Samsung Galaxy A72 vs S21 FE 5G: Which Samsung Phone Wins?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and value, the Samsung Galaxy A72 emerges as the winner. Its significantly superior 117-hour endurance rating outweighs the S21 FE’s performance gains, especially considering the S21 FE’s comparatively shorter 92-hour battery life. However, power users will find the S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 a compelling upgrade.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 17 | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 26 | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 107.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| 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) | - |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, 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), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, 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, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | SM-A725F, SM-A725F/DS, SM-A725M, SM-A725M/DS | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | £ 174.89 / € 359.99 | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.23 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.4 LUFS (Good) | -26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 279342 (v8) GeekBench: 6483 (v4.4), 1627 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Exceptional battery life (117h endurance)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility (825 nits)
- More affordable price point
- Less powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Lacks wireless charging capabilities
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Faster charging speeds (50% in 30 min)
- Shorter battery life (92h endurance)
- Slightly dimmer display (792 nits)
- Higher price
Display Comparison
Both the A72 and S21 FE feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of Samsung’s AMOLED panels. However, the A72 boasts a measured peak brightness of 825 nits, exceeding the S21 FE’s 792 nits. This difference translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the S21 FE’s panel, being a flagship-adjacent device, likely benefits from more refined color calibration. Neither specification details refresh rate, but the S21 FE is widely known to have a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, while the A72 is 90Hz, offering smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the S21 FE likely holds an edge in image processing and low-light performance. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the S21 FE benefits from the more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100. The A72’s camera relies on the ISP within the Snapdragon 720G, which is less capable. Details on sensor sizes are missing, but the S21 FE’s flagship lineage suggests a larger primary sensor, capturing more light and detail. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is expected on both, but the S21 FE’s implementation is likely more refined. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are largely a marketing gimmick and offer limited practical benefit.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The A72’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) is a capable mid-range chip, but it’s dwarfed by the S21 FE’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) or Exynos 2100 (5nm). The 5nm fabrication process of the S21 FE’s chipsets offers superior power efficiency and transistor density, resulting in substantially faster CPU and GPU performance. The S21 FE’s CPU configuration – either a Cortex-X1 prime core paired with Cortex-A78 and A55 cores – provides a noticeable advantage in multitasking and demanding applications. The A72’s Kryo 465 cores, while efficient, simply can’t compete. The S21 FE’s GPU will also deliver a far superior gaming experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the A72 truly shines. Its endurance rating of 117 hours significantly surpasses the S21 FE’s 92 hours. This difference is attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 720G and potentially a larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). While both support 25W wired charging, the S21 FE adds the convenience of 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the A72. The S21 FE also claims a 50% charge in 30 minutes, suggesting faster charging circuitry, but the A72’s longer overall endurance mitigates the need for frequent top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you need exceptional battery life, a consistently bright display for outdoor use, and a reliable all-around experience without breaking the bank. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you prioritize raw processing power for gaming and demanding applications, faster charging speeds, and the convenience of wireless charging, and are willing to compromise on battery endurance.