1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 162.6 × 74.8 × 8.3 mm | Moto is slightly smaller, potentially more comfortable for one-handed use. A72 is slightly larger, which might be preferrable for content consumption |
| Weight | 203g | 190g | Moto is 13g lighter, which can feel less fatiguing for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical size; both offer a large screen experience for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Same clarity and sharpness on both screens. |
| PPI | 394 | 395 | Practically identical pixel density; both displays will look sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | P-OLED | Both offer vibrant colors, but AMOLED is known for better contrast (deep blacks). P-OLED is more flexible, making it cheaper to produce. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz provides noticeably smoother scrolling, better responsiveness, and a more fluid feel for animations. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1200 nits | Moto offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Moto's newer 4nm chipset offers significantly better performance, better power efficiency, and faster speeds, including better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 514,000 | Moto is significantly faster in daily tasks, multitasking, and gaming, indicating a huge increase in performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 710 | Moto offers a more capable GPU, which is crucial for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1.0µm | A72 has a higher resolution sensor for potentially more detailed images. The Moto's larger pixels on a 1/1.56" sensor, along with the Sony LYT-700C sensor, suggests better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.0µm | N/A | A72 offers optical zoom capabilities, allowing for closer shots without digital zoom artifacts, which the Moto cannot do. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 0.7µm | A72 has a slightly wider aperture for better low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 offers a dedicated ultra-wide camera for expansive shots. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | N/A | 13MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | Moto offers a combined wide-angle and macro lens. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@30fps | Both record up to 4K@30fps, with the Moto offering 1080p@120fps slow motion vs the A72's 120fps slow-motion at a non-specified resolution. |
| DxOMark Score | Overall: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | N/A | A72's camera performance is independently rated, offering a benchmark for comparison (no Moto score provided) |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar battery capacity, meaning similar battery life under average usage. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 30W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, reverse charging | The Moto charges slightly faster and offers wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities which are not present on the A72. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 12 | Android 14, upgradable to 15 | Moto has a more up-to-date Android version and a longer software support lifecycle. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E | Moto has a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 LE | Moto has a newer Bluetooth version with better power efficiency, improved connectivity and better codec support (aptX, LDAC) |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC | Moto supports more satellite systems, leading to more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Moto offers eSIM support, enhancing international travel. A72 only offers Dual Nano sim. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256 GB | 256 GB | Moto has a single 256GB option. A72 comes in 128/256GB Options |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB | Both phones offer sufficient RAM for seamless multitasking; the Moto offers a single 8GB option. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither supports microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Both offer good audio experiences with stereo speakers. The Moto has enhanced voice capture due to dual microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer a similar level of biometric security. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Both have standard sensors; A72 features more sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Screen protection unknown | Screen protection unknown | Both phones have screen protection but the exact type is unknown. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Dedicated Telephoto Camera: Offers 3x optical zoom, essential for detailed zoomed-in shots without quality loss.
- Dedicated Macro Camera: Allows for detailed close-up shots, not available on the Motorola.
- Dedicated Wide Angle Lens: For expansive landscape shots.
- Camera DxOMark Score: It has a known and respectable DxOMark score, which helps assess the performance of the camera hardware.
- Hall, Geomagnetic sensor: Includes a Hall sensor and geomagnetic sensor, which can be useful for some specific applications.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset offers substantially faster speeds for daily tasks, gaming, and overall fluidity.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations more fluid, which provides a smoother user experience.
- Brighter Display: 1200 nits brightness provides much better outdoor visibility, especially in sunlight.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: 30W fast charging gets the phone back up faster, and wireless charging adds convenience; along with reverse charging.
- Newer Android Version: Comes with Android 14, ensuring longer software support and more up-to-date features.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Comes with Bluetooth 5.1 LE with better codec support, which offers better power efficiency and connection.
- More Accurate GPS: Offers support for more satellite positioning systems for more accurate location tracking.
- eSIM Support: Enables more flexible carrier management, especially for international travelers.
- 2 Microphones: Enhances audio capture.
- Wi-Fi 6E: Support for the latest WiFi standards allowing for better connectivity in congested environments.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Samsung A72 offers a more versatile camera setup with dedicated lenses for zoom, macro, and wide-angle. But the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 offers the combination of a wide and macro camera. However, the Moto sacrifices the telephoto lens which could be a dealbreaker for users who want zoom features on their phones.
- The Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 has significantly better performance, charging capabilities, and display, which makes it a better general-use phone for most situations. The A72 is lacking on these points.
- The A72 lacks wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities.
- The A72 is older and will receive less future software support than the Moto G Stylus 5G 2024.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a versatile camera system with optical zoom, macro, and ultra-wide capabilities.
- Users who want a variety of shooting options: For people who like having different lenses for different situations.
- Users who don't require heavy performance: Users who are not heavily invested in mobile gaming or running resource intensive apps.
- Users who prioritize a device with a dedicated, versatile camera over having the latest software or high performance: The A72 still offers good camera performance and good image quality with a variety of lenses that the moto doesn't offer.
- Users who want a device that has more sensors: The additional sensors on the A72 might be useful for some users.
Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) Ideal User:
- Power Users: Users who need a fast and responsive phone for daily tasks, multitasking, and mobile gaming.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Those who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need a display with high visibility.
- Users who want the latest software: Those who prefer to have the latest Android features and long-term support.
- Users who want convenience features: People who want to use wireless charging or reverse charging on the device.
- Users who want a general use device: For users that value performance and long-term software support while still having good camera performance.
- Users that require fast WiFi speeds: For users who require faster speeds, lower latency and better performance in crowded networks.
- International Travelers: Benefit from eSIM support for easy switching between carriers.
Specific Use Cases:
- Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Capturing detailed landscape and nature photography with the wide-angle lens.
- Taking detailed close-up macro shots of flowers and other small objects.
- Zooming in on distant subjects with minimal image degradation thanks to the telephoto lens.
- Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024):
- Playing graphics-intensive mobile games with high frame rates thanks to the stronger processor.
- Using the phone in outdoor settings without screen readability issues due to the high brightness.
- International Travel, which requires changing between carriers frequently using the eSIM function.
- Capturing voice notes and recordings with better audio separation using the 2 microphones.
- Taking detailed close-up macro shots of flowers and other small objects using the wide and macro combination lens.
Price-to-Value:
- If the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is close in price to the Galaxy A72, the Moto offers much better value for money due to the performance, display, and software upgrades, along with additional modern features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Do you prioritize camera versatility (optical zoom, macro, wide-angle) or overall performance and a smoother experience?
- Is long-term software support (newer Android version) or the latest connectivity standards important to you?
- Do you need features like wireless charging and reverse charging?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography Focus If you are a photography enthusiast who values a versatile camera with optical zoom and dedicated lenses, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a better choice.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Future-Proofing If you need a faster, smoother phone with the latest Android version, brighter display, faster charging and newer connectivity standards, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Approach If you want a good overall experience without breaking the bank, the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is a better choice due to the better price to value ratio it provides with its advantages in performance, charging and display.
My Choice
I would choose the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024). Although I would prefer to have a dedicated telephoto lens, the significant improvements in performance, display brightness, refresh rate, charging capabilities, and newer software outweigh the A72's camera advantages in most everyday scenarios. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is a major upgrade, providing a far more responsive and enjoyable user experience for day-to-day tasks and light gaming. The inclusion of wireless charging, eSIM, and the improved GPS and Bluetooth are also key factors in its favor. While the A72 has some nice dedicated camera lenses, the overall experience of the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) feels more modern and is more in line with current mobile phone usage trends.
