1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-26 | 2024-04-29 | The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is significantly newer, likely with more up-to-date features and software. |
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 162.6 × 75.1 × 8.4 mm | The A72 is slightly taller and wider, while both are the same thickness. The Pura 70 Ultra might feel a bit more compact in the hand. |
| Weight | 203g | 226g | The A72 is noticeably lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2844 | The Pura 70 Ultra has a sharper and more detailed display. |
| PPI | 394 | 460 | The Pura 70 Ultra has a significantly crisper display with higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Similar display technology, both will offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Pura 70 Ultra offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 2500 nits | The Pura 70 Ultra is much more readable outdoors in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Kirin 9010 (7 nm) | The Pura 70 Ultra's newer chipset offers significantly better performance in general usage and gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 869,707 | The Pura 70 Ultra will feel noticeably faster, with better app loading and multitasking capabilities. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Maleoon 910 | The Pura 70 Ultra has a much more powerful GPU, which is important for graphically intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5200mAh | The Pura 70 Ultra has a slightly larger battery, which might mean slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | The Pura 70 Ultra charges significantly faster; a full charge would take much less time. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included | 100W Fast Charging, 80W wireless charging, 20W reverse wireless charging | The Pura 70 Ultra offers much more flexible charging options. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1", 1.6µm | The Pura 70 Ultra’s larger sensor and wider aperture are likely to capture more light and detail, performing better in low-light. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.0µm | None | The A72 includes a dedicated telephoto for portrait. The Pura 70 Ultra doesn't have this feature. |
| Selfie | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 13MP, f/2.4, pixel size unkown | The A72 has higher selfie resolution and a wider aperture but the Pura 70 Ultra's selfie camera sensor model is unknown. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.1, sensor model unkown | The Pura 70 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 40MP, f/2.2, 1/1.7", 1.00µm | The Pura 70 Ultra has a much higher resolution wide-angle camera, capturing more details. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | The A72 offers a dedicated macro lens for close up shots, a feature not available on the Pura 70 Ultra. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Yes | Both devices record video but The A72 provides specific resolution information while information on Pura 70 Ultra is not available. |
| Slow Motion | 120fps | 960fps | The Pura 70 Ultra records slow-motion at significantly higher frame rates, capturing more detail. |
| DXOMARK | Samsung Main: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78. Huawei Main: 163, Photo/Video unknown. | The Pura 70 Ultra has a much higher overall DXOMARK score, although information on the Photo/Video scores is not available. The Samsung A72 has better video performance according to DXOMARK scores. | |
| Features | Quadruple camera, OIS, EIS | Triple camera, Ultra stable video, OIS, EIS | Both have OIS and EIS. The Pura 70 Ultra has "Ultra stable video", suggesting better stabilization. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, Max 12 | Unknown | The A72 runs Android, While information on the Pura 70 Ultra is unavailable. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | 802.11ax (WiFi 6) | The Pura 70 Ultra supports WiFi 6, offering faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | The Pura 70 Ultra features a newer Bluetooth version with more efficient wireless communication. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5), Galileo (E1+E5a+E5b) | The Pura 70 Ultra supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy, particularly in challenging conditions. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones support Dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256GB | 512GB or 1024GB | The Pura 70 Ultra offers significantly more internal storage for apps and media. |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 16GB | The Pura 70 Ultra has much more RAM, enabling better multitasking and smoother performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both phones offer similar audio experiences. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint | Fingerprint | Both phones offer fingerprint authentication. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Information on screen protection is not available for either device. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, RGB | Both phones have a comprehensive sensor set but with some slight differences. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: 23g lighter than the Pura 70 Ultra, potentially more comfortable for long periods of usage.
- Macro Lens: A dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up shots, which is missing on the Pura 70 Ultra.
- Lower Price: Likely to be much more affordable due to its age and lower spec, offering better value for budget-conscious consumers.
- Higher Selfie Resolution: Has a significantly higher megapixel count in its selfie camera, but the impact is unknown without detailed sensor information.
