Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A72 vs. vivo iQOO 12
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy A72 and vivo iQOO 12, highlighting their specifications and the practical implications of these differences:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 163.2 × 75.9 × 8.1 mm | The A72 is slightly larger and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. The iQOO 12 is a bit more compact. |
| Weight | 203g | 198.5g | Negligible weight difference; both feel similar in weight. |
| Build | (Unknown, no spec given) | (Unknown, no spec given) | Unable to compare specific build materials or protection like screen glass |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | The iQOO 12 has a slightly larger screen, offering a slightly more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The iQOO 12's higher resolution leads to noticeably sharper images, text, and videos. |
| PPI | 394 | 453 | The higher pixel density of iQOO 12 results in a significantly crisper display, with less visible pixelation. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED displays. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | The iQOO 12 offers much smoother scrolling and animations, making it more fluid and responsive. Especially noticeable in gaming. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 3000 nits | The iQOO 12 offers dramatically better outdoor visibility, making it much easier to use in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) | The iQOO 12's flagship processor provides vastly superior speed, performance, and energy efficiency. The A72's chipset is significantly less powerful and older. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 2,020,000 | The iQOO 12 has a much higher benchmark score, indicating significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better gaming, and greater future-proofing. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 750 | The iQOO 12's GPU provides a much higher level of graphical performance, crucial for demanding games and graphic-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.69, 1.20µm | A72 has a higher resolution but smaller pixel size. The iQOO 12's larger sensor and pixel size should result in better low-light performance and overall image quality. |
| Telephoto Camera | 8MP, f/2.4 | 64MP, f/2.6 | The iQOO 12's telephoto lens has more resolution but smaller pixel size. A72 has better sensor size but no telephoto lens, the iQOO 12 offers better zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP, f/2.2 | 50MP, f/2.0 | The iQOO 12's wide-angle also works as a macro lens. A72 has a dedicated wide angle lens |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The A72 offers a dedicated macro lens, while iQOO 12 offers the same functionality in its wide angle lens. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.80µm | 16MP, f/2.45, 1.00µm | The A72 has a higher resolution selfie camera. The iQOO 12 has a larger pixel size for better low-light performance. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps | The iQOO 12 offers significantly higher video resolution and frame rate capabilities, making it better for video content creation. |
| Video Features | EIS | EIS, Ultra Stable Video | The iQOO 12 has more video stabilization capabilities and features. |
| DXOMark Score | Main 92 (photo 100, video 78) | N/A | A72 has a good camera score, we can not compare it to the iQOO12 as no score has been reported. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have similar battery capacity. Real-world battery life will depend on usage and optimizations. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 120W fast charging | The iQOO 12 charges much faster, significantly reducing the time spent plugged into an outlet. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 (upgradable to 16) | The iQOO 12 has a newer OS version and should receive software support for longer. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | Up to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Up to Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | The iQOO 12 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, offering faster speeds and reduced latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 LE | iQOO 12's newer Bluetooth version offers better efficiency and may support improved audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | iQOO 12's superior GPS supports more satellite systems, thus should provide better accuracy. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | iQOO 12 has significantly more storage options, meaning it may better fit users with high storage needs. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 12/16 GB | iQOO 12's significantly larger RAM facilitates more efficient multitasking and better performance in demanding apps and games. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Both devices have good audio capabilities and stereo speakers, providing the user with a good audio experience. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both devices provide standard biometric security options, with the accuracy and speed not being specified. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo iQOO 12 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Similar sensor suites, supporting a wide range of features and applications such as gaming. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Dedicated Macro lens: Offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- Quadruple Camera System: Boasts four camera sensors, offering more versatility for different types of photography.
- Slightly better telephoto sensor size: The A72 telephoto sensor size may provide better performance.
- Selfie camera: Higher resolution on selfie camera.
- DXOMark Camera Score: Only the Samsung A72 has been tested for mobile camera, giving it a positive score.
Practical Implications for A72
- The dedicated macro lens offers a more granular approach to very close shots.
- The quadruple camera system provides a greater number of options, from wide shots to close-ups.
- Although an older phone, the camera has been tested and has a good overall performance.
vivo iQOO 12 Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers vastly superior performance, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities.
- Superior Display: The higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and dramatically higher brightness of the iQOO 12 provide a much more vibrant, smooth, and visible display, especially in outdoor conditions.
