The mid-range 5G market is fiercely competitive, and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G and Samsung Galaxy A72 5G represent compelling options. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this, particularly in chipset choice and charging technology. This comparison dissects those differences to reveal which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset offers a noticeable performance advantage, coupled with blazing-fast 65W charging that replenishes the battery in just 30 minutes. While the A72 5G offers a familiar Samsung experience, it can't match the Nord 2's speed.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, July 22 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, July 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.3 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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) | - |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Auto HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, SBAS, NavIC |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Gray Sierra, Blue Haze, Green Wood, Pac-Man Edition |
| Models | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS | DN2101, DN2103 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 189.00 / $ 219.99 / £ 148.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 102h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 512164 (v8) | 598022 (v9)
GeekBench: 2792 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A72 5G
- Familiar Samsung One UI experience
- Potentially wider carrier compatibility
- Solid all-around performance for everyday tasks
- Slower charging speed (25W)
- Less powerful chipset compared to the Nord 2 5G
- Display likely lacks the contrast of an OLED panel
OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- Significantly faster 65W charging with PD
- More powerful Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chipset
- Brighter display with superior contrast (likely OLED)
- OxygenOS may not appeal to all users
- Potential software update concerns (compared to Samsung)
- May have limited carrier support in some regions
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 633 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the A72 5G. While both are likely to offer adequate visibility outdoors, the Nord 2’s higher peak brightness will provide a more vibrant experience in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio on the Nord 2 suggests an OLED panel, offering superior blacks and color reproduction, while the A72 5G likely uses an LCD. This difference is crucial for media consumption and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the chipset advantage of the Nord 2 5G suggests superior image signal processing (ISP) capabilities, potentially leading to better dynamic range and noise reduction. The A72 5G’s camera performance will likely be solid, leveraging Samsung’s image processing expertise, but the Nord 2 has the potential to deliver more detailed and vibrant images, especially in challenging lighting conditions. We'd need to see sample images to confirm.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 1200, built on a 6nm process, significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The Dimensity 1200’s octa-core configuration, featuring a high-clocked Cortex-A78 prime core, delivers superior CPU and GPU performance. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more enjoyable gaming experience. The 6nm node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 750G is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games at higher settings.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 102 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G’s 65W wired charging, with Power Delivery (PD) support, can fully charge the battery in just 30 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G’s 25W charging is significantly slower, requiring considerably more time to reach 100%. This difference is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G if you prioritize a well-established brand ecosystem, prefer Samsung's One UI software, and value a potentially wider carrier compatibility. Buy the OnePlus Nord 2 5G if you demand faster performance for gaming and multitasking, need incredibly quick charging, and appreciate a cleaner, more streamlined software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 1200 in the Nord 2 5G get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 1200 is built on a 6nm process, which generally offers better thermal efficiency than the 8nm Snapdragon 750G in the A72 5G. While some heat is inevitable during prolonged gaming, the Nord 2 5G is less likely to experience significant throttling, maintaining higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ How does the 65W charging on the Nord 2 5G compare to typical fast charging solutions?
65W charging is exceptionally fast. It can fully charge the Nord 2 5G from 0% to 100% in approximately 30 minutes, significantly faster than the 25W charging on the A72 5G. This is a substantial convenience for users who need to quickly replenish their battery.
❓ Is the software experience on the OnePlus Nord 2 5G significantly different from Samsung's One UI?
Yes. The Nord 2 5G runs OxygenOS, which is known for its cleaner, more minimalist interface and faster updates compared to Samsung's One UI. One UI offers more features and customization options, but some users find it bloated. The choice depends on your preference for software style.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 750G in the A72 5G handle demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile?
The Snapdragon 750G can run PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile, but you may need to lower the graphics settings to achieve smooth frame rates. The Dimensity 1200 in the Nord 2 5G will provide a noticeably better gaming experience with higher settings and more consistent performance.
