My 6-Month Experience with the Samsung A72: A Budget-Friendly Phone That Surprised Me

Hello!

I finally got around to writing this review after using my Samsung A72 for six months. I picked it up shortly after its release in Russia, and at the time, there was hardly any information available about it. I wanted to try it out for myself, so here's my honest take.

I've been a Samsung fan since I was a kid, but their prices started to get out of hand, and then the Galaxy S series came out, making it even more expensive. I never considered going with an Apple ecosystem because I'm a bit of a pack rat, I love customizing my home screen, and I have a ton of work apps that aren't available for free on iOS. When my phone got stolen, I had to choose between the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite and this model. I went with this one because the camera specs are way better – it's got proper stabilization and lenses, which is a few levels up from what I was used to.

To make this review more useful, I'll break it down into points:

Manufacturer's specsDesign and packagingScreenInterfaceMemoryMain camerasFront cameraResults and comparison with Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite

💸 Price: 29890 rub

🌺 Where I bought it: Dr Techno store

🌺 Manufacturer's specs

I was looking for a phone with great cameras and battery life, as you can guess, if a phone has good cameras, usually all other features are on point too. I'll show you the technical specs right away:

Connectivity

GSM frequencies: 850, 900, 1800, 1900

UMTS frequencies: 850, 1900, 2100, 900

LTE frequencies: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41

Internet: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, 4G LTE

Bluetooth: LE, A2DP, 5.0

Wi-Fi: 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz

NFC: yes

USB-C port: yes

Samsung Pay: yes

Display

Display type: Super AMOLED

Screen size (inches): 6.7

Resolution (pixels): 2400x1080

PPI: 393

Color depth: 16 million

Touchscreen: yes

Multi-touch support: yes

Screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Display features: 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 90 Hz, blue light filtering, 20:9 aspect ratio

Camera

Main cameras: 64 + 12 + 8 + 5 MP (four cameras)

Optical zoom: x3

Image stabilization: optical

Autofocus: yes

Flash: LED flash

Video recording: yes

Video resolution (pixels): 3840 x 2160

Frame rate: 30 fps

Front camera: 32 MP

Processor

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G

Processor speed (MHz): 2300

Number of cores: 8

Consists of: two 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores and six 1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver cores

GPU: Adreno 618

Memory

Internal Memory (GB) - 128

RAM (GB) - 6

Supports MicroSD, MicroSDHC, MicroSDXC cards

Max. card capacity 1TB

Slot for memory card is combined with one of the SIM cards

Multimedia

Audio player - yes

Video player - yes

MP3 - ringtone - yes

3.5mm audio jack

Stereo speakers - Yes

System

Operating System Android 11

Manufacturer's interface Samsung One UI

Navigation GPS, GLONASS, A-GPS

SIM card

SIM card nano-SIM

Number of SIM cards - 2

Power

Battery type Lithium-polymer, non-removable

Charging port USB Type-C

Supports fast charging technology - yes

Battery capacity (mAh) - 5000

What caught my attention first is the processor – it's not the newest or the most powerful. I'm not a gamer, and for everyday tasks, it's more than enough for me. The 6GB of RAM in my version is also sufficient – everything runs smoothly, no lag, no black screen. That was a problem I had with my old phone, although it had the same 6GB, but a weaker processor.

I've got 128GB, and right now, it's less than half full. I haven't needed to use a memory card yet.

Charging is via USB-C, just like in all new phones. The cable was USB-C to USB-C, so make sure you've got the right one. My laptop has the same port, but if you've got a standard USB, you'll need to get a cable or adapter. The 5000mAh battery lasts me a full day of active use.

At first, the 6.7-inch screen seemed huge, but I got used to it quickly. The phone is bezel-less, and there are no screen protectors, so it's not as big as I thought it'd be, especially compared to the Note series.

Other features I'll dive into in the separate sections.

🌺 Design and packaging

I've noticed that phone packaging has been getting pretty bare-bones over the years. There was a time when Samsung included some decent earbuds in the box, but now it's just the phone and the charger with the power adapter (thanks for throwing that in, I know some phones come with just the phone itself). The charger supports fast charging at 25W.

The box also included a warranty card, a SIM card ejector tool, and a pretty basic instruction manual that's more about safety than actual usage.

My phone comes in a beautiful lavender color. The body is made of a new impact-resistant polycarbonate material. It's got a matte finish, feels nice to the touch, and isn't slippery at all. It looks like regular plastic to me.

The edges are metal (I still haven't removed all the protective films, since I know they're prone to scratches). As you can see from the photo, the phone is super thin.

I've got to say, the screen is stunning – huge and beautiful. But, like any device, it's not perfect. I'll get into the downsides in the next point, but for now, let's just appreciate the view.

I've got to say, I'm really glad they've included a headphone jack and a charging slot at the bottom. As someone who's always on the go, it's a lifesaver. I've got a pair of wireless earbuds that I've been trying out, but they haven't quite stuck yet. Maybe I'll upgrade to the Pro Buds from Samsung when the second gen comes out, but for now, I'm sticking with my trusty old wired earbuds.

The power button, volume controls, and all that jazz are all on one side – the right side, to be exact. The left side is button-free, which took some getting used to at first, but I've adapted pretty quickly.

I'm also stoked about the water resistance. You can submerge the phone in water for up to 30 minutes at 1.5 meters without worrying about it. I haven't been to the beach this year, but it's been a lifesaver in everyday situations – like when I accidentally drop it in a puddle on my desk or in the snow.

