Samsung Galaxy A37 & A57 (2026) Review: Price Hikes Meet Refined Durability
The mid-range smartphone market is facing a new reality: prices are climbing. Samsung‘s latest offerings, the Galaxy A37 5G and Galaxy A57 5G, are the latest examples, arriving with a $50 price bump over their predecessors. But while the headlines focus on the increased cost, the deeper story reveals a strategic shift toward durability, refined performance, and a streamlined lineup.
If you’re considering an upgrade or just browsing the best phones under $600, here is everything you need to know about Samsung’s 2026 mid-range contenders, how they compare to rivals like the Google Pixel 10a and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, and whether they justify the higher entry price.
Price and Availability: The New Normal
Samsung officially announced the Galaxy A37 and A57 on March 25, 2026, with sales set to begin April 9. The pricing structure now sits at a higher tier across both models. The Galaxy A37 5G starts at $450 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration, with a 256GB storage variant priced at $540. The premium Galaxy A57 5G commands $550 for the base 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model, while the 256GB version reaches $610.
Why the price hike? Industry analysts point to a global memory shortage and rising component costs. As Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at IDC, noted in an email to WIRED, “Price increases or ‘down-speccing’ have become the norm.” Unlike the iPhone 17e, which managed to add features like MagSafe without a price change, Samsung is passing these costs to consumers—a trend likely to persist throughout 2026 as manufacturers navigate supply chain pressures and geopolitical uncertainties.
Design and Durability: A Clear Winner Emerges
Samsung has focused heavily on the physical feel and longevity of these devices, with durability emerging as a key differentiator in the mid-range segment. Both phones now boast an IP68 rating, representing a significant upgrade from the previous IP67 standard. This means complete dust protection and the ability to withstand submersion in fresh water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes—a feature typically reserved for flagship devices.
The build quality reveals the primary distinction between the two models. The Galaxy A57 justifies its higher price point with a metal frame and a notable reduction in size and weight, measuring 0.5mm thinner and 18 grams lighter than its predecessor. This makes it feel substantially more premium and less cumbersome compared to the A37, which retains a plastic frame despite sporting the same Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both the front and back panels.
Both devices feature 6.7-inch Super AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates, though the A57 incorporates the enhanced Super AMOLED Plus panel. Peak brightness reaches 1,900 nits on both phones, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility. However, prospective buyers should note that competing devices like the Google Pixel 10a achieve up to 3,000 nits peak brightness—a factor worth considering if you frequently use your phone in direct sunlight.
Processor Performance: The Exynos Leap
The most significant internal upgrade across both phones comes in the form of processor improvements. Samsung has equipped these devices with its latest in-house chips, delivering meaningful performance gains over last year’s models.
The Galaxy A37 is powered by the Exynos 1480, replacing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 found in the previous Galaxy A36. This transition yields impressive improvements: 14 percent better CPU performance, 24 percent enhanced graphics capabilities, and a striking 167 percent boost in neural processing performance. That neural processing uplift is particularly significant for AI-driven tasks, enabling faster on-device processing for features like photo editing, voice transcription, and the enhanced Circle to Search functionality.
The Galaxy A57 sports the Exynos 1680, which builds upon the Exynos 1580 in last year’s Galaxy A56. While the generational leap is less dramatic than with the A37, it still delivers 10 percent better CPU performance, 7 percent faster graphics, and a 42 percent improvement in neural processing. Both phones maintain the same 5,000 mAh battery capacity and support 45-watt Super Fast Charging 2.0. Notably absent is wireless charging—a feature available on competing mid-range devices like the iPhone 17e and Google Pixel 10a.
Camera Capabilities: Software Over Hardware
Neither phone received drastic hardware overhauls to their camera sensors, but Samsung is leaning heavily on improved image signal processing (ISP) algorithms to elevate photo and video quality.
The Galaxy A37 benefits from hardware refinements to its main 50-megapixel sensor, which now features larger pixels for improved light capture. This translates to brighter, sharper images in various lighting conditions and support for HDR video recording. Samsung claims photo capture speeds are now twice as fast as previous models, reducing the delay between pressing the shutter button and capturing the image. Portrait mode has been enhanced with AI segmentation that more accurately distinguishes subjects from backgrounds, people, and sky elements to create more natural depth effects. The Object Eraser tool also processes faster, making quick work of unwanted photo elements.
