1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | OnePlus 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-26 | 2023-12-11 | OnePlus 12 is significantly newer, benefiting from newer technology. |
| Size | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 164.3 × 75.8 × 9.2 mm | A72 is wider; OnePlus 12 is thicker, may affect handling and pocketability |
| Weight | 203g | 220g | A72 is lighter, more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.82" | OnePlus 12 has a slightly larger display, marginally more screen space. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3168 | OnePlus 12 offers much sharper and more detailed visuals. |
| Pixel Density | 394 PPI | 510 PPI | OnePlus 12 will have noticeably clearer text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both provide vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | OnePlus 12 offers slightly smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 4500 nits | OnePlus 12 provides significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | OnePlus 12 offers dramatically faster performance, better for gaming and heavy tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 2,110,808 | OnePlus 12 is substantially faster in benchmarks, indicating a large real-world performance gap. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 750 | OnePlus 12 has a much more powerful GPU, better for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5400mAh | OnePlus 12 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering marginally longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W | 100W | OnePlus 12 charges much faster, significantly reducing charging times. |
| Battery Features | 15W Fast Charger included, Non-removable | 100W, 50W wireless, Reverse, Non-removable | OnePlus 12 offers much faster charging and wireless charging. A72 includes 15W charger. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1.12µm, 1/1.43" | OnePlus 12 has a larger sensor and wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto Camera | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.00µm, 1/4.4" | 64MP, f/2.6, 0.7µm, 1/2" | OnePlus 12 has a significantly higher resolution and larger sensor for improved zoom. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 32MP, f/2.4, 0.8µm, 1/2.74" | A72 has slightly wider aperture for marginally better low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 includes a dedicated ultrawide lens, useful for landscape photography. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | N/A | A72 includes a dedicated macro lens, useful for close-up photography. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 48MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm, 1/2" | OnePlus 12 uses combined wide-angle/macro, which is more versatile than A72’s separate lenses. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | OnePlus 12 supports significantly higher quality video recording for professional use. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 92 | N/A | Only the A72 was tested. Not comparable. |
| Camera Features | OIS, PDAF, Quadruple, Optical Zoom, HDR, etc. | OIS, PDAF, Triple, 4K/8K, Optical Zoom, HDR, etc. | Both phones have advanced camera features, A72 has quad camera, OnePlus 12 features 8k video. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 (upgradable to 18) | OnePlus 12 has a much newer OS version with more updates guaranteed. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 7 (802.11be) | OnePlus 12 supports newer WiFi standards for faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 LE | OnePlus 12 has a more modern Bluetooth standard, offering improved battery efficiency and audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, (L1+L5), NavIC | OnePlus 12 supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | OnePlus 12 offers eSIM support for convenient carrier switching. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | OnePlus 12 offers more internal storage options, especially for users with extensive media libraries. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 12/16/24 GB | OnePlus 12 provides much more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, an important consideration for some users. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation, Stereo Speakers | OnePlus 12 provides slight better audio with dedicated noise cancellation features |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both use similar basic biometric security features. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | OnePlus 12 provides superior screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, RGB | A72 features a compass; OnePlus 12 features gravity and RGB sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: At 203g, it's noticeably lighter than the OnePlus 12 (220g), making it more comfortable for prolonged use.
- Dedicated Wide Angle and Macro Lenses: Offers a dedicated wide-angle lens and a dedicated macro lens for users who prioritize these specific types of photography.
- Slightly Wider Aperture Selfie Camera: The front-facing camera has a slightly wider aperture, which can provide marginal improvements in low-light selfie performance.
OnePlus 12 Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Processor: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers vastly superior performance compared to the Snapdragon 720G, leading to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution (1440x3168 vs 1080x2400) and pixel density (510 PPI vs 394 PPI), resulting in a sharper and more detailed display. Much brighter screen (4500 nits vs 800 nits), vastly improved outdoor visibility.
- Faster Charging: The 100W fast charging is a huge advantage over the A72's 25W, dramatically reducing charging times. Offers wireless charging and reverse charging.
- More Advanced Camera System: Although it doesn't have dedicated lenses for wide and macro, it uses a combined wide and macro camera, but with much higher resolution and superior image quality, along with 8K video.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Provides more RAM (up to 24 GB) and storage (up to 1 TB) for heavy users with demanding needs.
- Newer OS and Better Software Support: Ships with Android 14 and is expected to receive updates till Android 18, offering a more modern and secure experience.
- Improved Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards for faster speeds and better performance.
- eSIM Support: Provides eSIM capabilities for convenient switching between carriers.
- Superior Build Quality: Screen protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- Additional Features: Includes a flicker sensor, noise cancellation, and ultra-stable video mode.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Weight: The OnePlus 12 is heavier, which may be less comfortable for some users.
- Dedicated Lens: The A72 has the benefit of separate lenses for Macro and Wide angle.
- Price: The OnePlus 12 is likely to be significantly more expensive given its higher-end specs.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a capable phone at a more affordable price point.
- Casual Photographers: Users who value a versatile camera setup with dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses.
- Users Prioritizing Comfort: Users who prefer a lighter phone for easy handling and extended use.
- Basic Smartphone Users: Those who need a reliable device for everyday tasks, social media, and multimedia consumption.
Use Cases:
- Everyday social media browsing and communication
- Casual photography with a variety of lens options
- Watching videos and browsing the web
- Reliable daily driver for basic productivity
OnePlus 12 Ideal User:
- Power Users: Users who need top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want excellent photo quality with the latest sensor and processing technology.
- Users Demanding Fastest Charging: Users who value fast charging and wireless capabilities for quick battery top-ups.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest technology and software experience.
- Users needing large storage: Users who value ample storage and high ram for extensive media libraries and demanding apps.
Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming
- High-resolution video recording and editing
- Professional photography
- Heavy multitasking and productivity
- Users who demand the best visual experience on a smartphone
- Those needing long-term software support
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The OnePlus 12 is likely to cost significantly more.
- How important is performance to you? Do you need cutting-edge speed and graphics?
- Do you prioritize having a lighter device or better battery/faster charging?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User (under $400 USD range): If your budget is tight, and you prioritize a light, capable smartphone and a dedicated wide-angle/macro lens, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is the more economical choice.
- Performance and Future-Proofing ($500+ USD): If you need the best performance, camera quality, fastest charging, and the latest software, the OnePlus 12 is the superior option.
- Balanced User: If you are between these two user categories, it would be best to evaluate what features you value the most, and then choose a phone based on that.
- Photography Enthusiast: If you have money to spend and want the best possible camera on a phone, the OnePlus 12 is better in this regard, even though it doesn't have dedicated macro/wide lens.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would choose the OnePlus 12. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a solid device, the OnePlus 12 offers a massive upgrade in almost every critical area that is important to me, such as performance, display, camera, and charging speed, and these are crucial aspects of the user experience. I value a fast and smooth user interface, and having the extra overhead that the newest processor brings, is great. Although I don't take too many photos, I still want the photos that I take to be high quality and the higher-quality sensors in the OnePlus 12 deliver on that. The significantly faster charging will also mean less time waiting for my phone to charge, a common annoyance.
However, if my budget was extremely tight, and I wanted a reliable, general-purpose phone that handles all my daily needs (communication, some web browsing, social media) and did not care about games or demanding tasks, then the A72 would be an acceptable phone, especially for someone who values having dedicated macro/wide-angle lens. But I think the upgrades that the OnePlus 12 brings are definitely worth the price increase if your budget allows for it.
