Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. Apple iPhone 16 Plus
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | The A72 is slightly taller and thicker, making it feel a bit bulkier, while the iPhone 16 Plus is more compact and slim. |
| Weight | 203g | 199g | Both phones feel similarly weighty in hand, negligibly different. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both phones have the same screen size for a consistent viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1290 x 2796 | The iPhone 16 Plus provides a much sharper image with more detail due to higher pixel density, making text and graphics appear clearer. |
| Pixel Density | 394 ppi | 460 ppi | The iPhone 16 Plus display will appear significantly sharper, resulting in a more pleasant viewing experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both use excellent display tech, with similar color quality and deep blacks, though differences may exist in specific panel characteristics not described in the data provided. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | The A72's 90Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations compared to the iPhone's 60Hz. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 2000 nits | The iPhone 16 Plus display is much brighter, offering superior visibility under direct sunlight, ideal for outdoor use. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) | Apple A18 (3nm) | The Apple A18 is a significantly more powerful chip, offering much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The A18 is significantly more energy efficient due to its smaller fabrication. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,753,018 | The iPhone 16 Plus provides drastically better performance (over 6x faster), ensuring a much smoother and faster experience for all tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Apple GPU (5-core) | The iPhone 16 Plus's GPU provides vastly superior graphical performance, making it better for gaming and demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4674 mAh | The A72 has slightly larger battery capacity, which may provide slightly longer battery life, although real-world usage will vary. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging | Both phones support similar fast charging speeds, allowing for relatively quick top-ups. |
| Features | 15W Charger included | 25W Wireless Charging | The A72 includes a fast charger in the box, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus offers wireless charging capabilities. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 64MP, f/1.8 | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/1.3", 1.0µm Sony IMX904 | The A72 has a higher resolution sensor but the iPhone has a larger sensor with wider aperture and bigger pixels, suggesting better performance in low-light and overall image quality, also has a more modern sensor. |
| Rear Telephoto | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.0µm Omnivision OV08A10 | None | The A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoomed photos, which the iPhone lacks. |
| Rear Wide Angle | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | The A72 features a dedicated ultrawide camera for wide landscape shots, which the iPhone lacks. |
| Rear Macro | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | The A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which the iPhone lacks. |
| Rear Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.4µm Sony IMX633 | iPhone has combined the wide and macro lenses in a single system |
| Front Selfie | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm | 12MP, f/1.9, Sony IMX714 | The A72 has much higher resolution for selfies; iPhone has a wider aperture, potentially better low-light. |
| Video | 4K@30fps w/EIS, 1080p@60fps w/EIS | 4K@60fps w/HDR & Stereo Sound, 1080p@240fps w/HDR | The iPhone 16 Plus offers higher frame rate options, better quality, and stereo sound in its video recordings, resulting in a more professional end product. |
| DXOMark | 92 (Overall) | Not tested | The Samsung Galaxy A72 has a DXOMark score of 92. The iPhone 16 Plus has not been tested. |
| Camera Features | Multiple; Quadruple Camera, OIS, Night Mode | Multiple; Cinematic Mode, Pro Mode, OIS, Night Mode | Both have similar features, but the Apple has some more advanced video recording and editing features. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | iOS 18 | Different operating systems with different ecosystems. The iPhone 16 Plus will receive long-term software and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac, Dual band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot | WiFi 6E, Dual band, MiMO, Hotspot | The iPhone 16 Plus offers faster and more reliable Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi 6E support. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, Multiple Profiles | 5.3 LE, LE, APT-x | The iPhone 16 Plus has newer Bluetooth for better range, more efficient power consumption and higher audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, BeiDou (B1), NavIC System | The iPhone 16 Plus has better global location accuracy due to more supported satellites. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano + Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano + eSIM) | The A72 supports two physical SIM cards, while the iPhone 16 Plus utilizes a nano SIM + eSIM setup. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB or 512GB | The iPhone 16 Plus offers a higher maximum storage option, which could be significant for users with extensive media libraries. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB | The iPhone 16 Plus comes with 8GB of RAM and is optimized for its iOS operating system for smoother performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage, so users must carefully choose storage option at time of purchase. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The iPhone 16 Plus features noise cancellation, multi microphones, potentially providing better audio recording and calling capabilities. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Security Features | The A72 has a fingerprint sensor for biometric security. The iPhone 16 Plus uses Face ID, but this is not stated directly in the provided specifications. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones have similar screen protection but specific type is not listed. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | The iPhone 16 Plus includes a barometer, but lacks a fingerprint sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate provides a more fluid visual experience compared to the iPhone's 60Hz.