- Specific Telephoto Lens for Portrait: Samsung includes a dedicated 8MP Telephoto + Portrait lens.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: Newer chipset and much higher AnTuTu score, offering smoother app usage, multitasking, and gaming.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher pixel density, higher refresh rate, and dramatically brighter, resulting in a much better visual experience.
- Much Faster Charging: 100W wired charging compared to 25W, which means significantly shorter charging times. Includes wireless charging capabilities.
- Superior Camera Performance: Larger sensor size on main camera with a wider aperture, telephoto lens, and higher resolution ultrawide lens for better low-light performance, zoom, and wide angle shots.
- More Internal Storage and RAM: Offers significantly more internal storage and RAM, which helps with multitasking and long-term usability.
- More Modern Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 standards.
- Better GPS Accuracy: Has more comprehensive GPS satellite support for more accurate navigation.
- Better Overall DXOMARK Score: Has a significantly higher overall score indicating better overall camera performance.
- Ultra Stable Video: Huawei includes the "Ultra Stable Video" feature, suggesting better video stabilization, especially for more demanding video recordings.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Weight: The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is heavier than the Samsung A72, which may be a concern for those who prefer lighter phones.
- Price: The Pura 70 Ultra will be much more expensive due to its higher-end specs.
- Macro lens: The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does not offer a macro lens, limiting close-up shooting capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, casual phone users who value a lightweight phone and are not demanding in terms of gaming or advanced camera features. Users who value a dedicated macro lens.
- Use Cases: Everyday browsing, social media, photography, macro photography, occasional casual gaming, and users that need a good telephoto camera for portrait mode.
- Price-to-Value: The A72 offers a good price for the general user, but has a lower performance level and lacks modern features.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra:
- Ideal User: Power users, photography enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who wants the best possible performance and display quality in their smartphone.
- Use Cases: Professional photography/videography, graphically intense gaming, heavy multitasking, media consumption, and users who need a top quality display.
- Price-to-Value: Offers top-tier features and performance for a premium price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The A72 will be significantly cheaper; if price is a big concern, the choice is clear.
- How important is performance and display quality? If you need the best performance, the sharpest display, and fastest charging, the Pura 70 Ultra is better.
- What is your main use case? Do you need a dedicated macro lens (A72) or a higher quality camera for other types of photography, gaming, and multitasking (Pura 70 Ultra)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget Shopper: If your budget is limited and you need a reliable phone for basic tasks, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a good choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance Seeker: If you need the best possible performance, gaming experience, and display quality and are willing to pay a premium, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: If you value a high quality all-around camera for professional photography, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is better due to the improved sensor size, resolution, and the addition of a telephoto lens. The Samsung Galaxy A72 only has a macro lens for close-up photography.
My Choice
If I were choosing, I would pick the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. While I acknowledge that the A72 is a decent device for general use, the Pura 70 Ultra offers a superior experience across the board. Here's why:
- Future-Proof Performance: The Kirin 9010 chipset and 16 GB of RAM make the Pura 70 Ultra a significantly faster and more responsive device than the Snapdragon 720G and 6-8 GB of RAM in the A72. The Pura 70 Ultra is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease, ensuring that it remains relevant for years to come.
- Excellent Display: The display on the Pura 70 Ultra stands out with its higher resolution, refresh rate, and incredible brightness. This would greatly enhance the experience of media consumption, gaming, and general browsing.
- Top Tier Camera System: As a user that values photography, the Pura 70 Ultra's camera setup, with its larger sensor, wider aperture, and additional telephoto lens for further zoom is a must-have. The main 1-inch sensor size and larger pixel size on the Pura 70 Ultra will lead to better photos and videos, particularly in low-light scenarios, which is essential for someone interested in photography.
- Fast Charging and Modern Connectivity: The 100W fast charging and inclusion of Wireless Charging significantly improves day-to-day ease of use. This coupled with the upgraded Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 standards, make the Pura 70 Ultra the obvious choice in this category.
- High DXOMARK Score: The high DXOMARK score makes it the winner for photography.
While the Samsung Galaxy A72 is more affordable, its age and weaker performance hold it back in comparison. The Pura 70 Ultra is an investment in a better all-around experience and one that would be better over time.
