The Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) was a flagship contender in its time, lauded for its design and battery life. Now, let's see how it stacks up against the more modern Samsung Galaxy A72 5G, a mid-range powerhouse with 5G connectivity. This comparison will help you decide which phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G is the clear winner overall. While the Moto X boasts impressive battery life for its age, the A72 5G offers a superior display, faster performance, a more versatile camera system, and 5G connectivity – all at a competitive price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - EU, AT&T, Verizon | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 17 - XT1097 AT&T, XT1095 T-Mobile | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 7, 20 - India | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, September. Released 2014, September | Not announced yet |
| Status | Discontinued | Cancelled |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm (5.54 x 2.85 x 0.39 in) | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| | Water resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~73.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow) | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM (AT&T, T-Mobile) | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 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) |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 29mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.13µm, AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC2 | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 2300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | XT1097, XT1096, XT1095, XT1092, XT1085, XT1093 | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS |
| Price | About 320 EUR | About 550 EUR |
| SAR | 1.46 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.69 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 48h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 72dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1176Basemark X: 11855 | - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB | - |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 48h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 72dB | - |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1176Basemark X: 11855 | - |
Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen)
- Exceptional battery life
- Compact design
- Good build quality (for its age)
- Outdated processor
- Lower resolution display
- Slower charging
- Limited software updates
Samsung Galaxy A72 5G
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display (90Hz)
- 5G connectivity
- Versatile camera system
- Faster performance
- Modern design
- Can be slightly bulky
- Software bloat (typical of Samsung
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A72 5G features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling. The Moto X (2nd Gen) has a 5.2-inch AMOLED display, which is smaller and lacks the higher refresh rate, resulting in a less immersive and fluid experience.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A72 5G's camera system is more versatile, featuring a quad-camera setup with a high-resolution main sensor, ultrawide lens, macro lens, and depth sensor. The Moto X's camera is decent but lacks the features and image quality of the A72. The A72 also offers better video recording capabilities.
Performance
The Snapdragon 750G in the Galaxy A72 5G provides significantly better performance than the Snapdragon 801 in the Moto X. The A72 handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the Moto X can show its age with occasional slowdowns. The A72's octa-core CPU also offers a noticeable speed boost.
Battery Life
The Moto X (2nd Gen) still holds a slight edge in battery endurance, boasting an impressive 48-hour rating. However, the Galaxy A72 5G's 5000mAh battery provides excellent all-day battery life, and its 25W fast charging is faster than the Moto X's 15W charging.
Buying Guide
The Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) is a good choice for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a compact design, especially if they can find it at a very low price. The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G is ideal for those seeking a modern smartphone with 5G, a vibrant display, a capable camera, and reliable performance for everyday tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Moto X 2nd Gen still worth buying?
Only if you can find it extremely cheap and prioritize battery life above all else. Otherwise, the Galaxy A72 5G offers a much better overall experience.
❓ Does the Galaxy A72 5G have a good camera?
Yes, the Galaxy A72 5G has a very capable camera system that delivers excellent photos and videos in various conditions.
