Samsung Galaxy A37 vs Galaxy S26: Main differences to expect
Samsung has already pretty much clocked out for the rest of the year and has turned its gaze towards 2026 in terms of new device announcements. While we initially expected Samsung to announce the Galaxy S26 series first thing first in 2026, but recent leaks have revealed that Samsung will be releasing its next flagships in late February or early March instead.
But forget the flagships; there's one upcoming device that will undoubtedly sell better than any Galaxy S26 model simply because of its potentially very affordable price tag –– the Galaxy A37.
Leaked certification details reveal the Galaxy A37 will most certainly be released in the US as well. Judging from the specs, we expect one very successful mid-ranger.
Should you save up for a Galaxy S26, or would a Galaxy A37 serve you just as well?
Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy A37 expected differences:
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Large 6.7-inch screen with lower brightness | 6.3-inch display with higher brightness |
| IP67 water and dust resistance | IP68 water and dust resistance |
| Exynos chip | Much faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 chip |
| 8GB of RAM | Up to 16 GB of RAM possible |
| Larger 5,000 mAh battery | Slightly smaller 4,300 mAh battery |
| 45W wired charging | Slower 25W wired charging |
| No Qi2 magnets at the back | Qi2 magnets at the rear |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
A mid-ranger versus a premium flagship
In terms of design language, there will be a pretty clear-cut difference between the Galaxy A37 and the Galaxy S26.
The future A-series mid-ranger will use a plastic frame with Gorilla Glass front and back, while the Galaxy S26 will most certainly utilize an Armor Aluminum frame.
Another pretty major difference would undoubtedly be in terms of the size, with the Galaxy A37 towering above the Galaxy S26. We expect it to be taller, thicker, and wider than the flagship, and the reason is none other than the larger 6.7-inch screen that's coming to the Galaxy A37 in contrast to the Galaxy S26's 6.2-inch screen.
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Thickness ~7.4 mm | Thickness 7.24 mm |
| Dimensions >152 | Dimensions 149.5 x 71.6 |
| Weight Around 200 grams | Weight Around 165 grams |
Colors-wise, we aren't sure what to expect of either the Galaxy S26 or the Galaxy A37. Supposedly, the Galaxy S26 will get us at least four color options, with a couple of more intriguing and vivid ones available exclusively on Samsung.com, as is usual for the company's flagships.
Display Differences
We already mentioned the major difference between the two, but here goes again. The Galaxy A37 will be using a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy S26 will rely on a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy S26 display will differ greatly in terms of peak brightness. We expect the Galaxy S26 to approach the 3,000-nit peak brightness frontier, while the Galaxy A37 will likely hit much less, resulting in slightly worse outdoor legibility. Another possible addition to the Galaxy S26 could be an antireflective coating. As these are now available on the iPhone 17 series, there's a chance Samsung would try to catch up and trickle the anti-reflective coating of the Galaxy Ultra down to the more affordable models.
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Size 6.7" | Size 6.3" |
| Brightness ~2000 nits (peak) | Brightness ~3000 nits (peak) |
Overall, we expect the Galaxy S26 to have the better display, as it's the flagship here. However, the larger screen of the mid-ranger could come in handy to those unphased by the more premium package that the Galaxy S26 will potentially offer.
The Galaxy S26 will come with a ultrasonic fingerprint scanner in the display, while the Galaxy A37 will likely feature a built-in one in the power button.
Performance and Software
No contention
The Galaxy A36 came with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, which was an okay mid-range chipset, but by no means a decent performer, that's for sure. We found it lacking, even for an affordable mid-ranger, but if you tone down your expectations a lot, you might learn to live with the device.
We don't know what chipset will be featured inside the Galaxy A37, it could be an Exynos octa-core or a mid-range Snapdragon, we just don't know yet. One thing is for certain: performance won't go through the roof.
