Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. A72 5G: A Deep Dive into Samsung's Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers the best balance of price and performance. Its excellent 117-hour endurance rating and bright 825-nit display are compelling. The A72 5G’s Snapdragon 750G provides a performance uplift, but the marginal gains don’t justify the potential price premium for those not prioritizing 5G connectivity.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Samsung Galaxy A72 5G |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | Not announced yet |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Cancelled |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 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 |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unspecified |
| 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 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| 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 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| 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), 1/1.7X", 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) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; 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, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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, 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 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue |
| Models | SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS |
| Price | £ 174.89 / € 359.99 | About 550 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.4 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Exceptional 117-hour battery life
- Bright 825-nit display for outdoor visibility
- Generally more affordable price point
- Slightly slower processor compared to the A72 5G
- Lacks 5G connectivity
Samsung Galaxy A72 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 750G processor
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Potentially smoother multitasking
- Likely shorter battery life than the A72
- May command a higher price
Display Comparison
Both the A72 and A72 5G share a similar display profile, with the A72 boasting a measured peak brightness of 825 nits. This high brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While contrast is listed as 'Infinite (nominal)', this is typical marketing language for AMOLED panels. The lack of detailed display specs like refresh rate or PWM dimming frequency in the provided data makes a direct comparison difficult, but the A72’s brightness remains a key advantage. Users sensitive to flicker will need to research PWM frequencies independently.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details about sensor size, aperture, or OIS. Given the A72 series’ positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both feature a multi-camera system with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and potentially macro/depth sensors. However, without concrete specifications, a detailed camera comparison is impossible. The absence of information suggests the camera performance is likely similar, focusing on Samsung’s image processing algorithms rather than significant hardware differences. We can assume both will deliver acceptable results in good lighting conditions.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A72 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with 2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver cores. The A72 5G steps up to the Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm), with an octa-core CPU configuration of 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570 cores. While both are 8nm chips, the 750G’s Kryo 570 cores represent an architectural improvement, offering slightly better performance per clock cycle. This translates to snappier app loading and smoother multitasking, particularly noticeable for users running multiple applications simultaneously. The 5G modem in the A72 5G also adds to its power consumption.
Battery Life
The A72 shines with an impressive endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the A72 5G’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the more powerful Snapdragon 750G and the power demands of the 5G modem likely result in a slightly reduced endurance rating. Both devices support 25W wired charging, meaning 0-100% charge times will be comparable, likely around 1.5-2 hours. The A72’s longer endurance provides a clear advantage for users who prioritize minimizing charging frequency.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you prioritize long battery life, a consistently bright display for outdoor use, and value for money. It’s ideal for everyday users, media consumers, and those who don’t require the latest 5G speeds. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G if you frequently travel to areas with robust 5G coverage and want a slightly more responsive experience for demanding apps and occasional gaming, and are willing to pay a premium for that connectivity.