1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy A72 and Oppo Find N3 Flip, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers a more compact form factor when folded, providing increased portability and novelty. |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm | 166.4 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm | Samsung Galaxy A72 is wider and thicker, while the Oppo Find N3 Flip is slightly taller but thinner. The A72 has a larger overall volume, which may feel bulkier. |
| Weight | 203g | 198g | Oppo Find N3 Flip is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during extended use and make it more comfortable to hold for a long period. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Negligible size difference. Both offer a large screen suitable for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2520 | Oppo Find N3 Flip has a slightly sharper display, but the difference is not drastically noticeable in daily use. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 394 | 403 | Both have very similar pixel density, meaning sharpness will be very comparable to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unspecified | Samsung Galaxy A72 has superior display technology offering deeper blacks, better contrast, superior power efficiency for dark themes, more vibrant colors |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers smoother scrolling and animations, making it feel more responsive, especially for gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 1600 nits | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers significantly better outdoor visibility, making it more usable in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm) | Oppo Find N3 Flip has a significantly more powerful chipset, resulting in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better gaming performance, and longer future-proofing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,475,000 | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers dramatically better performance across the board, which translates to a smoother, more responsive user experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Immortalis-G715 MC11 | Oppo Find N3 Flip's GPU is much more capable, allowing for better graphics in games and other GPU-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm pixels | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56" sensor, 1.00µm pixels | Samsung Galaxy A72 has higher megapixel count but Oppo Find N3 Flip has a larger sensor and pixel size, which generally translates to better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.00µm pixels | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a dedicated telephoto camera for zoom and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm pixels | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/2.74" sensor, 0.80µm pixels | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a slightly wider aperture which can help in low light situations. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.0, 1/2.74" sensor, 0.80µm pixels | Oppo Find N3 Flip has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed photos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixels | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a wide-angle lens for capturing a wider field of view. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm pixels | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 48MP, f/2.2, 1/2" sensor, 0.80µm pixels | Oppo Find N3 Flip combines wide-angle and macro capabilities into one lens. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@60fps | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@240fps | Both can record 4k 30FPS videos. Oppo can do slow motion at higher framerates, while Samsung offers optical image stabilization. |
| DXOMARK Score (Mobile) | Overall: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Not available | Samsung Galaxy A72 is rated on DXOMARK with a decent camera score, but no data for Oppo Find N3 Flip makes comparison difficult. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4300mAh | Samsung Galaxy A72 offers longer battery life due to its larger capacity. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging, Li-Ion | 44W fast charging, Li-Polymer | Oppo Find N3 Flip charges significantly faster, reducing the time spent waiting for a full battery. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included, Non-removable | Reverse charging, Non-removable | Oppo Find N3 Flip can charge other devices wirelessly, while Samsung A72 includes a charger and does not have reverse charging capabilities. |
Software | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |-----------|----------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | OS | Android 11 (max 12) | Android 13 (max 17) | Oppo Find N3 Flip has a newer OS out of the box and will receive a few more updates. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | Oppo Find N3 Flip supports newer Wi-Fi standards, offering potentially faster speeds and better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 LE | Oppo Find N3 Flip has a more modern Bluetooth version with better energy efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | Oppo Find N3 Flip supports more satellite systems leading to more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both support dual SIM usage. |
Storage | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |-------------|--------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Internal | 128GB or 256GB | 256GB or 512GB | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers more storage, which is better for users who store large amounts of photos, videos, and apps. | | RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 12GB | Oppo Find N3 Flip has much more RAM, which is better for multitasking and running demanding apps and games. | | Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion via SD card. |
Audio | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |---------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both offer enhanced audio experiences with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers. |
Security | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |---------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Features | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Oppo Find N3 Flip offers more convenient and modern fingerprint unlocking. |
Build Quality | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |---------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Oppo Find N3 Flip has superior screen protection from scratches and drops |
Sensors | Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Oppo Find N3 Flip | Practical Impact | |---------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Samsung Galaxy A72 has Compass sensor; Oppo Find N3 Flip has Gravity sensor; both phones offer comprehensive sensor suites suitable for many advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides potentially longer battery life.
- Telephoto + Portrait Lens: Offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom and portrait shots, and a Wide Angle and Macro camera.
- Optical Image Stabilization: Offers better video and photo stabilization.
