Samsung is rolling out a new software update to the Galaxy S21 series. The update is available in the US as well as a few international markets. It doesn’t seem to bring anything notable, though. Not even a new security patch. The devices aren’t getting the February SMR (Security Maintenance Release) just yet. They remain on the January patch.
The Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra were among the first group of Samsung smartphones to receive the January 2023 security patch. Following the initial release in international markets, the Korean firm rolled out the new SMR to the phones in the US last week. Both carrier-locked and unlocked units picked up the update.
A week later, unlocked Galaxy S21 models in the US received a second update with the same security patch. The 2021 Samsung flagships are also picking up a new update in a few other markets, but with the January SMR in tow. The changelog mentions security improvements without going into details. It’s unclear what kind of security fixes the update brings.
As noted by SamMobile, which first reported this rollout, Samsung rarely pushes these kinds of updates to its phones. New updates usually bring the latest security patch or some new features. However, it isn’t totally unheard of either. There have been a few such updates for Galaxy devices in the past with no notable changes in tow.
If you’re using an unlocked Galaxy S21 phone in the US, you should get a new update with firmware version G99*U1UES5DWA4. Users in international markets are getting the same release with the firmware build number G99*BXXS5DWA4. This release should soon reach carrier-locked models in the US, as well as units in other global markets. The build number may vary slightly, though.
The Galaxy S21 series will get Samsung’s One UI 5.1 update
Samsung will launch the Galaxy S23 series today. The new flagships will debut the company’s One UI 5.1 custom software. Based on Android 13, the latest iteration of One UI brings a host of new features and improvements, including a Shared Family Album in the Gallery, an Expert RAW shortcut in the stock camera app, custom folders for saving screenshots and screen recordings, and more.
Most of these features will also be available to older Galaxy flagships. Samsung has already revealed that the One UI 5.1 update will reach all flagship models launched since the Galaxy S20 series in 2020. We will let you know when those rollouts begin. Meanwhile, stay tuned for the Galaxy S23 launch in a few hours.
2023-02-01 15:06:46