1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 165 × 77.4 × 8.4 mm | The A72 is slightly taller, wider, and thicker, making the Mi 11 more comfortable for single-handed use, especially for those with smaller hands. |
| Weight | 196g | 203g | The Mi 11 is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. The 7g difference may seem small but can add up over time. |
| Build | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (screen), (material details missing) | Unknown (screen), (material details missing) | Mi 11 has superior screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus offering better resistance to scratches and cracks compared to the A72's unknown glass type. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.7" | The Mi 11 has a slightly larger screen, offering a slightly more immersive viewing experience, though not dramatically different. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | The Mi 11 has a significantly sharper display, making text and images look clearer and more detailed. |
| PPI | 515 | 394 | The Mi 11's higher pixel density results in a noticeably sharper display with smoother text and crisper images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both phones offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast typical of AMOLED displays. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | The Mi 11's higher refresh rate results in smoother scrolling and animations, making the user experience feel more fluid, especially when gaming or browsing. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 800 nits | The Mi 11 is much brighter, offering superior outdoor visibility, especially under direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | The Mi 11's significantly more powerful chip leads to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 285,000 | The Mi 11's vastly superior benchmark score highlights its ability to handle demanding tasks and games much more smoothly. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 618 | The Mi 11's more powerful GPU delivers better graphics performance for games and graphically intensive applications. |
| RAM | 8 GB or 12 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | The Mi 11 has more RAM, especially with the 12GB configuration, which allows for more apps to stay active in the background, resulting in smoother multitasking. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 108MP | 64MP | The Mi 11 captures higher-resolution images, allowing for more detailed prints and cropping. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.85 | f/1.8 | The Galaxy A72’s main camera has a slightly wider aperture allowing for a slight advantage in low-light conditions. |
| Telephoto Camera | None | 8MP | The A72 includes a dedicated telephoto camera, offering optical zoom for better portrait shots and distant subjects. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 32MP | The A72's selfie camera captures higher-resolution images, potentially more detail when taking selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.2 | The A72's selfie camera has a wider aperture allowing for better performance in low-light selfies. |
| Wide-Angle Camera Resolution | 13MP | 12MP | Similar wide-angle capabilities, slightly higher resolution on the Mi 11 |
| Wide-Angle Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.2 | The A72 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially providing better low light performance. |
| Macro Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.4 | The Mi 11's macro camera has a wider aperture allowing for better low-light macro photography. |
| Video Resolution | Up to 8K | Up to 4K | The Mi 11 allows for higher resolution video recording, which may be useful to content creators looking for the best quality. |
| Video Features | 8K Video, HDR, EIS | 4K Video, EIS | The Mi 11 supports higher resolution video, including 8K. Both phones feature video stabilization. |
| DXOMARK (Selfie) | 112 | | The Mi 11's Selfie camera has a high DXOMark score, particularly for video quality, indicating superior performance in selfie capture. |
| DXOMARK (Mobile) | | 92 | The Galaxy A72 has a decent DXOMark score, indicating good overall camera performance. |
| Camera Features | 8K Video, OIS, Laser AF, RAW | Optical zoom, OIS, PDAF, Night Mode | The Mi 11 offers features such as RAW for more advanced editing, while the A72 offers optical zoom and Night Mode for different photography needs. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4600 mAh | 5000 mAh | The A72 has a slightly larger battery, potentially providing marginally better battery life, though real-world results will vary based on usage. |
| Charging Speed | 55W | 25W | The Mi 11 charges significantly faster, reducing the time spent tethered to a charger. |
| Charging Features | 50W Wireless, 10W Reverse Wireless | 15W Fast Charger Included | The Mi 11 supports wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, allowing for the charging of other devices on the go. |
Other
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A72 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (up to 14) | Android 11 (up to 12) | The Mi 11 has a longer software support, allowing for access to new features. |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6, MiMO | Wi-Fi ac | The Mi 11 supports faster and more efficient Wi-Fi with WiFi 6 and MIMO, providing better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 | The Mi 11 has a newer Bluetooth version, providing better connection reliability and lower power consumption. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5) | GPS, A-GPS | The Mi 11 supports more satellite systems, providing better positioning accuracy and a faster connection time to GPS. |
| Storage Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. Users must choose the correct storage configuration on purchase. |
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | The Mi 11 offers higher quality audio playback and voice capture, while the A72 provides more immersive audio playback. |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both offer the same basic security. |
| Sensors | Heart Rate, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Hall, Proximity, Geomagnetic | The Mi 11 includes an heart rate sensor, while the A72 includes additional proximity sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly faster processing, better graphics, and smoother multitasking, making it ideal for demanding users and gamers.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density (1440x3200, 515 PPI) resulting in a crisper, more detailed screen.
