The successor to the Galaxy A71, the Galaxy A72 is one of Samsung’s recent releases, alongside the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G. Despite being just over a year apart, the phones don’t have any major differences in the spec sheet. The following comparison shows similarities in camera, performance, and storage. The main difference, however, is in price and design.
The mid-range smartphones also differ in the colors available. The 2020 model can be found in blue, black, silver, and gray colors. The 2021 model is available in blue, black, white, and violet.
Galaxy A71 vs Galaxy A72
| Specifications | Galaxy A71 | Galaxy A72 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | January 2020 | March 2021 |
| Current price | $393 | EUR 349 |
| Screen | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Screen resolution | Full HD+ | Full HD+ |
| Processor | Snapdragon 730 (octa-core up to 2.2 GHz) | Snapdragon 720G (octa-core up to 2.3 GHz) |
| RAM | 6 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB |
| Memory card | yes, microSD up to 512 GB | yes, microSD up to 1 TB |
| Rear camera | Quadruple Camera: 64, 12, 5, and 5 MP | Quadruple Camera: 64, 12, 8, and 5 MP |
| Front Camera | 32 MP | 32 MP |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Operating system | Android 10 | Android 11 |
| Dimensions and weight | 163.6 x 76 x 7.7 mm; 179 g | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm; 203 g |
| Colors | blue, black, silver, and gray | black, white, blue, and violet |
Screen and design
The specifications of the smartphones decline, in comparison between the older model and the recent one, in terms of screen quality. Although they keep the size of 6.7 inches, the display changes from Super AMOLED Plus to Super AMOLED. In both models, there is Full HD+ resolution, with 2400 x 1080 pixels.
This difference is likely to be mitigated by some features offered by the Galaxy A72, which leads by offering a refresh rate of 90 Hz; a maximum illumination capacity of 800 nits, responsible for providing sharper images; and the Real Smooth feature, to keep the display smoother during use.
Other highlights are the smooth scrolling technology, which promises more immersive navigation, and Eye Care, which aims to ease eye fatigue by automatically reducing the color temperature.
Differences are also seen in the design of the Galaxy A71 and A72. On the front part, both feature infinite edges and a central hole in the screen to house the selfie camera. Meanwhile, on the rear, both models bring the distribution of the photo array in a rectangle on the side. What changes is that while the 2020 phone arrives with a triangle print on the back, the new model has a plain finish.
The camera module of the A72 follows the color of the handset body. On the A71 it is black.
The colors available for the A71 are blue, black, silver, and gray. In the case of the A72, the color options come in violet, blue, black, and white.
It is worth noting that while the Galaxy A71 does not offer any kind of protection against water and dust, the Galaxy A72 receives IP67 certification. This means that the device can withstand up to 30 minutes of immersion in up to 1 meter of water.
Camera
Not much has changed between the devices when it comes to photography. The reason for this is that both offer a quad camera, with a 64 MP main sensor. The continued similarity between the ultra-wide and macro lenses, 12 MP and 5 MP, respectively.
The only difference in the set is the 5 MP depth sensor, which has been replaced by an 8 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom in the latest model.
For selfies, both have a 32 MP front camera. In turn, video capture reaches 4K in both products.
A highlight of the Galaxy A72’s camera features is the Fun Mode, which imports filters and effects from Snapchat straight to the smartphone’s camera, without having to open the social network. The release also enables scene optimization through artificial intelligence and Tetra Binning, a feature that groups pixels for a better result in low-light conditions.
Performance and Storage
The main point to be highlighted regarding the performance and storage of the phones is that, while the Galaxy A71 comes to market in only one version, the successor offers two possibilities to the consumer.
The models coincide in the comparison between the A71 and the more basic A72 version. Both bring 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the other version of the new release presented new additions to the market, bringing 8 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage. In both models, microSD card support is offered, with up to 512 GB for the old model and up to 1 TB for the new one.
Another similarity between them is the presence of octa-core processors, both from Qualcomm, but of different vintages. The Galaxy A71 offers the Snapdragon 730 (up to 2.2 GHz), while the Galaxy A72 goes a bit further by coming with the Snapdragon 720G (up to 2.3 GHz).
In practice, the change between processors could mean better battery utilization, 5% more speed, and about 50% more raw processing – according to AnTuTu tests.
Battery
The smartphone has also evolved on the battery front, going from 4,500 mAh to 5,000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the Galaxy A71 can support up to 107 hours of audio playback and 24 hours of video. The Galaxy A72 comes with the ability to stay up to two days away from the outlets, however, the specifications of charge usage have not yet been announced by Samsung.
In common, the devices bring fast charging with 25W of power. Both also include a charger and USB-C cable in the box.
The decision to keep the charging source included in the phone went against Samsung’s penultimate release, the Galaxy S21, which does not feature this component. Through a press release, the brand explained that the measure was taken because the A series is usually the first smartphone for many consumers; therefore, it should offer all the accessories of the ecosystem.
System Version
While the Galaxy A72 already leaves the factory equipped with Android 11, the Galaxy A71 is still waiting for an update from Samsung to the latest version of Google’s operating system.
A subsidiary of the manufacturer in Egypt predicts that the model, released with Android 10, will receive the update in May 2021. the differences between the two versions are screen recording, the grouping of notifications, and greater data protection.
Additional Features
One of the main additional specifications that caught the eye in the Galaxy A72 announcement is the absence of 5G internet. As with its predecessor, the device operates with the LTE network. On the other hand, a positive point is that the models bring NFC technology, responsible for making payments by proximity.
In common, they also offer Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi in the 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac bands (2.4G+5GHz), facial recognition, and a fingerprint sensor for unlocking.
Quick Share is another feature present in both phones and allows instant sending of content, such as videos and photos, via Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth – just like Apple’s AirDrop.
Specifically, on the Galaxy A72, it is worth noting SmartThings, which allows you to control smart devices, such as wearables and TVs, through your phone.
Price
The Galaxy A71 is available for purchase in the market and it is already possible to find the product on Amazon for $392.
In turn, the Galaxy A72 is available on Samsung’s Official website starting at EUR 449.
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