I won’t buy the Galaxy A37 at $450, but I strongly recommend these 4 terrific options

Samsung launched the Galaxy A37 5G at $449.99 for the baseline variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The smartphone is $50 more expensive than its predecessor, and to me, it looks like the premium is going straight into tackling the rise in component cost due to the ongoing memory crisis rather than providing meaningful upgrades. 

There are plenty of things that could justify the price hike on paper. For instance, the chipset upgrade, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 to Exynos 1480, provides a low double-digit improvement in performance, which is barely noticeable for regular users. The phone sports a slightly higher HDR brightness (1900 nits vs. 1700 nits) and a better IP rating (IP68 vs. IP67).

The Galaxy A37 5G is an incremental upgrade at best

Beyond these changes, both phones are quite similar, whether it is the 6.7-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz screen, the 50MP primary camera (with 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro shooters), the 12MP front camera, connectivity options (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.4), or the 5,000 mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging.

I strongly feel that the Galaxy A37 5G could have been a better bargain had Samsung retained the Galaxy A36 5G’s launch price — $399.99. Anyways, it is what it is. For me, the handset doesn’t provide the best value for your money, but a couple of other smartphones surely do. So, if you’re on the market to get a capable Android mid-ranger, I have four Galaxy A37 5G alternatives for you.

I recommend these four smartphones instead

Samsung Galaxy A36 5G

Why I recommend this smartphone? No, this isn’t a typo. I actually recommend the Galaxy A36 5G over the Galaxy A37 5G for one simple reason. The smartphone is currently available on Walmart for $219.99 for the baseline 6GB + 128GB variant — less than half the price of the A37 5G. You see? The phone shares most of its specifications with the newer version and costs less than it saves. What more could you ask for?

If you’re looking for a cheap yet capable Android smartphone, perhaps a secondary phone for yourself or a new phone for your parents or someone else, the A36 5G is a no-brainer.  

Samsung Galaxy A56 5G

Why I recommend this smartphone? I’m talking about the company’s 2025 mid-ranger, the one that sits above the Galaxy A36 5G in the company’s lineup. The Galaxy A56 5G offers several advantages over the new A37 5G, including a more premium in-hand feel (thanks to the aluminum frame), a slightly more powerful Exynos 1580 (4nm) chip (better for futureproofing), and a higher resolution 12MP ultrawide sensor. 

All of this, and yet somehow, you have to pay less for the A56 5G. That’s correct. The handset is currently available at Best Buy for $384.99 for the baseline variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. However, if you’re willing to connect the phone to a Verizon or AT&T line at purchase, you save another $100 and get it for $284.99. 

Google Pixel 9a

Why I recommend this smartphone? For four very important reasons. To begin with, Pixel 9a offers one of the most consistent and reliable camera arrays I’ve used on a smartphone under $500. The phone also offers the cleanest Android experience, especially when compared to non-Google Android smartphones. 

Despite being a year old, the Pixel 9a will get seven years of the latest operating system, which effectively matches the A37’s six-year update promise (with quarterly Pixel Drops). Finally, and I don’t get to say this quite often, the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4 chip offers more usable power than the Exynos 1480 on the A37 5G. It’s also the most compact, easy-to-carry smartphone on this list.

The Pixel 9a (6GB + 128GB) is currently available on Best Buy for $399, but if you’re willing to activate it at the time of purchase, you can get it for $299, making it the best camera or Android smartphone at the price in my opinion. 

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

Why I recommend this smartphone? If you’re willing to extend your budget to $500, I have a recommendation that is much more versatile and much more interesting (think people walking up to you and asking about your smartphone). Unlike its predecessor, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is designed for a full U.S. launch with much broader connectivity with the leading service providers like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. 

For the premium, you get a sleeker, more modern-looking smartphone with thinner bezels on the front and a Glyph Matrix interface on the back (which successfully lures the child inside me). The Phone (4a) Pro sports a 6.83-inch AMOLED 144Hz screen (the highest refresh rate on this list), the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset for a more responsive UI and better performance under heavier workloads, a dedicated 50MP telephoto sensor that provides 3.5x optical zoom (for the photography enthusiast within you), and a 5,080 mAh battery that supports 50W wired charging.

Moreover, the smartphone offers a better package in terms of features and usability.