Samsung Galaxy A37 5G review: Built to last

Rating: 3.8/5






The Samsung Galaxy A Series phones have been known for their reliability and elegance for quite some time now. The Galaxy A37 5G is another phone from that lineup, featuring a 50MP OIS camera, a Super AMOLED screen, an Exynos SoC, and various AI features from Samsung via One UI 8.5.

We tested the 8GB+256GB variant in Awesome Lavender under daily use, including calls, browsing, streaming, light gaming, and camera shoots, across different conditions. Here is what the experience looked like in practice.

Design

Samsung's design philosophy is clean, and the Awesome Lavender version of the Galaxy A37 5G we received is tastefully adorned. It feels sturdy from top to bottom, sporting Gorilla Glass Victus+ on its front and back panels, an important detail for a phone of this price point and not necessarily one that all of its rivals can boast.

It is on the heavy side, weighing 196 grams, and it is rather thick, measuring 7.4 millimetres. However, the weight distribution is balanced, and it feels good to hold in hand over long periods without being tiring. The metal frame provides its durability, and there is no part of the build that suggests corners have been cut.

The IP68 certification makes it durable in everyday life, protecting the device from dust and water damage. In addition, Samsung promises to support its phones with Android OS updates for up to 6 years.

Display

The 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel is one of the A37 5G's core strengths. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and navigation feel smooth, and the jump in responsiveness over 60Hz panels is immediately noticeable during app use and casual gaming.

Vision Booster support, combined with up to 1,900 nits of peak brightness, delivers good outdoor visibility. In direct sunlight, the screen remained readable without straining, which is a practical advantage for anyone who spends time outside. Colours are vivid and punchy, leaning into Samsung's characteristically saturated profile, something most users find appealing for media consumption.

We spent extended time watching content and browsing feeds, and the display held up without noticeable eye strain, partly thanks to the high-frequency PWM dimming in low-light conditions. It is a comfortable screen to spend time with, and for a phone at this price, it competes well.

Performance and software

The Exynos 1480 processor, backed by 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, handled regular use without any glitches. There was no lag when switching between apps, browsing online or streaming videos.

Playing games occasionally proved glitch-free, with no major frame drops. The A37 5G is not positioned as a gaming-first device, and it does not try to be. For users who want to dip into games occasionally without it being the primary use case, the performance level is more than adequate.

On the software side, One UI 8.5 is familiar and easy to navigate. Samsung has brought several AI tools into the mix: Object Eraser worked quickly in our testing and usefully supports offline use, Circle to Search with Google is a handy addition for in-context information lookups, and Bixby and Gemini integration round out the assistant experience.

Voice Transcription in the Voice Recorder app also worked reliably during our testing, and AI Select for extracting content from the screen into Samsung Notes proved genuinely practical. The interface is polished overall, and six years of guaranteed updates make the software investment worth considering.

Camera

The A37 5G carries a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilisation, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 5MP macro lens, and a 12MP front camera. In good daylight, the main camera produced well-balanced shots with decent detail and natural colours. OIS made a visible difference during video recording, keeping handheld footage steady even during movement.

The ultra-wide came in useful for group shots and open scenes, though detail falls off noticeably compared to the primary lens, a common limitation at this price point. The macro lens is serviceable for close-up shots but unlikely to be a daily driver for most users. Here are some camera samples:

This is where the strengths and weaknesses of the device's camera come into play. Samsung Nightography improves light sensitivity, noise reduction, and brightness levels compared to previous A-series models, but in truly low-light situations, the camera tends to be less sharp and show lower dynamic range.

Photos taken with the front camera are pretty good, with decent skin tone balance for selfies. Object Eraser and Best Face are good AI tools for basic editing right on the phone.

Battery

The 5,000 mAh battery lasted a full day of mixed use, including browsing, streaming, calls, and light gaming, without needing a top-up. Moderate users who primarily use the device for less gaming and video can easily extend its battery life.

The 45W fast charging technology ensures the phone battery reaches a usable level quickly, with Samsung promising a 50% charge in just 30 minutes, and that did come through in our testing. Charging to full capacity takes approximately 75 minutes. The battery-saving feature in One UI 8.5 is another aspect that helps manage battery drainage while the phone is idle, making the battery usage cycle slightly more efficient.

Verdict

With the starting price tag of Rs 41,999, the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is a dependable mid-range smartphone. The Super AMOLED screen is sharp and responsive, and the design is sturdy and luxurious thanks to glass materials and an IP68 rating, while the AI-driven features deliver practical value.

The smartphone's camera performance lags slightly, especially in low-light shots. The charging speeds are also slower than those of several rivals in this price segment.

However, it is unlikely to be a problem for consumers who prioritise reliability, user-friendly software, and familiarity with the Samsung ecosystem over speed and high-performance equipment. The Samsung Galaxy A37 5G remains an interesting choice within its segment.