For the Galaxy A57, while the camera hardware remains unchanged from the Galaxy A56—maintaining a 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro, and 12-megapixel selfie camera—the updated ISP delivers meaningful software improvements. Users can expect better ultrawide image quality, reduced noise in nighttime photos and videos, and smoother transitions when switching between lenses. The faster capture speeds present on the A37 are also available here.
Software and AI: Circle to Search Evolves
Running Android 16 with One UI 8, these phones introduce several notable software features that leverage the improved neural processing capabilities. The Circle to Search “Find the Look” feature represents a significant evolution of Google’s visual search technology. Users can draw a circle around an entire outfit in an image, and Google’s AI now identifies every individual article of clothing rather than selecting just one item—a powerful tool for fashion enthusiasts and shoppers.
The Voice Recorder app gains transcription and real-time translation capabilities, allowing users to convert spoken recordings into text across multiple languages. Samsung’s Bixby assistant has also received upgrades, now capable of understanding natural language queries about device settings and executing adjustments accordingly.
However, Samsung is segmenting its software features across price tiers. The A37 and A57 miss out on several newer capabilities introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, including Gemini’s Task Automation for complex multi-app workflows and the Quick Share to AirDrop functionality that enables seamless file sharing with iPhones. At minimum, both phones will receive six years of software updates, ensuring long-term security and feature support.
Connectivity and Special Features
Connectivity improvements are predominantly exclusive to the Galaxy A57, which gains support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.0. Wi-Fi 6E opens up the 6GHz band for faster speeds and reduced interference, while Bluetooth 6.0 brings improvements to connection stability, range, and the ability to precisely locate lost devices or accessories. The Galaxy A37 remains on Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Both phones support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate cellular plans without physical SIM cards—a feature increasingly important for international travelers and those managing multiple lines. The IP68 dust and water resistance rating applies equally to both models, representing a meaningful durability upgrade for the entire A-series lineup.
Market Competition and Positioning
The $450 to $600 price range is fiercely contested, with several compelling alternatives demanding consideration. The Google Pixel 10a offers a brighter display reaching 3,000 nits, wireless charging, and Google’s industry-leading computational photography and AI software features. Samsung counters with larger 5,000 mAh battery capacity, significantly faster 45-watt wired charging, and the more robust IP68 durability rating.
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro enters the market at $499 with its distinctive transparent Glyph Interface design and a triple-camera system featuring a dedicated telephoto zoom lens—a notable advantage over both Samsung models, which lack optical zoom capabilities beyond digital cropping. Motorola is also expected to debut the Moto G Stylus 2026 soon, which will appeal to users seeking built-in stylus functionality.
Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Samsung’s strategy with the Galaxy A37 and A57 is clear: refine the existing formula, raise prices to reflect market conditions, and bet on durability and software longevity as key selling points.
Choose the Galaxy A37 if: You are a budget-conscious user upgrading from a device more than three years old. The significant processor leap from previous A-series models, combined with the new IP68 rating and six-year software support, makes this a compelling investment for longevity. The $450 base model represents the best value proposition, delivering essential upgrades without unnecessary frills.
Choose the Galaxy A57 if: You value a premium in-hand feel and superior connectivity. The metal frame construction, reduced weight and thickness, and higher-quality 12-megapixel ultrawide camera justify the $100 premium over the A37. Additionally, if your home or office network supports Wi-Fi 6E or you frequently use Bluetooth accessories, the connectivity upgrades alone may warrant the higher price tier.
Consider waiting for a sale: As noted by industry observers, Samsung phones frequently see significant discounts during major retail events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and through carrier promotions. If the $50 price hike feels steep relative to previous generations, waiting a few months could yield substantial savings without compromising access to these phones’ core features.
The Bottom Line: The Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 represent iterative but meaningful updates to Samsung’s mid-range portfolio. They may not excite enthusiasts seeking radical redesigns or industry-first features, but for the average consumer prioritizing durability, display quality, long software support, and reliable performance, they remain top-tier contenders in the mid-range smartphone category—provided you can stomach the new pricing reality facing the entire mobile industry in 2026.