1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is more compact and likely easier to handle with one hand. The A72 is slightly larger, which might be preferable for users who prioritize a bigger feel. |
| Weight | 203g | 183g | Honor 90 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and less tiring to carry around. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both offer the same large screen size, ideal for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display, leading to better clarity for text and images, especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution content. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 435 PPI | The higher pixel density on the Honor 90 results in slightly crisper visuals, although the difference might not be noticeable in everyday use for many users. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast thanks to AMOLED technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 provides a smoother visual experience, with faster scrolling and animations, noticeable when browsing web pages and playing fast-paced games. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1600 nits | The Honor 90’s display is significantly brighter, offering much better visibility in direct sunlight. This is crucial for outdoor use. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90’s chipset is much more powerful and efficient, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. It is based on a more advanced architecture offering better performance and power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 701,227 | The Honor 90 has significantly higher performance, providing a noticeably more responsive experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 644 | The Honor 90's more powerful GPU will deliver a superior gaming experience with higher frame rates and better graphics in demanding games. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 200MP | Honor 90 captures much more detailed images, allowing for better cropping and print quality. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.9 | The slightly wider aperture of the Samsung Galaxy A72 might result in slightly better low-light performance in theory, although the Honor 90’s superior sensor is likely to provide overall better low-light capabilities. |
| Main Camera Sensor | Unknown | Samsung ISOCELL HP3 | The Honor 90's sensor is generally considered high quality and provides very detailed photos. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 32MP | 50MP | Honor 90 captures higher-resolution selfies, ideal for sharper images and video calls. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | The wider aperture of the A72's selfie camera may allow slightly more light into the sensor, but the Honor 90's higher resolution will likely provide better overall quality. |
| Telephoto Camera | 8MP Telephoto | None | The Samsung Galaxy A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which allows for better close-up shots than digital zoom. Honor 90 does not have a dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP Wide Angle | 12MP Wide Angle + Macro | The A72 has a dedicated wide angle lens. Honor 90 has a wide angle + macro lens. |
| Portrait Camera | None | 2MP depth | The Honor 90 has a dedicated depth camera for enhanced portrait mode effects. Samsung Galaxy A72 lacks a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Macro Camera | 5MP Macro | None | The A72 has a dedicated macro lens, allowing for close up photography. The Honor 90 uses the wide angle lens for macro shots. |
| Video Stabilization | Yes | No | Samsung Galaxy A72 uses a digital image stabilization technology while Honor 90 does not |
| DxOMark Main Score | 92 | 122 | Honor 90 has a significant advantage with 30 points higher overall. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer the same battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life, though real-world usage will vary depending on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 25W | 66W | Honor 90 charges much faster, resulting in less time spent waiting to charge the phone. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, max version 12 | Android 13 | Honor 90 is more up-to-date out of the box and should receive updates for longer period of time. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 supports newer Wi-Fi standard, potentially leading to faster speeds and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Honor 90 has a newer Bluetooth version that is more energy efficient and allows for better audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 includes more satellite systems providing better accuracy and reliability in location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | The Honor 90 offers higher internal storage options, which is preferable for users who store large numbers of photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | The Honor 90 has higher RAM options, offering better multitasking capabilities. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for expandable storage, so users are limited to their chosen internal storage variant. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Noise Cancellation Microphone | The A72 has better audio features for media consumption. Honor 90 has noise cancellation for phone calls. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones offer similar fingerprint security features. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass | The Samsung Galaxy A72 includes additional sensors such as Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic, which are useful for some advanced features and gaming. Honor 90 has a RGB sensor. |
| ## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip provides significantly better processing power and overall performance compared to the Snapdragon 720G. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
- Higher Resolution Display: The higher resolution of the Honor 90 screen results in crisper text and images, enhancing the overall visual experience.
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate provides a more fluid and responsive experience when scrolling and playing games.
- Brighter Screen: The much higher brightness on the Honor 90 allows for better outdoor visibility, especially in direct sunlight.
- Superior Main Camera Sensor: 200MP sensor will provide much more detailed photos.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging significantly reduces the time spent charging the device.
- Newer Software: Android 13 provides a more up-to-date and feature-rich experience compared to Android 11 (upgradable to 12) on the A72.
- More Storage Options: Offering 256GB and 512GB options provides more flexibility for storing large numbers of files.
- Newer Bluetooth & Wi-Fi: Newer standards allow for better connection speeds and energy efficiency.
- Better Camera DXOMark scores: Significantly better performance in all areas of mobile photography.