- Telephoto and Ultrawide lenses: Dedicated lenses give additional versality in photography
- Macro Lens: Dedicated lens for close up shots.
- Physical SIM Flexibility: Supports two physical SIM cards, catering to users who prefer this method.
- Included Charger: Comes with a 15W fast charger in the box.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Traditional biometric security.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The A18 chip offers drastically superior processing and graphics performance, making the phone far faster and more responsive for any demanding application.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density for noticeably better image quality.
- Much Brighter Display: Offers vastly better visibility in bright conditions like sunlight.
- Superior Video: Enhanced video features such as HDR, stereo sound, and higher frame rate recording options result in better quality.
- Latest Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 LE ensure cutting-edge wireless connectivity.
- More Precise Location: Support for more satellite systems increases accuracy when using GPS.
- eSIM Support: Provides digital SIM option for more flexibility.
- Advanced Audio Features: Noise cancellation and multiple microphones offer superior call quality and voice recording.
- Better Quality Camera Sensor: Larger sensor and pixel size lead to better low light photography.
- Wider Angle + Macro Camera: Better single camera versatility.
- Wireless Charging: Offers convenience of wireless charging.
Trade-offs:
- A72: Sacrifices raw performance, camera technology, and display sharpness/brightness for potentially better battery life.
- iPhone 16 Plus: Lacks telephoto and ultrawide lenses, has a lower refresh rate, and no fingerprint sensor, but gains in other areas.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Price-conscious users who value a smooth display and versatile camera system, especially those who enjoy telephoto and ultrawide shots, and prefer to use physical SIM cards.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday social media, browsing, and video consumption.
- Casual photography, with a focus on flexibility of having several cameras.
- Users who prioritize battery life or prefer fingerprint security.
- Price-to-Value: A good option for those on a budget, offering decent display and camera features but at a lower price range.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus:
- Ideal User: Users who demand the highest level of performance, best camera quality, and superior display in a premium smartphone.
- Use Cases:
- Heavy mobile gamers and those using demanding apps.
- Professional photography and video recording, especially in low light.
- Users who want the latest wireless connectivity standards.
- Users embedded in the Apple ecosystem.
- Price-to-Value: A premium option, offering top-tier performance, display quality, and camera technology at a high price point.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: Do you need cutting-edge performance for demanding tasks, or is a smoother everyday experience sufficient?
- Camera Priorities: Do you prioritize flexibility in camera lenses (telephoto/ultrawide), or do you focus more on image quality and video features?
- Ecosystem Preference: Are you locked into a specific ecosystem (Android or iOS)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Casual Use: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72 for a good-value phone with decent display and battery life.
- Scenario 2: High Performance, Gaming Focus: Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus for its unmatched performance and gaming capabilities.
- Scenario 3: Pro Photography/Videography: Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus for its superior camera and advanced video features, including low light performance.
- Scenario 4: Physical SIM Card Users: The Samsung Galaxy A72 offers two physical sim card slots whereas the Apple iPhone 16 Plus offers a nano sim card plus an e-sim card.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a few advantages, such as a higher refresh rate screen, multiple camera lenses, and a fingerprint sensor, the iPhone 16 Plus significantly outperforms it in several critical areas. Specifically, the iPhone's A18 chip offers vastly superior speed and performance, making it a smoother experience overall, particularly for gaming and demanding tasks. Furthermore, the much brighter and sharper display of the iPhone is much better for outdoor use and media consumption. The advanced video capabilities of the iPhone also makes it better choice.
While the Samsung offers greater flexibility in terms of camera options, the superior image sensor on the iPhone results in a higher quality photo in many situations. Finally, the longer software update support offered by Apple provides peace of mind knowing that the phone will stay relevant and secure for years to come. Although this is a premium option, for my needs and use cases, the benefits of the iPhone outweigh the drawbacks.
