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Why I recommend this $450 Samsung phone over competing models by Google and OnePlus

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Why This Matters

The Samsung Galaxy A37 offers a compelling midrange option with reliable performance and updated hardware at a competitive price, making it a valuable choice for consumers seeking good value. Its balanced features and performance make it a noteworthy alternative to more expensive models from Google and OnePlus, especially for everyday use.

Key Takeaways

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Samsung's Galaxy A37 is the company's latest midrange smartphone and direct successor to the A36. It closely follows last year's formula, sharing many of the same but reliable features. That may sound disappointing, but it doesn't make for a bad mobile device -- far from it.

Coming from my OnePlus, the new Galaxy A37 is a well-rounded, dependable phone that's easy to recommend to anyone looking for a great value option. However, it might not be enough of an upgrade to warrant buying over the Galaxy A36 for some people. Here's why.

Performance

The most notable change is in the internal hardware. Samsung's latest midrange phone runs on the Exynos 1480 chipset, while the A36 uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. I haven't personally used the A36, but I am familiar with the Snapdragon 6 thanks to the Moto G Stylus, which also runs on it, and provides solid performance. So the question is, how does the Exynos chipset hold up?

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Well, brace yourself, but I'd say it's about the same. In everyday use, the phone feels fast and fluid. Scrolling through websites, running multiple apps, and streaming videos all felt seamless. Performance stays consistent with no noticeable dips. When it comes to gaming, however, the phone isn't as good.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

During my time with the Galaxy A37, I tested two demanding titles, "Arknights Endfield" and "Honkai: Star Rail". The former struggled to run on the phone. Gameplay was plagued by frequent stuttering, occasional freezes, and low resolution, even at the lowest graphical settings. Star Rail fared better. It ran more smoothly overall, although I still encountered some of the same issues.

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