Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G vs Galaxy A72: The Ultimate Showdown

Samsung's Galaxy A series offers incredible value, but choosing between models can be tough. The A52s 5G and A72 were both popular mid-range contenders. Let's break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you pick the perfect phone for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A52s 5G edges out the A72 thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 778G chipset and 5G connectivity. While the A72 boasts slightly better battery endurance and a marginally brighter display, the A52s 5G's performance advantage makes it the overall winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Samsung Galaxy A72
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2021, August 172021, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 01Available. Released 2021, March 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.30 x 2.96 x 0.33 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
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 618
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 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)
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 Virtual Proximity SensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Purple, Awesome MintAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue
ModelsSM-A528B, SM-A528B/DS, SM-A528NSM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS
Price£ 112.98 / € 249.47£ 174.89 / € 359.99
SAR0.72 W/kg (head)-
SAR EU0.88 W/kg (head)     0.84 W/kg (body)0.23 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 113h Endurance rating 117h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.5 LUFS (Good) -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 429675 (v8), 506432(v9) GeekBench: 11060 (v4.4), 2801 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

  • Faster Performance (Snapdragon 778G)
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
  • Smooth 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • Slightly better camera quality

  • Slightly lower battery endurance than A72
  • Smaller screen size

Samsung Galaxy A72

  • Larger Display (6.7 inches)
  • Slightly better battery endurance
  • Good Value for Money
  • Super AMOLED Display
  • Smooth 120Hz Refresh Rate

  • Slower Performance (Snapdragon 720G)
  • No 5G Connectivity
  • Older Chipset

Display Comparison

Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The A72 has a slightly higher peak brightness of 825 nits compared to the A52s 5G's 800 nits, but the difference is minimal in real-world usage. Both have excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal). The A72's larger screen size (6.7 inches vs 6.5 inches) might appeal to those who consume a lot of media.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera setups, typically including a main lens, ultrawide lens, macro lens, and depth sensor. Image quality is generally good in both, but the A52s 5G often produces slightly more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting conditions. Video recording capabilities are comparable, with both supporting up to 4K resolution. Low-light performance is decent on both, but not exceptional.

Performance

This is where the A52s 5G truly shines. Its Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset is considerably faster and more efficient than the A72's Snapdragon 720G. Expect noticeably quicker app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the A52s 5G. The A72's chipset is still capable, but it shows its age compared to the newer processor.

Battery Life

The A72 has a slightly higher endurance rating (117h) compared to the A52s 5G (113h), suggesting marginally better battery life. However, the A52s 5G's more efficient chipset helps offset this difference, and real-world battery performance is quite similar for moderate usage.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is ideal for users who prioritize performance, especially those wanting 5G connectivity and smoother gaming. The Galaxy A72 is a good choice for those who value slightly longer battery life and a larger screen, and are less concerned about raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the A52s 5G worth the extra money over the A72?
Yes, if performance and 5G connectivity are important to you. The A52s 5G offers a significant upgrade in processing power.
❓ Which phone has the better camera?
The A52s 5G generally produces slightly better photos, especially in good lighting. Both are capable, but the A52s 5G has a slight edge.