Samsung's mid-range devices head-to-head

When Samsung announced its new mid-range in March of this year — shortly after the update of the Galaxy S21 family in January — the South Koreans presented four different models: the Galaxy A32, the Galaxy A52, the Galaxy A52 5G and finally the Galaxy A72.

We chose the two most promising models for this comparison, with the Galaxy A72, which at least in the West leads Samsung's mid-range line, and the Galaxy A52 5G. We have already tested both smartphones, and the links can be found after the technical specifications below:

Two smartphones with many similarities…

As with previous generations, the new A-series phones are very similar visually. In short, they feature a very familiar design, as is typical for Samsung, and the devices are very well made. The two models are also similar in size: While a 6.5-inch screen was used in the A52, the A72 is somewhat larger, with a 6.7-inch display.

In addition, both models are IP67 certified, come with stereo speakers as well as Dolby Atmos, and the 3.5mm headphone output can also be found on both smartphones. Another similarity: Android 11 with guaranteed security updates for four years and the important slot for a memory card.

…but also some differences

Logically, it's not just the screen size that makes the difference here. While the A52 is powered by a Snapdragon 750G, the A72 is equipped with the Snapdragon 720G, which does not include a 5G modem. The inclusion or not of 5G is the most decisive difference, because the performance differences are almost imperceptible.

Personally, I find benchmark tests essentially meaningless, but to help you better compare performance differences, take a look at this table:

Although both devices have the same memory configuration in Brazil, with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Abroad, it is possible to find the A52 5G in an extra version with 8/256 GB, but in the case of Brazil, there is a technical tie.

The camera makes the difference

The changes are clearer when it comes to the camera, although both phones feature a quad array in which three of the four cameras are identical. In addition to the main 48 MP sensor, there is a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 5 megapixel macro sensor.

Good news: compared to last year's popular Galaxy A51, Samsung has given its new mid-range phones optical image stabilization for the main camera.

This means that only one camera sets the two devices apart, but it could make all the difference. While the A72 has a 3x zoom telephoto camera with 8 megapixels, Samsung brings a 5 MP depth sensor to the A52 5G. Point for the A72, which offers more versatility for photography fans.

Selfies are again identical on both phones, offering 32 MP, but unfortunately both leave out autofocus.

Beautiful Super AMOLED screens, but…

Now let's talk about the screen: in both cases, Samsung offers Super AMOLED panels with FullHD+ resolution, which is a plus considering Samsung's excellent displays. Thanks to the slightly smaller screen, the A52 is logically ahead in terms of pixel density.

The biggest difference, however, is the surprising 120Hz refresh rate on the “smaller” model. This contrasts with the A72's 90Hz, which might not be the end of the world for a smartphone in this category, but it still feels a bit unusual — as it goes against the idea that the A72 should be more advanced.

So if you value smoother content display, the A52 comes out on top. Perhaps the battery capacity is also interesting in this context: the A72 takes advantage of its size to bring a 5,000 mAh battery versus the smaller A52 and its 4,500 mAh.

This difference is usually offset by the different screen sizes, putting the batteries at the same level. However, if you also consider the lower refresh rate on the A72 and the lack of 5G, the 6.7-inch device should score slightly better in terms of battery life.

By the way, both smartphones support fast charging and have reached 25 watts. That's not quite leaving the competition behind, but at least it's significantly faster than the previous 15 watts.

You can also count on the fact that the slightly slower charge is healthier for the battery in the long run — a point that shouldn't be ignored if you plan on using the phone for a long time, given the four-year guaranteed security updates. As for the battery, it's a shame that both the A72 and A52 5G unfortunately don't support wireless charging.

Conclusion: who wins the dispute?

So, we're in the final stretch of our little comparison of Samsung's current mid-range lineup and the good news is that you basically can't go wrong, both the Galaxy A52 5G and the A72 are two really decent smartphones.

Yes, of course they don't look spectacular and they don't have that killer feature that convinces you to open your wallet. But that's exactly the price you pay when you look for a cell phone in the R$2,000 range instead of models twice as expensive…

Both are priced between R$2,000 and R$3,000 and we can expect them to drop below R$2,000 in the not too distant future. However, the mid-range market is a real battlefield with a lot of competition. Just think of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro, which is available for around R$3,000.

With that in mind, if you’re considering one of these two smartphones, you’ll have to weigh the differences and see what’s more important to you. You get the better camera and the more generous battery in the A72 — features that I personally pay more attention to when buying a smartphone than many other specs.

On the other hand, if you’re serious about getting on board with 5G, especially if you’re planning on keeping it as a phone for years to come, consider the A52 5G — and you’ll get a smoother 120Hz display. Final question: Which smartphone do you like best or find most interesting to you?