Google Pixel 10a vs Samsung Galaxy A37 vs Galaxy A57: Expected differences

The Pixel 10 on the left vs Galaxy A56 (for representational purposes) on the right. | Images by Google and Samsung

Early 2026 is shaping up to be crowded in the upper mid-range segment. Google’s Pixel 10a is now official, while Samsung’s Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 are expected to follow shortly. All three share strong similarities such as long software support, solid cameras, and dependable battery life for $500 or less.

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Google Pixel 10a vs Samsung Galaxy A57/37 expected differences:

Table of Contents:

The Pixel 10a comes with the same minimalist design we saw from the last generation, featuring a flat back with flush cameras, allowing the phone to lie flat on a table. It comes with an aluminum frame and a plastic back panel. It is slightly larger this year, measuring 153.9 mm tall, 73.0 mm wide, and 9.0 mm thick, with a weight of 183 grams. That makes it the Pixel 10a the most compact and the lightest phone in this comparison.

Samsung’s Galaxy A57 and A37 are expected to be taller and wider than the Pixel 10a. The A57 is rumored to use a metal frame with a glass back panel, giving it a more premium feel than Google’s midranger. The A37, on the other hand, will likely stick with a plastic frame and a glass back.

*rumored/expected

In 2026 it seems durability is no longer unreachable for mid-range phones. The Pixel 10a now uses Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, a notable upgrade over previous “a” models. Samsung is expected to continue using Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the A57 and A37, which gives them an edge over the 10a.

Samsung’s is known for its high-quality OLED panels, even when it comes to its mid-range series. Both the A57 and A37 are expected to feature 6.7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED displays with peak brightness at around 1,900 nits.Google, however, has been topping the charts the last few years when it comes to display quality. The Pixel 10a uses a smaller 6.3-inch OLED panel with a 60 to 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. However, it pulls ahead decisively when it comes to brightness. The display reaches up to 3,000 nits, making it one of the brightest screens in its class.

The Pixel 10a runs on Google’s Tensor G4 processor built on a 4 nm process; that’s the same chip that powered the Pixel 9a. It comes with 8 GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

The Galaxy A57 is expected to use Samsung’s Exynos 1680, while the A37 will likely come with the Exynos 1480. Historically, Samsung’s mid-range Exynos chips deliver solid GPU performance compared to Google’s Tensor chipsets, which can make them slightly better for gaming or image editing apps.

The 10a comes with Android 16 and will get seven years of OS updates, security patches, and Pixel Feature Drops. Samsung is expected to offer up to six years of support for the A57 and A37, which is still excellent but one year shorter.It’s also worth noting that Google’s Feature Drops add new tools regularly, particularly AI-powered features tied to Google services. Samsung’s One UI updates focus more on customization and ecosystem integration.

The Pixel 10a uses a 48 MP main camera and a 13 MP ultrawide. Those numbers might look modest compared to Samsung’s 50 MP main sensors, but Pixel phones consistently outperform what their camera hardware suggests, thanks to Google’s expertise in computational photography.

The Galaxy A57 and A37 are expected to feature 50 MP main cameras, 8 MP ultrawide cameras, and 5 MP macro. The macro snapper is still considered a gimmick, so I wouldn’t count it as a plus on Samsung’s phones.

One of the Pixel “a” series’ strongest selling points is their amazing battery life. The 10a is expected to come with a 5,100 mAh battery, the same as the 9a. The Galaxy A57 is expected to have around 5,000 mAh, while the A37 may use 4,000 mAh.

Judging by how their predecessors compared in our battery life tests, I expect the 10 to confidently lead in this segment. We gave the Pixel 9a an estimated battery life of around 8 hours last year, compared to 7 hours on the Galaxy A56 and 6 hours and 30 minutes on the Galaxy A36.

Charging will speeds will be more evenly matched. The 10a now supports up to 45 W wired charging, which brings it on par with what we expect with Samsung’s upcoming mid-rangers. Google also improved the wireless charging, which is now 10 W, albeit without no magnetic wireless charging via PixelSnap.

*rumored/expected

My worry was that the Pixel 10a would be a major disappointment this year, given that it comes with the same chip and same cameras as its predecessor. However, with the upgrades Google has introduced—3,000-nit display, Gorilla Glass 7i, Satellite SOS support, and 45 W wired charging—I believe it still is arguably the best option between these three. 

Yes, compared to the 10a, the Galaxy A57 has its larger display, stronger GPU, and more premium feel. The Galaxy A37, on the other hand, serves as the more affordable option, sacrificing performance and battery capacity to hit a lower price point.

If you prioritize camera quality, long software support, display brightness, and a compact design, the Pixel 10a stands out as the most balanced option for $500. If you prefer a larger display and a more capable chip, the Galaxy A57 will likely appeal to you more . And if budget is the main constraint, the Galaxy A37 remains a viable option still.