🌺 Screen

The Super AMOLED screen with a 2400x1080 resolution is a great indicator. The picture looks super vibrant, and I'm a huge fan of Samsung's colors. Switching from Xiaomi was like a breath of fresh air! The Chinese brand's picture quality is pretty dull, and the camera's photo doesn't exactly make you tear up, especially when compared to Samsung. Here, I get to enjoy the richness of the colors every day. As for the panel quality, I have no complaints – it's top-notch. Plus, the 90Hz refresh rate is silky smooth.

I have to say, the oleophobic coating and Gorilla Glass 5 are overhyped. I never used screen protectors on my Xiaomi phones, and the screens were always spotless – not a single scratch or scuff. I didn't apply any here either, and ZRJA! After just three weeks, I noticed scratches in the middle of the screen and a few scuffs at the bottom, even though the phone hadn't fallen. It was all caused by my nails! I was shocked by the low quality of the protective coating, which starts to come off after three weeks. So, I bought five screen protectors from Wildberries – they're surprisingly good quality and fit perfectly. The only downside is that they're fragile – just a slight bump and they crack. But hey, it's better to spend 200 rubles on a screen protector than 35,000 rubles on a new phone. The fingerprint sensor works perfectly through the glass.

🌺 Interface

It's all standard Android fare here. Everything's customizable, transferable, and changeable – you can even set up your own home screen.

I've got to say, one thing I love about this phone is that it has a proper app menu. It's so much easier to organize and manage my apps, rather than just having a list of them.

The apps themselves are super smooth, easy to use, and I love how quickly I can switch between them.

What really gets me excited is the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem. I can link all my devices together, share information between them, and it's all managed through a single account. I've got a tablet and a smartwatch linked to the same account, and it's been a game-changer.

🌺 Memory

I've got 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and so far, I haven't needed to add a microSD card.

I'm a total photo enthusiast, so my storage is always filling up unless I clean it regularly. As you can see from the screenshot, my RAM usage is only 2.8GB, while my storage is at 64%. The graph shows exactly what's taking up space. It's also super easy to clean up storage in this section.

🌺 Main Cameras

I have to admit, having four cameras is pretty cool. My friends are always joking with me, asking why I need so many. And yeah, it's a valid question – let's break it down.

Main camera at 64MP with optical stabilizationWide-angle camera at 8MPMacro camera at 5MPTelephoto lens at 12MP

When I'm taking photos with this model, all four cameras can be used, but the main 64MP block is usually the one that's active.

Optical stabilization is a game-changer! It's a feature you'd usually find in more expensive flagships. That's why this new Samsung lineup comes with a higher price tag. No matter how shaky your hands are, the photos turn out crisp and clear. Plus, the video is super smooth – a huge improvement over my old phone. The camera is also incredibly bright and can pick up light even in low-lit environments.

The wide-angle camera is a lot of fun, and I've included a photo below:

The macro camera is super handy for shooting nature scenes and makeup reviews, like the ones I've been doing:

The telephoto lens, on the other hand, totally ruins the image quality. I mostly use it to read signs far away, not for taking photos:

But what really impressed me is Samsung's pre-set modes – they actually work! Food looks way more appetizing on the 'Food' mode, flowers look better on the 'Flowers' mode, and so on. The phone automatically detects what's in the frame and applies the right mode for me.

I'm also a fan of the 'Portrait' mode – it smooths out the background and looks super realistic.

However, the 'Night' mode doesn't quite cut it for nighttime shots, but it does make a big difference in the golden hour – the photos look brighter and the colors are way more realistic.

More photos:

Front-facing camera

I'm blown away by the front camera on this Android phone – it's way ahead of the Chinese competition. The photos are super sharp, vibrant, and the skin tones look amazing. I can even see individual hairs on my head! Now I've got a new problem – hiding my nose pores and dry lips . These 32 MP cameras are definitely delivering. I'm thoroughly impressed.

I also appreciate the various modes, including Portrait mode, which I use most often. You can adjust the blur and facial blur after taking the shot – it's a nice touch.

Results and comparison with Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite

I'm absolutely satisfied with this model. Kudos to the brand for releasing a relatively budget-friendly phone with optical stabilization. It's definitely worth getting, especially for the cameras.

Going back to our guinea pigs, I want to compare the A72 with my previous phone – Xiaomi mi 9 Lite. The A72 is clearly a step up and newer, that's one. Two – the smoother performance, way better cameras, and more user-friendly interface. The only downside I can think of is the screen quality. My mi 9 Lite had Gorilla Glass too, and after almost two years of use, it still had no scratches. I'm not sure what the issue is, but it really disappointed me. So, I'd definitely get a screen protector right away. All in all, I don't think I'll be going back to Xiaomi. Their design just isn't my cup of tea, and the cameras are a letdown, although they were decent back in 2017 compared to the competition. As they say, everything's relative, and it's worth remembering. The mi 9 Lite was actually doing it for me until the A72 came along, and I really loved the cameras.

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🌺 Key Takeaways

For the sake of clarity, I'll create a table with the pros and cons of this model:

✅ Impressive performance✅ Huge battery, fast 25W charging✅ 128GB, 6GB RAM✅ Slip-resistant, slim body✅ Unique design✅ Four excellent cameras✅ Cameras are genuinely good, not just about pixels✅ No front camera cover✅ Optical image stabilization✅ Large edge-to-edge display✅ Super AMOLED display is incredibly vivid✅ Smooth interface✅ Just the right size⛔ Extremely scratch-prone screen❓ Only comes with a cable and charger in the box

I'd recommend this model, but it's up to you. I'm happy with it, and I'm glad I didn't go for the A52 – the cameras are a priority for me, and they're better on this one. It's worth paying a bit extra for the quality.

Check out my other Samsung device reviews:

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 41 mmSamsung Galaxy S6 LTE

Thanks for reading!