Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A37: Which mid-range phone wins?

Zaid Al-Mansouri
By
Zaid Al-Mansouri
Tech writer at All Things Geek. Covers smartphones, wearables, and mobile technology.
10 Min Read
Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A37: Which mid-range phone wins?

Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A37 is the mid-range showdown that matters in 2026, pitting a $599 premium contender against a $399 budget alternative. Both phones share the same gorgeous 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, but the A57 costs $100 more for reasons that go beyond marketing—metal instead of plastic, a faster chip, and exclusive AI tricks that the A37 simply cannot run.

Key Takeaways

  • A57 uses Exynos 1680 chip; A37 uses older Exynos 1480, affecting AI features and overall speed
  • A57 weighs 179g with metal frame; A37 weighs 196g with plastic body
  • Both offer 5000mAh batteries with 45W charging, but no wireless charging
  • A57 gets 12MP ultra-wide camera versus A37’s 8MP ultra-wide
  • A57 includes 512GB storage option; A37 maxes out at 256GB

Display and Design: Where the A57 Justifies Its Price

Both phones pack identical 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED screens with 120Hz refresh, 1900 nits peak brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. But here’s where Samsung separates them: the A57 uses Super AMOLED Plus technology, which Samsung claims makes the panel slightly thinner and more power-efficient. In real terms, that means the A57 sips battery slightly better during heavy display use—a genuine advantage if you’re watching video or gaming for hours.

The design difference cuts deeper. The A57 measures 161.5 x 76.8 x 6.9mm and weighs just 179g, with a metal frame that feels noticeably more premium. The A37 is thicker at 7.4mm and heavier at 196g, wrapped in plastic that screams budget. Both have slimmer bezels than their predecessors, but the A57’s screen-to-body ratio hits 88.8% versus the A37’s 86.5%—a small but visible difference when you’re holding them side by side.

If you care about how a phone feels in your hand and how long it lasts before looking dated, the A57’s metal construction matters. The A37 is not flimsy, but it is plastic, and plastic ages visibly.

Chipset and Performance: The Real Dividing Line

Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A37 becomes a stark performance story once you look at the processors. The A57 runs the Exynos 1680, a newer chip clocked at 2.9GHz with better efficiency and performance gains over the A37’s Exynos 1480, which tops out at 2.7GHz. That might sound like a marginal difference, but it is not. The A57’s newer architecture enables exclusive AI features that the A37 cannot support, including Auto Trim video editing and enhanced Best Face mode in the camera app.

RAM configurations also differ: the A37 starts at 6GB or 8GB, while the A57 starts at 8GB and goes up to 12GB. For multitasking and keeping apps in memory, the A57 wins. Storage runs 128/256GB on both, but the A57 adds a 512GB option for power users. If you plan to store thousands of photos or offline video libraries, the A57 gives you that flexibility.

In everyday use, the A37 will not feel slow—it is a capable processor. But the A57 handles demanding apps, heavy multitasking, and those AI features with noticeably less struggle. For a phone you plan to keep for three years, the newer chip is an insurance policy against obsolescence.

Cameras: Incremental Upgrades That Add Up

Both phones share a 50MP wide-angle main sensor and 5MP macro camera on the rear, plus a 12MP front-facer. The meaningful difference lives in the ultra-wide: the A57 jumps to 12MP while the A37 stays at 8MP. On paper, that is a 50% resolution jump. In practice, it means wider shots with less digital cropping and better detail when you zoom into those ultra-wide photos.

The A57’s newer Exynos 1680 also unlocks enhanced Best Face mode, which uses AI to pick the sharpest face in burst shots. It is a small feature, but if you take lots of group photos or action shots, it saves time and frustration. The A37 still has Best Face, but without the AI enhancement, so it is less aggressive about detecting and prioritizing sharp faces.

Neither phone is a camera flagship, but the A57 edges ahead in both hardware and software optimization. If photography is a priority, the A57 is the safer choice.

Battery, Software, and Long-Term Support

Both phones ship with identical 5000mAh batteries and 45W wired Super Fast Charge 2.0. Neither offers wireless charging, which is a shame at these prices, but at least the wired charging is fast. In real use, both should easily last a full day with moderate use, and the A57’s more efficient AMOLED Plus panel might squeeze out an extra hour or two under heavy load.

Software is where Samsung is genuinely generous to budget buyers. Both the A57 and A37 run One UI 8.5 with Galaxy AI features like Flexible AI agents and Fun Mode. Both get six years of OS updates and security patches, which means the A37 you buy today will still receive Android updates in 2032. That is flagship-level support on a mid-range price tag. Both also carry IP68 water and dust resistance, so you can use either phone at the beach or in light rain without worry.

Price and Value: The Real Question

The A37 launches at $399 for the 128GB base model, while the A57 starts at $599 for 256GB. That $100 gap is not random—it reflects real hardware differences: metal versus plastic, a newer and faster chip, more RAM, and exclusive AI features. The question is whether those differences justify the premium for your use case.

If you are a casual user who checks email, scrolls social media, and takes occasional photos, the A37 is a genuinely good phone that will not disappoint you. You save $200 by stepping down to 128GB storage, and you get a phone that will receive software updates for six years. That is an excellent value proposition.

But if you keep phones for three or four years, shoot lots of photos, or use demanding apps, the A57’s metal frame, faster chip, and AI features are worth the extra $100. Reviewers at TechRadar and Tech Advisor lean toward the A57 for performance and build quality, while Android Authority highlights the A37 as the smarter buy if you are budget-conscious.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy A57 or A37?

Buy the A57 if you want a phone that feels premium, handles demanding apps smoothly, and includes AI features that you will actually use. Buy the A37 if you want solid performance, reliable software support, and do not mind plastic construction or the older processor. Both are good phones—the A57 is just more future-proof.

What is the main difference between these two phones?

The main difference is the processor and build material. The A57 uses the newer Exynos 1680 with AI features and a metal frame, while the A37 uses the Exynos 1480 with a plastic body. The A57 also has a better ultra-wide camera at 12MP versus 8MP.

Do both phones have the same display?

Both have 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screens, but the A57 uses Super AMOLED Plus technology, which is thinner and more power-efficient. The difference is subtle but real in daily use.

Samsung Galaxy A57 vs A37 is ultimately a choice between premium mid-range and budget mid-range. Neither phone is a flagship killer, but both deliver solid performance, excellent software support, and long-term value. The A57 wins on design and future-proofing; the A37 wins on price. Choose based on how long you plan to keep the phone and whether you care about metal construction and AI features. Either way, you are getting a capable Android phone that will last for years.

Where to Buy

Check Amazon | $449.99 at Amazon

Edited by the All Things Geek team.

Source: Android Central

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Tech writer at All Things Geek. Covers smartphones, wearables, and mobile technology.