Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36: Key Differences to Help You Choose the Right Budget Phone

The Samsung Galaxy A37 brings a handful of meaningful upgrades over the Galaxy A36, but not enough to justify replacing a phone you bought just a year ago. If you're shopping new and find the A36 at a significant discount, it remains a smart buy. At parity pricing, though, the newer model earns the edge.

Samsung's A-series lineup has long served as the accessible gateway into Samsung's Android ecosystem — ideal as a first phone for younger users, a low-maintenance option for those who want simplicity, or a capable secondary device. But the latest A-series models punch well above their weight, delivering premium-adjacent specs and features at a fraction of flagship prices.

So how do the Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A36 actually stack up? Here's a thorough breakdown of everything that separates — and unites — these two budget contenders.

Design and display

The Samsung Galaxy A37, launched in March 2026, adopts Samsung's current signature aesthetic: a slim, glazed-ceramic-style body with a glossy glass finish and an Ambient Island camera cluster on the rear. It's available in Awesome Lavender, Awesome White, Awesome Charcoal, and Awesome Graygreen.

The Samsung Galaxy A36, introduced a year earlier in March 2025, shares identical dimensions and a similarly clean silhouette, but opts for a more understated look — a black glass rear, flat side frame, and a linear grouped camera arrangement. Color options include Awesome Lavender, Awesome White, Awesome Black, and Awesome Lime in select markets.

Both phones sport a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display at 2,340 x 1,080 resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, Vision Booster for outdoor legibility, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection — a genuinely impressive package at this price tier. The A37 does pull ahead in peak brightness, reaching 1,900 nits versus 1,200 nits on the A36. That gap matters if you spend significant time using your phone in direct sunlight.

Storage, battery, and durability

The Galaxy A37 ships in 128GB and 256GB configurations, with 512GB available in some regions. The Galaxy A36 standardizes on 256GB, though availability varies by market. Both carry a 5,000mAh battery rated for up to two days per charge, and both are backed by six years of OS updates and six years of security patches — an unusually generous commitment for budget-tier hardware.

Durability is where the A37 most clearly distinguishes itself. It carries an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand dust ingress and freshwater submersion for short periods. The A36 is rated IP67, which covers dust resistance and water splashes but falls short of full submersion protection.

One surprising reversal: the Galaxy A36 ships with Bluetooth 5.4, while the newer A37 steps back to Bluetooth 5.3. Samsung hasn't explained the regression, but it's worth noting if a rock-solid wireless connection with earbuds or speakers is a priority.

Both phones include NFC and stereo speakers.

Specifications at a glance

Camera (both models): 50MP main wide-angle | 8MP ultra-wide | 5MP macro | 12MP front

Performance and software

The Galaxy A37 launches with Android 16 and One UI 8.5 out of the box; the A36, which shipped with Android 15 and One UI 7, is upgradeable to the same. Under the hood, the A37 runs an Exynos 1480, while the A36 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Samsung claims improved CPU and GPU performance on the newer chip, and both phones include a vapor chamber for thermal management during extended sessions. Both are better suited to casual and moderate use than serious gaming workloads. Standard RAM is 8GB on both models, though regional variants of the A37 may ship with 6GB or 12GB.

Both phones support Samsung's Awesome Intelligence AI suite — a curated subset of Galaxy AI that includes Circle to Search, object eraser, photo edit suggestions, and access to Gemini. It's a scaled-back experience compared to what you'd get on a flagship, but it brings a meaningful AI layer to phones at this price point.

One UI 8.5 also introduces Quick Share with AirDrop-style sharing with iPhone — a feature that debuted with the Galaxy S26 series and is rolling out to additional devices. Smart Switch support for easy device migration is also included, alongside Samsung Knox and Knox Vault for robust data security.

Camera

Both phones share an identical rear camera configuration: a 50MP main wide-angle, 8MP ultra-wide, and 5MP macro lens. The front camera is also 12MP on each. The one notable upgrade on the A37 is Super HDR video support on its selfie camera, which should result in better-looking footage for social media and video calls in high-contrast lighting conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy A37 also brings several camera refinements that go beyond raw specs. Samsung has optimized its Nightography processing for improved low-light performance, and the wide camera delivers sharper detail than its predecessor. A notable addition is the rear camera's ability to automatically recognize distinct elements in portrait shots — backgrounds, foregrounds, and sky — while applying targeted enhancements to skin, hair, grass, and other scene-specific details.

Both the A37 and A36 support Edit Suggestion, part of Samsung's Awesome Intelligence suite, which can recommend edits such as resolution enhancement, shadow and reflection removal, background blur, and GIF remastering. The Galaxy A36 also includes photo filters with custom effects — a small but meaningful perk for younger users who live on social media.

Taken together, the Samsung Galaxy A37 vs. Galaxy A36 comparison reveals a modest, incremental upgrade rather than a generational leap. If you already own the A36, there's little urgency to upgrade. Those who want a more substantial performance jump should look toward Samsung's Galaxy S series. Alternatively, the best cheap Android phones include options that cost a little more but deliver considerably more value — among them, the Google Pixel 9a and the OnePlus 13R, both worth considering if you're not locked into the Samsung ecosystem.

The A37's key advantages come down to a faster processor, improved durability, and marginally better low-light photography. Camera hardware specs remain largely unchanged between the two. Both phones receive the current version of Android and Samsung One UI, but because the A37 is the newer device, it earns an additional year of software support — a factor worth weighing if you're buying a phone intended to be passed down or kept for several years.

The bottom line: the Galaxy A37 is the better phone, but only just. If you already own the A36, hold onto it. If you happen to find the A36 at a significantly lower price and only need an entry-level experience, it remains a smart buy. And if you're purchasing new today with both models priced similarly, go with the A37.

Looking further ahead, it's reasonable to expect a more meaningfully upgraded A-series device within the next few years — one that would make a stronger case for switching. For now, the A37 earns the recommendation on the merits of longevity alone.

The Samsung Galaxy A37 offers a faster chip, a more durable build, and a slightly longer software support window than the Galaxy A36 — but this is an iterative update, not a reinvention.

Whether you're buying for a first-time user, a light smartphone user, or someone who simply needs reliable day-to-day performance, the Galaxy A36 remains a capable entry-level option. It's not a dramatic step down from the A37, and at the right price, it's still worth buying new.

Christine Persaud has been writing about tech since long before the smartphone was even a "thing." When she isn't writing, she's working on her latest fitness program, binging a new TV series, tinkering with tech gadgets she's reviewing, or spending time with family and friends. A self-professed TV nerd, lover of red wine, and passionate home cook, she's immersed in tech in every facet of her life. Follow her at @christineTechCA.