Samsung Galaxy A37: My First Look Review

Samsung Galaxy A37: My First Look Review

The Galaxy A37 is here with a fresh design, Samsung chipset, smooth software, and long-term support to totally dominate the upper mid-range market. But it definitely has some tough rivals waiting in the wings.

Design: It’s really good, not just “not bad”

Samsung Galaxy A37 colors Graygreen, Charcoal, Lavender, and White

For the Galaxy A37 colors, you can choose between Graygreen, Charcoal, Lavender, and White. At 7.4mm, its thickness hasn’t changed compared to the last generation, and at 196g, it’s just a single gram heavier, which you honestly won’t even notice when you’re holding it.

Side view of Samsung Galaxy A37 Lavender

But the main change happened on the back with the camera module. Those three lenses stick out a bit more from the camera island now, which is a tweak we’ve also seen on the Galaxy A57, the S series, and even the S26 Ultra.

Rear view of the Samsung Galaxy A37 in a Lavender, shown at an angle against a dramatic liquid water splash.

Both the front and back panels are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, while the frame is plastic. Plus, it’s fully dust and water-resistant with an IP68 rating.

Performance: Exynos 1480 is better than its reputation

Samsung Galaxy A37 powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset.

There’s no Snapdragon here anymore, and Samsung has now put its own Exynos 1480 chip inside the Galaxy A37, which runs on a 4nm process. Four performance cores at 2.75 GHz and four efficiency cores at 2.0 GHz, paired with an Xclipse 530 GPU.

I know the Exynos name makes some people nervous, and I get it, since Samsung has messed up with its in-house chips before. But the 1480 genuinely holds its own in real-world use. It won’t beat a Snapdragon 8 series, but it’s more than enough for everyday tasks, scrolling through social media, streaming, and even a bit of gaming.

Just pay close attention to the storage and RAM options when you’re buying it. The base model gives you 128GB of storage but only 6GB of RAM, which is kind of a letdown these days. Do yourself a favor and look for the 128GB model with 8GB of RAM, or step it up to the 256GB version that comes with either 8GB or a massive 12GB of RAM. That way, you’re totally set for the next few years.

Main camera is really good, the rest… are just there

Samsung Galaxy A37 Camera

Even tiny improvements over the last generation are the bare minimum we expect from Samsung, just something we can call progress. The Galaxy A37 uses the exact same wide, ultrawide, and macro setup as before, and yep, even the selfie camera is identical.

So, just know that any photography upgrades the A37 brings to the table are completely thanks to the image processing algorithm, the chip, and the ISP.

Photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A37’s main camera

The 50MP main camera does a solid job for a mid-ranger when it comes to capturing fine details and dynamic range, though I really hoped the HDR would be a bit stronger. The camera also leans noticeably towards warmer tones, which makes the final shots look lively, punchy, and honestly pretty pleasing to the eye.

Unlike the main camera, the 8MP ultrawide shots lack enough clarity and sharpness. An 8MP sensor in 2026 is a bit disappointing to be honest.

Photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A37’s selfie camera in low light

In low light, the Galaxy A37’s cameras are more consistent and a little better than the Galaxy A36, giving you more acceptable photos at night. And we all know the reason behind that upgrade!

As for the 5MP macro camera, exactly as you’d expect, it’s pretty useless. I still think including such a weak sensor is totally unnecessary, and there isn’t much else to say about it.

Photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy A37’s selfie camera

Both the main camera and the 12MP selfie camera shoot 4K video at 30fps, which is a nice touch for a mid-ranger. Just don’t expect flagship-level video quality, obviously.

But here’s the part that really bugs me. It has USB 2.0. Not 3.2, not anything modern. On a phone that shoots 4K video in 2026!

If you want to move those 4K clips to your computer with a cable, you’re going to be sitting there waiting for a while. It doesn’t ruin the phone, but choices like this really make you wonder what Samsung was thinking when they approved the specs.

Display: Probably the strongest part of this phone

Samsung Galaxy A37 Display

The screen is one of the best parts of the Galaxy A37. You get a big 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a standard but super crisp 1080×2340 resolution. It’s got a 120Hz refresh rate, so everything feels incredibly smooth.

But the real selling point is how bright it gets. It hits 1200 nits in high brightness mode and peaks at 1900 nits. That’s practically flagship territory, meaning you won’t have to squint to read your texts when you’re standing outside under the blazing sun.

Samsung also tucked an optical fingerprint scanner under the screen for security. It’s not as fast or fancy as the ultrasonic ones, but it’s totally reliable for everyday use.

Battery & Charging: The same as before and reliable

Samsung Galaxy A37 5000mAh Battery

There’s no upgrade here! The Galaxy A37 has a 5000mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging that gets you to 60% in 30 minutes. It easily lasts a full day without making you hunt for an outlet.

But it doesn’t have wireless charging, which is good to know if you’re used to it. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a missing feature that some competitors are starting to include even at this price point.

Just compare this to something like the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ with its huge 7000mAh battery and a 90W charger!

Software & Updates

A Samsung Galaxy A37 showing 6 years of OS upgrades on its screen.

The Galaxy A37 runs on Android 16 and One UI 8.5, and Samsung is promising up to six major Android updates.

That means this phone could realistically get updated all the way to Android 22. For a mid-range phone, that’s genuinely impressive and definitely something you should factor into your buying decision more than people usually do.

A phone with six years of updates and security patches really holds its value, both financially and practically. That kind of long-term thinking is what really matters when you’re spending your money.

Back and front of Samsung Galaxy A37 Lavender

Ultimately, I can say the display is fantastic, the main camera is solid, the battery is good, and six years of software support is a massive advantage. The USB 2.0 port is a frustrating choice, the ultrawide and macro cameras are nothing special, and the lack of wireless charging is a minor letdown.

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