As the global memory shortage persists, tech companies continue to adapt to the skyrocketing component costs, mainly by increasing the product prices. Not too long after raising the prices of its entry-level smartphones, Samsung Malaysia has announced another round of price hikes. This time, the changes concern the mid-range members of the Galaxy A lineup, namely the Galaxy A57 and the Galaxy A37.
Much like the previous price revisions, this one does not affect all memory and storage configurations. In the case of the A57, the 12GB + 512GB variant will see a RM200 increase from RM2,699 to RM2,899. Meanwhile, the 12GB + 256GB model will remain unchanged at RM2,399. Curiously, Samsung also announced a price reduction. The 8GB + 256GB version will go from RM2,319 to RM2,099.
As for the A37, the 12GB + 256GB model will get a RM200 price hike, rising from RM1,999 to RM2,199. On the other hand, the base 8GB + 256GB trim will stay the same at RM1,899.
It is worth noting that the price revisions are not effective immediately. Instead, the updated prices will take effect on 7 September 2026. So, if you’ve been holding off on getting any of the affected models, you should probably buy them before the changes apply.
The brand’s reasoning for the increases remains the same as when it announced the changes for the Galaxy A07 and A17. Which is to say, the rising component prices, particularly memory chips and RAM, are to blame. The company asserted that sustained cost pressures within the industry have made the adjustments necessary despite its efforts to absorb said costs.
Of course, we have the AI boom to thank for this. Memory manufacturers, including Samsung, have pivoted to specialised AI chips as they are deemed to be more profitable compared to consumer RAM. The demand for these chips is unlikely to let up anytime soon, and Samsung is reportedly increasing its chip manufacturing prices. So, we can probably expect phones to get more expensive as the shortages stretch on.
(Source: Samsung press release)
