Galaxy A73 5G vs Galaxy Z Fold5

The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G (released March 2022) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (released July 2023) represent distinct approaches within Samsung's smartphone lineup. The A73 5G offers a traditional smartphone experience with a large, flat display, while the Z Fold5 introduces a foldable design that transforms from a compact phone into a larger tablet-like screen. Both devices operate on the Android platform, featuring Samsung's One UI for a consistent user experience, but cater to different user priorities through their form factor and capabilities.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy A73 5G was released in March 2022, making it an older model compared to the Galaxy Z Fold5, which launched in July 2023. This difference in release year impacts their respective software support cycles.
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy A73 5G is eligible for four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates from its release, meaning it will receive updates until approximately 2026 for OS and 2027 for security. The Galaxy Z Fold5 also follows Samsung's policy of four major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, extending its support further into the future due to its later release.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy A73 5G features Gorilla Glass 5 for screen protection and carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. The Galaxy Z Fold5, while featuring upgraded Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on its cover screen and rear panel, and a new hinge design that allows it to fold completely flat, has an IPX8 rating, meaning it is water-resistant but does not have official dust resistance. The A73 5G has a repairability score of 6.5/10, with the battery and screen being relatively accessible despite adhesive use.

Performance varies significantly between these two devices, largely due to their different internal components and design philosophies.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy A73 5G is equipped with a processor that handles demanding applications and multitasking smoothly, and users report it can manage graphically intensive games without significant issues, though it may not match the performance of higher-end chipsets. The Galaxy Z Fold5 features a current-generation processor designed for high performance, offering substantial power for complex tasks, intensive gaming, and seamless multitasking across its multiple screens. Users describe its performance as superfast and without lag.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: The A73 5G, with its 6GB or 8GB of RAM, provides a responsive experience for everyday use and moderate multitasking. The Z Fold5, with 12GB of RAM, is designed for advanced multitasking, allowing users to run multiple applications simultaneously on its larger internal display with fluidity.
• Storage Options: The A73 5G offers 128GB or 256GB of internal storage and includes a microSDXC slot for expandable storage up to 1TB, providing flexibility for users with large media libraries. The Z Fold5 comes with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of internal storage but does not offer expandable storage.

The display experience is a primary differentiator, with the Galaxy A73 5G offering a traditional large screen and the Z Fold5 providing a versatile dual-screen setup.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy A73 5G features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, with a resolution of 1080x2400 pixels. The Galaxy Z Fold5 has two Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays: a 6.2-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch main foldable screen when unfolded. The main screen offers a higher resolution of 2176x1812 pixels, providing a larger, more immersive viewing area.
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: Both devices feature a 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smoother scrolling and more fluid animations. The A73 5G's display reaches up to 800 nits of brightness, offering good visibility in various lighting conditions. The Z Fold5's displays offer high brightness levels, which contribute to excellent outdoor visibility.
• Viewing Experience: The A73 5G provides a consistent, expansive viewing experience on its single, flat screen. The Z Fold5 offers the flexibility of a standard smartphone experience on its cover screen and a tablet-like experience on its larger internal display, which is beneficial for productivity and media consumption. The internal screen of the Z Fold5 does have a visible crease, though it is less pronounced than previous models.

Both smartphones offer capable camera systems, but they are designed for different user expectations and deliver varying results.

• Rear Camera Systems: The Galaxy A73 5G features a quad-camera setup with a 108MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth sensor. This system is noted for producing bright photos with good dynamic range, detail, and color accuracy in well-lit conditions, and performs well in low light. The Galaxy Z Fold5 has a triple-camera system on the rear, including a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This setup delivers mostly excellent photos with good color reproduction and detail, and strong low-light performance.
• Front Cameras and Video: The A73 5G has a 32MP front-facing camera capable of good selfies and 4K video recording at 30fps. The Z Fold5 features a 10MP selfie camera on the cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera on the main screen. The 4MP under-display camera is primarily suited for video calls due to its lower image quality. The Z Fold5 supports video recording up to 8K at 30fps with its rear cameras and 4K at 60fps with its main and cover selfie cameras, offering better video quality and stabilization.
• Audio Experience: The A73 5G includes stereo speakers that provide loud audio output. The Z Fold5 also features stereo speakers, contributing to an immersive media consumption experience.