Samsung Galaxy A37 and A57 Get $50 Price Bumps Despite Minor Hardware Updates

Samsung has implemented significant price increases across its smartphone lineup, following last month's $100 price hike on two flagship models. The company's latest midrange offerings—the Galaxy A37 5G and Galaxy A57 5G—now carry $50 price increases compared to their predecessors, the Galaxy A36 and A56, despite receiving only modest hardware improvements. Additionally, Samsung has streamlined its midrange portfolio, eliminating the Galaxy A26 successor from this year's initial release schedule.

These pricing adjustments reflect broader economic challenges impacting the technology industry, including tariff implications, elevated energy costs stemming from geopolitical conflicts in Iran, and ongoing memory shortages that have driven RAM and storage prices higher across the market. When manufacturers choose not to increase prices, the alternative often involves reducing hardware specifications to maintain cost targets—a strategy evidenced by recent releases like the Google Pixel 10a. The iPhone 17e stands as a notable exception, incorporating enhanced features such as MagSafe capability and an upgraded processor while maintaining price parity with its predecessor.

Industry analysis reveals concerning trends in the current market landscape. "Price increases or 'down‑speccing' have become the norm," explains Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at IDC. "Unfortunately, consumers will need to adjust to this new reality. The biggest bottleneck for brands right now is memory, with suppliers facing tight availability and significantly higher costs than in past years." According to Ubrani, while geopolitical factors have not yet directly impacted hardware pricing, they contribute to market uncertainty that may influence future cost structures.

Samsung declined to provide specific details regarding the factors driving these price adjustments. However, the company indicates that consumers considering A-series devices typically prioritize practical upgrade considerations—such as replacing broken or significantly outdated phones—rather than seeking advanced AI capabilities. Market research shows that value proposition remains the primary purchase driver for this segment, ranking above performance specifications and battery life considerations. This consumer behavior pattern makes the current price increases particularly noteworthy, though Samsung maintains confidence in the appeal of its hardware improvements.

The Galaxy A57 5G is priced at $550 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration, with the 256GB storage variant available for $610. The Galaxy A37 5G starts at $450 for 6GB RAM/128GB storage, while the 8GB RAM/256GB storage model costs $540. Both devices will become available for purchase on April 9.

Incremental Hardware Improvements

Processor enhancements represent the most significant upgrades in both models. The Galaxy A37 features Samsung's Exynos 1480 chipset, delivering 14 percent improved CPU performance, 24 percent enhanced graphics capabilities, and a substantial 167 percent boost in neural processing power for AI applications compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor used in the Galaxy A36.

The Galaxy A57 incorporates the Exynos 1680 processor, which provides measured improvements over the previous generation's Exynos 1580: 10 percent better CPU performance, 7 percent faster graphics processing, and 42 percent enhanced neural processing capabilities. Both devices maintain the established 5,000-mAh battery capacity and charging speeds from their predecessors, while notably excluding wireless charging functionality—a feature available in competing devices such as the iPhone 17e and Google Pixel 10a.

Display specifications remain consistent with 6.7-inch screens across both models, though the Galaxy A57 features refined design elements including reduced bezel thickness for improved aesthetics. Both devices showcase a glossy finish with ceramic-like characteristics. The A57 demonstrates notable physical improvements, measuring 0.5mm thinner and weighing 18 grams less than its predecessor, resulting in improved handling compared to the A37.

Both models achieve 1,900 nits peak brightness capability, ensuring strong outdoor visibility in direct sunlight conditions. However, this specification falls short of competitive offerings such as the Pixel 10a's 3,000-nit peak brightness rating. Environmental protection has been enhanced across both devices, with upgraded IP68 dust and water resistance ratings replacing the previous IP67 standard.