The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they take different approaches to chipset selection and feature prioritization, making a direct comparison crucial for informed buyers.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G offers a more compelling package. Its significantly faster 67W charging, achieving 100% in just 42 minutes, is a major advantage. While the A72 5G has a slightly more mature software experience, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s efficiency and charging speed outweigh this.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2022, January 26 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, February 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| 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 (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | 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) | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | ANT+ | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Graphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue |
| Models | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS | 21091116I, 2201116SG |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 120.33 / $ 230.00 / £ 319.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 115h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 288914 (v8), 382902 (v9)
GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A72 5G
- Established Brand Reputation
- Potentially Longer Software Support
- Smooth User Experience (Generally)
- Slower Charging Speed (25W)
- Less Efficient Chipset (8nm vs 6nm)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
- Ultra-Fast 67W Charging
- More Efficient Chipset (6nm)
- Brighter Display (746 nits)
- MIUI Software (Can be polarizing)
- Potentially Shorter Software Support
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured 746 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the A72 5G. This translates to better outdoor visibility. Both displays feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. While neither specification details refresh rate, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for users who consume content outdoors or in brightly lit environments.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 695 may offer improved image processing algorithms and noise reduction. The absence of details on optical image stabilization (OIS) for either device makes low-light performance a question mark, relying heavily on software processing.
Performance
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G utilizes the Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G, fabricated on a more efficient 6nm process, while the A72 5G employs the Snapdragon 750G (8nm). Although both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with similar peak clock speeds (2.2 GHz for the performance cores), the 6nm node of the Snapdragon 695 generally results in better thermal efficiency and sustained performance. The Kryo 660 Gold cores in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G are architecturally newer than the Kryo 570 cores in the A72 5G, potentially offering incremental improvements in single-core performance.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 115 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s 67W wired charging is a game-changer, delivering a full charge in just 42 minutes. The A72 5G’s 25W charging is significantly slower, making the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G far more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery. The faster charging speed effectively mitigates any potential slight disadvantage in raw battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G if you prioritize a well-established brand with a potentially longer software support lifecycle and a generally smoother, albeit less aggressively optimized, user experience. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G if you value rapid charging, a brighter display, and a more modern chipset architecture for improved power efficiency, even if it means navigating Xiaomi’s MIUI software.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 695 isn't a flagship chipset, it's capable of running Genshin Impact at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some frame drops during intense combat. The 6nm process helps with thermal throttling, but sustained performance will be lower than on the A72 5G's Snapdragon 750G under prolonged heavy load.
❓ How does Xiaomi's MIUI software compare to Samsung's One UI in terms of bloatware and updates?
MIUI is known for including more pre-installed apps (bloatware) than Samsung's One UI. However, many of these can be uninstalled. Samsung generally offers faster and more consistent software updates, particularly security patches, compared to Xiaomi. The A72 5G may receive updates for a longer period.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between 25W and 67W really that noticeable in everyday use?
Absolutely. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s 67W charging is a significant convenience. Going from 0% to 50% in 15 minutes and fully charged in 42 minutes is a massive time saver compared to the A72 5G, which will take considerably longer. This is especially beneficial for users who often find themselves needing a quick top-up.
