Asus ROG Phone 5s vs Samsung Galaxy A72: A Clash of Titans

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. Today, we pit two very different contenders against each other: the Asus ROG Phone 5s, a powerhouse designed for mobile gaming, and the Samsung Galaxy A72, a well-rounded device focusing on camera and battery life. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The ROG Phone 5s is the clear winner for gamers, boasting a significantly faster processor, higher refresh rate display, and faster charging. However, the Galaxy A72 offers exceptional battery life and a brighter display, making it a better choice for everyday users prioritizing longevity and media consumption.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 5s Samsung Galaxy A72
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4-
Launch
Announced2021, August 162021, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 26Available. Released 2021, March 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight238 g (8.40 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 618
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UIAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsPhantom Black, Storm WhiteAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
ModelsZS676KSSM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS
PriceAbout 1030 EUR£ 174.89 / € 359.99
SAR EU-0.23 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 117h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 5s

  • Blazing-fast Snapdragon 888+ processor
  • 144Hz AMOLED display for smooth gaming
  • 65W fast charging
  • Advanced gaming features (cooling, triggers)
  • High refresh rate

  • Camera not as strong as the A72
  • Battery life not as exceptional as the A72
  • Bulky design
  • Can be expensive

Samsung Galaxy A72

  • Exceptional battery life (117h endurance)
  • Bright and vibrant Super AMOLED display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Good value for money

  • Slower processor compared to the ROG Phone 5s
  • Lower refresh rate display
  • 25W charging is slower
  • Performance limitations with demanding games

Display Comparison

The ROG Phone 5s features a 144Hz AMOLED display, offering incredibly smooth visuals perfect for fast-paced gaming. The Galaxy A72 has a Super AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 825 nits, making it easily viewable outdoors, and a high contrast ratio. While the A72 is brighter, the ROG Phone 5s' higher refresh rate provides a more responsive gaming experience.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A72 generally offers a more versatile camera system, likely with a higher resolution main sensor and potentially a dedicated macro lens. While the ROG Phone 5s has a capable camera, it's not its primary focus. Image processing and color science are likely to be more refined on the A72. Specific camera specs would need to be compared directly for a more precise assessment.

Performance

Here's where the ROG Phone 5s truly shines. Its Snapdragon 888+ chipset blows the Galaxy A72's Snapdragon 720G out of the water. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and the ability to handle demanding games at high settings without issue. The A72 is capable for everyday tasks, but struggles with intensive workloads.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A72 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The ROG Phone 5s, while having a decent battery, prioritizes performance over longevity. Its 65W fast charging is a significant advantage, allowing for rapid top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you're a serious mobile gamer who demands top-tier performance and features like a high refresh rate screen and advanced cooling. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you prioritize long battery life, a vibrant display, and a versatile camera system for everyday use and photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 5s good for everyday use?
Yes, the ROG Phone 5s is perfectly capable for everyday tasks, but its strengths lie in gaming. You might find its features and size a bit overkill for basic use.
❓ Which phone has better camera quality?
The Samsung Galaxy A72 generally offers better camera quality due to its more versatile camera system and refined image processing.