Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. Apple iPhone 13 mini
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 13 mini | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Size | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 131.5 × 64.2 × 7.7 mm | The A72 is significantly larger and bulkier, making the iPhone 13 mini more pocketable and easier to handle with one hand. |
| Weight | 203g | 141g | The iPhone 13 mini is much lighter, improving comfort during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 5.4" | The A72 has a much larger screen, better for media consumption and multitasking; the iPhone 13 mini's smaller screen is better for one-handed use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Both have similar resolutions, so sharpness will be similar at a normal viewing distance. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 476 PPI | The iPhone 13 mini offers a sharper display due to its higher pixel density, noticeable for very detailed images and text. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both technologies provide excellent contrast, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. The difference in real-world terms is negligible. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | The A72's 90Hz refresh rate offers smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1200 nits | The iPhone 13 mini will be significantly more visible in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | The A15 Bionic is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The iPhone 13 mini is more future-proof. |
| Antutu Score | 285,000 | 1,250,240 | This benchmark score demonstrates the significant performance advantage of the iPhone 13 mini. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | The Apple GPU offers much better graphics performance, noticeable in graphically intensive games and applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.8 | 12MP, f/1.6 | The A72 has a higher resolution sensor, but the iPhone 13 mini has a wider aperture and a larger sensor, often resulting in better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto | 8MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A72 offers a dedicated telephoto camera for optical zoom, which the iPhone 13 mini lacks. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.4 | Both have similar wide-angle capabilities, with slightly wider aperture on the A72 for better low-light shots. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which the iPhone 13 mini lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 | The A72 has a higher resolution selfie camera, but the iPhone 13 mini uses a superior sensor with a higher DxoMark score for selfies. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@60fps with HDR & EIS | The iPhone 13 mini offers more versatile and high-quality video recording, with options for 4K 60fps with HDR. |
| DxoMark Mobile | 92 (Photo 100, Video 78) | 125 (Photo 133, Video 144) | The iPhone 13 mini has a substantially better camera according to DxoMark, particularly excelling in video. |
| DxoMark Selfie | N/A | 134 (Photo 127, Video 143) | The iPhone 13 mini has a substantially better selfie camera according to DxoMark. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 2438mAh | The A72 has a significantly larger battery which will generally provide much longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 20W fast charging | The A72 charges slightly faster. |
| Wireless Charging | No | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | iPhone 13 mini supports wireless charging, including MagSafe, while the A72 does not. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | iOS 15 (upgradable to 18) | The iPhone 13 mini will receive more updates for longer, offers access to the iOS ecosystem, while the A72 offers the flexibility of Android and Google's services. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The iPhone 13 mini has a newer faster Wi-Fi standard |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | iPhone 13 mini offers better power efficiency with LE technology |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM | Both phones offer dual sim capabilities, but iPhone 13 mini offers an eSIM while the A72 offers Dual physical SIM slots |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | The iPhone 13 mini offers up to 512GB of storage. The A72 maxes out at 256GB. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 4GB | The A72 has more RAM. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS / DTS X, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The iPhone 13 mini offers a more immersive and high fidelity audio experience, with noise cancelling. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | Fingerprint sensor | Basic security features | Only the A72 has a fingerprint scanner. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Proximity | The A72 features a fingerprint sensor and a compass. The iPhone 13 mini features a barometer. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Larger Display: Better for media consumption, multitasking, and accessibility.
- Larger Battery: Significantly longer battery life, ideal for users who need all-day power.
- Telephoto and Macro Lenses: Offers more versatile camera options, especially for optical zoom and close-up photography.
- More RAM: Better for multitasking, especially with multiple demanding apps.
- Faster Charger: Slightly faster wired charging speeds.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Offers biometric security
- Dual SIM: Dual physical SIM card slots
Apple iPhone 13 mini Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Chipset: Superior performance in all tasks, including gaming and demanding applications.
