Tools that empower users to create awesome content are what the newest Samsung Galaxy A-Series devices are for. It is not surprising that these phones are getting so much hype – they are specced, designed, and well-priced.
Still, choosing between the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 can still be a chore, unless you want to buy them all, of course. As such, we have decided to make a guide to help you make the right choice. After all, you would want the phone that caters to most, if not all your needs.
Let’s look at the specifications
Galaxy A52 | Galaxy A52 5G | Galaxy A72 | |
Display | 6.5″ FHD+ sAMOLED Infinity-O, 90Hz | 6.5″ FHD+ sAMOLED Infinity-O, 120Hz | 6.7″ FHD+ sAMOLED Infinity-O, 90Hz |
Processor | Snapdragon 720G | Snapdragon 750G | Snapdragon 720G |
RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
Storage | 256GB | 256GB | 256GB |
Rear Cameras | Main: 64MP f/1.8, OIS | Main: 64MP f/1.8, OIS | Main: 64MP f/1.8, OIS |
Ultra-Wide: 12MP f/2.2 | Ultra-Wide: 12MP f/2.2 | Ultra-Wide: 12MP f/2.2 | |
Macro: 5MP f/2.4 | Macro: 5MP f/2.4 | Macro: 5MP f/2.4 | |
Depth: 5MP f/2.4 | Depth: 5MP f/2.4 | Tele: 8MP 3x f/2.4 OIS | |
Front Camera | 32MP f/2.2 | 32MP f/2.2 | 32MP f/2.2 |
OS | One UI 3 + Android 11 | One UI 3 + Android 11 | One UI 3 + Android 11 |
Battery | 4,500mAh | 4,500mAh | 5,000mAh |
Fast-Charging | 25W | 25W | 25W |
Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
Colors | Awesome Violet | ||
Awesome Blue | Awesome Blue | Awesome Blue | |
Awesome Black | Awesome Black | Awesome Black | |
Awesome White | Awesome White | ||
SRP | PhP 18,990 SRP | PhP 23,990 SRP | PhP 23,990 SRP |
Design and Build Quality
In terms of design, all three are pretty much the same. You basically get an almost similar design to the Galaxy S21 series 5G. It has glossy sides, it has a punch hole front camera in the center, and a matte back panel with the camera module slightly protruding.
The button placement is the same on all three. Power and volume on the right, SIM slot at the top, and a USB-C port, speaker grille, and headphone jack at the bottom. All three are IP67 rated, which means they can be submerged in freshwater up to a depth of 1m for up to 30 minutes and are completely protected from dust.
This makes these phones handy companions in the gym, or even in the pool.
Display
Awesome content is much more appreciated on an awesome display. In that regard, all three are equipped with 1080p+ Super AMOLED displays. If you have used a Samsung device before, then you know that this means you will get very punchy colors that give just a bit more life to content.
Quality is great, but viewing detailed images and rich colors on a small screen kind of feels like a waste, doesn’t it? As such, both the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G offer 6.5-inch displays, bolstered by 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, respectively, for smooth and fluid visuals. Those who want it bigger may wish to go for the Galaxy A72 with its 6.7-inch screen, though that means you will only get a 90Hz refresh rate.
Camera
To capture those awesome moments, a phone must have, at least, decent cameras. And do not worry, as based on our tests, the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 are equipped with very capable optics.
On the surface, all three devices offer almost the same set of cameras, except for the Galaxy A72, which replaces the 5MP depth sensor with an 8MP 3x telephoto lens with OIS. This gives it a maximum zoom capability of 30x (digital). The Galaxy A52 and A52 5G can only do 10x at most. Now, whether it is something you will use every day depends on your needs. Personally, I do not, so it is not really an advantage for me.
As for the actual quality of photos. Here are some samples. I am not sure about you, but as far as I am concerned, all three devices were able to produce photos that offer great details, proper exposure, and a refined depth of field effect with good accuracy.
Front Camera – Normal Selfie
Front Camera – Portrait Mode
Front Camera – Wide Selfie
Main Rear Camera
Ultra-Wide
Rear Camera – Depth of Field/Portrait Mode
Macro
Telephoto
Galaxy A72 – 30x Zoom
Single Take
Single Take is a feature that is present in all three devices, and basically generates several social media-ready photos and video clips in a single press, making it easier and faster to share content.
Fun Mode
Meanwhile, Fun Mode lets you utilize Snapchat filters directly on the Galaxy A-series cameras to spice up your selfies. Choose from several filters that are pre-loaded, or find more using the search feature.
Battery
What use is a powerful smartphone if it runs out of battery even before you can ride the bus home from work? That is why the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G pack 4,500mAh batteries, while the Galaxy A72 has a 5,000mAh power pack.
Using PCMark’s Work 2.0 benchmark, which simulates tasks like data manipulation and video editing, all three devices scored above 10 hours. The Galaxy A72 had the highest score of over 14 hours while the Galaxy A52 5G having the least impressive output of almost 11 hours.
Regardless, you should not have any problems with longevity whichever of the three you choose to go with.
Galaxy A52 | 12h 49m |
Galaxy A52 5G | 10h 42m |
Galaxy A72 | 14h 16m |
While the overall battery life is important, it is also great if a smartphone can be up and running again as quickly as possible whenever it runs out of battery.
Using the chargers that came with their boxes, both the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G were back to 100% from 0 in around 1.5 hours, while the Galaxy A72 was able to recharge its battery to full in just over an hour.
Which One to Buy?
So, you are in the store or online going about the three, thinking which one to buy. Let me make it a bit easier (or more confusing?) for you.
- Get the Galaxy A52 5G if you want future-proofing thanks to 5G, and the absolute best of the three. It offers a perfect balance of great battery life, capable cameras, and a large enough screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, at a price that is totally reasonable.
- If you just want the biggest display, the best battery life, and a decent screen that still rocks even with a slightly slower refresh rate, get the Galaxy A72.
- If you’re tight on budget, and still want a great phone that has most of the perks, get the Galaxy A52.
If you want to check out the other aspects of these phones like performance and software, you may check out our comparison of the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A52 5G and our full review of the Galaxy A72.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.