The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Oppo Reno5 Z and Samsung Galaxy A72 are two strong contenders. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one deserves your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A72 edges out the Reno5 Z thanks to its superior display brightness, longer software support, and generally more polished software experience. While the Reno5 Z boasts a slightly faster chipset, the A72's overall package makes it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 04 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 04 | Available. Released 2021, March 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 73.4 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.89 x 0.31 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· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 173 g (6.10 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 800 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 11, ColorOS 11.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 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) |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4310 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fluid Black, Cosmo Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | CPH2211 | SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS |
| Price | About 330 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) |
Oppo Reno5 Z
- Slightly faster chipset for gaming
- Sleek and stylish design
- 30W fast charging
- Lower display brightness
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Less consistent camera performance
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Exceptional battery life
- Reliable camera system
- Longer software support
- Slightly slower chipset
- 25W charging is slower
- Design is less distinctive
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A72 shines with its 825 nits peak brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Reno5 Z's display is good, but lacks the A72's brightness and potentially color accuracy. The A72 also likely has better color calibration.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Galaxy A72 likely has an edge in image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung's image processing is generally more consistent and pleasing to a wider range of users. The Reno5 Z might offer slightly faster shutter speeds due to its chipset, but the A72's overall versatility is likely superior.
Performance
The Oppo Reno5 Z's Mediatek Dimensity 800U generally offers slightly better raw processing power than the Snapdragon 720G in the Galaxy A72, particularly in gaming. However, Samsung's software optimization often results in a smoother, more responsive user experience despite the slightly less powerful chipset. Real-world performance differences are likely minimal for everyday tasks.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A72 boasts an exceptional endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating significantly longer battery life than the Reno5 Z. While the Reno5 Z's 30W charging is faster than the A72's 25W, the A72's larger battery capacity means it will likely last much longer between charges.
Buying Guide
The Oppo Reno5 Z is ideal for users prioritizing gaming performance and a sleek design on a tighter budget. The Samsung Galaxy A72 is a better fit for those who value a vibrant display, long-term software updates, and a more reliable camera system.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Oppo Reno5 Z generally offers slightly better gaming performance due to its more powerful chipset, but the difference is often minimal in real-world scenarios.
❓ How long will Samsung support the Galaxy A72 with software updates?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its devices, with the Galaxy A72 expected to receive several years of Android updates and security patches.
