Samsung has increased the price of its latest midrange smartphones, the Galaxy A37 5G and Galaxy A57 5G, by $50 despite only incremental hardware improvements over last year’s models. The company has also discontinued the Galaxy A26, further streamlining its lineup. This move comes as broader economic pressures, including supply chain issues and geopolitical instability, drive up component costs.
Rising Costs in a Competitive Market
The price hikes reflect a growing trend in the smartphone industry: manufacturers are passing increased production costs onto consumers, or reducing features to maintain pricing. Key factors include tariffs, rising oil prices (exacerbated by conflicts like the war in Iran), and a global memory shortage that has inflated the cost of RAM and storage.
According to Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at IDC, “Price increases or ‘down-speccing’ have become the norm… The biggest bottleneck for brands right now is memory, with suppliers facing tight availability and significantly higher costs.” Geopolitical risks add further uncertainty, potentially leading to even higher costs down the line.
Samsung itself has remained tight-lipped on the exact reasons for the price increases, but acknowledges that consumers prioritize affordability above all else. Despite this, the company is proceeding with the price adjustments, betting that the updates—however small—will justify the higher cost.
What’s New? Minor Upgrades and Key Specs
The Galaxy A57 5G now starts at $550 (with 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage) or $610 (with 256 GB storage). The Galaxy A37 5G begins at $450 (6 GB/128 GB) and goes up to $540 (8 GB/256 GB). Both models officially launch on April 9.
The primary upgrades are in processing power:
- Galaxy A37 5G: Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1480, offering a 14% CPU performance boost, 24% faster graphics, and a significant 167% improvement in neural processing—beneficial for AI tasks.
- Galaxy A57 5G: Equipped with the Exynos 1680, delivering a 10% CPU increase, 7% faster graphics, and 42% improved neural processing compared to the previous generation.
Both phones retain the same 5,000-mAh battery and 45W charging, but lack wireless charging, a feature found on competing models like the iPhone 17e and Google Pixel 10a.
Key Specifications:
| Feature | Galaxy A37 5G | Galaxy A57 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.7″ Super AMOLED Plus, 120Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus+, Plastic Frame | Gorilla Glass Victus+, Metal Frame |
| Processor | Exynos 1480 | Exynos 1680 |
| Storage | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB |
| Camera | 50MP Main, 8MP Ultrawide, 5MP Macro | 50MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, 5MP Macro |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Price (Base) | $450 | $550 |
Design and Additional Features
The Galaxy A57 5G has been slightly refined: thinner (by 0.5mm) and lighter (by 18g) than its predecessor. Both models feature glossy glass with a ceramic-like finish, and peak brightness reaches 1,900 nits, though competitors like the Pixel 10a offer higher brightness (3,000 nits).
Camera improvements include faster image capture, enhanced AI-powered portrait mode, and faster operation of Samsung’s Object Eraser tool. The Galaxy A57 also adds Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.0 support.
Software-wise, both phones include Samsung’s Circle to Search “Find the Look” feature, allowing users to identify clothing items within images, and improved voice recording transcription/translation capabilities.
In conclusion: Samsung’s price increases on its new midrange phones are a direct response to rising production costs, even though the upgrades are modest. The company is betting that consumers will accept the higher price point given the current market conditions, even if the improvements don’t fully justify the cost.
