Extreme Stress Test
Nokia G42
99.5 (1.744min - 1.754max) %
Motorola Moto G53
98.8 (1.744min - 1.766max) % -1%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
98.4 (1.957min - 1.988max) % -1%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
% -100%
Wild Life Stress Test Stability
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
99.5 (7.18min - 7.21max) % 0%
Nokia G42
99.4 (5.86min - 5.9max) %
Motorola Moto G53
96.9 (5.72min - 5.9max) % -3%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
% -100%

Legend

 
Nokia G42 Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Qualcomm Adreno 619, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash
 
Motorola Moto G53 Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G, Qualcomm Adreno 619, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G MediaTek Dimensity 700, ARM Mali-G57 MP2, 64 GB UFS 2.2 Flash
 
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Qualcomm Adreno 619, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash

Speaker

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.138.82537.538.73131.4294033.335.25032.133.26326.1318020.227.710016.127.812514.930.11601338.42009.538.925010.541.131511.9444008.150.6500956.563010.26280013.965.9100012.269.1125011.870.4160011.466.1200010.664.8250011.367.131501270.2400012.767.9500013.463.3630014.158.2800014.8591000015.758.51250016.454.71600017.352.6SPL24.978.5N0.639.6median 12.2median 58.5Delta1.911.130.734.720.835.31931.217.134.233.440.120.940.116.638.720.541.416.54214.742.21445.414.349.213.154.613.660.313.267.312.370.212.572.211.979.312.678.812.979.113.379.612.578.813.480.513.98313.983.113.580.713.776.313.977.713.576.413.761.825.391.50.787.4median 13.5median 76.40.79.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseNokia G42Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Nokia G42 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 49% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 67% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.9% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 19% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 40% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery life

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Motorola Moto G53
5000 mAh
1035 min +11%
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
5000 mAh
1029 min +10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (476 - 3244, n=205, last 2 years)
987 min +6%
Nokia G42
5000 mAh
933 min
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
5000 mAh
645 min -31%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
15h 33min

Pros

+ pure Android
+ update promise
+ relatively easy to repair
+ reliable fingerprint sensor
+ no PWM

Cons

- clear blue cast in the display
- no wide-angle camera
- partly yielding back
- somewhat slow memory

Verdict - There are some trade-offs

In the review: Nokia G42. Test device provided by:
In the review: Nokia G42. Test device provided by:
cyberport.com

Nokia's G42 does have a few special features: Besides a daring color option, it is relatively easy to repair for tinkerers, has a share of recycled materials, and comes with an update promise from the manufacturer despite its low price. It is a pity that the Nokia G42 cannot currently be rented from Nokia as part of a circular subscription.

The processor is fast enough, the screen sufficient for everyday use and the camera takes decent pictures. However, the Nokia G42 5G cannot stand out from comparable phones in any of these areas. The battery life and WLAN speed are also mediocre rather than leading.

For everyday use, Nokia's G42 is a cheap and reliable companion that should get long updates and can also be used sustainably due to its relatively easy repairability.

More of a highlight in terms of features is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G with AMOLED display, but sustainable aspects tend to take a back seat here. Another interesting cell phone with fast mobile communication in the price range is the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G.

Price and availability

In the US, users can order the phone via Amazon for around $335.

Nokia G42 - 08/09/2023 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt

Chassis
83%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
48 / 70 → 69%
Weight
89%
Battery
91%
Display
82%
Games Performance
20 / 64 → 31%
Application Performance
64 / 86 → 74%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
66 / 90 → 73%
Camera
59%
Average
73%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Transparency

The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.

This is how Notebookcheck is testing

Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Nokia G42 5G smartphone review - With this eye-catcher, you can even swap the battery
Florian Schmitt, 2023-08-10 (Update: 2023-08-10)