Samsung Galaxy A52/A72

[Smellmet]

So, it looks like these phones are due for imminent release, and there appears to be plenty of leaks everywhere about specs etc. As a current owner of the A71, I've got my eye on both these devices, which seem to be getting a 4G and a 5G release with differing specs.

From what I can see the A72 4G appears to be getting a SD720G, which given the A71 has a 730, on the surface, is a little disappointing, especially when the 5G A52 will be packing a 750G. I would have thought the 4G version would be getting at least the 750 with the 5G getting the 765 maybe?

There's talk about higher refresh rate displays on both too, but having never actually held a phone with one, I can't comment on their usefulness.

The A72 also seems to be IP rated, which the A71 isn't which is a welcome upgrade.

The A72 is rumoured to be packing a 5000mah battery, which given the excellent battery life of my A71, is another welcome upgrade.

They also seem to be ditching the depth camera in favour of a telephoto, which concerns me as I use the bokeh feature on my A71 all the time, really they should be ditching the useless macro lens.

Last time around the A51 was criticised for it's performance as it had an inferior chip to the A71, but this time, I think it could be the one to go for out of the two, value-wise as it's getting the same camera array and chip.

Thoughts?

 

[ian87w]

I was looking forward for the A72 being IP68 rated, marking the return of IP rating to the A series. But the downgrade in SoC for the 4G version vs the A71 is disappointing. Samsung would only release the 4G version in my country since we don’t have 5G yet.

As for camera lenses, I’d rather have telephoto as the software can use one of the multiple cameras as a depth sensor. Eg like the iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus.

Kinda a meh to me personally, other than the IP rating. Will see how much Samsung will sell these for. Right now, I’m waiting to get the Poco X3 since it is one of the cheapest phone with some IP rating (only IP53, but better than nothing). IP rating is helpful in my country where we have tropical weather, and I can be stuck on a motorcycle outside while it suddenly pours. IP rating will definitely a great feature.

 

[Smellmet]

I've heard the 720G is a very slight upgrade on the 730 as it's newer but I'm still disappointed at the choice. By all means fit it to the A52 but the A72 surely should have the 750 or 765.

If they can achieve the bokeh with another lens then fair enough for including the telephoto but why persist with these macro lenses? They're rubbish.

 

[MarkX]

From what I can see the A72 4G appears to be getting a SD720G, which given the A71 has a 730, on the surface, is a little disappointing, especially when the 5G A52 will be packing a 750G. I would have thought the 4G version would be getting at least the 750 with the 5G getting the 765 maybe?

1. The 720g is more powerful than the 730.
2. Why would they give a 4g model a 5g 750g?
3. The 750g is more powerful than the 765.

 

[Smellmet]

1. The 720g is more powerful than the 730.
2. Why would they give a 4g model a 5g 750g?
3. The 750g is more powerful than the 765.

1 Just about every comparison I've read put the the 720G and the 730 at pretty much level pegging, with a very slight edge to the 720G. Not exactly an upgrade that anyone will realistically notice IMO (not that they ever are)

2 Fair enough.

3 Then why doesn't the A72 receive a better chip still or the A52 a slightly lesser one, like they did with the A51/71? This is why I've said the A52 looks to be the better purchase at the moment.

Not trying to be arsey or anything I'm just very interested in this line of phones being a current A71 owner. I think they represent really good value for someone like myself who can't justify the price of flagships.

 

[ian87w]

1. The 720g is more powerful than the 730.

Can you elaborate on this? I mean both are almost exactly the same chip. And did Qualcomm screw up the numbering system that a lower numbered chip is better than a higher numbered one? Genuinely curious.

Personally, imo the 720 is practically just the 730, but newly fabbed along with the 732. In essence, the 4G A72 only upgrade over the A71 is just the IP rating and the telephoto camera. Samsung does this a lot in their low - mid range models, releasing basically the same phone with very minute differences.

 

[Sensamic]

As a owner of a A71, I'm excited to see high refresh rate on midrange devices. Every year there's less incentive to spend 1.000$ on a flagship.

You get excellent battery life, great and big OLED screen with high refresh rate, 3/4 cameras, 4K video recording, same fast charging as S21 but with the charger included in the box, headphone jack, MicroSD slot, same software and same design with A72, but for 1/4 of the price.

 

[MarkX]

Can you elaborate on this? I mean both are almost exactly the same chip. And did Qualcomm screw up the numbering system that a lower numbered chip is better than a higher numbered one? Genuinely curious.

Personally, imo the 720 is practically just the 730, but newly fabbed along with the 732. In essence, the 4G A72 only upgrade over the A71 is just the IP rating and the telephoto camera. Samsung does this a lot in their low - mid range models, releasing basically the same phone with very minute differences.

