Review Summary
Expert Rating
The Samsung Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72, at first glance at least, look like twins – they’re so similar in design and specs. This is both a good and a bad thing. Good, because the Galaxy A72 brings forth all the positives from its sibling, which includes the IP67 rating. And that was one of the features that set the Galaxy A52 apart. In almost all respects, the Galaxy A72 also comes across as a capable smartphone, but its higher pricing does complicate things.
Related read: Samsung Galaxy A52 review
The lowdown
The Galaxy A72 ticks quite a few boxes for anyone looking for a capable smartphone. The phone looks quite good with its frosty matte finish, and the 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display is a visual treat. The 90Hz refresh rate helps make usage smooth too. The cameras deliver in most conditions, and the telephoto sensor is a welcome addition. Even otherwise, the snappers can shoot nice-looking images. The results from the ultra-wide sensor do suffer from a bit of softening around the edges, and the macro sensor can be a hit and miss. The night shots, on the other hand, look good, and the dedicated Night mode does its bit to improve things. The 32MP selfie shooter is quite capable too.Software-wise, you get the usual OneUI platform, which is easy to use and feature-rich too. One of the best aspects of Samsung’s custom Android UI is the fact that it gives access to the brand’s ecosystem of services and apps (Samsung Pay, Samsung Cloud etc), and useful features like Secure Folder, that can add quite to bit to the overall experience. Unfortunately though, just like the Galaxy A52, the bigger sibling also comes with a lot of bloatware. While most of it can be uninstalled, it does mar the experience somewhat.
Final Verdict
While the Galaxy A72 scores on most aspects and comes across as a capable phone on its own, it does appear to be priced on the higher side. The lack of 5G doesn’t bode well for it either. In its price range, it has to contend with rivals like Mi 11X (review), but even its own sibling, the Galaxy S20 FE (review) appears to be better. For most intents and purposes, the Galaxy A52 should be able to deliver the same experience as the Galaxy A72, for a lower price. Go for the Galaxy A72 if its larger screen and IP67 rating appeal to you… with the latter being one of its most standout features, and something that rivals can’t match.Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
Pros:
- Nice design and solid build
- IP67 certified
- Capable 90Hz display
- Decent set of cameras
Cons:
- Misses out on 5G
- Can’t match rivals in terms of performance
- Comes with bloatware
- Seems pricey
Competitors for Samsung Galaxy A72
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