- Faster Charging: The 120W fast charging is significantly quicker than the A72's 25W charging.
- Better Video Recording: Supports higher video quality, up to 8K recording.
- Future-Proofed: Newer OS, WiFi, Bluetooth support gives it greater longevity.
- Higher Storage Options: Provides significantly more internal storage options.
- More RAM: 12GB and 16GB options of RAM allow for better multitasking capabilities.
- More GPS: Better location accuracy due to the support of more satellite systems.
- Better telephoto sensor: Higher resolution telephoto sensor for more detailed zoomed photos.
Practical Implications for iQOO 12
- The iQOO 12's chipset is ideal for demanding tasks like high-end gaming, video editing, and intensive multitasking.
- Its superior display offers a much more immersive viewing experience and better visibility under direct sunlight.
- The faster charging speed greatly reduces the time needed to charge the device.
- Its 8K video recording ensures quality content capture.
- Newer connectivity standards like WiFi 7 ensure a seamless connectivity experience.
- Large storage options allow for more user content to be stored.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The A72 offers a dedicated macro lens, while iQOO 12 uses its wide-angle lens for macro shots, which could make it less of a dedicated experience.
- The A72 offers a quadruple camera system with a dedicated telephoto lens while the iQOO 12 offers a triple camera system, the iQOO's telephoto has higher resolution but a smaller pixel size than the A72's.
- The A72 has been tested for camera performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 - Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a more affordable phone with a decent display and camera system for general use.
- Casual Photographers: Users who value versatility in the camera system, including dedicated macro lens, and who are not focused on high-end mobile video.
- General Social Media Users: Users that value a balance between features and cost and good enough performance for social media, video calls, and other general daily tasks.
Use Cases for A72:
- Everyday social media use, browsing, and content consumption.
- General photography with diverse needs, from macro shots to wide-angle photos.
- Users who prefer a longer battery life due to a less power-hungry chipset.
- Users who enjoy listening to music due to its stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos.
vivo iQOO 12 - Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Gamers, power users, and those who need top-tier performance for demanding tasks.
- Mobile Photographers and Videographers: Users who want a high-quality camera and video system with high resolutions.
- Users Who Value Smooth and Bright Displays: Those who prioritize smooth animations and excellent visibility in outdoor environments.
- Users with High Storage Needs: Those who need to store a large amount of photos, videos, and games.
- Tech Savvy Users: Those who want to have newer software and hardware standards.
Use Cases for iQOO 12:
- High-end mobile gaming and graphically demanding apps.
- Mobile video recording and video editing on the go.
- Content consumption in bright outdoor settings due to its extremely high brightness.
- Users who prefer a very fluid and responsive user interface.
- Those who download and use a wide range of apps, and need more RAM and storage.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung A72 is the more budget friendly phone with older technology.
- The vivo iQOO 12 is the more expensive option with newer and better technology that offers much higher performance.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance? (Gaming, app loading, multitasking) If performance is paramount, the iQOO 12 is the obvious choice.
- How important is camera versatility? If you value versatility the A72 is a good option, but if you want the best image and video quality go for the iQOO 12.
- What is your budget? The A72 is the more budget option. The iQOO is a premium device with a high price tag.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User on a Budget: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72 for its decent screen, camera versatility, and more budget-friendly price.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Display Focus: Choose the vivo iQOO 12 for its superior chipset, faster charging, amazing display, and modern OS and connectivity standards.
- Scenario 3: Mobile Photography Enthusiast: If you need a good camera and don't mind a slightly less smooth display, the Samsung Galaxy A72 might be suitable but if you prioritize high quality photos and video recording and better low light performance, the vivo iQOO 12 is the way to go.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would pick the vivo iQOO 12. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a good camera system and a more budget friendly price tag, the iQOO 12 is simply in a different class. The iQOO 12's vastly superior performance, display, charging speed, and future-proofed specifications make it a much more compelling option, especially for anyone who values speed, smoothness, and high-quality media consumption. While I appreciate the versatility of the A72's camera system, the iQOO 12's combination of processing power and high-quality display results in a better experience for me overall. For most users looking for a current smartphone, the iQOO 12 provides a significant upgrade in every single category, especially in performance, camera and display quality.
