For two weeks, I have been using the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G as my primary device to evaluate its performance in heat and dust of Indian daily life conditions. I have the top variant which has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. In India, this variant in Awesome Lavender is priced at ₹52,999. If you want a cheaper option, Samsung sells an 8GB RAM variant with 128GB storage at ₹41,999 and another 8GB RAM variant with 256GB storage at ₹47,499. There are also other color options such as Awesome Charcoal and Awesome Graygreen. I was particularly interested to evaluate whether the upgrades made in the screen, charging and protection are worth the price.
Key Takeaways:
- The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen offers a large and bright canvas for videos.
- Upgraded 45W charging reduces the time you spend tied to a wall socket.
- IP68 rating offers better protection against water submersion than previous models.
- Exynos 1480 processor provides steady performance for daily social media and light gaming.
- One UI 8.5 brings several new features based on the latest Android 16.
- The 12MP front camera takes natural looking selfies but lacks the high megapixel count of rivals.
Design and Colors
When first taking hold of the Galaxy A37 5G, it appears to be a premium device. The Awesome Lavender color has a soft and pleasing aesthetic. The device has a more subtle color to its visual appearance and stands out among the other device colors. The back is clean and has three camera lenses that are incorporated seamlessly into the back. This is a design choice that many other flagship phones from Samsung have. Due to the 6.7-inch screen, I can feel that the phone is large in my hand. The device does not feel bottom heavy due to the solid construction and the even weight distribution.
The phone’s IP68 water resistance rating is one of the best for the price. This rating means the phone can survive water submergence. Most competitors have ratings of IP67 or less. For my own waterproofing test, I used the phone in the rain, and it functioned flawlessly. The frame is solid and the buttons feel nice and respond well. I expect the Awesome Graygreen to be a popular choice for business users, while Charcoal is the default choice.
Screen Quality and Display Features
The first thing you will notice is the 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 2340-pixel resolution, providing one of the sharpest displays available. During a trip, I streamed a few episodes of a series, and the display colors were exceptional. For the ultimate fluid experience while scrolling through news apps or Instagram feeds, the display has a 120Hz refresh rate. As compared to the previous year, Samsung provides a bit more screen real estate which is beneficial for reading and typing.
The visibility of displays outdoors is good enough for me to read messages even while the sun is directly overhead. The brightness of the screen is good enough that I didn’t even have to squint. The bezels may not be the thinnest I have seen but their symmetry is good enough for me to not consider them a design flaw. I also appreciate the use of Gorilla Glass on the front because the device survived a small drop onto the wooden floor and there are no scratches on it.
Processing Power and Gaming Performance
Inside it is the Exynos 1480. An octa core processor built on a 4nm technology. From my experience, the 12GB LPDDR5X RAM model was great for multitasking. I had twenty apps running, including Chrome, YouTube, and Spotify and I switched between them instantly. The phone feels pretty fast for tasks like WhatsApp, email, or banking apps. It doesn’t lag when opening large folders or scrolling through a long list of contacts.
The gaming performance is average and not on the extreme end. I played BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile on high settings. I did not encounter any issues with frame drops within the first 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, I did progressively begin to feel heat buildup on the back of the phone near the camera. As heat begins to build up, there is a strong possibility of witnessing drops in frames per second. It is a good gaming phone for the hobbyist, but hardcore gamers may want something with additional cooling. The UFS 3.1 storage is beneficial for faster app installations and large game loading times.
Camera System and Photography Results
The main sensors in the rear camera setup comprise a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. The 50MP camera steals the show. It captures a large amount of detail and also has a good color reproduction in the daytime. I took a number of pictures at a nearby park and the captured greens and blues looked very lively. The dynamic range is also impressive as I was able to see details in the bright illuminating sky and the dark shadows under the trees.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera is ideal for group photos or photos of buildings and other such architectural designs. I however, observed that pictures taken with the ultra-wide camera are not as clear and sharp as those taken with the main camera. Within the frame’s borders, there is a noticeable loss of sharpness. The 5MP macro lens does an okay job of capturing very detailed shots of flowers but it requires a super steady hand. For taking selfie pictures,
Samsung offers a 12MP front facing camera. Despite the fact that the number of megapixels in the front facing camera is lower than those of some older models, the image quality is quite impressive. The captured colors of my skin appeared accurate, and the captured background was convincingly blurred, as it was in the portrait mode of the camera.
Phone Experience and Software Android 16
The phone uses One UI 8.5 over Android 16. Samsung optimized the software to be easier to navigate, and the menus feel logical and the search function in settings is a good addition. Users in India have additional features such as call recording and an anti-spam filter. The software feels good and during my two weeks for the most part to no bugs.
An important reason to buy this phone is Samsung’s promise of software updates. Devices are kept up to date with a long list of new features and most importantly security patches. Some apps are pre-installed such as shopping and social media. To have a cleaner experience most of these can be removed. Within the ecosystem the integration with other Samsung devices such as the Galaxy Buds or Watch is very seamless.
Battery Life and Faster Charging Speeds
The battery life is one area where I was satisfied with the performance. The phone lasted me an entire day even with heavy use. I used the GPS for an hour, watched videos for two hours, and spent a lot of time on social media. I ended the day with about fifteen percent battery left. For a typical user, this phone could easily last a day and a half.
The shift to 45W quick charging is a big improvement. Previous models were stuck at 25W which felt painfully slow. With 45W, you can get a significant amount of power in just thirty minutes. It took me about an hour to charge the phone from empty to full. Keep in mind Samsung does not include a charger in the box. You’ll have to buy a 45W brick if you don’t already have one. This adds a little to the overall cost of the phone.
Verdict
With the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G you are guaranteed a reliable phone. With a build quality and screen that is second to none reasonably priced in comparison to the 45W charging and IP68 that it is protected by. With a price range of ₹52,999 with 12GB, there is a stiff challenge from competitors in the market, this is due to the competitors in the market having cheaper prices but faster processors. That said, a lot of these competitors do not provide the same water protection or the same software polish as Samsung does. If you are looking for a phone that will withstand the test of time for four years, this is definitely the phone for you. If you would rather see the phone do its job rather than the phone provide entertainment for you then this is probably the ideal phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G come with a charger?
A1: No, the retail box only contains the phone and a USB C to USB C cable. You need to buy the 45W adapter separately to use the fast-charging feature.
Q2: Is the Galaxy A37 5G waterproof?
A2: The phone has an IP68 rating. This means it can survive being in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. It is not recommended for use in sea water or swimming pools.
Q3: Can I use two SIM cards in this phone?
A3: Yes, the phone supports dual SIM cards. It usually features a hybrid slot where you can either use two SIMs or one SIM and a microSD card for extra storage.
Q4: What is the refresh rate of the screen?
A4: The screen has a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes animations and scrolling look much smoother than a standard 60Hz screen. You can set it to 60Hz if you want to save battery life.
Q5: Does it have a headphone jack?
A5: No, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the Galaxy A37 5G. You will need to use a USB C adapter or Bluetooth headphones for audio.
