1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy A72 and vivo X100 Pro, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 164.1 × 75.3 × 8.9 mm | The A72 is slightly wider, while the X100 Pro is a bit thicker. The difference is not substantial but may affect grip for some users. |
| Weight | 203g | 221g | The A72 is noticeably lighter, making it potentially more comfortable for extended use. The X100 Pro might feel more substantial, but heavier. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, not foldable. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.78" | Both have very similar screen sizes, difference isn't significant. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The X100 Pro has a significantly sharper display, resulting in more detailed images and text. |
| PPI | 394 | 452 | The X100 Pro offers a more crisp and clear viewing experience, noticeably better for reading and detailed content. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both use AMOLED tech, which means vibrant colors, deep blacks and great contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The X100 Pro offers smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall experience, particularly in fast-paced games. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 3000 nits | The X100 Pro is dramatically brighter, making it far more usable in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9300 (4 nm) | The X100 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,881,325 | The X100 Pro's AnTuTu score is over 6 times higher, showing a huge performance gap. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | The X100 Pro's GPU is much more powerful, resulting in better graphics performance, especially in demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 64MP f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP f/1.75, 1", 1.6µm Sony IMX989 | While the A72 has more megapixels, the X100 Pro has a significantly larger sensor and larger pixels, resulting in much better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.0µm Omnivision OV08A10 | None | The A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens for portrait and zoom, the X100 Pro uses the main sensor for zoom. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP f/2.2, 0.8µm | 32MP f/2.0, 1/2.8", 0.8µm Samsung S5KGD2 | X100 Pro's wider aperture allows for better selfies in low light. Both have a 32MP sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | 50MP f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm Samsung S5KJN1 | The X100 Pro has a higher resolution and wider aperture, resulting in better ultra-wide photos. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | The A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. The X100 Pro does not, it uses a telephoto macro instead. |
| Telephoto + Macro | None | 50MP f/2.5, 1/2", 0.70µm Omnivision OV64B | The X100 Pro features a dedicated macro lens, better than the one in the A72, especially for zoomed in macro shots. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps with EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps with EIS | The X100 Pro offers higher video resolution and frame rates, making it better for content creators. It offers a higher resolution up to 8k. |
| DxOMark | Main: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Main: 150, Photo: 149, Video: 145 | The X100 Pro's camera is significantly better, according to the DxOMark score. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode | Cinematic Mode, Flicker sensor, Noise reduction, 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Gimbal, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | The X100 Pro has a lot more features targeted towards video creators and photography enthusiasts. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5400mAh | The X100 Pro has a slightly larger battery, likely resulting in longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | 100W fast charging | The X100 Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable, 15W Fast Charger included | Reverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 50W | The X100 Pro offers more versatile charging options, including wireless charging and reverse charging to charge other devices. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11, Upgradable to 12 | Android 14, Upgradable to 15 | The X100 Pro comes with a newer OS and future support, offering the latest features and security. |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | The X100 Pro supports newer WiFi standards, providing faster and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 LE | The X100 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, offering improved performance and 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), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | X100 Pro has a more precise GPS support for navigation and location services. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM / eSIM | X100 Pro provides flexibility with eSIM for multiple phone number management and travel usage. |
Storage & Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 128GB or 256GB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1024GB | The X100 Pro offers significantly more internal storage, which is ideal for users with extensive media libraries. |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 12GB or 16GB | The X100 Pro has more RAM, resulting in better multitasking and more demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither device allows for expandable storage. |
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The X100 Pro offers enhanced audio quality with Hi-Res Audio, for better listening experience with wired headphones or supporting wireless codecs. |
Security & Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | vivo X100 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Basic biometric authentication for both devices. |
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Screen protection technology is not specified for both phones. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Both phones have a comprehensive suite of sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Lighter Build: The A72 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for long-term use and easier to handle.
- Telephoto Lens: The A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens, offering zoom capabilities the X100 Pro initially lacks, though it does have a telephoto macro.
vivo X100 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The X100 Pro has a much faster chipset and GPU, offering superior performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Much Better Display: The X100 Pro has higher resolution, higher brightness, and a higher refresh rate, providing a much better viewing experience.
- Significantly Superior Camera: The X100 Pro features a much better camera system, with a larger main sensor, better low-light performance, better video recording, and higher DxOMark scores.
- Faster Charging: The 100W fast charging is dramatically faster than the A72's 25W charging.
- More Battery: Slightly bigger battery.
- Wireless Charging & Reverse Wireless Charging: More convenient charging options.
- More Storage & RAM: Offers more internal storage and RAM options, ensuring smoother multitasking and more storage.
- Newer Software & Connectivity: The X100 Pro features a newer version of Android, faster WiFi and Bluetooth, and more precise GPS support, which are important for performance and future-proofing.
Trade-offs:
- The X100 Pro is heavier than the Samsung Galaxy A72.
- The X100 Pro doesn't have a dedicated telephoto camera but utilizes a telephoto macro camera instead.
- The price of X100 Pro is likely to be higher, being a flagship phone versus a mid-range A72.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Users looking for a reliable mid-range phone with a good display, a decent set of cameras, and a lighter build for comfortable daily use.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday use, browsing, social media, moderate gaming.
- Users who prioritize lightweight design and ease of handling.
- Budget-conscious buyers who don't require top-tier performance or advanced features.
vivo X100 Pro:
- Ideal User: Tech enthusiasts, photography lovers, gamers, and power users who need top performance, exceptional camera quality, and a premium experience.
- Use Cases:
- High-end gaming, heavy multitasking, and demanding applications.
- Professional photography and videography with excellent low-light capabilities.
- Users who value cutting-edge technology, a high-quality display, and advanced connectivity.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The X100 Pro will likely be significantly more expensive.
- What are your primary use cases? Are you a gamer, a photographer, or a casual user?
- How important is camera quality? The X100 Pro has a substantially better camera.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User: If your priority is affordability, then the Samsung Galaxy A72 is the more sensible choice.
- Performance & Gaming: If you need high performance for gaming and demanding tasks, the vivo X100 Pro is the clear winner.
- Photography Enthusiast: The vivo X100 Pro will give you a much better camera experience.
- Everyday User: If you need a lightweight phone with basic functionality, the Samsung Galaxy A72 will suffice, but the X100 Pro will give you a better experience.
My Choice:
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the vivo X100 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 is a decent mid-range phone, the X100 Pro offers a much more significant leap in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and overall user experience. The speed, improved camera, faster charging, and much better display on the X100 Pro are well worth the likely higher price for me. As a user who values high performance, quality photography, and a smooth experience, the X100 Pro is the more compelling choice despite its heavier build. The leap in performance and features outweighs the slightly lighter build of the A72.
