1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Launch Date | 2021-03-26 | 2024-07-09 | The Red Magic 9S Pro is a significantly newer device, indicating more modern hardware. |
| Dimensions | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.9 mm | The Red Magic 9S Pro is slightly thicker and less wide, while the height is about the same. Not a significant difference. |
| Weight | 203g | 229g | The A72 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, while the Red Magic is heavier due to more robust hardware. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in screen size, both are large. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1116x2480 | The Red Magic 9S Pro has a slightly sharper display with a marginally higher pixel count. |
| PPI | 394 | 400 | Both have very similar pixel density, sharpness will be nearly identical in practice. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED displays. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Red Magic 9S Pro's higher refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel smoother. |
| Brightness | 800 nits | 0 nits | The A72's higher brightness makes it much better for outdoor visibility under bright sunlight, while the listed value for the Red Magic 9S Pro is not correct. It will have good brightness for outdoor use (though the exact value is not provided) |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Red Magic 9S Pro has a much newer and more powerful chipset, resulting in drastically better overall performance. |
| Antutu Score | 285,000 | 2,369,542 | The Red Magic 9S Pro scores almost 8 times higher, indicating significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 750 | The Red Magic 9S Pro has a much more powerful GPU for high-end gaming and graphics-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 64MP, f/1.8, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1.0µm | The A72 has higher resolution, but the Red Magic 9S Pro has larger pixel size, which can result in better low-light performance, though the difference may not be noticeable in ideal lighting conditions. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 8MP, f/2.4, 1.0µm | Not Available | The A72 offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom capabilities. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.2, 0.8µm | 16MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | The A72 has higher resolution, while the Red Magic has a slightly wider aperture and larger pixel size, potentially better for low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 0.64µm | The Red Magic 9S Pro has much higher resolution but a smaller pixel size, The aperture is slightly wider too. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4, 1.12µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | The A72 has a higher resolution for macro shots, the Red Magic has bigger pixels for better light intake but very low resolution |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | The Red Magic 9S Pro supports higher video resolutions and frame rates, including 8K recording. |
| DxOMark | Main: 92, Photo: 100, Video: 78 | Not Available | Only the A72 has been tested for DxOMark. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 6500mAh | The Red Magic 9S Pro has a significantly larger battery, likely providing much longer battery life. |
| Charging | 25W Fast Charging | 80W Fast Charging | The Red Magic 9S Pro charges much faster, significantly reducing charging times. |
| Features | 15W charger included | Non removable battery | Both have non-removable batteries, A72 also offers a charger in the box. |
Software
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 14 | The Red Magic 9S Pro runs on a more recent version of Android, with better security and features, and potentially longer software support. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 7 | The Red Magic 9S Pro supports significantly newer WiFi standards, offering much faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | The Red Magic 9S Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, offering improvements in stability and features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Red Magic 9S Pro has more comprehensive satellite system support for better accuracy and quicker lock-on. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both offer dual sim capabilities. |
Storage
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 256 GB or 512 GB | The Red Magic 9S Pro has significantly more storage available. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | The Red Magic 9S Pro offers much higher ram for better multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phones offer expandable storage, making it important to pick the correct variant |
Audio
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Both have stereo speakers, but Red Magic provides a more immersive and clear experience with superior features and better microphone. |
Security
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both share a basic fingerprint sensor technology |
Build Quality
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Red Magic 9S Pro offers superior screen protection against scratches and damage. |
Sensors
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A72 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall, Geomagnetic | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Both have a comprehensive suite, the Red Magic also features Gravity sensor |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages
- Lighter and Slimmer: More comfortable for extended handling and pocketability.
- Brighter Display: Better visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
- Telephoto Lens: Dedicated telephoto lens allows for better optical zoom.
- Included Charger: Comes with a charger in the box.
- DxOMark testing: Provides some information about camera performance that the Red Magic doesn't have.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Advantages
- Significantly More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers vastly superior performance in all tasks, especially gaming.
- Much Higher AnTuTu Score: Confirms the massive performance gap in benchmarks.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides noticeably smoother animations.
- Larger Battery: Much longer battery life, with a 1500mAh higher capacity.
- Faster Charging: 80W fast charging drastically reduces downtime.
- More advanced Video Recording: 8K recording capability
- Newer Android Version: Comes with the latest version of Android, with better security and features.
- More Comprehensive Connectivity: Supports newer and faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- More RAM and Storage: Up to 16GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage ensures the device will stay performant over time.
- Superior Audio: Immersive audio with DTS and 3 microphones for voice clarity.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Trade-offs
- The Samsung Galaxy A72 trades performance and future proofing for a lighter design, and a dedicated telephoto lens.
- The ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is heavier and thicker but offers drastically superior performance, battery, and overall capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A72
- Ideal User: Casual users who prioritize a lightweight phone with a decent camera, good screen, and all-day battery. Not aimed at power users, the device is better used for content consumption than creation.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday browsing and social media use.
- Taking casual photos and videos.
- Enjoying multimedia content.
- Users who prefer less weight and size.
- Price-to-Value: Good value if a lightweight design and moderate performance is what you are seeking.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro
- Ideal User: Gamers and power users who demand the highest performance, the best connectivity, and long battery life.
- Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Video editing.
- Running demanding applications.
- Users who need maximum battery life and fast charging.
- Users looking to maximize camera potential.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent value for gaming and high performance if a higher price is acceptable.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions
- What is your primary use case? Are you mainly a casual user, or do you need high performance?
- How important are design and portability? Do you prefer a lighter phone, or a more robust build?
- What is your budget and how important is future-proofing? Do you need the most up to date technology?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
Scenario 1: Casual User on a Budget: If you are a casual user, and your primary goal is to use social media, browse the internet, and take the occasional picture, the Samsung Galaxy A72 would be enough for your needs. However, if your budget is flexible and you would like better performance and video recording quality, the Red Magic 9S Pro would be a better investment.
Scenario 2: Gaming Enthusiast: If you are an avid gamer or performance user, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is the clear choice. It provides significantly higher performance, better audio, and a smoother display.
Scenario 3: Photography Focused: If you need a smartphone with high camera scores and zoom capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A72, with its Telephoto lens and DxOMark testing, might be a better fit. However, the ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9S Pro offers better video quality and better lenses, so consider it for high quality content creation.
Personal Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro. Here's why:
While the Samsung Galaxy A72 has a brighter display and a telephoto lens, the benefits of the Red Magic 9S Pro are too significant to ignore. The sheer performance difference due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is massive. Combined with the higher refresh rate, significantly larger battery, 80W fast charging, better video recording, and superior audio, it provides a much more complete package, especially for a power user like myself.
The A72, while lighter, isn't so much more portable that it would offset the vastly superior hardware and performance of the Red Magic. I would rather carry a slightly heavier phone knowing it will perform much better and remain performant over time. The A72 was a decent mid-range phone in 2021, but in 2024 it is outclassed by the Red Magic 9S Pro in almost every measurable way. It is far less future-proof and it only makes sense to go for it if you need an extra portable and light phone and you don't mind the performance trade-offs.
