Oh No: Samsung phone users are fuming over a recent update that has caused major issues. The tech giant released a patch that has resulted in several models being bricked, sparking outrage on social media and forums.
Earlier this week, Samsung rolled out an update that has caused older Galaxy devices like the Galaxy S10 series, Galaxy Note 10 series, Galaxy M51, and Galaxy A90 to malfunction. This problem seems to be widespread, affecting users in various countries including Korea, the United States, Singapore, Australia, and more.
Reports from Reddit users reveal that the faulty update has caused phones to get stuck in a continuous boot loop. Users have tried to reset their phones to no avail, with the loop persisting even after restarting. The only solution seems to be performing a factory reset, which has left some users worried about losing their data.
“I really hope I can retrieve my photos,” expressed one Reddit user, emphasizing the importance of backing up data regularly.
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While some users in South Korea have found a fix for the issue without losing their data, customers in the US have faced challenges with customer support.
“I reached out to Samsung Care US on Twitter, and they mentioned they are working on a solution but do not have a timeline,” shared a Reddit user. “When I pointed out that Samsung Korea has resolved the problem, they couldn’t provide any insights on the matter.”
Samsung has addressed the software flaw and re-issued the update. However, users who are unable to restart their phones are left with no choice but to perform a factory reset, restore from a backup (if available), and then install the patched update.
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Samsung’s PR team has downplayed the situation, acknowledging the issue but emphasizing that it only impacts “a limited number” of devices.
“We have noted that a limited number of Galaxy smartphones running on Android 12 are experiencing continuous reboots during an update to the latest version of the SmartThings app.”
The spokesperson clarified that the problem is not related to the Android core but rather caused by an update to the SmartThings app. This software, developed by Samsung for controlling other appliances, comes pre-installed on most Galaxy devices, leading to widespread impact.
This revelation has left some users questioning the reliability of Samsung updates and whether investing in flagship phones is worth the risk of potential malfunctions.
“After hearing stories like this, the idea of receiving seven years of updates seems less appealing,” shared Redditor Bassexpander. “I might opt for a slightly older midrange phone for my next purchase, considering the risks of flagship devices being bricked or experiencing hardware failures within a few years.”
It’s worth noting that this bug specifically affects older devices running Android 12. Users on Android 13 or later are likely safe for now, until the next potentially device-breaking bug emerges in the future.
Image credit: Petras Gagilas
