The Samsung Galaxy A36 is currently one of the easiest recommendations in the Kenyan market. It already brought massive improvements to the series, introducing 45W charging and a premium glass back that made it feel miles ahead of the older Galaxy A34. It sits perfectly between the budget-friendly A26 and the premium A56 that we reviewed last year.
But if you are still holding onto an older device like the Galaxy A34 (or even the A35) and are wondering if you should upgrade now or hold off, the rumor mill suggests patience might pay off.
The upcoming Galaxy A37 isn’t just a refresh; it’s shaping up to be a device that blurs the line between the “30” and “50” series more than ever before. Here is a comprehensive look at the upgrades (and one controversial switch) lined up for the Galaxy A37.
1. A massive camera sensor upgrade
While the Galaxy A36 is a capable shooter, it relies on a smaller sensor than its more expensive siblings. The Galaxy A37 is rumored to change that game completely.
Leaks indicate the A37 will ditch the 1/1.96-inch sensor found in the A36 for a much physically larger 1/1.56-inch sensor (likely the Sony IMX906 or Samsung ISOCELL). Even though the megapixel count stays at 50MP, a larger sensor captures significantly more light. This means the A37 should deliver:
- Drastically better low-light photos.
- More natural background blur (bokeh) without relying solely on software portrait mode.
- Cleaner, less noisy images.
In essence, the A37 is expected to use the same primary camera hardware as the more expensive Galaxy A57, a feature parity we rarely see in this lineup.
2. The chipset switch: Snapdragon vs. Exynos
Here is where things get interesting for the tech enthusiasts. The current Galaxy A36 runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a chipset many users loved for its efficiency and stability. However, rumors strongly suggest the Galaxy A37 will switch back to Samsung’s in-house silicon, specifically the Exynos 1480.
Is this a downgrade? On paper, Snapdragon fans might instinctively recoil, but the reality is likely the opposite. The Exynos 1480 is the same powerhouse that ran the highly praised Galaxy A55.
- Graphics power: The Exynos 1480 features an AMD-powered GPU that generally outperforms the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in raw graphical tasks.
- Optimization: Samsung has had a year to optimize this chip. If the A55’s smooth performance is anything to go by, the A37 could actually be faster and more responsive than the Snapdragon-powered A36.
While losing the “Snapdragon” name might sting for some, getting the “A55’s engine” inside a cheaper A37 body is technically a performance upgrade.
3. Cementing the premium build
If you are coming from a Galaxy A34, the difference in feel will be night and day. The A34 used a plastic “Glasstic” back, which was durable but felt cheap.
The Galaxy A35 and A36 already introduced a glass back, and the A37 will carry this premium legacy forward, likely with Gorilla Glass protection on both sides. The design is expected to be further refined with a fresh camera housing look, moving away from the individual floating lenses to a more modern, cohesive module. It will retain the IP67 dust and water resistance, ensuring that the “premium feel” isn’t just for show.
4. Locking in 45W fast charging
For years, Samsung was stuck on 25W charging. The Galaxy A36 finally broke that barrier by introducing 45W wired charging to the A3x series.
The Galaxy A37 is confirmed (via certification listings) to keep this feature. While this isn’t a “new” upgrade for A36 owners, for anyone coming from an A35, A34, A33, or A32, this is a massive quality-of-life improvement. You will be able to top up the rumored 5,000mAh battery significantly faster. (Note: As always, you will likely need to buy the 45W charger separately).
The “downgrade”: No microSD slot
We have to rip the band-aid off: The Galaxy A37 will not bring back the microSD card slot.
The Galaxy A36 was the first to remove it, and the A37 is sticking to that decision. If you are a Galaxy A35 or A34 user who relies on swapping SD cards for cheap storage, this era is officially over. You will need to rely on internal storage (likely starting at 128GB) or cloud solutions.
Verdict: Upgrade or wait?
- If you have a Galaxy A36: The upgrades are nice (better main camera, slightly stronger GPU), but probably not worth a one-year upgrade unless you are a photography buff. This partly applies to Galaxy A35 owners, but not as much.
- If you have a Galaxy A34 or older: The Galaxy A37 is a massive leap. You are getting the build quality of a flagship, the charging speed of the S-series, a camera sensor from the A5x tier, and a processor that punches above its weight.
With a global launch expected in early February 2026, just weeks away, holding onto your cash seems like the smartest move right now.