- More RAM options: More RAM available on Honor 90 for better multitasking capabilities.
- Better Audio for Calling: Noise cancellation microphone.
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Telephoto Lens: The inclusion of a dedicated telephoto lens is a major advantage for users who want good optical zoom capabilities.
- Wider Aperture Main Camera: The slightly wider aperture on the main camera could result in slightly better low-light performance
- Wide Angle Lens: The dedicated Wide angle lens offers more flexibility for capturing landscape and group shots.
- Macro Lens: The Macro lens offers greater flexibility in capturing close up photos.
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): The OIS feature helps to reduce blur in photos and videos due to hand shake, providing sharper images and videos, especially in low-light conditions.
- Better Audio for Media: Dolby Atmos and Stereo Speakers enhance media consumption.
- More comprehensive motion sensors: The inclusion of Gyroscope, Hall and Geomagnetic sensors.
- 15W Charger Included: A charger is included in the box.
Trade-offs:
- Performance vs Camera: The Honor 90 offers superior performance and charging, but lacks the dedicated telephoto, wide angle and macro lens found on the A72.
- Software: The Samsung Galaxy A72 only receives software updates to Android 12 while Honor 90 is shipped with Android 13.
- Audio: While A72 offers superior sound quality for media consumption, Honor 90's noise cancellation is better for calls.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Honor 90:
- Power Users: Individuals who prioritize performance, speed and multitasking.
- Gamers: Users who enjoy mobile gaming and require smooth graphics and fast processing.
- Content Creators/Consumers: Those who consume and create a lot of content, appreciating its brighter and sharper display as well as the superior performance of the camera.
- Frequent Travelers: The brighter display, faster charging, and better performance will be valuable for on-the-go use.
- Users valuing future proofing: The Honor 90 has a newer chipset and OS, ensuring longer software support.
Specific Use Cases for Honor 90:
- Playing demanding mobile games such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.
- Editing videos or photos on the go.
- Using multiple apps simultaneously without slowdown.
- Taking photos in bright sunlight, enjoying a brighter display.
- Quickly charging the phone for continuous use.
Ideal User for Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a versatile camera system with a telephoto lens, a dedicated wide-angle lens and a macro lens.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who enjoy watching movies or listening to music with enhanced audio experience.
- Users with comprehensive sensor needs: Users that require the most advanced sensor suite.
- Users on a Budget: If the A72 is available at a significantly lower price point, it may offer better value.
Specific Use Cases for Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Capturing detailed photos with the telephoto lens and macro lens.
- Taking photos in low-light conditions
- Enjoying movies and music with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
- Using advanced sensors for specific applications.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Ask:
- Performance or Camera Versatility? Do you prioritize speed, multitasking, and a modern experience, or do you need a versatile camera with a telephoto lens and a macro lens?
- How Important is Display Brightness? Do you often use your phone in bright sunlight? If so, the Honor 90’s brighter screen is a significant advantage.
- What is your Budget? Does the price difference between these phones impact your decision significantly? If the A72 is at a much lower price point, it may be worth considering.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Gaming Enthusiast/Power User:
- Recommendation: Honor 90. The significantly better processor and higher refresh rate provide a much better gaming and multitasking experience. The brighter display will also be useful when gaming outdoors.
Scenario 2: Photography Enthusiast:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A72. While the Honor 90 has a superior main camera sensor, the telephoto lens, wide angle and macro lens of the A72, along with OIS, offers more versatility for photography, along with enhanced sound for media.
Scenario 3: Everyday User Prioritizing Value:
- Recommendation: Honor 90 (if price comparable). If both phones are similarly priced, the Honor 90 provides a better overall package with superior performance, a brighter and smoother display, faster charging, and a more up-to-date software experience. Samsung Galaxy A72 (if significantly cheaper). If the A72 is available at a considerably lower price point, it could be a budget friendly option for standard use, albeit a less performant experience.
Scenario 4: Outdoor Use:
- Recommendation: Honor 90. The much brighter screen will make a huge difference to the user experience in sunny environments.
My Choice:
I would choose the Honor 90. While I value the versatility of a telephoto lens for specific photography scenarios, the overall package that the Honor 90 provides is far superior for my typical use case. The significant performance jump, smoother and brighter display, much faster charging, and more up-to-date software would all lead to a much better user experience in the long term. Although the A72 offers some unique camera features such as the optical zoom, the superior processing of the main camera of the Honor 90 coupled with its wider lens will be more than adequate for the vast majority of scenarios. The vastly superior main camera performance and other enhancements of the Honor 90 make it my pick.
