1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Sony Xperia 5 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 157 × 68 × 8.2 mm | The A72 is significantly larger and bulkier, the 5 III is more compact and easier to handle one-handed. |
| Weight | 203g | 168g | The 5 III is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for long periods of use. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 Screen | The 5 III offers superior screen protection. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Sony Xperia 5 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | The A72 provides a larger viewing area, while the 5 III is more pocketable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2520 | The 5 III has a slightly sharper display. |
| PPI | 394 | 449 | The 5 III offers a noticeably crisper and more detailed visual experience due to the higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Similar display quality, both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The 5 III offers a smoother visual experience, especially in animations and gaming. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 0 nits | The A72 is much better for outdoor use in bright conditions. The brightness for the Sony Xperia is missing from the specifications. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Sony Xperia 5 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G | Snapdragon 888 5G | The 5 III offers significantly faster processing and graphics capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 880,000 | The 5 III provides much smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a much better gaming experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 660 | The 5 III has a more powerful GPU for better graphics performance in demanding applications and games. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Sony Xperia 5 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera Resolution | 64MP | 12MP | The A72 captures higher resolution photos. |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.7 | The 5 III's wider aperture allows more light, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Standard Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.80 µm | The 5 III's larger pixel size is better at gathering light, which usually results in less noise and better low-light photos. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | Yes | No | A72 can take zoomed and portrait photos, while the 5 III relies on its standard camera for portrait photos |
| Telephoto Lens | No | Yes | 5 III has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed photos, while the A72 relies on digital zoom on its main lens. |
| Wide Angle Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.3 | A72 has slightly wider aperture for ultrawide photos. |
| Macro Lens | Yes | No | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 32MP | 8MP | The A72 captures higher-resolution selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | The 5 III's wider aperture captures more light in selfies. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@120fps | The 5 III offers much more advanced video recording capabilities, with higher frame rates and HDR. |
| Camera Features | Quad Camera, Manual Focus, Night Mode | Triple Camera, Continuous Autofocus, RAW, Ultra Stable Video | The A72 offers more camera features for different photography scenarios, while the 5 III offers more features focused on video quality. |
| DXOMark | 92 (Mobile) | Not Tested | A72's camera performance has been rated, while the Sony is not officially scored. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Sony Xperia 5 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | The A72's larger battery may offer longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | The 5 III charges slightly faster. |
| Features | 15W Fast Charger included | Bypass Charging | The A72 has a charger included, while the 5 III offers bypass charging, which is helpful for gamers. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages
- Larger Display: Provides a more immersive experience for media consumption, gaming, and browsing.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: Takes photos with more detail in good lighting.
- Macro Lens: Allows close-up photography of small objects.
- Larger Battery: Likely results in longer battery life for extended use.
- Higher Brightness: Offers dramatically better outdoor visibility.
- Included Fast Charger: Has the convenience of having a charger out of the box.
Sony Xperia 5 III Advantages
- More Powerful Processor: Provides smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a better gaming experience.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: Offers smoother visuals and more fluid animations.
- Sharper Display: Provides a clearer and more detailed visual experience.
- Better Low Light Photos: Larger pixel size in main camera gathers more light, resulting in better image quality.
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: Offers better optical zoom capabilities compared to the A72.
- Advanced Video Recording: Capable of recording higher quality video with HDR at higher frame rates.
- Bypass Charging: Allows charging the phone without heating the battery.
- Better build quality: Features screen protection.
- Hi-Res Audio: Enhanced audio fidelity.
- More Advanced Connectivity: WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- More Advanced Sensors: Additional environmental sensors for precise data collection.
Trade-offs
- Size and Weight: The A72 is larger and heavier, while the 5 III is more compact and lighter, with better build quality.
- Camera: The A72 offers higher megapixel cameras and additional lenses, while the 5 III focuses on better quality in standard and video photography.
- Outdoor Visibility: The A72's screen brightness outperforms the 5 III.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize a large screen for watching videos, browsing social media, and reading content.
- Casual Photographers: Users who want a versatile camera system with multiple lenses for different scenarios and a higher resolution main camera for better quality in good lighting.
- Long Battery Life Prioritizers: Users who need a phone that can last a full day on a single charge, without fast performance.
Specific Use Cases:
- Watching movies and videos on the go.
- Casual mobile gaming.
- Social media usage.
- Light document editing and content creation.
Sony Xperia 5 III Ideal Users
- Power Users: Users who need a fast and responsive phone for demanding tasks, multitasking, and high-end gaming.
- Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize better image quality, better low-light performance and more advanced video recording capabilities.
- Compact Design Seekers: Users who prefer a smaller, lighter, easier to handle phone with good build quality.
- Audiophiles: Users who need high quality audio experience.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Photography and videography.
- Mobile video editing and other demanding tasks.
- Long commutes using high quality earphones.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: large screen or portability? If you prioritize a large screen for media consumption, the A72 is better. If you prefer a smaller, more pocketable device with better build, the 5 III is better.
- Do you need the best camera for photography or video? If you need better image quality in low light and advanced video recording, choose the 5 III. If you prefer a larger resolution and more lenses, choose the A72.
- What is your budget, and do you need the most performance? If you have a tighter budget, the A72 provides a good value. If you need the best performance, the 5 III is a much better option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
Scenario 1: Casual user mainly consuming media, wants a big screen, good battery life and good pictures in good lighting. The Samsung Galaxy A72 would be the better choice.
Scenario 2: Mobile gamer, needing the best video and photo quality and a smaller phone with better build. The Sony Xperia 5 III is the clear winner in this case.
Scenario 3: User needs better outdoor visibility. The Samsung Galaxy A72 is the only one with specifications that allow for brighter outdoor use.
Scenario 4: User needs high quality audio experience. The Sony Xperia 5 III is the better option, due to its support of Hi-Res Audio.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Sony Xperia 5 III. While I appreciate the larger screen of the Samsung Galaxy A72, my main priorities are performance and the camera experience. The Xperia 5 III's much more powerful processor will provide a smoother experience, especially while multitasking, and will be more future-proof. I also prioritize the video and standard photo quality. The Sony's larger pixels and more advanced video recording will result in better-looking content. Additionally, I prefer the smaller form factor and better build quality, which will be more comfortable for me to use and carry around. Finally, the Hi-Res Audio support and more advanced connectivity options (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2) are also great extras. Although the lack of expandable storage may be a problem in the long run, I would still pick the Sony Xperia 5 III over the Samsung Galaxy A72.
