Samsung is set to officially launch the highly anticipated Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 in India today. But if you’re in Nairobi, you don’t even have to wait for the official global streams. In classic Kenyan retail fashion, the devices have already hit the shelves of local third-party stores well ahead of Samsung Mobile Kenya’s official local announcement.
I’ve been tracking the local smartphone market closely, and we already knew that a global memory chip shortage was going to push smartphone prices higher this year. However, the early price tags we are seeing for these new midrange champions are frankly a bit shocking.
Here is what you need to know about the early availability of the Galaxy A37 and A57, and why your wallet might be feeling the pinch.
The Galaxy A37 and A57 retailer price breakdown in Kenya
Several independent electronics shops around Nairobi have announced they have the units in stock, complete with 24-month East Africa warranties. But because we are still waiting on Samsung Mobile Kenya to set the official Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), third-party retailers are having a field day, and the prices are varying wildly.
For the Galaxy A37 5G, the price discrepancies are massive depending on where you shop:
- Plugpoint Electronics is currently offering the 6GB/128GB model at a somewhat reasonable KES 37,500.
- Kype Computers is pricing the exact same 6GB/128GB configuration at a whopping KES 47,300.
- Tekazi LTD has the bumped-up 8GB/256GB variant of the A37 sitting at KES 56,999.
For the more premium Galaxy A57 5G, Tekazi LTD seems to be the main retailer showing early stock, and the prices are pushing dangerously close to flagship-killer territory:
- 8GB/128GB: KES 56,999
- 8GB/256GB: KES 67,999
How it compares to last year’s A36 and A56
To put these numbers into perspective, we need to look back at what Samsung Mobile Kenya charged for the predecessors at launch. It paints a clear picture of just how much of an early adopter tax these retailers are charging, combined with the very real reality of rising manufacturing costs.
| Model | Variant | Launch Price (Previous Gen) | Early Retail Price (New Gen) |
| Galaxy A5x Series | 8GB / 256GB | KES 54,995 (A56) | KES 67,999 (A57) |
| Galaxy A5x Series | 6GB / 128GB | KES 48,995 (A56) | KES 56,999 (A57 – 8GB/128GB) |
| Galaxy A3x Series | 8GB / 256GB | KES 46,995 (A36) | KES 56,999 (A37) |
| Galaxy A3x Series | 6GB / 128GB | KES 40,995 (A36) | KES 37,500 – KES 47,300 (A37) |
(Note: The previous generation Galaxy A36 also featured an 8GB/128GB variant priced interestingly at KES 30,995).
We are definitely seeing the effects of the memory chip shortage creeping into these sticker prices, but the KES 10,000 variance on the Galaxy A37 between stores like Plugpoint and Kype Computers tells me there’s also a lot of markup happening simply because the phones are fresh.
If you are eyeing either of these devices, my advice is to hold off for just a little bit. While Samsung Mobile Kenya hasn’t announced official pricing yet, their launch is imminent. When they do bring the devices in officially, expect to see the market stabilize. The official prices will likely be higher than the A36/A56 launch prices due to the global chip situation, but they shouldn’t be this crazy.
