Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. Motorola Edge 30 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm | 163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm | A72 is slightly taller and wider; Edge 30 Pro is thicker. Differences are minimal but noticeable. |
| Weight | 203g | 196g | Edge 30 Pro is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable over extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size; no practical difference. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness; no practical difference. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 393 PPI | Near identical pixel density; virtually indistinguishable in sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; slight differences in color accuracy. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | Edge 30 Pro offers much smoother scrolling and animation; better for gaming. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 0 nits | Galaxy A72 is much brighter, significantly better for outdoor use in sunlight. The brightness of Motorola is not specified. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Edge 30 Pro is significantly faster; apps load faster, smoother multitasking and gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,061,400 | Edge 30 Pro is over 3.7x more powerful; large difference in performance for all tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 730 | Edge 30 Pro has a more powerful GPU; better graphics in games. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | A72 has higher resolution; Edge 30 Pro has a larger sensor and pixels for better low-light. |
| Telephoto | 8MP, f/2.4 | None | A72 offers optical zoom capabilities; better for far away subjects |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | None | A72 offers a dedicated wide angle lens; better for capturing wide scenes |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photos |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.61µm | Edge 30 Pro has a higher resolution selfie cam, but with smaller pixels |
| Portrait mode (depth) | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | Edge 30 Pro has a dedicated depth camera for better portraits |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Edge 30 Pro has a wide-angle camera that doubles as a macro. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps | Edge 30 Pro can record much higher resolution videos for professional usage. |
| DxOMark | Mobile: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Mobile: 101, Photo: 107, Video: 102 | Edge 30 Pro scores significantly higher in camera testing. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | A72 has slightly larger battery capacity, but the difference is marginal. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | Edge 30 Pro charges much faster; shorter wait times. |
| Features | 15W Charger Included | 15W Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging | Edge 30 Pro has faster and more versatile charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (up to 12) | Android 12 (up to 13) | Edge 30 Pro ships with a newer OS; more modern and longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Edge 30 Pro supports faster and more reliable Wi-Fi; better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Edge 30 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version; more power-efficient. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Edge 30 Pro has more accurate and faster GPS. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Edge 30 Pro has an optional larger storage variant; more space for files and media. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | Edge 30 Pro has more RAM options; better for multitasking and demanding apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | Edge 30 Pro has better audio recording capabilities; clearer voice calls |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Edge 30 Pro has a faster and more convenient fingerprint sensor |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Gorilla Glass 3 | Edge 30 Pro has better screen protection |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Edge 30 Pro has the same key sensors suitable for gaming |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Brighter Display: Significantly higher brightness (800 nits) makes it much better for outdoor visibility.
- More Versatile Camera Setup: Offers a dedicated telephoto lens with optical zoom and dedicated wide and macro lenses.
- Slightly Bigger Battery: Has 200 mAh more capacity than the Motorola Edge 30 Pro
Motorola Edge 30 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Much faster processor and GPU for smoother multitasking, gaming, and overall speed.
- Faster Charging: 68W fast charging drastically reduces charging times and includes wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Higher Refresh Rate: 144Hz display provides a significantly smoother visual experience for gaming and general use
- Better Cameras: Higher DxOMark score means better photo and video quality, 8K video recording.
- More RAM and Storage: Has more RAM, and the option for more storage.
- Newer Software & Connectivity: Comes with Android 12 and supports faster Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for improved durability.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Sacrifices performance and charging speed for better display brightness, and more flexible cameras.
- Motorola Edge 30 Pro: Lacks optical zoom and telephoto/macro capabilities that A72 has; the screen brightness is not specified, which is a major concern.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize camera versatility and a brighter screen for outdoor use, willing to sacrifice some performance.
- Use Cases:
- Photography enthusiasts who want a telephoto lens, macro, and ultra-wide options.
- Users who spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight and need a display with good visibility.
- Casual users who don't need top-tier performance or gaming capabilities.
- Price-to-Value: Offers decent value for users focused on camera features and screen brightness.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize top-tier performance, fast charging, and excellent camera quality, willing to live with no dedicated telephoto, macro or wide-angle lenses.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gamers who need a fast processor and high refresh rate display.
- Users who frequently multitask and need smooth performance.
- Users who create a lot of high quality video content.
- Power users who want the latest software and connectivity features.
- Price-to-Value: Offers excellent value for users focused on speed, camera quality, and advanced features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is outdoor screen visibility to you? (If it's essential, A72 is better; Otherwise, Edge 30 Pro is better).
- How important is gaming or heavy app usage to you? (If it's critical, Edge 30 Pro wins; A72 is mediocre in performance)
- Do you need a dedicated telephoto camera with optical zoom and macro/wide-angle lenses? (If yes, the A72 is much better; if not, Edge 30 Pro is sufficient).
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Outdoor Enthusiast & Photography: If you spend a lot of time in bright sunlight and need a very bright screen for visibility while also wanting more versatility in cameras with telephoto, wide, and macro lenses the Samsung Galaxy A72 is better.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer & Power User: If you prioritize smooth performance, gaming experience, fast charging, and camera quality (while not requiring a variety of lenses) the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is significantly better.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious Casual User: Evaluate if the Edge 30 Pro offers features you'll actually use that warrant the added cost, because if you are not a gamer and do not prioritize performance and charging speeds, you may find A72 more than sufficient.
My Choice:
Based on this analysis, I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has some good points like a brighter display and a dedicated telephoto lens, the sheer performance advantage of the Edge 30 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, combined with its faster charging, 144Hz display, and superior camera quality, make it the more compelling option for my needs. I value responsiveness and smooth performance more than the flexibility of a dedicated telephoto lens, and I also prefer the speed of the charging of the Edge 30 Pro. The brighter screen of the A72 is useful, but I tend not to spend much time outdoors in direct sunlight, and therefore it is not such a big deal for me. The Edge 30 Pro also offers 8K video recording, which is important if you want to create high quality video content. The more modern software and better connectivity options add further value to the Edge 30 Pro and make it my choice.
