Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning to carry over the OLED display from this year’s Galaxy A27 into next year’s Galaxy A38, rather than building on the panel used in the A37. According to an industry source cited in a report published on the 3rd, the move appears to be a cost-cutting measure, with the panel said to be identical to the existing A27 module — no changes to its components or structure.
Component reuse across generations isn’t unusual for Samsung, and it’s a practice seen even in the flagship Galaxy S series, not just mid-range devices. What stands out here, though, is the direction of the change. Rather than reusing the previous A38-line panel or upgrading it, Samsung is reportedly pulling from the A27 — a lower tier in its mid-range lineup — effectively representing a step down in display quality compared to the A37 it replaces.
A second source described a broader pattern within Samsung’s mid-range strategy, noting that the company’s A3-series phones typically get newer OLED panels than the A2-series, and that the two lines carry different panel costs and material sets even when specs look similar on paper.
The Galaxy A37’s OLED display specs include:
- 6.7-inch screen, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340), 385 PPI
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- 1,200 nits brightness (HBM) and up to 1,900 nits peak brightness for outdoor visibility
- Always-On Display (AOD) support
The Galaxy A27’s OLED display specs include:
- 6.7-inch screen, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340), 385 PPI
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate
- 800 nits peak brightness for outdoor visibility
The core resolution, size, and refresh rate match across both panels. The meaningful differences are outdoor brightness and AOD support — both of which favor the A37.
Outdoor visibility largely comes down to peak brightness, color gamut, and saturation — all of which affect how readable a screen is in direct sunlight. On that front, the A37’s panel has a clear edge over the A27’s. Always-On Display, meanwhile, lets users check the time, date, and battery level without waking the phone, and its availability (or lack of it) typically comes down to the display’s underlying materials and power efficiency.
The reported decision to reuse the A27 panel in the A38 lines up with broader cost pressures across the display and memory supply chain, where component prices have been climbing. For Samsung, leaning on an existing, already-qualified panel is a straightforward way to offset rising manufacturing costs elsewhere in the device.
Don’t miss a thing! Join our Telegram community for instant updates
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
(Source)
