1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 162.9 × 76 × 8.9 mm | Galaxy A72 is slightly taller and wider, Note 12 Pro+ is slightly thicker. Might impact one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Weight | 203g | 208.4g | A72 is slightly lighter, but both are fairly hefty and will feel similar in hand. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (screen) | Note 12 Pro+ offers better screen protection, enhancing durability against scratches and minor impacts. Galaxy A72's screen protection is not specified. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.67" | Negligible difference in size; both offer ample screen real estate for media consumption and general use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical resolution; Both will deliver similar sharpness and clarity for daily usage. |
| PPI | 394 | 395 | Negligible difference in pixel density; both screens will look very sharp to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both technologies offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast; no practical difference for most users. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Note 12 Pro+ offers smoother scrolling and animations which enhances user experience, especially while gaming and browsing social media. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 900 nits | Note 12 Pro+ will be slightly more visible in bright sunlight and outdoor conditions. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | Note 12 Pro+ has a newer and more efficient chipset, resulting in better performance and improved battery life. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 573,100 | Note 12 Pro+ offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience due to the huge performance gap. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G68 MC4 | Note 12 Pro+'s GPU will offer better graphics performance in games and other graphically demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP (f/1.8, 0.80µm) | 200MP (f/1.65, 1/1.4", 0.56µm) | Note 12 Pro+ has a much higher resolution sensor, capturing more detail in images, and a wider aperture for better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto | 8MP (f/2.4, 1/4.4", 1.00µm) | None | A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, offering better image quality when zooming compared to digital zoom. Note 12 Pro+ relies solely on digital zoom. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP (f/2.2, 0.80µm) | 16MP (f/2.45, pixel size unspecified) | A72 offers higher resolution selfies and a slightly wider aperture for brighter selfies in low light. |
| Wide Angle | 12MP (f/2.2, 1.12µm) | 8MP (f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µm) | A72 has a slightly higher resolution wide-angle camera, but the practical difference is minimal. |
| Macro | 5MP (f/2.4, 1.12µm) | 2MP (f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm) | A72 has slightly better macro quality due to higher resolution. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps | Both record good quality video, with slightly better slow-motion on the Note 12 Pro+. |
| DxOMark | Main: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Main: 113, Photo: 117, Video: 117 | Note 12 Pro+ has a significantly higher camera score, indicating superior performance in both photo and video capture. |
| Features | Optical zoom, Quadruple camera | Triple camera, Ultra stable video, RAW | A72 offers optical zoom for better quality zoomed photos, while Note 12 Pro+ provides RAW capture for more flexible post-processing and enhanced video stabilization. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Identical battery capacity, both can provide a full day of moderate use. |
| Charging | 25W | 120W | Note 12 Pro+ charges much faster, which significantly reduces charging times and downtime for the user. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries are generally more efficient and have a longer lifespan. |
| Included charger | 15W Fast Charger Included | Not specified | Galaxy A72 has a charger included but this is a slow charger compared to Note 12 Pro+ charging speed. Note 12 Pro+ might not have a charger included. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Telephoto Lens: Offers dedicated optical zoom capabilities, beneficial for capturing zoomed-in shots with better quality.
- Selfie Camera: Features higher resolution and a slightly wider aperture for better selfies, especially in low-light conditions.
- Included Charger: Has 15W fast charger included in the box
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Processor: The Dimensity 1080 chipset provides much better overall performance, leading to faster app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming experience.
- Superior Camera System: Its 200MP main camera, combined with a higher DxOMark score indicates superior photo and video quality compared to the A72.
- Much Faster Charging: 120W charging drastically reduces charging times, a significant convenience for users.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 120Hz display provides a smoother and more responsive experience, especially in scrolling and gaming.
- Newer Software: Ships with a newer version of Android (12) and can upgrade to newer versions of Android OS (14).
- Better Build Quality: Uses Gorilla Glass 5, a high-quality screen protection.
Trade-offs:
- A72: While the A72 has a telephoto lens and slightly better selfie camera, it is significantly slower and has lower camera quality compared to the Note 12 Pro+. Its slow charging speed can be frustrating.
- Note 12 Pro+: Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, relying instead on digital zoom which is of lower quality than optical zoom. It might not include a charger in the box.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Ideal User: Users who value a decent selfie camera and optical zoom, are not heavy gamers, and prioritize a mid-range price and do not need the highest performance.
- Use Cases: Casual photography with some zoom needs, social media browsing, general productivity tasks, users who like a phone that has a charger included in the box.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, mobile photography, and quick charging, are frequent gamers or video content creators, and want a phone with modern features and higher display refresh rates.
- Use Cases: Heavy gaming, high-resolution mobile photography and videography, creating content for social media, fast-paced multitasking, users who want cutting-edge mobile technology.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance: Do you need a phone for demanding tasks like gaming or heavy multitasking, or are basic tasks sufficient?
- Camera Needs: Do you prioritize superior image quality and video capabilities, or is a decent all-around camera sufficient?
- Charging Speed: Is fast charging essential for you, or is slower charging acceptable?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User: If budget is a primary concern and performance is not a priority, the Samsung A72 is a good option due to availability and lower cost in some markets, even though it has a much lower performance overall and lower camera quality.
- Photography Enthusiast: If photography is critical, and you want higher quality video, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the obvious choice because of its much higher DxOMark score.
- Heavy User: For heavy users and gamers who need a smooth and responsive experience and who prioritize the speed of charging, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is better due to its much faster performance, high refresh rate, and much faster charging.
- Balanced User: If you need a balance of features and decent performance at a lower cost, with less focus on the speed of charging, the A72 is a decent choice.
What I would choose and why!
I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+. Here's why:
- Performance: The massive difference in AnTuTu score (573,100 vs 285,000) is a clear indicator of how much smoother the Note 12 Pro+ will run in daily tasks and especially in gaming. This is the biggest single differentiating factor between these phones and it will impact the daily usage significantly.
- Camera: The 200MP sensor and better DxOMark scores (113 vs 92) are compelling. While the A72 has an optical zoom lens, the image quality from the main sensor of the Note 12 Pro+ is likely to be superior in most situations, including zoomed shots because of the higher megapixel count that allow for high quality digital zoom.
- Charging: 120W fast charging is a game-changer, especially for users like me who hate waiting around for their phone to charge.
- Display: The 120Hz refresh rate will result in a smoother and more pleasurable experience all around.
- Build Quality: The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 which provides a more resilient device.
While I appreciate that the A72 has a dedicated telephoto lens, I value overall performance and the quality of the main camera and video, which is more important in my use case. The fast charging speed of Note 12 Pro+ is also a massive plus for me. The newer software and features like RAW camera capture, and higher refresh rate display, make the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ a more modern and advanced device. For me, the significantly faster performance and much better camera make it the much more appealing choice.
