1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Honor 50 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm | 160 x 73.8 x 7.8 mm | A72 is larger & bulkier, might feel less comfortable for small hands. Honor 50 is slimmer and lighter, easier to handle. |
| Weight | 203g | 175g | Honor 50 is noticeably lighter, more comfortable for extended use. A72 might feel heavy in long sessions. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.57" | A72 has a slightly larger screen for more immersive viewing, better for media consumption. Honor 50 is slightly smaller, potentially more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Both are sharp enough for daily use; difference is minimal in real use. |
| PPI | 394 | 392 | Both have similar pixel density, resulting in crisp images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. Minimal difference in daily viewing quality. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 50 has smoother scrolling and animations, more fluid user experience. A72 still good, but less smooth for fast scrolling. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 0 nits | A72 is significantly brighter for outdoor use in direct sunlight. Honor 50 may struggle in bright conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Honor 50 has a much faster and more efficient chipset for smoother app loading, multitasking, and better gaming performance. A72 will feel slower by comparison. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 582,766 | Honor 50 has significantly higher benchmark scores, indicative of much better overall performance, and a better user experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 642L | Honor 50's GPU is better for graphically intensive tasks and gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4300mAh | A72 has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. Honor 50 needs more frequent charging, especially with higher refresh rate. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 50 charges much faster. A72 charging will take longer, especially from low battery levels. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included | Reverse charging | A72 includes a slower charger. Honor 50 can charge other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8 | 108MP, f/1.9 | Honor 50 captures more detailed images in good lighting. A72 has a slightly wider aperture for low light. |
| Telephoto+Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4 | Not available | A72 has dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom and portrait shots. Honor 50 relies on digital zoom. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2 | 32MP, f/2.2 | Both are comparable for selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.2 | A72 captures wider images with more detail. |
| Portrait Mode | Not available | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor 50 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode effects. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | A72 captures more detailed macro images. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@30fps, EIS | Both phones record high quality video. |
| Video stabilization | Yes | No | Samsung Galaxy A72 offers stabilization for video recording while Honor 50 doesn't. |
| Slow-motion | Yes, 120 fps | Yes, 240 fps | Honor 50 offers faster slow-motion video capture. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 92 (Photo 100, Video 78) | Not available | A72 has been benchmarked, providing an idea of overall camera quality. Honor 50 camera performance is unknown, may be good or bad |
| Camera Features | OIS, optical zoom | Ultra stable video, RAW | A72 has OIS for better low-light shots. Honor 50 includes more advanced features such as RAW output. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 11 | Both use Android but the Honor 50 will not be upgraded. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac, dual-band | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), dual-band | Honor 50 has faster Wi-Fi, more future-proof. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Honor 50 has newer, more efficient Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, L1+L5 | Honor 50 has dual-band GPS, potentially more accurate in complex environments. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support Dual SIM, useful for travelling or managing work and personal lines. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB | Both come with ample storage, but neither are expandable. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 6GB/8GB/12GB | Honor 50 has a higher RAM option (12 GB) for heavy users. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither have expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio | A72 has better audio features, more immersive, better sound separation. Honor 50 offers Hi-Res audio quality. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both have similar fingerprint sensor tech. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both have similar screen protection technology. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Samsung Galaxy A72 has additional sensors, enhancing use cases such as gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 5000mAh for potentially longer battery life.
- Brighter Display: 800 nits makes it more usable outdoors in sunlight.
- Telephoto Lens: Offers 3x optical zoom, better for portraits and zoomed photos.
- OIS: Optical image stabilization, better for low light and shake reduction in videos.
- Wider Camera Aperture: f/1.8, slightly better low-light performance in the main camera.
- Better Audio Quality: Dolby Atmos and Stereo Speakers offer a more immersive audio experience.
- Video Stabilization: Video stabilization is available.
- More Sensors: Additional sensors for a wider range of functionality.
Honor 50 Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: Snapdragon 778G chipset is much faster for all tasks.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate, more fluid scrolling and animations.
- Faster Charging: 66W charging greatly reduces charging time.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: 108MP for more detailed photos.
- More RAM: Available with 12GB, better multitasking and future proofing.
- Reverse Charging: Ability to charge other devices.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Offers more efficient Bluetooth and a better audio experience for higher quality audio codec usage.
- Faster Wi-Fi Standard: Supports Wi-Fi 6.
- Better GPS: L1 + L5 for better accuracy.
- RAW Photo Support: For greater editing flexibility.
- Faster Slow-motion capture: Offers 240fps slow-motion capture.
Significant Trade-offs:
- A72: Trades performance and charging speed for battery life, display brightness and camera versatility.
- Honor 50: Trades battery capacity and outdoor display visibility for performance and charging speed.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Media consumers, casual gamers, users who value battery life, camera versatility, and need good outdoor display visibility.
- Use Cases:
- Watching videos/movies on a larger screen.
- Taking photos in a variety of situations, especially with zoom.
- Outdoor use in sunny environments.
- Users that value better audio quality on their smartphone.
- Price-to-Value: Good for users seeking good media experience, but less value in performance.
Honor 50:
- Ideal User: Performance enthusiasts, frequent mobile gamers, users wanting fast charging and a fluid display, prefer a lighter phone.
- Use Cases:
- Playing demanding mobile games.
- Heavy multitasking with multiple apps.
- Fast charging needs for those always on the go.
- Users that prefer taking selfies.
- Users that need greater Bluetooth audio quality.
- Price-to-Value: Better value for users seeking performance and a modern experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is battery life to you? If it's critical, the A72 is a better choice, if you prioritize fast charging, the Honor 50 is better.
- How much do you value performance and gaming? If performance is your focus, the Honor 50 is the better option.
- Do you often use your phone outdoors in bright sunlight? The A72's brighter screen is better for this use.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "Power User" - Need speed, multitasking, and gaming: Honor 50 is clearly superior.
- Scenario 2: "Casual User" - Focus on media, battery, and outdoor visibility: Samsung Galaxy A72 is a better fit.
- Scenario 3: "Balanced User" - Want a good all-rounder: Evaluate the trade-offs and decide what’s more important, consider a third option to cover all bases, otherwise Honor 50 for better performance.
Personal Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Honor 50. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has some strong points like a brighter display and a telephoto lens, the significantly better performance, faster charging, and smoother display of the Honor 50 make it a much more compelling device for my personal use case. The Honor 50 also has the benefit of a higher quality Bluetooth audio codec which is important when using higher quality wireless audio devices. The Honor 50 also boasts a more modern and updated experience in its features compared to the Samsung Galaxy A72, and is better suited to modern app usage.
