Samsung Galaxy A72 vs A71: Which Samsung Mid-Ranger Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is the better buy. Its significantly brighter display (825 nits vs 515 nits) and improved battery endurance (117h vs 102h) offer tangible benefits. While the chipset difference is less dramatic, the A72 provides a slightly more efficient experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Samsung Galaxy A71 |
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2019, December 12. Released 2020, January 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm (6.44 x 2.99 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 179 g (6.31 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm) - GlobalQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) - Philippines |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | 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) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | ANT+ | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue, Prism Crush Pink |
| Models | SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS | SM-A715F, SM-A715F/DS, SM-A715F/DSN, SM-A715F/DSM, SM-A715W, SM-A715X |
| Price | £ 174.89 / € 359.99 | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | 0.51 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.4 LUFS (Good) | -29.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 192 458(v7), 263396 (v8) GeekBench: 7039 (v4.4), 1733 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Significantly brighter display for outdoor use
- Longer battery life for all-day performance
- Slightly more efficient chipset
- Potentially improved camera image processing
- Marginally slower CPU clock speed (though impact is minimal)
- May be slightly more expensive than the A71
Samsung Galaxy A71
- More affordable price point
- Capable performance for everyday tasks
- Still a good camera system
- Solid build quality
- Dimmer display, especially in sunlight
- Shorter battery life
- Older chipset
Display Comparison
The most immediately noticeable difference lies in the displays. The Galaxy A72 boasts a peak brightness of 825 nits, a substantial leap over the A71’s 515 nits. This translates to significantly improved visibility in direct sunlight, making it far more usable outdoors. Both phones feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels, but the A72’s higher brightness provides a more vibrant and punchy image. While both likely use similar AMOLED technology, the A72’s panel is demonstrably superior for outdoor use and overall viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature versatile camera systems, but detailed specifications beyond 'Photo / Video' are lacking. However, the A72’s improved image processing, coupled with its potentially newer sensor technology, likely delivers better dynamic range and low-light performance. The A71’s camera is still capable, but the A72 benefits from Samsung’s incremental improvements in computational photography. The inclusion of features like Single Take on the A72 further enhances its creative capabilities. It's important to note that both phones include a 2MP macro camera, which, while present, offers limited practical benefit due to its low resolution.
Performance
Both the A71 and A72 utilize 8nm Qualcomm chipsets, but differ in their specific models. The A71 features either the Snapdragon 730 or 730G (depending on region), while the A72 uses the Snapdragon 720G. The 730 has a slightly higher CPU clock speed (2.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz on the A72’s Kryo 465 Gold cores), but the A72’s architecture is newer. In real-world usage, the performance difference is minimal; both phones handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming with ease. The A72’s slightly more efficient chipset may result in marginally better thermal management during sustained loads, but the difference is unlikely to be significant for typical users. Both phones feature 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A72 edges out the A71 in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 117 hours compared to the A71’s 102 hours. This 15-hour difference translates to a noticeable improvement in real-world usage, particularly for heavy users. Both phones support 25W wired charging, offering similar charging speeds – approximately 1.5 to 2 hours for a full charge. The A72’s larger battery capacity, combined with the slightly more efficient Snapdragon 720G, contributes to its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you prioritize outdoor visibility, extended battery life, and a slightly more modern chipset. This phone is ideal for media consumption, casual gaming, and users who demand all-day battery performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A71 if you’re on a tighter budget and can live with a dimmer screen and shorter battery life. It remains a capable device for everyday tasks and offers excellent value for money, particularly if found at a significant discount.