1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 163.1 × 74.1 × 8.5 mm | The A72 is slightly taller and wider, potentially feeling less comfortable in hand for some users. The OnePlus 11 is a bit thicker but barely noticeable. |
| Weight | 203g | 205g | Both phones are nearly identical in weight. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Identical screen sizes. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3216 | OnePlus 11's higher resolution results in noticeably sharper images, text, and video. |
| PPI | 394 | 525 | OnePlus 11 has a much higher pixel density leading to a more detailed and crisp display, which will be noticeable to the naked eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | OnePlus 11 offers slightly smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1300 nits | OnePlus 11 is significantly brighter, making it much easier to view the screen outdoors in sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | OnePlus 11's chipset is significantly more powerful, offering faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 285,000 | 1,389,474 | OnePlus 11 delivers vastly superior performance across all tasks. It will feel significantly faster and more responsive. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 740 | OnePlus 11's GPU offers substantially better graphics performance, ideal for demanding games and graphics-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size, Sony IMX890 | A72 has higher resolution but OnePlus 11 has larger pixel size which is better for low light. The OnePlus has a superior sensor. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size, Omnivision OV08A10 | None | A72 has a dedicated telephoto/portrait lens for zoomed images and portrait mode, but its sensor size is small and outdated. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm pixel size | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.1" sensor, 1.00µm pixel size, Samsung S5K3P9 | A72 has higher resolution selfies, while the OnePlus 11 has a larger pixel size for better low light performance. A72 has a wider aperture |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74" sensor, 0.80µm pixel size, Sony IMX709 | OnePlus 11 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed images. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixel size | None | A72 has a dedicated wide angle lens for capturing more in frame. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm pixel size | None | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for extreme close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 48MP, f/2.2, 1/2" sensor, 0.80µm pixel size, Sony IMX581 | OnePlus 11 has a dedicated wide angle/macro lens. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 8K@24fps, HDR, EIS; 4K@60fps | OnePlus 11 can record higher-resolution video with HDR and at 60FPS. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Mobile: 127, Photo: 134, Video: 121 | OnePlus 11's camera system significantly outperforms the A72 in overall image quality, photo quality, and video quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 11 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer similar battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 100W fast charging | OnePlus 11 charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included | Non-removable | The A72 includes a 15W charger in box. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- More Versatile Camera System: Includes dedicated Telephoto, Wide-Angle, and Macro lenses, offering more flexibility in shooting scenarios.
- Wider Aperture on the Selfie Camera: The A72's selfie camera has a wider aperture than the OnePlus 11, providing better performance in low light.
- Included Charger: Comes with a 15W fast charger in the box, whereas OnePlus 11 doesn't include the charger.
- Lower price: It is expected to be significantly cheaper, given it is an older, mid-range phone
Practical Implications: The A72 is better suited for users who prioritize camera versatility and having a charger included, especially if the price is a key factor.
OnePlus 11 Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a vastly superior processing speed, which translates to much smoother performance.
- Superior Display: The higher resolution and pixel density result in a noticeably sharper display. The 120Hz refresh rate and higher brightness enhance the visual experience.
- Much Better Camera Quality: Superior sensors, combined with advanced software, result in higher quality photos and videos.
- Much Faster Charging: 100W charging drastically reduces charging time.
- More RAM options: The OnePlus 11 offers up to 16 GB of RAM.
- More Storage options: The OnePlus 11 offers up to 512 GB of storage.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 13 and is slated to get to 14, while the A72 gets to android 12.
- Superior Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Supports newer WiFi standards (6E and 7) and Bluetooth 5.3, offering faster speeds and more reliable connectivity.
Practical Implications: The OnePlus 11 is ideal for users who need top-tier performance, a high-quality display, a great camera, and super-fast charging.
Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy A72 has a more versatile camera system (with dedicated telephoto and macro lenses), but significantly inferior image and video quality than the OnePlus 11.
- The OnePlus 11 has superior performance, display, and charging, but may come at a higher price point.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a decent mid-range phone that offers some photography versatility.
- Casual users: Who need a reliable phone for everyday tasks but don't demand the highest performance or camera quality.
- Users who use multiple cameras often: Those who value having a wide-angle and macro lenses, despite them not having very high image quality
Use Cases:
- Daily browsing, social media, and communication.
- Casual photography in good lighting conditions.
- Users who appreciate the included charger.
OnePlus 11 Ideal Users:
- Performance enthusiasts: Gamers and users who demand the fastest and smoothest performance.
- Photography enthusiasts: Looking for a high-quality camera experience with great low-light performance.
- Users who value a premium display: Those who want the best viewing experience with a sharp and bright screen.
- Power users: Needing fast charging and robust performance for multitasking and demanding applications.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming and graphics-intensive tasks.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- Heavy multitasking and demanding application usage.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Offers decent value for budget-conscious users.
- OnePlus 11: Offers excellent value for performance and camera quality, though it is in a higher price range.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? If price is a major concern, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is more affordable. If you have a higher budget, the OnePlus 11 offers much better specifications.
- How important is performance? For demanding tasks, the OnePlus 11 is the clear choice. The A72 is sufficient for basic tasks.
- How important is camera quality? While the A72 has more lenses, the OnePlus 11 offers vastly superior overall camera quality.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is the primary concern and high performance is not essential. The Samsung Galaxy A72 is a solid choice.
- Scenario 2: You are looking for the best possible performance, display and camera quality. The OnePlus 11 is the better choice if you are willing to spend more.
- Scenario 3: You take lots of different kinds of pictures and are very interested in different camera lenses, and budget is important. The Samsung Galaxy A72 might still be a good option.
- Scenario 4: You value smooth performance, a high quality screen and fast charging above camera versatility: The OnePlus 11 is the ideal choice.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the OnePlus 11. Although it might be more expensive, the vastly superior performance, display quality, camera performance, and fast charging make it a worthwhile investment. The OnePlus 11 excels in nearly every area that is important to me for a smartphone. While the A72 offers a bit more flexibility in terms of different camera lenses, the image quality of the OnePlus 11 more than makes up for it. Also, the A72 is older, and therefore, less future proof than the OnePlus 11.
