Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm | The A72 is slightly taller, while both are similar in width and thickness. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is more compact, potentially feeling better in the hand for some. |
| Weight | 203g | 221g | The A72 is significantly lighter, which makes it more comfortable for extended use, especially with one hand. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both have standard smartphone build quality and design. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size, providing similar screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1290x2796 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has significantly sharper image quality due to higher pixel density, making text and images appear clearer. |
| PPI | 394 | 460 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a noticeably clearer and more detailed image, which is especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution photos or videos. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both use excellent display technologies, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The difference in display tech is negligible in real-world use. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The iPhone 15 Pro Max provides smoother scrolling and animations due to higher refresh rate, enhancing the fluidity of the user experience. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 2000 nits | The iPhone 15 Pro Max is much brighter, offering significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | The A17 Pro offers vastly superior processing power, allowing for much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,641,883 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max is several times more powerful in benchmarks, indicating a huge performance difference. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Apple GPU (6-core) | The Apple GPU provides vastly better graphics performance, especially useful for high-end mobile gaming and video editing tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm | 48MP, f/1.78, 1.22µm | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a larger sensor and pixel size, which usually results in better low light performance, despite lower resolution. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.00µm | N/A | The A72 provides optical zoom, while the iPhone relies solely on digital zoom for portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm | 12MP, f/1.9, pixel size not specified | The A72 has higher megapixel count, but the iPhone's wider aperture and better sensor (IMX714) could yield better quality in most conditions. The pixel size of the iPhone is not specified. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 12MP, f/2.8, 1.12µm | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a dedicated telephoto lens for improved optical zoom, while A72 lacks a dedicated lens for telephoto shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 has a dedicated wide-angle lens, whereas iPhone doesn't. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 features a macro lens for close up photography which the iPhone doesn't have. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.40µm | iPhone 15 Pro Max has a combined wide angle and macro lens. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR | The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers superior video recording with HDR and higher frame rates. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 92 | 154 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has significantly better overall camera performance based on DXOMark scores. |
| DxOMark Photo Score | 100 | 153 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has significantly better photo performance based on DXOMark scores. |
| DxOMark Video Score | 78 | 158 | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has significantly better video performance based on DXOMark scores. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4441mAh | The A72 has a larger battery capacity, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 27W Fast Charging, 15W MagSafe Wireless, 7.5W Qi | The iPhone 15 Pro Max charges slightly faster with wired charging, and offers convenient wireless charging options. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger Included, Non-Removable | Non-Removable, MagSafe Wireless Charging, Qi Wireless Charging | iPhone has more charging options (wireless charging), while Samsung includes a fast charger in the box. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: More comfortable for prolonged single-handed use.
- Larger Battery: Potentially longer battery life.
- More Camera Lenses: Has telephoto + portrait, wide-angle, and macro lenses, offering more shooting flexibility.
- Included Fast Charger: Comes with a 15W fast charger in the box.
- Lower Cost: Generally costs much less than iPhone models.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The A17 Pro chipset offers vastly superior processing and graphics power.
- Better Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and dramatically higher brightness.
- Significantly Better Camera: Higher DxOMark scores, better low-light performance, and more advanced video recording features.
- Faster Wired Charging and Wireless Charging: More convenient with MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.
- Newer Software: iOS 17 with more frequent updates and access to Apple's ecosystem.
- More Storage: Options for much higher storage (up to 1TB).
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi standards for faster speeds and newer Bluetooth.
- Better Audio: Improved audio experience with noise cancellation microphone and spatial audio.
- More Sensors: Includes additional sensors like the Barometer.
- eSIM: More convenient for using different carriers.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Trades raw power and camera quality for lower price, lighter weight, and larger battery.
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Trades higher price for its superior performance, display, and camera capabilities. It also has a slightly heavier body and a smaller battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Budget-conscious Users: Looking for a good, well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank.
- Casual Photographers: Appreciate the multiple lenses for versatile shooting scenarios.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Those needing a long-lasting battery without frequent charging.
- Users Prioritizing Comfort: Those who prefer a lighter phone.
- Users who use a Wide Angle Lens, Macro Lens, or dedicated Telephoto Lens
Ideal User for Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max:
- Power Users: Professionals and enthusiasts who demand top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Serious Photographers/Videographers: Those who prioritize high-quality photos and videos.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest features, best display and smoother user experience.
- Users in the Apple Ecosystem: Benefit from seamless integration with other Apple products and services.
- Users who prefer wireless charging and better audio.
- Users who want more storage options.
Specific Use Cases:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Ideal for daily tasks, social media browsing, watching videos, and casual photography. Best for general use cases and people who enjoy taking photos with different lenses (wide angle, macro, and telephoto + portrait).
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Ideal for gaming, video editing, professional photography/videography, demanding applications, and users who want the smoothest experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The iPhone 15 Pro Max is significantly more expensive.
- What is more important: performance/camera or battery life/comfort? The iPhone has the performance and the Samsung has the battery and is lighter.
- How deeply am I invested in either the Apple or Android ecosystem? This affects seamless integration with other devices and services.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A72. It offers a good balance of features and is much more affordable.
- Scenario 2: High-Performance User:
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. The A17 Pro chip provides unmatched speed, making it ideal for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast:
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. The camera system is superior, and it offers more professional-grade features.
- Scenario 4: User Prioritizing Battery Life and Comfort:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A72. It offers a larger battery and is lighter, offering a better experience if the camera, performance, and display quality are not priorities.
My Choice
Personally, I would choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. While it is significantly more expensive, the performance difference is substantial, and as a heavy user, the extra power and smoother experience would be important to me. I also value the higher quality display, superior camera, and the convenience of wireless charging. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a larger battery, I am willing to sacrifice a bit of battery life for the vast advantages of the iPhone in other areas. The ecosystem integration, timely software updates, and overall user experience are also major selling points for me. While the A72 has some great features, such as multiple dedicated camera lenses, the overall quality of the camera and video on the iPhone would outweigh this for my usage.
