1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8 mm | Poco F6 is more compact and easier to handle. A72 is noticeably larger. |
| Weight | 203g | 179g | Poco F6 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Plastic Frame, Glass Front and Back | Plastic Frame, Glass Front | Poco F6 has better glass screen protection, While the A72 uses an unkown screen protection. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference in screen size. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1220x2712 | Poco F6 offers a sharper display with more detail. |
| PPI | 394 | 446 | Poco F6 has noticeably higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both phones offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Poco F6 provides a smoother scrolling and gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 2400 nits | Poco F6 has much better visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Poco F6 provides significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 1,530,662 | Poco F6 is far more powerful, indicating superior overall performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 735 | Poco F6 has a much more powerful GPU that handles intensive tasks easily. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP f/1.6, 0.7µm, 1/2" Sony IMX882 | A72 has higher resolution, while the F6 has a wider aperture for better low-light performance and larger sensor for improved dynamic range. |
| Telephoto/Portrait | 8MP f/2.4, 1/4.4" | None | A72 offers optical zoom capabilities, while the F6 lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP f/2.2, 0.8µm | 20MP f/2.0, Omnivision OV20B | A72 has higher resolution for detailed selfies, while the F6 has a slightly wider aperture for better low-light selfies. The pixel size of the selfie camera of the Poco F6 was missing |
| Wide Angle | 12MP f/2.2, 1.12µm | 8MP f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µm Sony IMX355 | A72 provides higher-resolution wide-angle photos, while the Poco F6 sensor is slightly larger |
| Macro Lens | 5MP f/2.4, 1.12µm | None | A72 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography, while the F6 lacks a macro lens. |
| Video | 4K@30fps EIS, 1080p@60fps EIS | 4K@60fps EIS, 1080p@120fps, 1080p@240fps | Poco F6 offers higher frame rate recording, and 4k video @60fps resulting in smoother and more detailed video. |
| DXOMark Score | Mobile: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Not Available | A72's camera has been benchmarked for image and video quality. Poco F6 has not. |
| Additional Features | OIS, Quad Camera | OIS, Dual Camera, 8K Video, Ultra stable video, Flicker sensor | Poco F6 has more features for videography |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones should offer similar battery life, assuming similar usage. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 90W Fast Charging | Poco F6 can charge much faster, reducing charging time significantly. |
| Charger Included | 15W Fast Charger | Not Specified | A72 ships with a 15W charger in box, Poco F6 charger in box isn't specified. |
Software and Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Max 12) | Android 14 (Max 17) | Poco F6 has a much newer OS with latest features and security updates. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Poco F6 offers faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Poco F6 has the latest Bluetooth version with better stability and speed. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1) | Poco F6 supports more satellite systems for greater location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones offer the same Dual SIM functionality. |
Storage and Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | Poco F6 provides more storage space for apps, photos, and videos. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Poco F6 allows for more apps to run in the background, resulting in a smoother multitasking experience. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 4 Microphones | Poco F6 offers Hi-Res Audio, enhanced spatial audio and more immersive sound experience. |
Security and Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Poco F6 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Security | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones feature a basic fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Hall, Geomagnetic | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Both phones offer a comprehensive sensor suite. Poco F6 doesn't use the standard proximity sensor, which might change functionality |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Dedicated Telephoto and Macro Lenses: Offers more versatility in photography with dedicated lenses for zoom and close-up shots, this allows for more creative photo options.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: The 32MP selfie camera provides more detail for high-resolution selfies.
- Included Charger: Ships with a 15W fast charger.
- DXOMark Testing: Camera has been officially tested for image and video quality.
Xiaomi Poco F6 Advantages:
- Significantly More Powerful Performance: The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset provides much better performance for gaming, multitasking, and overall responsiveness.
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher refresh rate, and significantly higher brightness provide a superior visual experience.
- Faster Charging: 90W fast charging for faster recharges
- Better Video Recording: 4K@60fps and higher frame-rate video recording provides smoother videos and higher detail.
- Newer OS and Software: Ships with Android 14 for the latest software features and security updates.
- Advanced Audio Features: Hi-Res audio, and 4 microphones for better sound quality.
- More Storage Options: Offers 256 GB and 512GB storage configurations.
- Better Connectivity: Supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4
Significant Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy A72 trades raw performance and screen quality for a more versatile camera system and included charger.
- The Xiaomi Poco F6 sacrifices the telephoto/macro lenses for much better performance and a more modern feature set.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users:
- Casual Photographers: Users who value camera versatility and enjoy taking photos using different lenses.
- Users with a tighter budget: Given its age, it would be more affordable than the Poco F6, while still providing an above average experience.
- Users who prefer Samsung's Ecosystem: Users who are already invested in the Samsung ecosystem.
- Users with more basic needs: Users that do not need the latest performance and features, and do not use their phone for intensive tasks like gaming or video editing.
Use Cases:
- Taking everyday photos with zoom and macro options.
- Users that want a phone that will simply work, without needing to fine tune everything.
- Standard social media usage with casual photography
Xiaomi Poco F6 Ideal Users:
- Gamers: Users who want a phone with top-tier performance for demanding mobile games.
- Power Users: Users who multitask heavily and need smooth performance across various apps.
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize a high-quality display and audio for watching videos and listening to music.
- Videographers: Users who value high frame rate video and prefer a more modern videography tool.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who value having the newest tech available on their phone.
Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive mobile games.
- Editing videos and photos.
- Streaming videos and music with high quality.
- Using multiple apps simultaneously.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Offers a decent camera and basic features for a potentially lower price.
- Xiaomi Poco F6: Offers flagship-level performance and a superior display, making it a better value for users who need the extra power, albeit at a higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is raw performance for you? (Gaming, multitasking, app loading)
- How important are camera versatility and zoom capabilities? (Macro, telephoto, selfie quality)
- How important is screen quality and brightness in daily use? (Outdoor visibility, vibrant colors, smooth scrolling)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User Who Values Versatile Camera: The Samsung Galaxy A72 is a better fit, offering a good set of lenses and a lower cost.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Oriented User Who Games Frequently: The Xiaomi Poco F6 is clearly the superior choice with its flagship-level performance and higher refresh rate display.
- Scenario 3: User Who Values Modern Features and Future Proofing: The Xiaomi Poco F6 is preferable due to its newer OS, faster charging, better connectivity, and better display.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F6. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a more versatile camera system with dedicated zoom and macro lenses, the overall user experience offered by the Poco F6 is far superior. The vastly improved performance, significantly better display (especially with the much higher brightness), faster charging, and more modern software make the Poco F6 a much more future-proof and enjoyable device to use. For my personal use case, the increased processing power is very important, as I tend to use my phone for resource-intensive tasks and for gaming. Additionally, the much brighter display would allow for a much better outdoor experience. The Poco F6 provides much more value for the price, even if it means losing the telephoto and macro lens.
