Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G vs Samsung Galaxy A72: A Detailed Comparison

The Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G and Samsung Galaxy A72 represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The nova 8 Pro 4G emphasizes charging speed and processing power, while the Galaxy A72 focuses on a bright display and established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing rapid charging and a more powerful processor for demanding tasks, the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G is the better choice. However, the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers a brighter display and a more familiar software experience, making it suitable for those valuing those aspects.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G Samsung Galaxy A72
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA 800 -
Launch
Announced2021, April 262021, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 18Available. Released 2021, March 26
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 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
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUMali-G77 (8-core)Adreno 618
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 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)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, 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
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
ModelsBRQ-AN00SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS
Price-£ 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)

Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G

  • Significantly faster 66W charging
  • More powerful Kirin 985 processor
  • Potential for better thermal efficiency with 7nm process

  • Lack of detailed camera specifications
  • Potential software ecosystem limitations

Samsung Galaxy A72

  • Brighter 825 nit display
  • Well-established Android experience with One UI
  • Long-term software support from Samsung

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Less powerful Snapdragon 720G processor

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A72 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 825 nits, making it more visible under direct sunlight. While the nova 8 Pro 4G’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s advantage in peak brightness is clear. The A72 also features an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, offering deeper blacks. However, without knowing the nova 8 Pro 4G’s panel type or brightness, a definitive judgment on color accuracy and overall visual quality is difficult, but the A72’s AMOLED panel is likely to offer superior contrast.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the nova 8 Pro 4G. The Galaxy A72 likely benefits from Samsung’s image processing algorithms, known for vibrant colors and detail. Without knowing the main sensor size or aperture of the nova 8 Pro 4G, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device is unknown, but would be a significant advantage for video recording and low-light photography. It's safe to assume both phones include a suite of software features to enhance image quality, but the A72's established reputation in camera performance gives it a slight edge.

Performance

The Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm) chipset is architecturally more advanced than the Samsung Galaxy A72’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The Kirin 985 utilizes a combination of Cortex-A76 cores, suggesting stronger multi-core performance. The Snapdragon 720G, while efficient, relies on Kryo 465 cores, which are generally less powerful. This translates to a potential advantage for the nova 8 Pro 4G in tasks like video editing and demanding games. The 7nm process node of the Kirin 985 also suggests better power efficiency compared to the 8nm Snapdragon 720G, potentially mitigating thermal throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

Both the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G and Samsung Galaxy A72 achieve an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The nova 8 Pro 4G’s 66W wired charging is significantly faster, achieving 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Galaxy A72’s 25W charging is considerably slower. While both phones offer comparable battery endurance, the nova 8 Pro 4G’s charging speed provides a substantial convenience advantage, allowing for quick top-ups when needed. The 5W reverse wired charging on the nova 8 Pro 4G is a bonus for charging accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G if you need blazing-fast 66W charging, a processor capable of handling intensive gaming, and don't mind the potential limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you prefer a consistently bright display for outdoor use, a well-established Android experience with Samsung's One UI, and prioritize long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 in the nova 8 Pro 4G get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 985’s 7nm process node should offer better thermal efficiency than the Snapdragon 720G’s 8nm node. However, sustained gaming will inevitably generate heat. While we lack specific thermal testing data, the Kirin 985 is likely to throttle less aggressively than the Snapdragon 720G, providing a more consistent gaming experience.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the Galaxy A72 slow compared to other phones in its class?
Yes, 25W charging is relatively slow compared to the 66W charging offered by the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G and increasingly common in other mid-range devices. Expect a significantly longer charging time to reach 100% on the Galaxy A72.
❓ How does Huawei's software experience compare to Samsung's One UI on the Galaxy A72?
Samsung's One UI is a mature and widely-used Android skin known for its feature richness and customization options. Huawei's EMUI (or HarmonyOS, depending on the region) offers a different experience, and historically has faced concerns regarding app availability due to the Google Play Services situation. This is a key consideration for users heavily reliant on Google apps.