- Brighter Display: Significantly brighter screen at 1500 nits, offering much better outdoor visibility, especially under direct sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 55W fast charging and 50W wireless charging greatly reduces charging times.
- Advanced Camera Features: 8K video recording, laser autofocus, and a higher DXOMark score in selfie camera tests.
- Wi-Fi 6: Offers faster wireless speeds and better performance in crowded networks.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.2 for more efficient and reliable connections.
- Longer Software Support: OS upgrade support to Android 14 vs Android 12 of the A72.
- Hi-Res Audio: Enhanced audio playback experience for audiophiles.
Samsung Galaxy A72 Advantages
- Dedicated Telephoto Lens: Offers optical zoom for superior portrait shots and better detail when shooting at a distance.
- Slightly Larger Battery: 5000 mAh may provide slightly better battery life depending on usage.
- Wider aperture cameras: Slightly better low-light performance in wide angle and selfie cameras.
- Optical Zoom: Provides better zoom results than digital zoom.
- Dolby Atmos: Provides a more immersive audio experience.
- Phase detection autofocus (PDAF): Allows for fast autofocusing capabilities.
Significant Trade-Offs
- Mi 11: Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, expandable storage and has a smaller battery than the A72.
- A72: Significantly slower performance, lower screen resolution, and lack of wireless charging and faster charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal User
- Power Users: Those who need top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
- Multimedia Consumers: Those who prioritize display quality, brightness and audio quality.
- Photo/Video Enthusiasts: Those who desire high-resolution video recording and advanced camera features, including the high quality selfie camera.
- Tech Savvy Users: Those who want the latest connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Users that benefit from fast charging: Users that do not want to spend long periods of time charging their devices.
Samsung Galaxy A72 Ideal User
- Casual Users: Those who prioritize battery life, a decent camera and a larger display for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and watching videos.
- Photography Focused: Those who need optical zoom for portraits and telephoto photography.
- Users who enjoy a more immersive audio experience: Those who appreciate Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.
- Users not needing raw power: Users not playing graphically intensive games or performing intensive tasks.
Use Cases
- Xiaomi Mi 11:
- Playing graphically demanding games at high settings.
- Editing and rendering videos on the go.
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight for navigation or content consumption.
- Taking high-resolution selfies and videos.
- Multitasking between many apps smoothly.
- Samsung Galaxy A72:
- Capturing portrait photos with optical zoom.
- Watching videos with immersive Dolby Atmos sound.
- Taking photos on a day-to-day basis.
- Extending battery life throughout a busy day.
- Casual browsing and social media usage.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- Xiaomi Mi 11: Offers excellent performance and a high-quality display for the price, making it good value for users who want cutting-edge features.
- Samsung Galaxy A72: A more affordable option providing well-rounded features with a focus on the camera, making it ideal for casual users or those with specific photo needs.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers
- How important is performance to you?
- If you need top-tier performance, the Mi 11 is the better choice. If you are a light user, the A72 is adequate.
- How much do you value camera zoom capabilities?
- If optical zoom is a priority, the A72's telephoto lens is a big advantage. If you only need a basic camera, the Mi 11 is more than adequate.
- Do you prioritize long battery life or fast charging?
- If longer battery life is most important, the A72 will be a better fit, while the Mi 11 is better if you prefer quick charging.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Gaming Enthusiast: Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 for its superior performance, higher refresh rate, and better GPU.
- Outdoor Photographer: Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 for its brighter display. Consider the Samsung Galaxy A72 if you need a telephoto lens.
- Content Creator: The Xiaomi Mi 11 with its 8k video recording would be a better fit.
- Budget-Conscious User: The Samsung Galaxy A72 offers good value for the price.
- Casual User with High Demands: Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11.
- Casual User with Basic Needs: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A72.
My Choice and Why
I would choose the Xiaomi Mi 11. While the Samsung Galaxy A72 offers a slightly larger battery and a telephoto lens, the Mi 11 is vastly superior in almost every other aspect that is important to me. The significantly better display quality, dramatically faster performance, and faster charging capabilities would be a better fit for my needs, which include gaming, and watching movies on the go. While I would appreciate the optical zoom, for the most part, I can achieve great results with the main camera on the Mi 11, and I would be happy to sacrifice it in favor of a much better all-around experience.
