Samsung Galaxy A54 vs A72: A Detailed Comparison for 2024

The Samsung Galaxy A72 was a mainstay in the mid-range market, known for its solid battery life and capable camera. Now, the A54 arrives as its successor, boasting a newer chipset and a brighter display. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which phone offers the best value and performance in today's market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is the better choice. While the A72 boasts comparable endurance ratings, the A54’s more efficient Exynos 1380 chip, brighter 980 nit display, and newer features make it a more compelling overall package, justifying its likely higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A72 Samsung Galaxy A54
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 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, March 172023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 26Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g (7.16 oz)202 g (7.13 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 (~394 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 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 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-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
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@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 Virtual proximity sensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired
TypeLi-Ion 5000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsAwesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome BlueLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsSM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DSSM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
Price£ 174.89 / € 359.99€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.23 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 117h Endurance rating 119h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.4 LUFS (Good) -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A72

  • Excellent battery endurance (117h)
  • Lower price point (likely)
  • Solid all-around performance for basic tasks

  • Older Snapdragon 720G chipset
  • Less bright display (825 nits)
  • Potentially fewer software updates

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Brighter and more vibrant display (980 nits)
  • More powerful and efficient Exynos 1380 chipset
  • Likely to receive more software updates
  • Improved image processing

  • Potentially higher price
  • Battery life is comparable, not significantly better

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 significantly improves upon the A72’s display. While both feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, the A54 reaches a peak brightness of 980 nits, compared to the A72’s 825 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors in direct sunlight. While both likely use AMOLED panels, the A54’s newer panel technology likely offers improved color accuracy and viewing angles. The A72’s display, while still good, feels dated in comparison.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer a photo/video experience, but details beyond that are limited. The A54’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Exynos 1380 likely provides improved image processing capabilities, resulting in better dynamic range and noise reduction. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to definitively say which camera is superior, but the A54’s newer hardware gives it an edge. The A72’s camera is still capable, but the A54 is expected to deliver more consistent results in various lighting conditions.

Performance

The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The A72 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm), while the A54 features Samsung’s Exynos 1380 (5nm). The 5nm process node of the Exynos 1380 is more efficient, leading to better thermal management and potentially less throttling under sustained loads. The A54’s CPU, with its Cortex-A78 cores, also offers a performance advantage over the A72’s Kryo 465 cores, particularly in demanding applications. This means faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the A54.

Battery Life

Both the A72 and A54 boast an endurance rating of 119 hours, with the A72 rated at 117h. The A54 achieves an active use score of 11:15h. This suggests comparable real-world battery life, despite the A54’s more powerful processor. Both support 25W wired charging, meaning 0-100% charge times will be similar. The Exynos 1380’s improved efficiency likely contributes to the A54 maintaining similar battery life despite its increased performance demands.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you prioritize maximizing battery life on a budget and are comfortable with an older chipset. It’s a solid option for users who primarily browse, text, and make calls. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, smoother performance for multitasking and gaming, and a more modern feature set, even if it means slightly less longevity in terms of software updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1380 in the A54 tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1380’s 5nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency compared to the A72’s Snapdragon 720G. While some heat generation is inevitable during gaming, the A54 is less likely to experience significant throttling under sustained loads, providing a more consistent gaming experience.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range are limited in their capabilities. Image quality is often soft and lacks detail. While they can be fun to experiment with, don’t expect professional-level macro photography from either the A72 or A54.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy A54 reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The A54’s Exynos 1380 is capable of running PUBG Mobile at 60fps with medium to high graphics settings. However, achieving consistently smooth performance may depend on the specific game settings and the intensity of the gameplay. Expect some frame drops during particularly chaotic moments.
❓ How long will Samsung provide software updates for the A54 compared to the A72?
The A54, being a newer device, will receive a longer period of software support from Samsung. It's likely to get at least 4 years of security updates and 3 major Android OS upgrades, while the A72's support window is nearing its end.