Nokia G42 review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Nokia G42 is HMD's 2023 budget 5G model: a Snapdragon 480 Plus, a 6.56-inch 90 Hz LCD with a 560-nit peak, and a 5,000 mAh battery with an IP52 rating at $199 new for 4/128 GB. Used units sell around $173 across a thirteen-sale sample, with 6/128 GB near $201 — a shallow used discount that mirrors the line's strong value retention.

Display and design

The 6.56-inch IPS LCD refreshes at 90 Hz with 560 nits of peak brightness; screen quality is 30/100. The 194 g body scores 83/100 on compactness, and IP52 covers dust and dripping water, not submersion. The panel brightness is the highest in Nokia's 2023 budget trio.

Performance

The Snapdragon 480 Plus posts everyday responsiveness 39/100 and gaming 4/100. The everyday score is notably above its sibling G310 — the same platform family carries a lighter software load here in our measurements. Calls, messaging, and streaming are handled; 3D games are not the brief.

Camera

The camera pairs a 50 MP main sensor with a 2 MP close-up lens, without stabilization; camera score 16/100. Daylight main-sensor shots are the expectation, and the close-up lens is checkbox hardware.

Battery and charging

Battery life scores 40/100 on the 5,000 mAh cell — a full day of light use — while 20 W charging scores 2/100. Resale is 100/100: on our scale this model loses the least value relative to launch price, which cuts both ways — cheap to buy used it is not.

Verdict

Around $173-201 used, the G42 is for buyers who specifically want a Nokia: clean software, splash resistance, and resale strength, at the cost of an entry platform and an undeclared update window. The Nokia G310 5G is the near-identical sibling a tier below, and the Nokia G21 is the cheaper 4G predecessor.