Samsung Galaxy A72 vs Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date March 26, 2021 February 7, 2023
Release Year 2021 2023

Physical

Volume 107.28 cm³ 97.81 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.3 "/g 3.69 "/g
Weight 203 g 181 g
Height 165 mm 162.9 mm
Width 77.4 mm 76 mm
Thickness 8.4 mm 7.9 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Awesome Black
  • Awesome White
  • Awesome Blue
  • Awesome Violet
  • Poco Yellow
  • Horizon Blue
  • Astral Black

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.67 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1080 x 2400
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 84.9 % 86.8 %
Pixel Density 394 PPI 395 PPI
Refresh Rate 90 Hz 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A 500 nits
HBM Brightness 800 nits 900 nits
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 111.38 mAh/in² 112.39 mAh/in²
Battery Density 46.61 mAh/cm³ 51.12 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Adreno 618 Adreno 642L

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0, OTG USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 11 12
Maximum OS Version 12 13

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
Dimensions165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm162.9 × 76 × 7.9 mmGalaxy A72 is slightly larger and thicker, making the Poco X5 Pro more pocketable and comfortable for smaller hands.
Weight203g181gPoco X5 Pro is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use.

Display

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
Size6.7"6.67"Negligible difference in screen size; both offer a large viewing experience.
Resolution1080x24001080x2400Identical sharpness; both offer a good visual experience.
PPI394395Virtually identical pixel density; both offer sharp display.
TechnologyAMOLEDAMOLEDBoth offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED displays.
Refresh Rate90Hz120HzPoco X5 Pro provides a smoother scrolling and animation experience.
Brightness800 nits0 nitsSamsung Galaxy A72 screen is much easier to see in bright sunlight. Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro brightness not specified, which is a significant omission and might indicate poor outdoor visibility.
Screen ProtectionUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 5Poco X5 Pro has a more durable screen that is less prone to scratches and cracks.

Performance

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Poco X5 Pro has a more powerful and efficient chipset, resulting in faster app launches and smoother gameplay.
Antutu Score285,000609,106Poco X5 Pro demonstrates significantly superior performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 642LPoco X5 Pro has a more capable GPU, leading to better graphics performance in games.

Camera

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
Main Camera64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52", 0.7µmPoco X5 Pro captures more detailed images due to higher resolution and larger sensor. Galaxy A72's wider aperture may have slight advantage in low light but is likely less significant than the sensor size difference.
Telephoto + Portrait8MP, f/2.4Not AvailableGalaxy A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom for better portrait and distant object photos.
Selfie Camera32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.06", 1.0µmGalaxy A72 captures higher resolution selfies. The larger pixel size on the Poco X5 Pro might mean better low-light performance.
Wide Angle Lens12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µmGalaxy A72 captures wider scenes with more details than Poco X5 Pro.
Macro Lens5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µmGalaxy A72 captures more detailed macro shots. Poco X5 Pro might have better low-light performance due to bigger pixel size.
VideoUp to 4K@30fps with EIS, slow-motion 120fpsUp to 4K@30fps with EIS, slow-motion 240fpsBoth offer 4K video; Poco X5 Pro can record higher frame rate slow-motion. Galaxy A72 has a different stabilization method but it is unclear what that method is (Yes vs No).
DXOMarkMobile: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78Not AvailableGalaxy A72's camera has been objectively tested and scored well, especially for photos.
FeaturesOIS, Optical Zoom, Quad Camera, Night Mode, etc4K Video, Ultra Stable Video, Triple Camera, RAW, Night Mode, etcGalaxy A72 has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which can result in less blurry photos and videos. Poco X5 Pro has ultra stable video, potentially for better video results.

Battery

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth offer comparable battery life; likely lasting a full day for most users.
Charging25W Fast Charging67W Fast ChargingPoco X5 Pro charges much faster, reducing downtime.
Battery TypeLi-IonLi-PolymerLi-Polymer is generally safer and more durable with a better life cycle.
Features15W Charger IncludedNon-removableGalaxy A72 charger provides significantly slower charging than the Poco X5 Pro.

Software & Connectivity

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
OSAndroid 11, upgradeable to 12Android 12, upgradeable to 13Poco X5 Pro offers a more up-to-date software experience with potentially longer support.
WiFiWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 6Poco X5 Pro offers faster and more stable wireless speeds with newer standard.
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.2Poco X5 Pro offers improved connectivity, lower energy consumption and better range.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoA-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1)Poco X5 Pro offers better location accuracy with more supported satellite systems.
SIMDual SIM (Nano)Dual SIM (Nano)Both have dual SIM capabilities, enabling use of two phone numbers simultaneously.
Storage128GB/256GB128GB/256GBBoth provide same amount of internal storage, neither has expandable options.
RAM6GB/8GB6GB/8GBBoth have similar RAM options good for multitasking and gaming.
AudioStereo Speakers, Dolby AtmosStereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos, 2 microphonesPoco X5 Pro offers slightly better audio quality and noise cancellation for voice calls.
SecurityFingerprint sensorSide-mounted Fingerprint SensorPoco X5 Pro has a more convenient fingerprint reader on the side rather than the under screen option.

