The Snapdragon variant of the Galaxy S21 FE is receiving the June 2024 security update in Europe this week. A similar update came to the Snapdragon variant in the US a week ago and the Exynos variant late last week.

European users are probably getting the latest security update later than others because of the Europe-exclusive update Samsung released for multiple Galaxy devices last month. That update brought some regional LTE band support changes and wasn't released in other regions.

Latest Galaxy S21 FE update brings only security fixes

With the June update, Samsung has enhanced the Galaxy S21 FE's security. The June 2024 security patch has made its way to many Galaxy phones already and brings fixes for 59 vulnerabilities discovered in Android and One UI. Out of those 59 vulnerabilities, 22 affect only Samsung smartphones and tablets.

The update, identifiable by the build number G990BXXS8GXF1, doesn't include any other changes. You can download it directly on your S21 FE by navigating to its Settings » Software update menu and tapping the Download and install button.

Alternatively, download the latest Galaxy S21 FE firmware from our website on a Windows PC and use it to upgrade the phone. This process requires a USB connection.

Thanks for the tip, Jonas!

The post Snapdragon Galaxy S21 FE picks up June security update in Europe appeared first on SamMobile.

It’s been almost two years since Samsung launched its Camera Assistant app. While the tech giant’s flagship Android phones have enjoyed the app’s benefits, that hasn’t exactly been the case for some of the Fan Edition phones. But it looks like Galaxy S21 FE owners can now take advantage of the app.

First reported by SamMobile, it appears Samsung quietly rolled out support for Camera Assistant to the Galaxy S21 FE. In fact, support may have come out as early as January, as that’s the last time the update was updated.

Samsung has released the One UI 6.1 update for the Galaxy S21 FE, a couple of days earlier than expected. The Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra got One UI 6.1 a few days back, but as is often the case, the Fan Edition model was not included in the initial rollout of the latest One UI update.

Galaxy S21 One UI 6.1 update debuts in the USA

The USA is the first market where the Galaxy S21 FE has received the One UI 6.1 update. The update only seems available for those using the phone on T-Mobile's network, but we can expect a rollout for other carrier variants and unlocked units soon. It shouldn't take long for the update to go live in other markets, either.

Samsung could also start making One UI 6.1 available for mid-range devices like the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A53 in the next few days. However, there is no official confirmation from the Korean giant, only hints provided by a Canadian carrier, so we would suggest keeping your expectations in check until the rollout actually begins.

If you own a Galaxy S21 FE, you can discover all that the One UI 6.1 update brings to your phone in the official changelog available here. Just don't expect any of the fancy Galaxy AI features. Google's Circle to Search is the only major AI feature that One UI 6.1 brings to flagship Galaxy phones launched in 2021.

To download the One UI 6.1 update, open the Settings app on your phone, select Software update, then tap Download and install. Considering the issues Galaxy S22 owners faced with One UI 6.1, you may want to follow some of the advice here before installing the update on your S21 FE.

Thanks for the tip, Amir!

The post Fan Edition Galaxy S21 joins the One UI 6.1 party! appeared first on SamMobile.

Update: April 22, 2024 (3:58 AM ET): Samsung is reportedly offering a free, one-time screen replacement to select Galaxy users who have phones displaying the green line issue. This offer seems to be available only in India for now. You can read more about it here.

Original article: April 17, 2024 (5:18 PM ET): Multiple reports are surfacing online about a display issue plaguing some older Samsung Galaxy devices. Dubbed the ‘green line issue,’ it manifests as a slim, vertical green line that disrupts the screen, potentially hampering phone functionality. This problem seems to primarily affect Galaxy S21 series phones, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S21 FE models being the most frequently cited.

Some users seem to have encountered the green line randomly, while others are attributing it to software updates or intense usage, like gaming sessions. An X/Twitter user reported (also spotted by AndroidSage) noticing the line immediately after installing a software update on their Galaxy S21 FE, while another encountered it after installing the April patch to their Galaxy S21 Ultra (model number SMG998B).

The exact cause of the green line issue remains uncertain. While it could just be a software glitch, software-related glitches should typically be fixed by a simple reboot or a factory reset. The fact that the issue persists for some users suggests a potential hardware defect.

What causes the green line issue?

The most likely cause of the green line issue seems to be a faulty display connector or flex cable. These internal components link the display to the phone’s main circuit board, and any damage or looseness within them can lead to display malfunctions.

While it’s easy to call it a coincidence that this issue is cropping up with or around software updates, a quick search on social media platforms reveals that many users have faced similar problems with their older Samsung models. Most of those cases were also linked to software updates.

A possible explanation is that software updates, coupled with environmental factors, might generate enough heat (especially on phones with Samsung’s Exynos chipsets) to cause or accelerate a pre-existing hardware defect within the display assembly. Some theorize that this heat could loosen the glue holding the display components together, leading to the green line issue. However, this theory isn’t entirely conclusive, as intensive activities like gaming also generate significant heat but are less frequently linked to the issue.

Over the past year, the green line issue has impacted older AMOLED smartphones from other manufacturers, too. OnePlus, in response to similar complaints, started offering its customers in India a lifetime screen warranty across its own affected devices.

While Samsung has yet to acknowledge this issue officially, the company has offered repairs and replacements for similar problems experienced by Galaxy S20 series users in the past. If you’re facing a similar issue on your Galaxy device, it’s advisable to proactively document your issue with photos or videos and present your case to a Samsung representative.

Multiple reports are surfacing online about a display issue plaguing some older Samsung Galaxy devices. Dubbed the ‘green line issue,’ it manifests as a slim, vertical green line that disrupts the screen, potentially hampering phone functionality. This problem seems to primarily affect Galaxy S21 series phones, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S21 FE models being the most frequently cited.

Some users seem to have encountered the green line randomly, while others are attributing it to software updates or intense usage, like gaming sessions. An X/Twitter user reported (also spotted by AndroidSage) noticing the line immediately after installing a software update on their Galaxy S21 FE, while another encountered it after installing the April patch to their Galaxy S21 Ultra (model number SMG998B).

The exact cause of the green line issue remains uncertain. While it could just be a software glitch, software-related glitches should typically be fixed by a simple reboot or a factory reset. The fact that the issue persists for some users suggests a potential hardware defect.

What causes the green line issue?

The most likely cause of the green line issue seems to be a faulty display connector or flex cable. These internal components link the display to the phone’s main circuit board, and any damage or looseness within them can lead to display malfunctions.

While it’s easy to call it a coincidence that this issue is cropping up with or around software updates, a quick search on social media platforms reveals that many users have faced similar problems with their older Samsung models. Most of those cases were also linked to software updates.

A possible explanation is that software updates, coupled with environmental factors, might generate enough heat (especially on phones with Samsung’s Exynos chipsets) to cause or accelerate a pre-existing hardware defect within the display assembly. Some theorize that this heat could loosen the glue holding the display components together, leading to the green line issue. However, this theory isn’t entirely conclusive, as intensive activities like gaming also generate significant heat but are less frequently linked to the issue.

Over the past year, the green line issue has impacted older AMOLED smartphones from other manufacturers, too. OnePlus, in response to similar complaints, started offering its customers in India a lifetime screen warranty across its own affected devices.

While Samsung has yet to acknowledge this issue officially, the company has offered repairs and replacements for similar problems experienced by Galaxy S20 series users in the past. If you’re facing a similar issue on your Galaxy device, it’s advisable to proactively document your issue with photos or videos and present your case to a Samsung representative.