A minor upgrade
There are a few upgrades with the Samsung Galaxy A37 that make it the better choice to buy new, but not worth replacing the Galaxy A36 just yet. If you want a better experience, you can make a bigger leap with another device.
Pros
- Higher peak brightness
- More durable with an higher IP rating
- More powerful processor, memory
- Improved low-light photos, sharper details
Cons
- Only a minor upgrade
- Lower Bluetooth spec
- No significant upgrade in camera specs
Pretty well just as good
The Samsung Galaxy A37 isn't a huge leap over the Galaxy A36. So, if you find the Galaxy A36 for a steal, especially since it's just a year old, go for it. If they're the same price, you'd might as well get the newer model.
Pros
- Higher Bluetooth spec
- Updateable to the latest OS and UI
- Identical base camera specs
- Cool photos filters
Cons
- One less software update left
- Missing some minor camera improvements
- Less powerful processor
- Not as durable
Samsung's A-series phones are affordable entry points into the Galaxy Android ecosystem. They're great as first phones for teens and tweens, for grandparents who don't need all the extra bells and whistles, as secondary phones for personal use if you already have a work phone, or those who simply want something simple on a budget. But the latest Samsung Galaxy A series phones are surprisingly powerful and feature-rich, offering a selection of advanced functions and specs you might only expect in the more premium phones, yet at a fraction of the price.
When considering two recent models, the Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36, you might be wondering what's different about this upgraded 2026 model and whether it's worth getting instead. We're here to help with this in-depth comparison.
Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: Design and basics
Both the Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A36 are affordable phones that come in at under $500, making them attractive budget options. Naturally, you need to make some concessions to get such a great price.
When it comes to the basic design, the Samsung Galaxy A37, introduced in March 2026, has a slim, refined, glazed-ceramic look with a glossy glass finish and an Ambient Island that houses the grouped cameras on the back, in line with Samsung's latest signature design. It comes in Awesome Lavender, Awesome White, Awesome Charcoal, and Awesome Graygreen.
By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A36, introduced in March 2025, is slim as well (the dimensions are identical) with a clean, linear, grouped camera look on the back, a black glass, and a flat side frame. It's available in Awesome Lavender, Awesome White, Awesome Black, and, in some locations, Awesome Lime.
Both phones surprisingly have a rather large screen at 6.7 inches. They're both FHD+ Super AMOLED with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution and Vision Booster for easier visibility in direct sunlight. You also get a decent 120Hz refresh rate with both and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, all impressive specs for a budget phone. The Samsung Galaxy A37 has a leg up in peak brightness, though, at 1,900 nits versus just 1,200 in the Galaxy A36. So, this might make a difference for those who use their phone outdoors a lot in direct sunlight, like while walking on a college campus or commuting to and from school or work.
The Samsung Galaxy A37 comes in 128GB or 256GB capacities (some countries may have 512GB as well), and the Galaxy A36 comes with 256GB, though again, availability may vary by country. Both have a 5,000mAh battery that supports up to two days of use per charge. They are also both supported by six OS updates, which should equate to about six years since Google usually releases one annually. This is complemented by six years of security updates.
The biggest difference comes in durability. The Samsung Galaxy A37 meets an IP68 dust and water-resistance rating, which means it's sealed against dust and can even withstand freshwater submersion for short periods. The Galaxy A36 only meets an IP67 dust- and water-resistant rating, which means it can withstand dust exposure but only splashes of water.
Also worth noting is that the Samsung Galaxy A37 has NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, and stereo speakers. The Galaxy A36, by comparison, has stereo speakers and NFC, but oddly has upgraded Bluetooth 5.4. It's unclear why Samsung reverted to an older Bluetooth version on the newer phone, but this is something to keep in mind if you are looking for the most stable and reliable wireless connection with devices like earbuds and speakers.
Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: The specs
Now that we know these phones are pretty identical, let's see how they shape up based on the specifications.
