Samsung March 2022 update rolling out to Galaxy phones

Samsung is now rolling out the latest March 2022 Android security update, including One UI 4.1 for some devices, to its massive lineup of Galaxy devices.

Samsung March 2022 security update – what’s new

As has typically been the case, the first Samsung Galaxy phones to receive the March update actually did so before March had even began, with the patch arriving on February 25. According to Google’s official security bulletin, the patch includes fixes for 19 issues.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s own patch notes (via SamMobile) – which also list some of the many improvements specific to Galaxy devices – show that the March 2022 patch includes 50 security fixes, 29 of which are tagged as “high” severity and two tagged “critical.” Google’s description of one of the “critical” issues says that a flaw in the Android system could give an attacker escalated privileges on your phone without you needing to tap anything.

For some of Samsung’s older devices, including the Galaxy Note 20, the March update also includes the upgrade to One UI 4.1, which debuted on the Galaxy S22 and Tab S8. Among the changes in One UI 4.1, you may find an upgraded Expert Camera, an “Object Eraser” in the Gallery app, and “Live Sharing” in Google Duo.

Samsung’s own on-device patch notes only include a single line of information on Galaxy S22 phones.

• Overall stability of functions improved.

However, there is also a second update rolling out to the Galaxy S22 series this month to address issues with the Game Optimization Service (more on that down below). Here are the patch notes for that secondary update:

• By performing this software update, your device will:
  – not limit CPU/GPU performance during early stages of gameplay
  * maintain a performance management feature based on device temperature
  – provide “Alternate game performance management mode” in Game Booster
  – allow 3rd party apps to bypass Game Optimizing Service
• The stability of Camera has been improved.
• Overall stability of your device has been improved.
• The security of your device has been improved.

This list will include a note on where the update first debuted and if it is also available in the United States. As usual, the latest additions will be marked in bold.

Galaxy S series

This month’s security update cycle kicked off with the Galaxy S22 on February 25 – the phone’s launch day – with the patch said to improve the display issues that some early adopters of Samsung’s flagship were reporting. The patch rolled out more widely, including to Snapdragon variants of the Galaxy S22, on March 7, but didn’t reach the United States until March 18.

Next in line, on March 11, Samsung began rolling out the update to the Galaxy S10 Lite, followed very shortly thereafter by 2018’s Galaxy S9. The following week, on March 14, Samsung updated last year’s Galaxy S21 series to the new version, with the more affordable Galaxy S21 FE getting its One UI 4.1 update on March 20.

On March 22, Samsung rolled out the One UI 4.1 update to the full Galaxy S10 lineup including the lower-end S10e and the S10 5G upgrade. That same day, the Galaxy S20 series devices were updated as well, with the Galaxy S20 FE a few days behind.

Samsung is also reportedly rolling out a second March patch to the Galaxy S22 series, intended to disable the Game Optimization Service. This service actually slows down your phone’s maximum performance while playing games in order to keep temperatures down and conserve battery life. However, it has recently become the center of controversy, with many petitioning for its removal. For all other devices getting an upgrade to One UI 4.1, this same fix is also included.

• Galaxy S22 – S90xBXXU1AVBF / S90xEXXU1AVBF (Released first in Germany)
  • Note: A second patch (S90xxXXu1AVC6) is also available in Europe & Asia
  • US: Available for locked and unlocked devices.
• Galaxy S21 FE — G990USQU2CVC3 (Released first in the US)
  • US: Available for carrier locked devices.
• Galaxy S21 – G99xU1UES5BVC1 (Released first in the US)
  • US: Available for locked and unlocked devices.
• Galaxy S20 FE 5G — G781BXXU4FVC2 (Released first in Poland)
• Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra — G98xNKSU1GVC3 (Released first in South Korea)
• Galaxy S10 5G — G977BXXUBHVC6 (Released first in Switzerland)
• Galaxy S10 / S10+ / S10e — G97xFXXUEHVC6 (Released first in Switzerland)
• Galaxy S10 Lite – G770FXXS6FVB7 (Released first in Spain)
• Galaxy S9/S9+ – G96xFXXUHFVB4 (Released first in Germany)

Galaxy Z foldables

In recent years, Samsung has become the biggest name in foldable smartphones, with its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series covering two distinct markets for the blossoming technology. The Galaxy Z Flip allows your phone to be more compact when not in use, while the Z Fold is ready to unfold into a tablet-like experience. For some of the Galaxy Z foldables, the March update includes One UI 4.1, bringing a wealth of new features, including some for larger-screen devices.

One UI 4.1 made its debut onto the Z series line of foldables starting on March 15, with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. The Galaxy Z Flip and Z Flip 5G are in a confusing spot this month, with some regions seeing a lone March update while others have received a full One UI 4.1 update.

Things continued to be hit or miss for One UI 4.1 on foldables this month, with the Galaxy Z Fold 2 so far only getting the major software update in South Korea, while US devices only got the security patch. Meanwhile, the original Galaxy Fold and Fold 5G received both the patch and One UI 4.1 without issue.

getting a standalone security update on March 25, while the original Galaxy Fold picked up the security update and One UI 4.1 simultaneously.

