The Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 are Samsung's mid-range smartphones for 2021. Apart from the Galaxy A52 and A72, there's also the Galaxy A52 5G, which as its name suggests features 5G.
If you are wondering what the differences are between the three Galaxy devices, and which one is right for you, read on.
Screen: High Refresh Rate AMOLED Displays
- Galaxy A52: 6.5-inch FHD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, 90Hz refresh rate, 800 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass 5
- Galaxy A52 5G: 6.5-inch FHD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, 800 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass 5
- Galaxy A72: 6.7-inch FHD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, 90Hz refresh rate, 800 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass 5
All three Galaxy A phones feature a high refresh rate AMOLED panel with a rated brightness of up to 800 nits. While both 4G and 5G variants of the Galaxy A52 feature the same 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel, the 5G variant has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy A72 packs the biggest display of the lot, measuring in at 6.7-inches, though it has a 90Hz refresh rate and not 120Hz like the A52 5G.
A higher refresh rate brings smoother scrolling and animations. The default for Android is 60Hz, so all the devices are better than the norm.
Build Quality: IP67 Certified
- Galaxy A52: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g, IP67 certified, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint scanner, hybrid SIM slot
- Galaxy A52 5G: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g, IP67 certified, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint scanner, hybrid SIM slot
- Galaxy A72: 165 x 77.4 x 8.4mm, 203g, IP67 certified, stereo speakers, in-display fingerprint scanner, hybrid SIM slot
The highlight of all three Galaxy A phones is that they are IP67 certified. This means they are dust-proof, and water-resistant in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. They also feature stereo speakers and an in-display fingerprint scanner.
While the display on all three phones is protected with Gorilla Glass 5, they feature a plastic rear panel. The Galaxy A72 is the biggest of the lot thanks to its 6.7-inch AMOLED display, though its thickness remains the same as other Galaxy phones.
Samsung is offering all three Galaxy A phones in a range of colors, including a stealthy matte black finish.
Processor, RAM, and Storage: Mid-Range Snapdragon Chips
- Galaxy A52: Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618 GPU, 4/6/8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage
- Galaxy A52 5G: Snapdragon 750G, Adreno 619 GPU, 6/8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage
- Galaxy A72: Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618 GPU, 6/8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage
The Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 both feature the mid-range Snapdragon 720G chip with an Adreno 618 GPU. While not exactly a chip known for its performance, the Snapdragon 720G still packs enough grunt to run heavy apps and games at respectable settings.
The Snapdragon 750G inside the Galaxy A52 5G features a Kryo 570 clocked at 2.2GHz. The Adreno 619 GPU also promises to deliver up to 15 percent better performance than the Adreno 618 GPU of the Snapdragon 720G.
In terms of RAM and storage, Samsung offers all three phones with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It is commendable to see Samsung offer its mid-range devices with a base storage of 128GB, and you can add a microSD card too.
Connectivity: 5G or No 5G?
- Galaxy A52: Dual SIM 4G, Dual VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, GPS
- Galaxy A52 5G: 5G, Dual SIM 4G, Dual VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, GPS
- Galaxy A72: Dual SIM 4G, Dual VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, GPS
The Galaxy A52 and A72 offer the same set of connectivity features. The Galaxy A52 5G stands out with its 5G support, which is also why it comes with a more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset.
If 5G connectivity is important for you, the Galaxy A52 5G automatically becomes your default and only choice.
Camera: Quad-Camera Setup With OIS
- Galaxy A52: 64MP f/1.8 aperture with OIS, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth; 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera
- Galaxy A52 5G: 64MP f/1.8 aperture with OIS, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth; 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera
- Galaxy A72: 64MP f/1.8 aperture with OIS, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 8MP f/2.4 telephoto with OIS and 3x optical zoom, 5MP macro; 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera
The Galaxy A52 and A52 5G feature the same 64MP quad-camera setup at the rear. The inclusion of optical image stabilization (OIS) and Samsung's excellent image processing means these phones can take some excellent shots irrespective of the lighting conditions.
The Galaxy A72 has the same primary and ultra-wide camera as the Galaxy A52 models. However, it swaps the 5MP depth camera with a much more useful 8MP telephoto camera that offers 3x optical zoom. The extra reach offered by the telephoto camera can come in handy in a lot of scenarios, though this sensor only works best when clicking photos in daylight.
All three Galaxy A phones feature a 32MP selfie shooter at the front with Night mode support. The phones can record 4K videos in 30fps resolution from both their front and rear cameras. The Camera app also packs intuitive modes and features like Single Take, Pro Mode, and many more.
Battery Life and Charging Speeds
- Galaxy A52: 4500mAh, 25W fast charging support, 15W fast charger bundled, 0-50% in 30 mins
- Galaxy A52 5G: 4500mAh, 25W fast charging support, 25W fast charger bundled, 0-50% in 30 mins
- Galaxy A72: 5000mAh, 25W fast charging support, 25W fast charger bundled, 0-50% in 30 mins
Both Galaxy A52 models feature a 4500mAh battery with 25W fast charging support. However, Samsung only bundled the 25W fast charger with the 5G variant of the device. The 4G variant ships with a disappointingly slow 15W charger that takes more than 90 minutes to charge the device to full.
The Galaxy A72 comes with a bigger 5000mAh battery thanks to its bigger dimensions. It also supports 25W fast charging. All three phones lack wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support.
One UI 3.1 With Android 11
All three Galaxy A devices run on Android 11 with One UI 3.1 out of the box. Most importantly, these phones are also eligible for four years of security updates and three OS updates from Samsung.
One UI 3.1 packs plenty of features and customization options. While Samsung and carriers do install some bloatware on the device, you will be able to uninstall most of them.
Galaxy A52 vs. Galaxy A72: Which Is Right for You?
The Galaxy A52 5G is the only phone of the three here to support 5G. If 5G connectivity is important for you, the Galaxy A52 5G is your only choice. The Galaxy A52 5G also delivers on the performance front thanks to its more powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset.
If you want a mid-range Galaxy phone with a big display, great battery life, and a versatile camera setup, the Galaxy A72 will be the right choice for you. If you are on a tight budget, the Galaxy A52 4G the cheapest of the lot.