1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 161.2 × 74 × 8.6 mm | A72 is slightly taller and wider, while Edge 40 Pro is a bit thicker. Both are similar in hand feel. |
| Weight | 203g | 199g | Negligible difference. Both phones feel relatively similar in weight. |
| Build Quality | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Edge 40 Pro offers superior screen protection against scratches and drops. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference; Both provide ample screen real estate for media consumption and daily use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness; Both displays offer crisp text and images. |
| PPI | 394 | 394 | Identical pixel density; Both displays look equally sharp to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Similar rich colors and deep blacks. Minor differences but negligible in day-to-day usage. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 165Hz | Edge 40 Pro offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations, noticeable in games and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1100 nits | Edge 40 Pro display is much brighter, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Edge 40 Pro chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,532,500 | Edge 40 Pro is substantially faster in all tasks, providing a premium user experience for demanding applications and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 740 | Edge 40 Pro has a much more powerful GPU, providing significantly better graphics performance for gaming and other graphically demanding tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size | Edge 40 Pro has larger pixels and sensor, capturing better low-light photos, despite having slightly lower resolution. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size | None | A72 has a dedicated telephoto for zoomed portrait shots. Edge 40 Pro has no dedicated telephoto for portraits. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm pixel size | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor, 0.61µm pixel size | Edge 40 Pro has higher resolution for more detail but smaller pixels, the trade-off depends on lighting and user priorities. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 12MP, f/1.6, 1/2.93" sensor, 1.22µm pixel size | Edge 40 Pro offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which isn't available on the A72. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixel size | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" sensor, 0.64µm pixel size | Edge 40 Pro captures much more detailed wide-angle shots; tradeoff is the smaller pixels for low-light. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm pixel size | None | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. Edge 40 Pro does not have a dedicated macro lens. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps (with EIS) | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@960fps (with HDR & EIS) | Edge 40 Pro offers higher resolution and frame rate capabilities, including more advanced stabilization options, suitable for demanding video needs. |
| DxOMark Score (Mobile) | 92 | 130 | Edge 40 Pro performs substantially better in camera testing, with significantly better photos and videos. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Edge 40 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4600mAh | A72 has slightly larger battery, potentially longer usage time. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging (Li-Ion) | 125W fast charging (Li-Polymer) | Edge 40 Pro charges much faster, resulting in significantly shorter charging times. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included | Reverse charging, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse wired charging | Edge 40 Pro has much more versatile battery features, including wireless charging and reverse charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages
- Dedicated Telephoto + Portrait Lens: Offers a dedicated camera for zoomed portrait photos.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- Slightly Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery could provide a marginal advantage in battery life.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Advantages
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offers much faster performance in all tasks.
- Much Higher Refresh Rate: 165Hz refresh rate provides a significantly smoother visual experience.
- Superior Display Brightness: The brighter screen is much more usable outdoors in bright sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 125W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
- Advanced Video Capabilities: Supports up to 8K video recording with advanced stabilization options.
- Better Camera Quality: Based on DxOMark scores, it captures far better photos and videos.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards.
- Wireless Charging and Reverse Charging: Adds a lot of versatility in charging.
- More RAM: 12GB of RAM will offer better performance for heavy multitasking and gaming.
- Better build: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers superior protection.
Trade-offs
- Galaxy A72 sacrifices performance and cutting-edge features for a slightly larger battery and dedicated macro/telephoto lenses.
- Edge 40 Pro offers superior performance, screen, and camera capabilities, it lacks the dedicated macro lens and the telephoto lens available on the A72.
- Edge 40 Pro has a smaller battery but is compensated with faster charging and better power efficiency.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User
- Budget-conscious users who prioritize a bigger screen and a dedicated macro/telephoto lens.
- Users focused on photography that would benefit from the additional dedicated macro and telephoto camera options.
- Users that do not require advanced gaming performance or heavy multitasking.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro Ideal User
- Performance-focused users who need the fastest possible processing power and the highest frame rates for demanding tasks and games.
- Users who want the best display quality for media consumption and outdoor usage.
- Video content creators who will benefit from the 8K video recording capabilities and the advanced image stabilization.
- Users who want the most advanced features and don't mind the potential battery difference.
Use Cases
- Galaxy A72: Casual social media browsing, watching videos, taking casual photos, everyday tasks.
- Edge 40 Pro: High-end mobile gaming, creating/consuming high-quality video content, heavy multi-tasking, outdoor use.
Price-to-Value Ratio
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a newer and significantly more advanced phone and is priced accordingly. The Samsung Galaxy A72 is older and should be available at a much more budget-friendly price. This can heavily affect which phone provides better value depending on the user's budget.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers
- How important is performance to you? (Casual use vs. demanding apps/games)
- Do you need a top-tier camera or are average results good enough? (Image quality and features matter)
- Is battery life a bigger priority than fast charging? (How much time do you need away from a charger)
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Casual User, Budget-Conscious: If you prioritize a lower price and an okay camera experience, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is the better choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance Seeker: If you demand high performance for gaming, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is the only viable option.
- Scenario 3: Content Creator: If high-quality video is a priority, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro offers far superior capabilities.
- Scenario 4: Heavy Phone User If battery life is the absolute most critical point, the Samsung Galaxy A72 might be slightly better, but the Motorola Edge 40 Pro fast charging makes this a moot point for most people.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Motorola Edge 40 Pro. While I acknowledge the Samsung Galaxy A72's slightly larger battery and dedicated macro lens as strengths, the Edge 40 Pro's advantages in nearly every other category are too compelling.
Specifically, the significantly faster processor, higher refresh rate screen, brighter display, far superior camera system, and drastically faster charging time create a drastically better user experience overall. I do value top-tier performance and high-quality camera features, and the Edge 40 Pro delivers on those requirements. While the A72 offers a slightly larger battery, the Edge 40 Pro's 125W fast charging mitigates any concerns about running out of power. The enhanced display quality also makes a huge difference in the daily user experience.
The Edge 40 Pro is a clear winner for me because it feels like a more future-proof and premium device, which outweighs the minor advantages of the A72.
