Oppo Reno6 Z vs Samsung Galaxy A72: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Oppo Reno6 Z emerges as the stronger choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 800U chipset offers a noticeable performance edge over the Snapdragon 720G in the Galaxy A72, coupled with significantly faster 30W charging. While the A72 boasts a brighter screen, the Reno6 Z’s overall package provides better value and future-proofing.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Oppo Reno6 Z | Samsung Galaxy A72 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 20 | 2021, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 14 | Available. Released 2021, March 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm (6.31 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 (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HDM), 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, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 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 | - | 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) |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide) | 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 (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | 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 5W reverse wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4310 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Aurora | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | CPH2237 | SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS |
| Price | About 350 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 Reno6 Z
- Faster 30W charging significantly reduces downtime.
- More powerful Dimensity 800U chipset for smoother performance.
- 5W reverse wired charging for accessory top-ups.
- Display brightness data unavailable, potentially less visible outdoors.
- Brand recognition not as strong as Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Brighter 825 nit display for excellent outdoor visibility.
- Established Samsung ecosystem and software features.
- Potentially more refined image processing.
- Slower 25W charging.
- Less powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset.
- No reverse wireless charging.
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A72’s display shines with a measured peak brightness of 825 nits, making it significantly more visible outdoors than the Reno6 Z (brightness data unavailable for Reno6 Z). While the Reno6 Z’s panel specifics are unknown, the A72’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a VA panel, offering deeper blacks. However, without knowing the Reno6 Z’s panel type or refresh rate, it’s difficult to assess its overall visual quality beyond brightness. The A72’s larger screen size also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for both. The A72 likely benefits from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms, potentially delivering more consistent results in various lighting conditions. However, without knowing the main sensor sizes and apertures, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device would be a significant advantage, but this information is unavailable. It's safe to assume both phones include a suite of software features to enhance image quality, but the underlying hardware plays a crucial role.
Performance
The Oppo Reno6 Z’s Mediatek Dimensity 800U, fabricated on a 7nm process, generally outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A72’s 8nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G. The Dimensity 800U’s Cortex-A76 cores, clocked at 2.4 GHz, provide a more substantial performance boost compared to the Snapdragon 720G’s 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. While both phones are adequate for everyday tasks, the Reno6 Z will handle demanding applications and games with greater ease. The 7nm node also implies better thermal efficiency for the Reno6 Z, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both the Oppo Reno6 Z and Samsung Galaxy A72 achieve an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Reno6 Z’s 30W wired charging is considerably faster than the A72’s 25W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. The Reno6 Z also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the A72, enabling it to charge accessories like earbuds. While the A72’s battery capacity is unknown, the Reno6 Z’s faster charging mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo Reno6 Z if you prioritize performance for gaming and multitasking, and value fast charging to minimize downtime. It’s ideal for users who frequently consume media on the go and need a responsive device. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if a brighter display is paramount, and you prefer the Samsung ecosystem and its associated software features. It’s a solid choice for users who prioritize content consumption in direct sunlight and appreciate a more mature software experience.