Samsung’s Galaxy A37 5G is the successor to the Galaxy A36 5G, but the two phones have more in common than their names might suggest.
Both feature 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED displays, 5,000mAh batteries, 45W charging and a 50MP main camera with OIS. The Galaxy A37, however, introduces a newer processor, faster storage, a higher IP rating and Android 16 out of the box.
So, if you already own the Galaxy A36, what has actually changed? And if you’re choosing between the two, is the newer Galaxy A37 worth paying more for?
Here are the key differences.
The Processor
The Galaxy A36 5G uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, while Samsung has moved to its own Exynos 1480 for the Galaxy A37 5G.
The Exynos 1480 has four performance cores clocked at up to 2.75GHz alongside four efficiency cores, compared with up to 2.4GHz on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the A36.
The move isn’t just about the name of the chipset. The A37 also uses UFS 3.1 storage, compared with UFS 2.2 on the A36 in some configurations. Independent testing has found the A37 ahead of the A36 in several performance benchmarks, although reviews differ on how noticeable that advantage is during everyday use.
In practical terms, the A37 is the more recent hardware platform, but this isn’t a dramatic generational leap in every aspect of performance.
The display is largely the same, but the A37 gets brighter
On paper, there isn’t much difference between the displays.
Both phones have a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2,340 x 1,080 resolution.
Where the A37 gains an advantage is brightness. Independent testing has measured the A37 at significantly higher peak brightness than the A36, which should make the newer phone easier to see outdoors.
So if you were hoping for a higher resolution or higher refresh rate display, that’s not what Samsung has changed here. The improvement is more about visibility and refinement.
Camera hardware looks familiar, but Samsung has made changes underneath
This is one area where the two phones can look almost identical on a specification sheet.
Both have:
- 50MP main camera with OIS
- 8MP ultrawide camera
- 5MP macro camera
- 12MP front camera
- 4K video recording
However, Samsung says the Galaxy A37 benefits from improvements to its image processing, including a newer ISP and improvements to HDR video and low-light photography.
The important point is that the camera upgrade isn’t primarily about adding more megapixels or a completely new camera system. Samsung has kept the basic setup while working on image processing and the overall camera experience.
Independent reviews have consequently described the camera improvements as relatively modest.
IP68 upgrade
Here’s one of the easier differences to explain.
The Galaxy A36 5G has an IP67 rating, while the Galaxy A37 5G moves to IP68.
Samsung rates the A37 for immersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for up to 30 minutes under laboratory conditions.
For everyday users, the important takeaway isn’t that you should go swimming with the phone. Rather, the higher rating gives the A37 additional protection against dust and accidental water exposure.
It’s a relatively small specification change, but one that can matter more in daily use than a modest benchmark improvement.
Both phones are built for long-term use
Samsung launched the Galaxy A36 with Android 15, while the Galaxy A37 arrives with Android 16 and One UI 8.5.
Both generations are promised up to six generations of Android/One UI upgrades and six years of security updates, meaning software longevity isn’t a major differentiator between them.
The A37 does, however, start one Android generation later. That means a buyer getting the A37 new in 2026 starts with Android 16 rather than Android 15.
Both phones also support Samsung’s mid-range Awesome Intelligence features, including tools such as Circle to Search and Object Eraser.
What hasn’t changed?
Quite a lot.
The A37 retains the same:
- 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display format
- 5,000mAh battery
- 45W wired charging
- 50MP + 8MP + 5MP rear camera configuration
- 12MP selfie camera
- 5G connectivity
- Stereo speakers
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- No microSD card slot
Galaxy A37 5G vs Galaxy A36 5G: Key specifications
| Feature | Galaxy A37 5G | Galaxy A36 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Exynos 1480 | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 |
| Operating system at launch | Android 16 | Android 15 |
| Main camera | 50MP, OIS | 50MP, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 8MP | 8MP |
| Macro | 5MP | 5MP |
| Selfie | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 45W | 45W |
| Water/dust resistance | IP68 | IP67 |
| Storage | Up to 256GB | Up to 256GB |
| microSD | No | No |
| Weight | 196g | 195g |
The core specifications show just how closely related the two generations are.
Should Galaxy A36 owners upgrade?
The Galaxy A37 isn’t a complete reinvention of the A-series formula.
Its biggest changes are the Exynos 1480 platform, faster storage, brighter display, IP68 protection and newer software. The battery, charging system, display size and basic camera setup remain largely unchanged.
That makes the difference more interesting for someone buying a new phone than for someone who already owns a relatively recent A36.
For A36 owners, the decision will largely come down to how much value they place on those specific improvements rather than expecting a completely different smartphone experience.
For new buyers, meanwhile, the A37 gives them Samsung’s latest A3x generation, Android 16 and the newer hardware platform from the start.
Related: Samsung Galaxy A37 5G price and specifications in Kenya
The Galaxy A37 5G starts at KES 34,000 in Kenya. Check out our full guide to the phone’s specifications, features and Kenya pricing here: https://www.techarena.co.ke/2026/03/30/samsung-galaxy-a37-5g-specifications-and-price-in-kenya/
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Also Read: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G
