1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | ZTE nubia Flip offers a unique foldable design for a larger screen in a smaller pocketable size; Samsung Galaxy A72 is a standard slab design. |
| Dimensions (mm) | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 | 170 x 75.5 x 7 | ZTE nubia Flip is slightly taller and thinner, Samsung Galaxy A72 is wider and thicker. Volume difference is negligible but the feel in hand would be different. |
| Weight (g) | 203 | 214 | Samsung Galaxy A72 is slightly lighter, but the 11g difference is unlikely to be significant for most users. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.9" | ZTE nubia Flip offers a slightly larger viewing area, which can be beneficial for media consumption and productivity. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1188x2790 | ZTE nubia Flip offers a sharper display with more pixels, leading to crisper images and text. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 394 | 439 | ZTE nubia Flip has a slightly sharper display with higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | Samsung Galaxy A72's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors, which is advantageous for media consumption. Display tech for ZTE nubia Flip is not specified and is therefore unknown. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | ZTE nubia Flip offers smoother scrolling and animations with its 120Hz refresh rate, providing a more fluid experience. |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 0 | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a much brighter screen, making it significantly more usable in bright sunlight. The ZTE nubia Flip's brightness is not specified and is therefore unknown, and assumed to be significantly lower. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | ZTE nubia Flip's newer, more powerful chipset offers significantly better overall performance, with faster app loading and better multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 285,000 | 690,000 | ZTE nubia Flip has significantly higher benchmark performance, indicating it's better suited for gaming and demanding apps. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 644 | ZTE nubia Flip's newer GPU provides enhanced graphics processing, leading to better gaming performance. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP (f/1.8) | 50MP (f/1.7) | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a higher megapixel count, but ZTE nubia Flip has a wider aperture which is slightly better for low light. |
| Telephoto Camera | 8MP (f/2.4) | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 provides optical zoom capabilities that are not available on the ZTE nubia Flip. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 32MP (f/2.2) | 16MP | Samsung Galaxy A72 captures more detailed selfies due to higher pixel count. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP (f/2.2) | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 provides a wide field of view for group photos and landscapes, which is missing from the ZTE nubia Flip. |
| Portrait (Depth) Lens | None | 2MP (f/2.4) | ZTE nubia Flip has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, missing from Samsung A72. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP (f/2.4) | None | Samsung Galaxy A72 can capture detailed close-up shots which are missing from the ZTE nubia Flip. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps (EIS) | Unknown | Samsung Galaxy A72 allows for 4k video recording. ZTE nubia Flip's maximum video recording capabilities are not known. |
| Camera Features | OIS, PDAF, Optical Zoom, Quad Camera | Ultra Stable Video, Dual Camera, Continuous Autofocus | Samsung Galaxy A72 has more advanced camera features with optical stabilization and zoom. ZTE nubia Flip has ultra stable video and continuous autofocus capabilities. |
| DxOMark Score | Overall: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Not Available | Samsung Galaxy A72's camera performance is rated, while ZTE nubia Flip's camera is not tested, making comparison difficult. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Flip | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4310mAh | Samsung Galaxy A72 has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life for most usage scenarios. |
| Charging | 25W (Li-Ion) | 33W (Li-Polymer) | ZTE nubia Flip has faster charging, allowing users to quickly top up the battery, and potentially better battery chemistry. |
| Battery Features | 15W Charger included | Reverse charging | Samsung Galaxy A72 includes a charger but does not offer reverse charging. ZTE nubia Flip supports reverse charging to charge other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages:
- Superior Display Technology: AMOLED display provides much better contrast, color vibrancy, and power efficiency with darker themes, which are important for media consumption and visual appeal.
- Brighter Screen: The screen brightness of 800 nits is far superior to the unknown brightness of the ZTE nubia Flip, making it much better for outdoor visibility.
- More Versatile Camera System: Features a telephoto lens, wide angle lens, and macro lens, providing more options for different shooting scenarios.
- Established Brand and Reliability: Samsung has a proven track record of quality and reliability and better customer service.
- Complete Camera System: With OIS, PDAF, and optical zoom, the A72 offers a more complete suite of camera features.
