Samsung phones become unusable after fatal update

Updates Causing Issues on Samsung Phones in Germany

Recently, a concerning issue has been reported by numerous customers in Germany regarding updates rendering their Samsung phones unusable, particularly affecting high-end smartphone owners.
Recipients of Samsung software updates are being warned to proceed with caution, as these updates could potentially damage the device’s display irreversibly.

Usually, updates bring new features, address security vulnerabilities, or fix bugs, and unlike Windows updates, Android smartphone updates generally have a good reputation.
However, this time something went wrong.
Here are the problems faced by German users and which phones are most at risk.

It appears that some smartphone models in Germany are experiencing OLED display issues caused by recent updates, which, while intended to fix bugs and vulnerabilities, can sometimes, although rarely, cause damage – even severe – to the system and device.
Post the latest update, several Samsung smartphones are reportedly displaying a permanent green vertical line on the screen, a flaw that cannot be removed even by restarting the device.

This issue is not entirely new and has also been observed on competing devices like OnePlus.
The technical cause is still unclear, but experts suggest it might be a hardware rather than software error.
Customers report this anomaly occurring frequently after the renowned software update and subsequent heat generation, notably following the installation of One UI 6.0 or the April 2024 security update.

This problem leads to irreversible phone damage, especially considering that OLED panels are among the most expensive components of a smartphone, nearly half the device’s selling price.
Despite numerous complaints, Samsung has not issued any official communication to service centers for the free replacement of faulty displays.

As different sources in Germany highlight, it is currently unknown if all markets are affected or if the issue primarily affects specific distributions in certain countries.
While waiting for clarifications from the South Korean multinational giant, Samsung customers are advised to disable automatic updates to prevent potential irreversible and costly damage.

Which smartphones are most at risk? Here are the devices reported by customers to have the green line issue on the OLED display: Galaxy S20, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy A73, Galaxy M21, Galaxy M52, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Following the problem arising after an update, Sammobile reports that some users have opted for a foolproof strategy to safeguard themselves when seeking assistance.
Before installing updates, users are recording videos during the update installation process.
These recordings, presented to post-sales service centers, aim to prove that the damage was not caused by accidental drops.

No issues have been reported in Italy so far.
Samsung devices have been regularly updated and currently show no signs of the listed criticalities.
Nevertheless, taking precautions as some customers in Germany are doing is always wise and preventive action is preferable to dealing with consequences.