1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Nothing Phone (2) | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 162.1 × 76.4 × 8.6 mm | A72 is slightly taller; both are similar in width and thickness. Minimal real-world difference in hand feel. |
| Weight | 203g | 201.2g | Virtually identical weight. Negligible difference in perceived heaviness. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen size. Similar viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2412 | Negligible difference. Similar image sharpness. |
| PPI | 394 | 394 | Identical pixel density. Similar image clarity. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Similar display quality. Excellent colors and contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Nothing Phone (2) has a smoother visual experience in scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1600 nits | Nothing Phone (2) display is much more visible in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Nothing Phone (2) offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,135,786 | Nothing Phone (2) is considerably more powerful. Noticeable difference in performance-heavy tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 730 | Nothing Phone (2) offers much better graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4700mAh | Samsung A72 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly longer usage time. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 45W fast charging | Nothing Phone (2) charges much faster. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included, Non-removable | Reverse charging, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse wireless, Non-removable | Nothing Phone (2) offers more charging flexibility with wireless and reverse charging. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56", 1.00µm (Sony IMX890) | Nothing Phone (2) has larger sensor and pixel size for potentially better low light and overall image quality |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.00µm (Omnivision OV08A10) | N/A | Samsung A72 has dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom and portrait effects. |
| Selfie | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm | 32MP, f/2.45, 1/2.74", 0.80µm (Sony IMX615) | Samsung A72 has a slightly wider aperture for potentially better low light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | N/A | Samsung A72 has dedicated wide angle lens for landscape and group photos. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | N/A | Samsung A72 has dedicated macro lens for close up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76" , 0.64µm (Samsung S5KJN1) | Nothing Phone (2) offers an ultrawide lens with macro functionality. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, OIS, EIS | Nothing Phone (2) offers more advanced video features like OIS and HDR. |
| DxOMark | Mobile: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | N/A | Samsung A72 camera performance has been independently tested, but no data is available for Nothing Phone (2). |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, Upgradable to 12 | Android 13, Upgradable to 16 | Nothing Phone (2) is on a newer OS version with longer support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Nothing Phone (2) has faster WiFi. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Nothing Phone (2) has a newer Bluetooth version with better performance. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), NavIC System | Nothing Phone (2) offers greater accuracy due to more satellite support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both have dual sim functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | Nothing Phone (2) offers 512GB storage option. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Nothing Phone (2) offers more RAM for multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Nothing Phone (2) has better overall audio capabilities. |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones have similar basic fingerprint sensor security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both have similar levels of screen protection. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: Offers optical zoom capabilities, useful for detailed zoomed-in shots, and portrait mode.
- Dedicated Wide Angle Lens: Provides a wider field of view for landscapes and group photos.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Allows for extreme close-up photography.
- Larger Battery: Potentially offers slightly longer battery life, however, this may be balanced by the more efficient chipset of the Nothing Phone (2).
- Established Camera Performance: Has a tested camera with a decent DxOMark score.
Nothing Phone (2) Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Processor: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers much higher performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: 120Hz display results in smoother visuals and a more responsive user experience.
- Much Brighter Display: 1600 nits brightness provides much better outdoor visibility.
- Faster Charging: 45W fast charging significantly reduces charging times.
- Wireless and Reverse Wireless Charging: Provides more versatile charging options.
- Newer Operating System: Comes with a newer version of Android with extended software support.
- Better Audio Quality: Hi-Res audio support, and additional microphone for capturing audio.
- More RAM: Up to 12GB of RAM enhances multitasking performance.
- 512GB Storage Option: Offers more storage space for users with large media libraries.
- Ultrawide Camera with Macro: More flexible lens with both wide and macro functionality.
- More advanced video recording capabilities: OIS and HDR for smoother and better quality videos.
- Better Connectivity Newer WiFi standard, newer bluetooth, and more accurate GPS.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung A72 sacrifices processing power and display brightness for a dedicated telephoto, wide angle, and macro lenses.
- The Nothing Phone (2) lacks dedicated telephoto, wide angle, and macro lenses, relying instead on its primary and ultrawide lenses.
- Samsung A72 has a slightly larger battery, but Nothing Phone 2's more efficient chip, combined with faster charging, may offer a similar real world usage.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Casual Photographers: Users who value versatile camera options (telephoto, wide, macro) and are not concerned about top-tier performance.
- Users on a Budget: Likely available at a lower price point now due to its age.
- Users Not Prioritizing Performance: Users who mainly use their phones for basic tasks and do not need the latest performance.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who appreciate stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos.
- Users who want a simpler and traditional phone with no gimmicks: The nothing phone 2 has a unique design with LED lights and different software customizations that may be undesirable for some users.
Samsung Galaxy A72 Use Cases:
- Capturing diverse types of photography: landscapes, close-ups, and zoomed-in shots.
- Casual social media posting and sharing.
- Watching videos or streaming content with stereo sound.
- Basic day-to-day phone use, communication, and social media.
Nothing Phone (2) Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize speed, gaming performance, and overall responsiveness.
- Frequent Multitaskers: Users who need to switch between multiple apps quickly and seamlessly.
- Users who value premium features: Wireless charging, high-quality audio, and modern software features.
- Users who value visual fidelity and smooth animations: The higher refresh rate and display brightness provide a better viewing experience.
- Users who are focused on future proofing The modern chipset allows for longer software support and a smooth experience for longer.
- Users who prefer a cleaner more up to date software experience The Nothing OS and support is more up to date than the one on the Samsung A72.
Nothing Phone (2) Use Cases:
- Playing graphically demanding mobile games.
- Running multiple resource-intensive apps simultaneously.
- Heavy social media usage and content consumption.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight conditions.
- Capturing high-quality videos with better stabilization and HDR.
- Taking high quality pictures with good low-light capability.
- Fast paced multitasking and quick phone use.
- Longer lifespan and future proofing.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize camera versatility (telephoto, wide, macro) or overall image quality? The A72 offers more specialized lenses, but the Nothing Phone (2) has better overall sensor and image processing.
- Is performance, display smoothness, and brightness more important than camera lens variety? Nothing Phone (2) excels in these areas.
- What is your typical usage like and is future proofing a priority? If you need the absolute best performance, faster charging, newer software, and more connectivity features, go with the Nothing Phone (2). If you prefer a slightly less expensive phone with older software but more camera lens options, then consider the Samsung A72.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the casual user focused on camera versatility, with basic to medium daily usage: The Samsung Galaxy A72 is the better option. Its dedicated telephoto, wide, and macro lenses offer a lot of flexibility and the phone will likely be more affordable due to its age.
- For the user who needs a powerful, smooth, and modern phone that prioritizes performance, and features, with great outdoor visibility: The Nothing Phone (2) is the clear winner. It provides a significantly faster experience, superior display, faster charging, and more advanced features for a more premium user experience.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Nothing Phone (2). While the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers more camera lens options, the Nothing Phone (2) provides a much better overall experience for me. My primary focus is on a smooth user experience, with fast app loading times, the ability to multitask, and a great screen that works well in bright outdoor sunlight conditions. The vastly superior performance of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, the 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits brightness, faster charging, and modern features such as the most up-to-date software, along with better connectivity (WiFi and bluetooth), all make it the better choice for my use case. Although the Samsung A72 has a slightly larger battery and additional lenses, I value the smooth and fast experience of the Nothing phone over its camera flexibility.