After some more reading it does indeed seem the 720 and 730 are very similar only with the former being 10 months newer and with more modern architecture.

And yes, the new numbering scheme is indeed confusing!

 

[MarkX]

1 Just about every comparison I've read put the the 720G and the 730 at pretty much level pegging, with a very slight edge to the 720G. Not exactly an upgrade that anyone will realistically notice IMO (not that they ever are)

2 Fair enough.

3 Then why doesn't the A72 receive a better chip still or the A52 a slightly lesser one, like they did with the A51/71? This is why I've said the A52 looks to be the better purchase at the moment.

Not trying to be arsey or anything I'm just very interested in this line of phones being a current A71 owner. I think they represent really good value for someone like myself who can't justify the price of flagships.

Why does the A72 need a better chip though?

 

[ian87w]

Why does the A72 need a better chip though?

Well, the A72 is the next gen of the A71, this it is expected to be sporting improved hardware. And right now, the A72 is practically the flagship of the A series (since there’s no A8x nor A9x anymore). It’s just consumer’s expectation for it to bear the best premium midrange can offer.

What I think is that Qualcomm is discontinuing the 730, thus Samsung needs to use the newer 720, and with that, they need a new model name.

Oh well. New users will be happy with the IP rating returning to the A series. It’s just us, current A71 users, not seeing it as a significant upgrade. Maybe more like an A71s instead if A72.

I’m guessing the 4G version will be priced at around $450 - $500 in my country.

 

[Smellmet]

Why does the A72 need a better chip though?

Same reason the S line will have a better chip than the A72 or the A72 has a better chip than the A52, or the A52 having a better chip than the A32 etc. It's just natural to expect the higher up the range, the better specs wether it's chip, camera or anything else.

Like I said I think this decision makes the A52 a very compelling proposition, as the A51 was hampered by an inferior chipset last time around compared to the A71 and this was commented on in it's reviews at the time.

This is why I find the decision to fit the 720G to the A72 a little disappointing as an A71 owner - or another way of looking at it, a great decision if you're an A51 owner looking to upgrade.

 

[Smellmet]

It's looking like these phones will be revealed at the March 17th event that's coming up.

 

[The Game 161]

These are the phones that really help Samsung’s sales. They sell more than all their other phones combined

 

[Smellmet]

These are the phones that really help Samsung’s sales. They sell more than all their other phones combined

It's strange that, I don't know anyone who owns an A series, everyone who I know has an S

 

[ian87w]

It's strange that, I don't know anyone who owns an A series, everyone who I know has an S

It's not strange. There are more people in the world than the ones that you know.
The best selling Android phone currently is the Samsung Galaxy A51, followed by a bunch of Xiaomi phones and the Galaxy A10s.

 

[Smellmet]

It's not strange. There are more people in the world than the ones that you know.
The best selling Android phone currently is the Samsung Galaxy A51, followed by a bunch of Xiaomi phones and the Galaxy A10s.

Wonder if it's more of a UK thing, it's not just people I know, I don't think I've ever seen one out in the wild full stop, everyone seems to by S ones here. I imagine the A series is more a worldwide phenomenon.

 

[mi7chy]

I spot 120Hz, 3.5mm jack + sd card slot.

 

[The_Interloper]

I spot 120Hz, 3.5mm jack + sd card slot.

A52 and A72 have 90Hz screens. A52 5G has 120Hz.

 

[ian87w]

So they are released.
Based on the prices in my country:
A52 4G: 128GB $345, 256GB $373
A72 4G: 128GB $415, 256GB $442

No 5G version in my country for obvious reasons (no carriers with 5G yet).
No headset included in the box, but charger is included.

Was tempted due to IP67, but then my A71 suddenly receive OneUI 3.1 with Android 11.

 

[mclld]

I wonder if these cameras are better than the Pixel 3

 

[Smellmet]

I wonder if these cameras are better than the Pixel 3

You would expect it to be. I've found the camera on my A71 to be excellent outdoors, really nice pictures and great bokeh mode. Indoors, not so much.

 

[mclld]

I really like my Pixel other than the battery life. The water resistance along with big battery plus cheap price then sounds great. I am not paying flagship prices

 

[The Game 161]

It's strange that, I don't know anyone who owns an A series, everyone who I know has an S

at 399 plus alot of good features plus higher refresh rate it makes sense. they sold 23 million of there A51 in last Q of 2020 for example.

 

[mi7chy]

Looks like great mid priced devices. I'd seriously consider it if I didn't already buy S21 Ultra.

 

[Smellmet]

Looks like great mid priced devices. I'd seriously consider it if I didn't already buy S21 Ultra.

I'll definitely consider getting the A72 to replace my A71 when it dies. Hopefully it should last me more than the 3 years my S7 Edge did