Sensors

FeatureSamsung Galaxy A72Xiaomi Poco X5 ProPractical Impact
SensorsFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, GeomagneticFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, GyroscopeGalaxy A72 has some additional sensors, though the real-world benefit is likely negligible for most users.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages

  • Superior Display Brightness: The Galaxy A72's 800 nits brightness makes it significantly better for outdoor visibility, especially in sunlight.
  • Dedicated Telephoto Lens: The Galaxy A72's telephoto lens allows for optical zoom, which provides better quality zoom photos and portraits.
  • Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: The 32MP front camera captures more detailed selfies.
  • Better Wide-Angle & Macro Camera: It boasts higher resolution for both wide-angle and macro shots.
  • Optical Image Stabilization: The OIS on the main camera can result in sharper images and more stable videos.
  • Established Camera Performance: The Galaxy A72 camera has been objectively tested and scored well in tests.

Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro Advantages

  • Significantly Faster Processor: The Snapdragon 778G 5G offers substantially higher performance for everyday use and gaming.
  • Higher Refresh Rate Display: The 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother visual experience.
  • Much Faster Charging: The 67W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
  • Newer Bluetooth and WiFi: Improved connectivity and speeds thanks to Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6
  • Better screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection.
  • More modern OS: Ships with a newer version of Android.
  • Newer Battery Technology: Li-Polymer is safer and more durable than Li-ion.
  • Superior main camera: The 108MP sensor will likely provide more details and slightly better low light performance.
  • Slightly better audio: the 2 microphones will allow for a slightly better noise cancellation during voice calls.

Trade-offs

  • Samsung Galaxy A72: The older processor and lower refresh rate can feel slow compared to the Poco X5 Pro. Charging times are also considerably longer.
  • Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro: The lack of a telephoto camera, lower brightness display and untested camera performance may be a trade off for some users.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users

  • Outdoor Users: Those who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value versatile cameras with telephoto lens, OIS and higher megapixel for wide and macro shots.
  • Users who want a tested and proven camera system: DXOMark scores show the A72 is a solid camera performer.

Specific Use Cases:

  • Taking photos and videos while hiking in bright conditions.
  • Capturing detailed portraits with optical zoom.
  • Users who take a lot of wide angle and macro shots.

Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro Ideal Users

  • Gamers: The powerful processor and 120Hz refresh rate make it ideal for mobile gaming.
  • Power Users: Those who perform demanding tasks and need fast charging.
  • Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest connectivity options, modern OS and faster technology.
  • Users who like to customize and have the most performance for their buck: Xiaomi is known for it's performance and features, usually at very aggressive pricing.

Specific Use Cases:

  • Playing graphics-intensive games.
  • Heavy multitasking with multiple apps.
  • Quickly charging the phone before heading out.
  • Taking very high resolution main camera shots.

Price-to-Value Ratio

  • Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro typically offers a better price-to-performance ratio, especially for gamers.
  • Samsung Galaxy A72 has more camera features and better outdoor display which may make it valuable to specific users.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers

  1. How important is outdoor screen visibility? If you frequently use your phone in direct sunlight, the Galaxy A72 is better.
  2. Do you prioritize performance, fast charging, and a smoother display? The Poco X5 Pro excels in these areas.
  3. How important are versatile camera features? The Galaxy A72 offers dedicated telephoto and OIS.

Scenario-Based Recommendations

  • Scenario 1: Frequent outdoor use and photography - Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72 for better screen brightness and versatile camera features.
  • Scenario 2: Heavy gaming and performance-focused use - Choose the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro for faster processor, smoother display, and rapid charging.
  • Scenario 3: Balanced usage with focus on value - Choose the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro which provides better price-to-performance ratio and future proofing with faster tech and newer software, as long as screen brightness and camera zoom are not a huge concern.

My Choice

If I had to choose between the two, I would pick the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers benefits like a brighter display and a telephoto lens, the overall package of the Poco X5 Pro is more compelling for my needs.

Here's why:

  • Performance: The Snapdragon 778G 5G is a significant upgrade over the Snapdragon 720G, offering a much smoother experience for daily use, app loading, and gaming.
  • Display: The 120Hz refresh rate makes for a noticeably better visual experience when scrolling and using apps. The brightness of the Poco is unknown and might be an issue.
  • Charging: The 67W fast charging is a game-changer for me, as I often need to top up my phone quickly.
  • Future-Proofing: The newer connectivity options (WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2) and more recent version of Android will keep the phone relevant for longer.
  • Modern Battery Tech: Li-Polymer battery tech is generally better and will provide better cycle life.

While I do value a good camera and the A72's telephoto lens is a plus, the advantages of the Poco X5 Pro in terms of speed, responsiveness, and fast charging outweigh that for my use cases. In most cases, I am not heavily reliant on optical zoom. Also, it's generally better to have a bigger, higher resolution sensor with good quality than a dedicated zoom. Lastly, the unknown brightness of the Poco might make the A72 preferable but without that information and assuming normal brightness, the Poco is the better option for me.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Digital media communication
  • Technical storytelling
  • User-centric technology insights

Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.