- Smaller and Lighter Design: More portable and comfortable for one-handed use.
- Higher Pixel Density: Sharper display, which is especially noticeable for detailed text and images.
- Significantly Brighter Display: Better visibility in outdoor and bright sunlight conditions.
- Superior Camera Quality: Higher DxoMark scores with better video quality.
- Better Wireless Charging: Supports MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.
- Longer Software Support: Will receive iOS updates for a longer period.
- More Storage Options: Available with up to 512GB of internal storage.
- Better Audio Quality: Dolby Digital Plus, DTS / DTS X, Noise cancellation microphone.
- eSIM: Supports digital carrier switching.
- Faster WiFi: Newer WiFi 6 standard
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Sacrifices performance and camera quality for a larger display, bigger battery and telephoto/macro cameras
- Apple iPhone 13 mini: Sacrifices battery life and display size for a much better performance, camera quality, and portability.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users:
- Media Consumers: Users who frequently watch videos, browse social media, and play casual games.
- Users Who Prioritize Battery Life: Those who need a phone that can last all day without frequent charging.
- Photo Enthusiasts: People who want versatile cameras with telephoto zoom and macro capabilities.
- Budget Conscious Users: Those seeking a feature-rich phone at a more affordable price.
- Android Ecosystem Users: Those who prefer Android's customizability and Google's services.
Specific Use Cases:
- Watching movies and TV shows on a large, vibrant display.
- Long trips and commutes where battery life is crucial.
- Taking close-up photos of flowers, insects, and other small objects.
- Using two physical SIMs
Apple iPhone 13 mini Ideal Users:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who demand the best performance for gaming and demanding applications.
- Users who value portability: People who prefer a small and lightweight phone they can comfortably use one-handed.
- Camera Focused Users: Those who prioritize high-quality photos and videos in diverse conditions.
- iOS Ecosystem Users: Those who prefer iOS's simplicity, security, and access to Apple's ecosystem.
- Wireless Charging Users: Those who use wireless chargers frequently
- Users of Apple Accessories: Users who are already in the Apple Ecosystem and use many apple products (airpods, apple watch, etc)
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games.
- Taking high-quality photos and videos in low-light conditions.
- Using a compact phone for everyday tasks and on-the-go productivity.
- Those who need long-term software updates.
Price-to-Value Ratio
The A72 generally offers a better price-to-value ratio, providing a larger display, bigger battery and telephoto/macro lenses for a lower price. The iPhone 13 mini commands a premium price but offers significantly better performance, a superior camera, and wireless charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: performance or screen size and battery life? (iPhone 13 mini excels in performance, A72 excels in display size and battery life).
- How important is camera quality? (iPhone 13 mini has much higher DxoMark scores, but the A72 has a more versatile lens system with telephoto and macro).
- Do you prefer the Android or iOS ecosystem? (This will influence app availability and overall user experience).
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-performance gaming and photography: Choose the iPhone 13 mini for its powerful processor, superior camera, and smaller size.
- Scenario 2: All-day battery life and media consumption: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72 for its bigger battery, larger display and more affordable price.
- Scenario 3: Compact phone with a capable camera: Choose the iPhone 13 mini for its small size and very capable cameras
- Scenario 4: Budget conscious but still need a decent screen: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72 for its larger screen and respectable performance at a lower price
My Choice
Personally, I would choose the Apple iPhone 13 mini. While I appreciate the larger display and battery of the Samsung Galaxy A72, the performance difference is too significant to ignore. The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 mini ensures smooth performance in demanding tasks, and I value the quality of its camera more than the versatility of the A72's lens system. Additionally, I prefer the compactness and build quality of the iPhone, and it will receive updates for longer. The smaller display is a trade-off, but the higher pixel density and brightness help mitigate that downside. For me, the increased performance, superior camera, long-term software support, and overall user experience of the iPhone 13 mini outweigh its battery life and display size limitations.
