The Samsung Galaxy A-series has long been the backbone of the company’s smartphone sales, offering affordable devices that prioritize longevity and reliability over cutting-edge features. The newly announced Galaxy A37, set to replace the A36, continues this tradition. While it brings modest iterative improvements rather than revolutionary changes, it remains a solid option for budget-conscious buyers—despite a $50 price increase.
Design and Build: Glossy but Slippery
At first glance, the Galaxy A37 looks nearly identical to its more expensive sibling, the Galaxy A57, and shares the same design language as recent A-series phones. The vertical camera bar, dubbed the “Ambient Island,” sits in the top-left corner of the backplate. The power button rests under the volume rocker on the right side, and the screen bezels are slightly asymmetrical—noticeable only if you look closely.
However, Samsung’s choice of a glossy mirror finish on the back is a double-edged sword. While the company claims it’s “made to be shown off,” the Gorilla Glass Victus+ back becomes a fingerprint magnet within days of use. Worse, the phone turns into a slippery bar of soap when hands are even slightly sweaty. Most manufacturers have moved to frosted or matte finishes for better grip and cleanliness, making Samsung’s decision feel outdated. Fortunately, the plastic frame features a brushed matte finish that resists smudges, and the buttons are slightly raised for blind navigation. Of course, if you plan to use a case—which is highly recommended, especially because the phone teeters on flat surfaces due to its off-center camera bar—these concerns become minor.
Display: Bright Enough, but Outdoor Throttling Is an Issue
The 6.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen is smooth and responsive, thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate. Indoors, brightness is more than adequate. Outdoors, however, the phone struggles. During heavy use—such as taking photos in direct sunlight or playing Pokémon Go—the device heats up and automatically dims the screen to prevent burn-in. While it recovers quickly in the shade, this behavior could be a dealbreaker for people who work outside. On the plus side, Samsung has earned an Eye Care Certification from SGS for the Eye Comfort Shield, which blocks blue light effectively. Users sensitive to PWM (pulse-width modulation) may still notice some flicker, but the extra-yellow filter helped reduce eye strain during testing. The optical fingerprint sensor is placed low on the screen, which can be a stretch for smaller hands, and its bright flash can be blinding in the dark.
Performance: Adequate for Everyday Tasks, Not for Power Users
The Galaxy A37 runs on a 2024 Exynos 1480 chipset paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the storage model (128GB with 6GB is the standard carrier version). This is not a phone for gamers or heavy multitaskers. In everyday use—reading webtoons, scrolling social media, or watching YouTube—it handles two or three apps at a time without issue. However, pushing it further reveals limits. In testing, games like Merge Dragons would hang for several seconds when waking from sleep and crashed multiple times over a weekend. Pokémon Go frequently reloaded after switching to another app, even for a quick reply on Instagram. After an hour of continuous raids, lag became consistent.
The phone also became uncomfortably warm on a few rare occasions in 90-degree Florida weather, even when not in active use. Google’s Gemini assistant performed basic tasks fine but slowed down during multimedia processing. Storage options include 128GB and 256GB, but there is no microSD card slot—so choose your capacity wisely. The 256GB version also bumps RAM to 8GB, a worthwhile upgrade if you can find it.
Battery and Charging: Single-Day Life with Fast Refills
Samsung avoids bold battery claims for the A37, simply calling its 5,000mAh battery “long-lasting.” In reality, it delivers a solid single day of use—not the 1.5 to 2 days seen on competitors like the Google Pixel 10a or Moto G Power. The saving grace is 45W wired charging (Power Delivery). There’s no wireless charging, but Samsung argues that slow 5W or 10W wireless charging isn’t worth including.
Software: One UI 8.5 and Galaxy AI
The A37 launches with Android 16 and Samsung’s One UI 8.5. Samsung guarantees system updates through Android 22 and six years of security updates, one of the longest support cycles in the budget segment. Galaxy AI (rebranded as “Awesome Intelligence” for the A-series) takes center stage during setup but fades into the background afterward. Circle to Search remains handy, but features like Object Eraser and Suggested Edits in the Gallery app are hit-or-miss.
One UI’s strength lies in its abundance of options—sometimes overwhelming, but often invaluable. For example, Samsung offers both quick settings and a dedicated sound/vibrate/silent toggle in the main settings menu, something Pixel phones lack. Modes and Routines provide more premade options and better consistency than Google’s routines. However, the default app drawer is a paginated custom sort that dumps new apps in installation order, creating a jumbled mess. You can switch to an alphabetical vertical scroll, but it would be nicer to have that option during setup.
Cameras: Incremental Improvements, Obvious Limitations
The camera system sees few changes: a slight bump to the main sensor and an improved Nightography mode. In daylight, photos are vibrant thanks to Samsung’s signature oversaturation. Zoom goes up to 10x, but detail drops off sharply after 4x—2x zoom already loses sharpness. Compared to the Google Pixel 10a, Samsung’s processing turns 5x–10x shots into watercolor-like images, though the A37’s longer reach can get you closer to distant subjects.
Night photography is a mixed bag. During fireworks, the A37’s single exposure slider (versus Pixel’s three separate sliders) allowed for quick adjustments and better-timed shots. However, the phone’s limited RAM and older processor caused severe lag: the viewfinder would freeze for multiple seconds between shots, and mode-swapping missed the finale entirely. The same slowdown occurs in concerts or clubs with strobe lighting.
Selfies are passable in daylight but struggle at night or indoors. Samsung omitted the “Best Face” feature (found on the pricier A57), which would have helped group shots. The 8MP ultrawide is dim and lackluster, and the 5MP macro camera is essentially unusable—none of the test photos came out in focus. Macro mode is buried in the “More” submenu, suggesting Samsung knows it’s not a selling point.
Competition and Verdict
The Galaxy A37 faces stiff competition from the Google Pixel 10a, which often sells for 449– 449–499. The Pixel 10a offers significantly better performance, smoother multitasking, and superior camera processing—especially for macros and consistent detail. It also handles heat better. However, the A37 counters with a larger screen, a much stronger blue-light filter, and One UI’s extensive customization. For non-gamers who don’t constantly multitask, the A37 is a reliable, long-lasting device.
Compared to its own big brother, the Galaxy A57, the A37 saves you over $100 while delivering a similar experience. The A57 has 8GB of RAM standard and a newer processor, but neither phone is truly suited for heavy gaming or productivity. For most users, the A37 offers better value.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy A37 is not perfect—its glossy design is slippery, its processor struggles under pressure, and its macro camera is a waste. But for under $500, you get a bright 6.7-inch screen, fast charging, six years of updates, and a dependable daily driver. Just don’t forget to buy a case.