- Better Audio: Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers offer a much more immersive audio experience.
- Known Camera Quality: The DxOMark score provides some indication of camera quality.
ZTE nubia Flip Advantages:
- Foldable Design: Unique form factor provides a larger screen experience while maintaining pocketability, making it convenient for on-the-go use and multitasking.
- Superior Performance: The newer Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset offers much better performance for gaming, multitasking, and overall responsiveness.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 120Hz refresh rate provides a much smoother and more fluid user experience.
- Faster Charging: 33W charging is faster than the 25W on the A72.
- Newer Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 provides better audio codecs and lower energy consumption.
- More RAM: The maximum of 12 GB of RAM, compared to the 8 GB of the A72 makes multitasking much more fluid.
- eSIM Support: Dual SIM and eSIM capabilities allow users to switch carriers easily.
- Reverse Charging: The ability to charge other devices is a useful feature.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Samsung Galaxy A72: Sacrifices performance and screen refresh rate for a brighter and more versatile camera system. The older chipset and lack of foldable screen make it feel dated, while its larger size might be less pocketable.
- ZTE nubia Flip: Sacrifices the superior display quality of AMOLED for a potentially lower quality screen and unknown brightness. Lacks a complete camera system (no wide angle, telephoto or macro). No DxOmark score for the camera also makes it hard to evaluate. Its foldable design adds complexity and may affect long-term durability.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal Users:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera versatility and features, such as optical zoom, multiple lenses and OIS.
- Media Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos and consuming content and prefer a bright, vibrant AMOLED display for outdoor use.
- Users Prioritizing Audio: Those who want an immersive experience with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
- Reliability Seekers: Those who prefer an established brand with good customer service and reliability.
- Users with Traditional Form Factor Preference: Users who prefer traditional slab smartphone designs and who aren't interested in the more complicated foldable form factor.
Specific Use Cases: Outdoor photography, video recording, enjoying movies, browsing media rich websites, etc.
ZTE nubia Flip Ideal Users:
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest technology and innovative design with a foldable screen.
- Performance-Oriented Users: Gamers and power users who prioritize speed and responsiveness.
- Multi-Taskers: Users who need to switch between apps quickly and often.
- Users who Prioritize Form Factor: Users looking for a pocketable phone with a large display, even at the expense of screen technology.
- Users who don't prioritize camera: Users who don't need multiple cameras or optical zoom and are happy with simple photography.
Specific Use Cases: Mobile gaming, multitasking, on-the-go productivity, ebook reading, etc.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Samsung Galaxy A72 is likely to be cheaper given it's older and a standard smartphone.
- The ZTE nubia Flip is likely to be more expensive due to its foldable design and newer technology. It might offer better future-proofing and more innovative features, but is a higher price to pay.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Do you prioritize camera quality, or performance? The Samsung Galaxy A72 has a more versatile camera system, while the ZTE nubia Flip offers much better performance.
- Is a foldable form factor important to you? The ZTE nubia Flip's foldable design is unique, but also adds complexity. The Galaxy A72 is a standard phone.
- What is your budget? The ZTE nubia Flip will likely come with a higher price tag than the A72.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you want the best camera and display: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72, as long as you don't mind sacrificing performance and a dated design.
- If you want the best performance and innovation: Choose the ZTE nubia Flip, as long as you're okay with a potentially lower screen brightness, and do not need a versatile camera system.
- If you want the best balance of price and performance, and a solid camera system: The Samsung Galaxy A72 may be the better choice, especially if the cost of the ZTE nubia Flip is too high.
- If you want a newer, more innovative phone: The ZTE nubia Flip will be the better choice, if you are ok with the potential drawbacks.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the ZTE nubia Flip. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a better display and a more versatile camera system, the ZTE nubia Flip's superior performance and foldable form factor make it a more compelling device for my usage. I prioritize smooth performance and a modern design, and I also enjoy the unique capabilities of a foldable screen. Additionally, a brighter screen on the A72 would be ideal, but I value a faster, smoother and more responsive phone, especially given the vast performance disparity. I am willing to compromise on some camera features and display brightness for the improved usability the ZTE nubia Flip offers.
