Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24+
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-03-26 | 2024-01-24 | The S24+ is significantly newer, benefiting from more recent technological advancements. |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm, 203g | 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm, 196g | The A72 is noticeably larger and heavier, making the S24+ more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.7" | Both have the same screen size, offering similar immersive experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3120 | The S24+ offers a much sharper display with significantly higher pixel density, resulting in clearer text, images, and video quality. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 394 | 513 | The S24+ has a noticeably sharper and more detailed display |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | The A72's AMOLED display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and energy efficiency (especially with dark themes). The S24+ display type is not specified. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The S24+ offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience and making it better for gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 2600 nits | The S24+ is dramatically brighter, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight, making it much more usable outdoors. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The S24+ has a much more powerful and efficient chipset. It provides significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,639,695 | The S24+ performs approximately 475% better in benchmarks, indicating a vastly superior user experience in all performance-related aspects. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 750 / Xclipse 940 | The S24+ has a much more capable GPU, resulting in better graphics processing for gaming and other graphically intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4900mAh | Both phones have comparable battery capacities, providing similar battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | The S24+ charges significantly faster, reducing waiting time and enhancing convenience. |
| Features | 15W Charger Included | Bypass, Wireless 15W, Reverse Charging 4.5W | The S24+ has more advanced charging options (wireless and reverse wireless charging), while the A72 includes a fast charger. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1.0µm, 1/1.57" | While the A72 has higher megapixel count, the S24+ boasts a larger sensor and pixel size, capturing more light and detail for better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto/Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.0µm | None | The A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom, while the S24+ lacks this dedicated lens. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 12MP, f/2.2, Unknown µm | The A72 has higher megapixel count on selfie camera, but the S24+ may produce higher quality images due to processing. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.4, 1.0µm, 1/3.9" | The S24+ has a telephoto lens, providing better optical zoom capabilities compared to the A72. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1.4µm, 1/2.55" | Both have similar wide-angle cameras. S24+ has bigger pixel size. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which the S24+ lacks. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with EIS | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, Stereo sound | The S24+ offers significantly better video capabilities (higher resolution, HDR), making it more suitable for professional video capture. |
| DXOMark Mobile | 92 (Photo: 100, Video: 78) | Not Available | The A72 has a tested camera score with strengths in photo, while S24+ performance is not listed. This should not be considered a final performance metric, as the two phone camera systems are fundamentally different. |
| Camera Features | OIS, Quad, Digital Zoom | OIS, Triple, Digital/Optical Zoom, RAW, Night mode 2.0 | S24+ has more advanced features like night mode 2.0 and RAW photo capture. The A72 has a dedicated Macro camera, while the S24+ has a dedicated Telephoto lens. |
| Software | |||
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 (upgradable to 21) | The S24+ has a more modern OS and is expected to receive more future updates, ensuring long-term usability and security. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E | The S24+ has faster and more reliable Wi-Fi, especially in congested networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.3 LE | The S24+ has a newer Bluetooth version offering better energy efficiency and improved features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | S24+ has more advanced GPS technologies for improved accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano/eSIM) | The S24+ provides more flexibility with eSIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | The S24+ offers more internal storage, providing more space for apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 6/8GB | 12GB | The S24+ has more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster app switching, and a more robust user experience. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos | Stereo Speakers, Noise cancellation | The A72 features Dolby Atmos audio, while S24+ has noise cancellation. Both have stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both phones use basic fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | S24+ offers significantly better protection against scratches and breakage with Gorilla Glass Victus 2. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | S24+ includes additional barometer for more precise sensor readings. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Lower Initial Cost: The A72 is an older model and will be significantly cheaper, offering a more budget-friendly option.
- Dedicated Macro and Telephoto camera: The A72 has macro camera, and a dedicated Telephoto camera, while the S24+ has only a dedicated telephoto lens.
- Dolby Atmos: The A72 features Dolby Atmos for improved audio experience,
Samsung Galaxy S24+ Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers a much faster and smoother user experience.
- Vastly Superior Display: Higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate and brightness results in a sharper, more fluid, and visible screen.
- Advanced Camera System: More advanced camera sensor, telephoto lens, and advanced video modes provide higher quality images and videos.
- Faster Charging & Advanced Features: Offers quicker charging and support for wireless and reverse wireless charging, and other more advanced features.
- Latest Software: Ships with Android 14 and expected to receive many more years of software updates.
- Better Build: Features much better screen protection.
- eSIM support: Offers flexibility with eSIM options.
- More RAM and Storage: The S24+ has 12GB of RAM and a max 512GB of storage as standard.
Trade-offs:
- The A72 trades performance and display quality for a lower price, and has more camera lenses, while the S24+ prioritizes performance and higher quality visuals.
- The A72 provides dedicated macro and telephoto cameras, while the S24+ has a better zoom, standard and wide angle lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a mid-range phone with decent performance at a lower price point.
- Casual Users: Users who primarily browse the web, use social media, and take occasional photos, and value having more camera lenses.
- Users who value long lasting battery: The lower power CPU and AMOLED screen will make the battery last a long time.
Specific Use Cases for A72:
- Daily social media usage, web browsing, and casual gaming.
- Users who prioritize the functionality of the macro camera and the telephoto camera.
- Media consumption on its display, with the advantage of AMOLED tech.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who require top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks.
- Photography Lovers: Those who prioritize high-quality photos and videos with advanced camera features.
- Users Needing Excellent Display: Users who value a sharp, bright, and fluid display experience.
- Power Users: Users who need fast charging, wireless charging, eSIM flexibility, and are looking for long-term software support.
Specific Use Cases for S24+:
- High-end mobile gaming with demanding graphics.
- Professional-level photography and video recording.
- Daily productivity with seamless multitasking.
- Users who rely on their phone for day to day use and require the newest features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Performance Needs: How important is top-tier performance for your daily use?
- Camera Requirements: What type of photography or video recording is most important to you?
- Display Importance: How important is screen quality and brightness in your daily use?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Focused: If your budget is the primary concern and you can tolerate slightly lower performance, the A72 is a reasonable choice.
- Performance-Driven: If you need the best performance, a top-tier display and camera, and plan to use your phone for demanding tasks, the S24+ is the clear winner.
- Camera Focused: If the macro camera is a priority, choose the A72, if the overall camera quality with an added telephoto lens and advanced features is your priority, choose the S24+.
What I Would Choose and Why
If I were making the choice, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S24+. While the A72 offers a more budget-friendly option, the S24+ provides a superior experience in almost every aspect that matters to me for the long term.
Here's my reasoning:
- Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is a massive leap forward, ensuring smooth multitasking and excellent performance in demanding tasks and games for the next several years.
- Display Quality: The higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness of the S24+ display would provide a much more enjoyable viewing experience, especially when using the phone outside in bright conditions.
- Camera Capabilities: The S24+ camera's advanced sensor, telephoto lens, and video recording capabilities would make it much more versatile for my needs.
- Long-Term Value: The newer software, faster charging, better build, and increased RAM and storage of the S24+ are all key factors that mean that the phone would be more future-proof and provide a better user experience in the long term.
While I acknowledge that the A72 has a dedicated macro and telephoto cameras, the overall improvements in processing power, display and camera quality, combined with long term software updates makes the S24+ the much better choice for me.
