Samsung Galaxy A37 vs A36: Expected differences
Samsung’s Galaxy A36 is still a relatively fresh mid-range phone, but its shortcomings were clear from day one. Despite the strong spec sheet it came with, we experienced performance hiccups and inconsistent camera results that held it back from being the easy recommendation Samsung likely hoped for.
That puts extra pressure on the upcoming Galaxy A37. Samsung needs to address the A36’s weak spots if it wants to stay competitive against phones like the upcoming Pixel 10a and the phones Nothing is preparing for 2026.
So, the question is, will Samsung resolve the problems we flagged in our Galaxy A36 review? Now that we have some early leaks coming out of the rumor mill, there's finally enough information to start piecing together an answer.
So, the question is, will Samsung resolve the problems we flagged in our Galaxy A36 review? Now that we have some early leaks coming out of the rumor mill, there's finally enough information to start piecing together an answer.
Galaxy A37 vs Galaxy A36 expected differences:
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Slightly thinner and lighter design | 7.4 mm, 195 g |
| Same bright 6.7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED, but with an improved optical fingerprint scanner | Same display, slower in-display optical fingerprint scanner |
| New Exynos 1580 / 1480 chip; expected faster UI and better stability | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 with micro-stutters and slow app loading |
| Same camera hardware but potential software improvements | Same triple camera; oversharpening, warm tones, weak video dynamic range |
| 5,000 mAh battery | 5,000 mAh battery |
| 45W — possible faster first-30-minutes charge (around 60%) | 45W; 55% in 30 minutes |
| Android 16 + One UI 8, same long software support or better | Android 15 + One UI 7, 6-year support |
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Design and Size
Same design, but thinner
The Galaxy A36 marked a clear step forward in build quality. It was the first in the series to use Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back, which is impressive for a phone starting at $399.
Unlike the Galaxy A5x models, the A36 still used a plastic frame instead of aluminum. Even so, the design was slimmer and cleaner, and the phone was lighter than the Galaxy A35.
Samsung also kept the Key Island design, the raised area for the volume and power buttons, which has become a recognizable A-series detail. Color options were fairly muted, but the overall hardware felt more premium than before.
The Galaxy A37 is expected to continue with a plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both sides, and the same IP67 water resistance. It should be slightly thinner and lighter than the A36, but any changes are likely to be subtle rather than a full redesign.
Unlike the Galaxy A5x models, the A36 still used a plastic frame instead of aluminum. Even so, the design was slimmer and cleaner, and the phone was lighter than the Galaxy A35.
Samsung also kept the Key Island design, the raised area for the volume and power buttons, which has become a recognizable A-series detail. Color options were fairly muted, but the overall hardware felt more premium than before.
The Galaxy A37 is expected to continue with a plastic frame, Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both sides, and the same IP67 water resistance. It should be slightly thinner and lighter than the A36, but any changes are likely to be subtle rather than a full redesign.
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Thickness ~7.1 mm | Thickness 7.4 mm |
| Dimensions 152.8 x 72 | Dimensions 162.9 x 78.2 |
| Weight 195 grams or lighter | Weight 195 grams |
Even though the A36 moved to a camera island reminiscent of older Samsung designs, it is still unclear whether Samsung plans to keep that look for the A37 or revert to the individual camera cutout style found on most A series phones. Based on Samsung’s broader lineup, sticking with the island seems more likely at this point.
Display Differences
The Galaxy A36 introduced a significant improvement in display brightness. While Samsung advertised 1200 nits, our lab measurements showed that the A36 can peak at more than 1700 nits at 20 percent APL, making it one of the brightest screens in its class.
The Galaxy A37 is expected to feature the same 6.7-inch FHD Plus 120 Hz Super AMOLED display. Samsung rarely changes A-series displays year over year unless there is a major redesign, so we don’t expect any upgrades in this area.
The Galaxy A37 is expected to feature the same 6.7-inch FHD Plus 120 Hz Super AMOLED display. Samsung rarely changes A-series displays year over year unless there is a major redesign, so we don’t expect any upgrades in this area.
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Size 6.7" | Size 6.7" |
| Brightness 1700 nits (peak) | Brightness 1700 nits (peak) |
*rumored/expected
Performance and Software
Going back to the roots
The Galaxy A36 switched to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Performance was acceptable for everyday tasks, but the experience wasn’t consistently smooth.
We noticed micro stutters, slower app loading, and overall responsiveness that lagged behind rivals like the Pixel 8a and Nothing Phone 3a. GPU gains over the A35 were minimal, and gaming performance reflected that.
We noticed micro stutters, slower app loading, and overall responsiveness that lagged behind rivals like the Pixel 8a and Nothing Phone 3a. GPU gains over the A35 were minimal, and gaming performance reflected that.
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Chip Exynos 1580 or 1480 | Chip Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| Process 5nm | Process 5nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB LPDDR5 RAM UFS 2.2 | RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB LPDDR5 RAM UFS 2.2 |
The Galaxy A37 is expected to revert to Exynos. The most likely candidates are the Exynos 1580 or 1480, both built on a 5 nm process. These chips should offer performance that is similar or slightly better than the A36. Early leaks suggest the A37 will have 8 GB of RAM by default, just like the A56 did in the US.
As for software, the A36 launched with Android 15 and One UI 7, along with six years of support — this is one of the longest support windows in the mid-range phone market. The A37 is expected to match or exceed this commitment with Android 16 out of the box and One UI 8 likely onboard.