The Galaxy S26, on the other hand, will replay the old Samsung adage and launch in two different flavors. One aimed at the international market will get the Exynos 2600 chip, but models for US, Canada, and China are getting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Chip - | Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Exynos 2600 |
| Process - | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 16/256GB 16/512GB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage | RAM, Storage 12/128GB 12/256GB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 3.1 storage |
In terms of memory, we might get up to 16GB of RAM on the Galaxy S26, up from the 12GB on the previous range, which will definitely help on-device AI processing and likely the overall perceived snappiness and multitasking capabilities. Storage will probably start at 128GB and go as far as 512GB on this model.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy A37 is likely coming with 8GB of RAM and will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage variants. We don't expect the microSD card to be making a return––the Galaxy A35 will likely be the last Galaxy A3x to feature one.
The Galaxy S26 will be supported for seven years, that's for sure, while the Galaxy A37 will most likely score six years of support (just like the Galaxy A36), which is a wonderful figure.
Camera
Different, but also similar?
Both phones will get triple camera setups, and their main cameras will weigh in at 50MP, but that's where most similarities will end. The Galaxy A37 will likely feature an 8MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro, while the Galaxy S26 will once again reiterate a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto with 3X zoom.
We expect the image processing on the Galaxy S26 to be significantly better, with much better image quality, dynamic range, and detail squeezed out of the hardware that Samsung has been reusing for I-lost-count-of-how-many years.
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Main 50 MP, f/1.8 1/1.96" sensor | Main 50 MP, f/1.8 24 mm 1/1.56" |
| Ultrawide 8 MP, f/2.2 1/4" sensor size | Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.2 13 mm sensor size |
| Telephoto 5MP macro, f/2.4 | Telephoto 10 MP, f/2.4 3X zoom (67mm) sensor size |
Overall, the Galaxy S26 will definitely end up the better camera phone, so all hope is pretty much lost for the Galaxy A37 already. But that's kind of the point here:
Battery Life and Charging
The Galaxy A37's biggest strength
Mid-rangers usually have one universal quality to them, and that's great battery life. The Galaxy A37 will very likely reiterate that, as it's definitely packing a larger 5,000 mAh battery in the trunk in comparison with the Galaxy S26, which is reportedly getting a 4,300 mAh battery.
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Battery size 5,000 mAh | Battery size 4,300 mAh |
Charging speeds 45W wired | Charging speeds 25W wired 15W wireless charging Qi2 magnets |
But you know what the bigger slap in the face could be? The charging speeds.
The Galaxy A37 is likely getting the same super-fast 45W wired charging that the Galaxy A36 got, and that would allow the phone to charge pretty briskly. At the same time, the flagship phone, the Galaxy S26 itself, is likely once again getting the old and tired 25W wired charging that Samsung has been fixing us with in the past few years.
However, the Galaxy S26 will come with full Qi2 support, including those MagSafe-like magnets at the back that will allow you to attach accessories and wireless chargers magnetically. Not bad at all!
Specs Comparison
| Galaxy A37 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|
| Size, weight - | Size, weight 149.5 x 71.6 x 7.24 mm |
| Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz | Screen 6.3" OLED 120Hz |
| Processor A17 Bionic 3nm | Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (US, China, Canada) Exynos 2600 (RoW) |
| Versions: 8/128GB 8/256GB LPDDR5 | Versions: 16/128GB 16/256GB 16/512GB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras: 50MP main 8MP ultra 5MP 5X-6X zoom 12MP front | Cameras: 50MP main 12MP ultra 10MP 3X zoom 12MP front |
| Battery: 5,000 mAh | Battery: 4,300 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 45W wired | Charging: USB-C 25W wired |
Summary
Neither of these two phones is official, but the verdict is pretty clear already.
Those wanting the best Samsung experience at a fairly compact size and unbothered by the higher price tag will want to look into the Galaxy S26, which promises to be yet another successful chapter in the compact flagship story. Once we've already read a couple of times already, but aren't all great stories like that?
Meanwhile, those on a tighter budget looking to get the best bang for their buck will probably be swayed by the upcoming Galaxy A37, a phone that doesn't promise much, but one that can definitely surprise those looking to score a decent mid-ranger.
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