Category |
Samsung Galaxy A37 |
Samsung Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|---|
OS |
Android 16 |
Android 15 |
Colors |
Awesome Lavender, White, Black, Graygreen |
Awesome Lavender, White, Black, Lime |
Screen Size |
6.7 inches |
6.7 inches |
Screen Resolution |
2,340 x 1,080 |
2,340 x 1,080 |
Screen Type |
FHD+ Super AMOLED |
FHD+ Super AMOLED |
Refresh Rate |
120Hz |
120Hz |
Processor |
Exynos 1480 |
Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
RAM |
8GB |
8GB |
Storage |
128GB, 256GB |
256GB |
Cameras |
50MP main wide-angle, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 12MP front |
50MP main wide-angle, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro, 12MP front |
Speakers |
Stereo Speakers |
Stereo Speakers |
Battery |
5,000mAh |
5,000mAh |
Wireless Charging |
No |
No |
Bluetooth |
5.3 |
5.4 |
Water Resistance |
IP68 |
IP67 |
Cellular |
5G |
5G |
Size |
162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm |
162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm |
Weight |
196 grams |
195 grams |
Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: Getting things done
Beyond the basic specs, durability, and appearance, it's important to know what both these phones can do. As the newer phone, the Samsung Galaxy launches with the latest Android 16 and Samsung One UI 8.5. While the Samsung Galaxy A36 launched with Android 15 and One UI 7, it's of course updateable to this new OS.
Both have octa-core processors; the Galaxy A37 has an Exynos 1480, and the Galaxy A36 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. The Galaxy A37 offers upgraded memory and improved CPU and GPU performance, and both phones have a vapor chamber to keep them cool during activities like gaming. Though these phones are probably best for casual and moderate gamers, versus serious gamers. They both have 8GB of RAM, though some countries may get a version of the Galaxy A37 with just 6GB of RAM; there may be a variant with 12GB of RAM as well.
Both feature Samsung's Awesome Intelligence AI features, including ones like Circle to Search, object eraser, and edit suggestion with photos. This is a pared-down version of Galaxy AI with access to a limited selection of features, including Gemini. But it's a nice way to bring a light AI experience to the mid-range and budget phones, so you're not completely out of the loop.
Thanks to the latest One UI 8.5 update, you get features like Quick Share, including AirDrop to share with iPhone, which launched with the new Galaxy S26 series devices but should be rolling out to other models soon, and Smart Switch for easily switching from another device. There's also Samsung Knox and Knox Vault security to help keep your data safe and secure.
Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: Taking photos
What about taking photos and videos? Of course, you can do both with these phones. And you get a similar camera set with both. Both phones have a 50MP main wide-angle camera, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 5MP macro, and a 12MP front camera. One improvement is that the Galaxy A37's front camera supports Super HDR video for great social videos.
You get other camera-related upgrades with the Samsung Galaxy A37 as well, even though the specs are the same. There's optimized Nightography for low-light conditions, for example, and sharper detail with the wide camera. The rear camera can also auto-recognize backgrounds, foregrounds, and the sky in portrait photos, even boost image quality in the skin, face, hair, grass, and other similar details.
With both, you can use Edit Suggestion, part of Awesome Intelligence, to recommend improvements to do things like enhance resolution, remove shadows and reflections, add background blur, remaster GIFs, and more. The Galaxy A36 has photo filters as well, with custom effects, a feature teens and tweens might love for creating social media and share-worthy images.
Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: Which should you buy?
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36 shows it's just an incremental upgrade. So, if you already have the Galaxy A36, there's no need to rush to get this model. If you're ready for a better experience, consider a Galaxy S series device for a boost in specs. There are also other devices among the best cheap Android phones that cost a bit more but provide a ton of features and upgrades in a value-priced package, too, like the Google Pixel 9a and OnePlus 13R. If you're not tied to the Samsung ecosystem, you can consider those, too.
The Samsung Galaxy A37 does have a faster chip, and it's more durable. You also get some modest photo improvements, like for low-light photos. But the camera specs are, by and large, the same. Both can upgrade to the current version of Android and Samsung One UI, but since the Galaxy A37 is newer, you'll get one more year of support. That's worth factoring into it if you want a phone you can hang onto for as long as possible, maybe to hand down from one tween to another.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A37 is, not surprisingly, the better of the two phones. But it's a minor upgrade. So, stick with the Galaxy A36 if you already have it. If you by chance find it for significantly less than the Galaxy A37, don’t hesitate to buy it if you only need an entry-level experience anyway.
Within the next five years, there will almost definitely be a more significantly upgraded A series device to switch to that makes it more worth your while. But if you're buying new now and the prices are similar, go with the Galaxy A37.
Durable, faster
The Samsung Galaxy A37 has a few upgrades over the Galaxy A36, including improved performance via a faster processor and more durable design. But by and large it's an iterative update that'll last you a year longer.
A fine first phone
Whether it's for grandma, your tween who is getting their first phone, or for a light user, the Samsung Galaxy A36 is still a viable entry phone that is not a huge step down from the Galaxy A37. So totally keep it or buy it new if you find an awesome deal.