Where we want to see improvement is stability and overall smoothness during regular use, i.e., in the UI in general. The A36’s chipset prevented it from feeling snappy, and so far, we can't know whether the A37 will dramatically change this.
Where we want to see improvement is stability and overall smoothness during regular use, i.e., in the UI in general. The A36’s chipset prevented it from feeling snappy, and so far, we can't know whether the A37 will dramatically change this.
Camera
No telephoto camera on the horizon
The Galaxy A36 did not bring any camera hardware upgrades over the A35. It used the same 50 MP main, 8 MP ultrawide, and 5 MP macro setup, and the results reflected that.
In our testing, the A36 often produced oversharpened photos and warmer color temperatures than in reality. Video performance lagged behind both the Pixel 8a and even the Galaxy A35 in terms of dynamic range. The only upgrade was a slightly different 12 MP selfie camera, but the results were not noticeably better.
In our testing, the A36 often produced oversharpened photos and warmer color temperatures than in reality. Video performance lagged behind both the Pixel 8a and even the Galaxy A35 in terms of dynamic range. The only upgrade was a slightly different 12 MP selfie camera, but the results were not noticeably better.
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Main 50 MP, f/1.8 1/1.96" sensor size | Main 50 MP, f/1.8 1/1.56" |
| Ultrawide 8 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/4.0" sensor size | Ultrawide 8 MP, f/2.2 13 mm 1/4.0" sensor size |
| Macro 5 MP | Macro 5 MP |
Unfortunately, for now it seems the Galaxy A37 will retain the same camera hardware, including a 50 MP main camera, 8 MP ultrawide, and a 5 MP macro. This suggests Samsung is not aiming for a photography overhaul. Any visible improvements would likely come from tuning rather than hardware.
But here's what we want Samsung to fix:
There have been no leaks yet about upgraded sensors or a new ISP on the A37, so improvements are unlikely at this point.
But here's what we want Samsung to fix:
- Less oversharpening and more natural texture
- More accurate white balance, avoiding the warm shift seen on the A36
- Better dynamic range during video recording
- Ultrawide consistency, which remains a weak point across the A-series
There have been no leaks yet about upgraded sensors or a new ISP on the A37, so improvements are unlikely at this point.
Battery Life and Charging
Only small differences
The A37 is said to come with the same 5,000 mAh battery capacity as the A36.
Battery life may improve indirectly if Samsung uses a more efficient Exynos chip, but it wouldn't be by much. The A36 did not top the charts in our Battery Score, so there is room for meaningful improvement here.
As for charging, the A36 finally introduced 45 W charging, which the A37 is expected to support as well. In our tests, we charged the A36 fully in 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is also what we expect from the upcoming model.
Battery life may improve indirectly if Samsung uses a more efficient Exynos chip, but it wouldn't be by much. The A36 did not top the charts in our Battery Score, so there is room for meaningful improvement here.
| Galaxy A37* | Galaxy A36 |
|---|---|
| Battery size 5,000 mAh | Battery size 5,000 mAh |
Charging speeds 45W wired No wireless charging USB-C 2.0 | Charging speeds 45W wired No wireless charging USB-C 2.0 |
Rumors suggest Samsung might optimize the power delivery, which could make the A37 charge slightly faster during the first 30 minutes. That could mean around 60% in 30 minutes, compared to the A36’s 55%.
However, there is still no indication of wireless charging, and given Samsung’s mid-range strategy, we do not expect that to change.
However, there is still no indication of wireless charging, and given Samsung’s mid-range strategy, we do not expect that to change.
Specs Comparison
|
|
| Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | Samsung Galaxy A36 5G |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm (~8.7 mm with camera bump) | |
| Weight | |
| 195.0 g | |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.7-inch | 6.7-inch |
| Type | |
| Super AMOLED, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) | |
| Memory | |
| 128GB (UFS 2.2) 8GB/128GB 8GB/256GB 12GB/256GB | 6GB (LPDDR4)/128GB (UFS 2.2) 8GB/128GB 8GB/256GB 12GB/256GB |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 45.0W | Wired: 45.0W |
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 50 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.8 Sensor size: 1/1.96" | 50 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.8 Sensor size: 1/1.96" |
| Second camera | |
| 8 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.2 Sensor size: 1/4" Pixel size: 1.12 μm | 8 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.2 Sensor size: 1/4" Pixel size: 1.12 μm |
| Third camera | |
| 5 MP (Macro) Aperture size: F2.4 | 5 MP (Macro) Aperture size: F2.4 |
| Front | |
| 12 MP | 12 MP |
See the full
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A36 5G specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
The Galaxy A37 looks like yet another cautious update to Samsung's entry-level mid-range model. Hopefully, the new chipset improves the stability, but based on what we know so far, the A37 is not an upgrade that Galaxy A36 owners should feel rushed to make.
It also doesn't appear like Samsung will be fixing the A36’s biggest weaknesses. The camera hardware will likely remain the same, there is still no word about wireless charging being added, and there's no sign of a major improvement to the battery life.
The Galaxy A36 is already a strong value thanks to its bright display and long software support, though. What would make the A37 stand out for me is if it delivers a smoother everyday performance. If that doesn't happen, I don't think the A37 will be anything to write home about in 2026.
The Galaxy A36 is already a strong value thanks to its bright display and long software support, though. What would make the A37 stand out for me is if it delivers a smoother everyday performance. If that doesn't happen, I don't think the A37 will be anything to write home about in 2026.
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