- Known DXOMARK Score: Provides some evidence of camera performance, although could be outdated.
- Lower price: As an older device it will be cheaper than the Oppo Find N3 Flip.
- AMOLED display: The AMOLED technology provides a great visual experience with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.
- Included Charger: Comes with a 15W fast charger in the box, which is very useful.
Oppo Find N3 Flip Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Offers a unique and compact form factor when folded, while opening into a large screen.
- Superior Performance: The Dimensity 9200 chipset provides vastly superior performance compared to the Snapdragon 720G.
- Brighter Display: 1600 nits of brightness ensures excellent outdoor visibility.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 120Hz refresh rate results in smoother animations and transitions.
- Faster Charging: 44W fast charging enables significantly quicker battery top-ups.
- Newer OS: Android 13 out of the box and will likely receive more updates.
- More advanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Supports more modern connectivity standards.
- More RAM and Storage: Comes with more RAM and internal storage for more demanding users.
- Better build quality: Features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for superior screen protection and side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Can be used to wirelessly charge other devices.
- More advanced sensor package: Supports more satellite systems for more accurate location tracking and includes a gravity sensor.
- Telephoto lens: Offers a dedicated telephoto lens.
Trade-offs:
- The Samsung Galaxy A72 trades performance for a larger battery and additional camera lenses.
- The Oppo Find N3 Flip trades a larger battery and some camera features for superior performance, faster charging, a foldable design and better display quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious: Users looking for a reliable phone at a lower price.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize versatile camera setups, including telephoto, wide-angle, and macro lenses, in addition to optical image stabilization for sharper images and videos.
- Moderate Users: Individuals who primarily use their phones for daily tasks, social media, and media consumption, without requiring cutting-edge performance.
- Users who prefer traditional design: Users who are not interested in foldable phones.
Use Cases for Galaxy A72:
- Casual photography: Capturing photos and videos in various scenarios, using the different lenses.
- All-day usage on a single charge: The 5000mAh battery is very useful for those who dont want to recharge during the day.
Oppo Find N3 Flip Ideal User:
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest technology, including foldable phones and top-tier performance.
- Power Users: Individuals who heavily use their phones for gaming, multitasking, and other demanding tasks.
- Frequent Travelers: Those who want a phone that’s compact when folded and has good outdoor screen visibility.
- Users who value fast charging: The 44W fast charging will top-up the battery very quickly.
- Users who prefer better build quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides more protection for the screen.
Use Cases for Find N3 Flip:
- High-end gaming and multimedia consumption: The powerful chipset provides a very smooth experience.
- On-the-go usage: The foldable design makes it very easy to use on the go.
- Mobile photography: Versatile triple camera system makes it very useful for taking high-quality photos and videos.
4. Decision Framework
Here are three key questions a buyer should consider:
- What is my budget?
- If budget is the primary concern, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a more affordable option.
- How important is top-tier performance?
- If you require the best performance for gaming, multitasking, or long-term usage, the Oppo Find N3 Flip is the clear choice.
- Do I need a foldable phone?
- If the compact form factor of a foldable phone is important, the Oppo Find N3 Flip is the only option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User Needing a Reliable Camera:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A72. While its performance is moderate, it offers versatile camera setup and a good display for day-to-day use.
Scenario 2: Performance-Oriented User:
- Recommendation: Oppo Find N3 Flip. The chipset is significantly more powerful.
Scenario 3: Tech Enthusiast wanting a foldable:
- Recommendation: Oppo Find N3 Flip. The only foldable phone on the list.
What I Would Choose and Why
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Oppo Find N3 Flip.
Here's why:
- Future-Proof Performance: The Mediatek Dimensity 9200 chipset offers a substantial performance advantage, ensuring the phone will remain capable for years to come. The better RAM will also help with this.
- Superior Display Technology: The higher refresh rate and brightness of the Oppo Find N3 Flip’s display make a noticeable difference in daily usage, especially in outdoor conditions and the screen is protected by a superior glass.
- Foldable Design: While not for everyone, the foldable design offers both portability and novelty, which I find very useful.
- Faster Charging: 44W charging is a very useful feature.
While the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a more budget-friendly option with its strengths in camera versatility and battery life, the Oppo Find N3 Flip delivers a more premium and forward-looking experience that better aligns with my priorities for performance, display quality and innovation.