• Galaxy Z Fold 3 — F926NKSU1CVC5 (Released first in South Korea)
  • US: Available on carrier locked devices.
• Galaxy Z Flip 3 — F711NKSU2CVC5 (Released first in South Korea)
• Galaxy Z Fold 2 — F916NKSU1FVC5 (Released first in South Korea)
  • US: Available on unlocked devices.
• Galaxy Z Flip 5G — F707BXXU6GVC2 (Released first in Switzerland)
• Galaxy Z Flip — F700FXXU8GVC2 (Released first in Italy)
• Galaxy Fold — F90xxXXU6HVC6 (Released first in France)

Galaxy Note series

In recent years, Samsung has moved away from having a dedicated Galaxy Note series, instead opting to implement the signature S Pen features into the Galaxy S series. That said, Samsung isn’t abandoning those who bought a Galaxy Note phone, as updates are still rolling out swiftly and regularly.

To that end, the Galaxy Note 20 was the first device to get an upgrade to One UI 4.1, following its debut on the Galaxy S22 series and Tab S8. On the 22nd, the Galaxy Note 10 picked up this same update.

• Galaxy Note 20 / 20+ / 20 Ultra — N98xFXXU3FVC5 (Released first in Switzerland)
  • US: Available on carrier locked devices.
• Galaxy Note 10 / 10+ — N97xFXXU7HVC6 (Released first in Switzerland)

Galaxy Tab series

In addition to their wide range of phones for all budgets, Samsung is also the leader in Android tablets, offering options in both the high-end and the mid-range. While typically not updated as frequently as smartphones, these tablets do still receive security updates roughly once every three months.

On March 18, Samsung began rolling out updates for both the Galaxy Tab S7 and the more affordable Galaxy Tab S7 FE in various parts of Europe. The previous year’s Galaxy Tab S6 Lite was next, picking up the March update on the 21st.

• Galaxy Tab S7 — T875XXS2CVC4 (Released first in Europe)
• Galaxy Tab S7 FE — T736BXXU1BVC2 (Released first in the United Kingdom)
• Galaxy Tab S6 Lite — P615XXU4EVC5 (Released first in France)

Galaxy A & other affordable series

One of the core advantages of Samsung’s lineup of low-end and mid-range Galaxy devices, setting them apart from essentially all other affordable Androids but the Google Pixel A-Series, is that they receive updates on a regular basis. This is especially true of the Galaxy A series, but other affordable options like the Galaxy M series and F series are no strangers to patches.

The Galaxy A52 was one of the first Samsung devices to receive this month’s update, with customers in South America and beyond seeing the patch on March 11. That phone’s “s” upgrade, the Galaxy A52s 5G, was close behind with an update on March 15. The middle child of this confusing lineup, the Galaxy A52 5G, also marked the first affordable Samsung device to get the One UI 4.1 update.

The uniquely styled Galaxy A12 from earlier this year, with its teardrop notch, picked up its latest update on March 16, albeit only in Hong Kong for now. Samsung rolled the update out to the Galaxy A41 as well on the following day. That phone’s sequel, the Galaxy A42 5G, was bumped up to One UI 4.1 on March 24.

While many device owners have been eagerly awaiting the slight bump to One UI 4.1, there are still quite a few supported phones that haven’t yet gotten the One UI 4.0 update with Android 12. Until March 24, the Galaxy A90 5G was one of those phones, but thankfully that’s been remedied. By contrast, the Galaxy A71 also received the March update the next day, but remained on Android 11.

Side-by-side updates for the Galaxy A02s and Galaxy A13 arrived on March 25, though neither was updated to One UI 4.1. Later that same day, the Galaxy M52 became the first of the Galaxy M series to get the One UI 4.1 update, though with a surprisingly large patch size at roughly 2.5GB. The large and durable Galaxy Xcover 5 also got an update on the 25th, though it still remains on Android 11.

• Galaxy A90 5G — A908NKSU4EVC1 (Released first in South Korea)
• Galaxy A71 — A715FXXS8BVC1 (Released first in Spain)
• Galaxy A52s 5G — A528BXXS1BVC2 (Released first in Europe)
• Galaxy A52 5G — A526BXXU1CVC4 (Released first in Europe)
• Galaxy A52 — A525xUBS4BVB2 (Released first in South America)
• Galaxy A42 5G — A426BXXU3DVC2 (Released first in Italy)
• Galaxy A41 — A415FXXS1CVC1 (Released first in Switzerland)
• Galaxy A13 — A135xXXU1AVC6 (Released first in Europe)
• Galaxy A12 — A125FZHS2BVC2 (Released first in Hong Kong)
• Galaxy A02s — A025xXXS4BVC2 (Released first in Europe)
• Galaxy M52 5G — M526BXXU1BVC6 (Released first in India)
• Galaxy Xcover 5 — G525FXXU5AVC1 (Released first in Europe)

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