1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 165.6 × 76.1 × 7.9 mm | A72 is slightly wider and thicker, making the 12x a little more ergonomic. |
| Weight | 203g | 190g | The Realme 12x is slightly lighter, which can be more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Build | Unknown | Unknown | The difference in build materials would impact durability and feel, but those details are unavailable. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference, both are large enough for immersive media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 720 x 1604 | A72 has significantly sharper display, images and text are noticeably clearer. |
| PPI | 394 | 264 | A72 offers a much finer pixel density, meaning clearer text and images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | A72 has much better contrast, color vibrancy, and deep blacks, leading to a superior viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The 12x has slightly smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 0 nits | A72 is much more visible in bright sunlight; 12x brightness is not specified but likely to perform poorly outdoors. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ (6 nm) | The 12x uses a more modern and efficient chipset. |
| Antutu Score | 285,000 | 442,599 | The 12x is significantly faster in real-world use, including app loading and multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G57 MC2 | The 12x GPU offers better performance for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.8 | 50MP, f/1.8 | The A72 captures more detailed images due to the higher resolution. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Lens | 8MP, f/2.4 | Not present | A72 offers optical zoom and better portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.1 | A72 takes much higher resolution selfies, but 12x may perform better in low light due to slightly wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | Not present | A72 can capture wide landscapes or group shots. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | Not present | 2MP, f/2.4 | 12x provides depth information for portrait shots. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | Not present | A72 can capture close-up detail of small objects. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps | The A72 captures higher resolution video with better frame rates. |
| Stabilization | Yes | No | A72 offers smoother and more stable video recording. |
| DXOMARK Score | 92 Mobile/100 Photo/78 Video | Not Available | A72 offers higher quality in photo and video quality based on the DXOMARK test. |
| Additional Features | Optical zoom, OIS, Quadruple Camera, PDAF, Night Mode, Manual Focus | Dual Camera | A72 offers better versatility and more control over the camera. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both have similar battery life, expected to last a full day for most users. |
| Charging | 25W | 15W | A72 charges significantly faster. |
| Battery type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Minor differences in aging characteristics |
| Charger | 15W included | not specified | The A72 includes a charger; charger details for 12x are unavailable |
Software and Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 | The 12x has a newer OS with the latest features. |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Similar WiFi performance |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 LE | The 12x has a more efficient and slightly faster Bluetooth connection. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Similar location accuracy |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Both support two SIM cards |
Storage and Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256 GB | 256GB/512 GB | The 12x offers more storage for photos, videos, and apps. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 12 GB | The 12x will handle more apps running simultaneously. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Both have stereo speakers, but different audio enhancements. |
Security and Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | basic | side-mounted | The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is faster and more reliable. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic, Hall | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Both phones offer good sensor suites, with 12x having a magnetometer and A72 having Hall and Geomagnetic sensors |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED panel with higher resolution, better color accuracy, and higher brightness. This provides a much more enjoyable viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Better Camera System: Offers a more versatile camera system with telephoto, wide-angle, and macro lenses, higher resolution for main and selfie cameras, optical zoom, OIS, 4K video recording. Ideal for photography enthusiasts.
- Faster Charging: 25W charging is noticeably faster than 15W, reducing downtime.
- Known DXOMARK Score: Provides a concrete metric to evaluate photo and video quality.
- Included Charger: Provides a convenience out of the box.
- More Advanced Bluetooth Audio Profiles: Offers a wider range of Bluetooth profiles.
Realme 12x Advantages:
- Better Performance: A more modern and powerful chipset results in better overall performance, faster app loading, and smoother gaming.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 120Hz display is smoother for gaming and fast-scrolling scenarios.
- More RAM: 12GB of RAM enables better multitasking and smoother performance with multiple apps.
- More Storage: Offers options with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, ideal for users with extensive media libraries.
- Newer OS: Android 14 provides access to the latest software features and security updates.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: This is generally faster and more convenient.
- Lighter build: A smaller form factor will be more comfortable to hold and carry.
Trade-offs:
- A72: While offering better image and video quality, is notably older, has less storage, ram and has slower performance.
- 12x: Despite having a faster processor, better storage and ram, its display is less sharp and vivid, and the camera system is less versatile.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize display quality for watching videos and browsing content.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value a versatile camera system with multiple lenses and manual control.
- Outdoor Users: Those who need a bright display visible in direct sunlight.
- Brand Loyalty: Users who prefer Samsung's ecosystem and features.
Realme 12x Ideal User:
- Gamers: Users who need a powerful processor and smooth display for gaming.
- Multitaskers: Users who need to run multiple apps simultaneously with little performance loss.
- Storage-Heavy Users: Users who need lots of storage for media and apps.
- Value Seekers: Users who want great performance at an affordable price.
- Newer software users: Users who want the latest features and updates.
Specific Use Cases:
- A72: Ideal for travel photography, outdoor content creation, consuming high-definition media, and anyone that wants better display quality.
- 12x: Ideal for gaming, running demanding applications, large file storage, and anyone that needs more performance.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The A72 is an older phone and its price is dependent on the retailer. The 12x is a newer device with more modern features. It provides a much better price-to-performance ratio overall as of 2024.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Display Quality: Do you prioritize a vibrant, high-resolution screen for media consumption (A72) or is a smooth refresh rate more important (12x)?
- Performance Needs: Do you require the best possible performance for gaming and multitasking (12x) or is the performance of the older A72 acceptable?
- Camera Versatility: Do you need a versatile camera with multiple lenses, including telephoto and wide-angle (A72), or is a basic camera setup sufficient (12x)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Photography Lover - If you prioritize camera quality and want to capture detailed photos with diverse lenses, the Samsung Galaxy A72 is the better choice, despite being an older device.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer - If you prioritize performance and a smooth gaming experience, the Realme 12x with its better chipset and 120Hz display would be the better choice.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious User - If you seek the best balance of value and performance, the Realme 12x is a strong option as a newer and higher performing device at a better value.
- Scenario 4: Outdoors user: If you are outdoors frequently, the higher brightness of the A72 will prove useful.
Which one would I choose and why?
I would choose the Realme 12x. While I appreciate the superior display and camera system of the Samsung Galaxy A72, the Realme 12x offers more modern features, better performance, and a smoother experience for day-to-day use. The higher refresh rate, better performance chipset, and newer software, as well as more RAM and storage make it the more sensible choice for me. As of 2024, it represents a much better value for the money. Although the A72's camera is more versatile, the 12x still offers a good main camera for general photography and video and is a more reasonable tradeoff overall.
