The handset is designed to provide a long-lasting and reliable experience for individuals who want their standard Android experience wrapped in a shock, water, and drop resistant body.
LG was once a smartphone manufacturer that dared to take risks with its G-series and V-series flagship models. However, over time, it has shifted its concentration to lower-cost handsets. While the South Korean tech giant is facing a difficult scenario in which it is reportedly unable to find a buyer for its smartphone division and may be forced to close it down, it is not given up on the affordable smartphone market, at least in India. We noticed this since LG recently released the LG K42, which costs $109
The handset is designed to provide a long-lasting and reliable experience for individuals who want their standard Android experience wrapped in a shock, water, and drop resistant body. So we recently got our hands on it and utilized it for a few days. Here's what we have to say about this piece of computer hardware.
Display and design
The LG K42 does not have the same'modern' feel as the latest cheap or mid-range smartphones. To be honest, comparing it to Redmi and Realme won't be fair because the device's build isn't designed for consumers who want a sleek, premium-looking handset. The K42 is designed to withstand harsh conditions, which is one of the reasons behind its MIL-STD-810G certification. At this pricing point, this is unusual in smartphones. LG is focusing on endurance at a time when everyone is trying to produce the greatest device by cramming more features, megapixels, and battery into handsets. It is not for the majority of clients, but it is certainly a daring move and something different (for a change).
LG K42 is a smartphone manufactured by LG
When you hold the device in your hands, you will notice that it is slightly larger and heavier. The wavy-textured back panel, on the other hand, keeps the grip intact. Metal and polycarbonate make up the complete composition. The screen and the lens module are the only glass elements on the gadget that are visible. Aside from that, the phone feels sturdy and should be able to withstand some tough handling. However, because the K42 is a bit large for average-sized hands, using it may cause you to flex your fingers. We didn't appreciate how the power and volume controls on either side were located somewhat above the screen, making them tough to reach when using one hand.
The 6.6-inch HD+ display isn't the finest, but it'll suffice for most tasks. We watched videos on Netflix, YouTube (where you can see FHD videos), and other platforms, as well as browsing the web, and everything worked out just great. Playing games on this screen is decent, but it won't provide you the same immersive experience as a 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED screen. Because it's an IPS LCD, the colors aren't as vibrant and inviting. Fortunately, the screen becomes fairly bright and is usable in bright daylight for the majority of the time. Yes, there is no 90Hz or even FHD resolution, but if you don't care about HD+ or FHD+ and are content with scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram feed on a regular basis, this should suffice.
Performance
The Helio P23 engine from MediaTek is in charge of performance, and it's teamed with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. There's no LPDDR5 or UFS 3.1 storage here, but it's enough to keep things running. We saw occasional lags and stutters in our daily usage, mainly while skipping through programs like YouTube/Netflix or Chrome/Asphalt. But, for the most part, it was a positive experience. Long gaming sessions, on the other hand, will result in frame drops and some heating. Everything functioned properly, including scrolling through webpages, Facebook, and Instagram feeds, and browsing through notifications. When you tap on an app, it may take a few milliseconds longer to open. However, it is unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
The LG K42 comes pre-installed with Android 10 and a user interface that is both attractive and simple to use. The fingerprint-embedded side-mounted power button and the 3.5mm headphone jack are also welcome additions. We had no problems with the fingerprint sensor, which worked nearly every time. The LG 3D Sound Engine is a useful addition here, since it allows you to customize the audio based on what you're watching or listening to. Movies, games, music, and voice all have their own settings. LG has a reputation for excellent audio performance in smartphones, and this appears to be no exception.
When it comes to cameras, the LG K42 does a dreadful job. The 13-megapixel sensor produces good daylight photos, but zoom in and you'll see details have been smoothed down. It's not a deal breaker for a budget smartphone, but if you want good photos, this shouldn't be on your list. The colors are decent, and the final image appears to be suitable for your Instagram account. When shooting indoors, though, the loss of detail is more noticeable.
camera
The night mode, on the other hand, does a good job of preserving details and some colors. However, the highlights and shadows are well-maintained. In terms of portrait mode, the photographs produced by the 2-megapixel depth camera are only passable and not particularly exciting. The 5-megapixel wide-angle lens performs admirably, however there is some noticeable distortion when taken inside. In low-light situations, the feature isn't very effective.
When it comes to selfies, the K42 has a tendency to blow out the highlights when taken indoors. The photographs shot outside were pleasing to the eye. However, we noticed that when there isn't enough light, skin smoothens out a lot, which is a cause for concern because the resulting photographs don't look as sharp.
battery
The LG K42's battery, on the other hand, is one of the K42's strongest assets. It is powered by a 4000mAh battery that lasted for roughly 5+ hours on average when used lightly. This is owing to the HD+ screen's low power consumption. If you use your phone a lot or play games on it for long periods of time, you should keep a charger on hand. However, given the target population, it is unlikely that it will be used on a frequent basis.
Keep the ‘Adaptive Battery' option enabled if you want to get the most out of it. It is also possible to switch to 'Extended' or 'Maximum' Battery Saver mode, which reduces background activity. The handset now has a function called "Power saving exclusions," which allows you to choose which features and apps are allowed to consume the battery as usual even after the battery saver mode has been enabled.
Verdict
The LG K42 is a mediocre phone at best. It performs well enough to maintain its market position. The battery department and the military-grade design, which makes it highly resistant to high temperatures, drops, water, shocks, and more, appear to be the only plus points here. Yes, it's a big phone, and the performance is just about good enough to go through your everyday tasks. However, in K42, the camera department might not be the best source of information.
Needless to say, there are various possibilities in the market for $109 with the majority of them coming from Xiaomi and Realme. The Redmi Note 10, which costs $100 more and has a lot more features, and the Realme 7i, which is in the same price range and has virtually the same set of features as the Redmi equivalent, are two arch rivals that LG is up against right now in the same pricing range.
While it is commendable that LG is keeping the lineup alive and making a name in the segment with the K42, it may want to pull its socks up and strive to provide some good phones to compete with Xiaomi and others in the market. For the time being, the K42 makes the cut, but given that we have a new cheap handset in the country every month, it may not be an option for buyers in a few months.
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