UK S21 Ultra Unlocked I bought just before New year still on May security patch?

[Matthew-Long]

Hello, I have had many Samsung Galaxy phones, but this is my first post!

Just a little puzzled. I bought my Galaxy S21 Ultra 256gb (Unlocked) from Laptops Direct on Boxing day. It was deliverd a few days later, and has been online since just before New Year's eve. But it still has yet to have a single update. It's still on Android 11 and May 2021 security patch. I've now had the phone about 2 weeks but still no update? What really takes the ***** is my S20, which I will soon be selling on Ebay, has just received Android 12 and December's security patch, when my S21 is running on software nearly a year out of date. Is this normal? I don't really want to use the Samsung switch app to force an update.

Any ideas? 

Thank you in advance 🙂 

Matthew Long 

[DFW1]

Laptop direct caught me out on a A40, sent me a Spanish phone, I was expecting a UK model, check what model number is shown on there Web site for the S21U you have just brought, if its a UK model you got them by the short and curlys

[Matthew-Long · Accepted solution]

Just an update on this..... 

So on the advice given here. I have since returned the phone back to Laptops Direct... They confirmed that it was imported. I said that wouldn't really have been a problem, but as it had 2 country codes, it would never receive any updates. I decided to buy it from somewhere else for a little bit more, and (out of the box) it was on October update - and within 5 minutes it updated to Android 12 and January 2022 security update 🙂 

I have finally received a full refund from LTD - and have learnt from this experience. You do (most of the time) get what you pay for! I wasn't prepared to have a phone costing over £1000, that was out of date. 

Thank you everyone for their advice 🙂 

[ironass]

You are not the only one to be screwed by Laptops Direct. 

See... https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s21-series/just-bought-s21-no-updates/m-p/4707921#M38707

[Spankz]

Were they tricky to deal with? I'm in the same boat...

[Matthew-Long]

They were a little difficult as I could never actually speak to them. It had to be done though messaging backwards and forwards. It was long winded, but eventually got there. I did get a full refund in the end, but not happy and a lot of time wasted. I would say to anyone in the UK, just pay the little extra and get it somewhere else. My new S21 Ultra is bang up to date, with Android 12 and January's security patch. I expect that I will soon get Februarys update soon 🙂 

Very happy with the phone now it's all set up again!! 😊👍

[Matthew-Long]

I would also add... To anyone that buys an S21 now, do the following....

Switch it on, and skip all the setting up and just log into your Google account. Don't worry about downloading any apps. Just leave it on and let it do all the updates including Android 12 - they should come through almost straight away. When it's all upto date, I'd recommend doing a full factory reset as Android 12 is a big update. Then you can have a freshly updated phone which you can then customise 🙂 

[Rufaro14]

Hello has this worked for anyone yet before i reset my phone.

i have had this phone for over 7 months now and i probably cant return it i have tried smart switch to update and it did not work. 

[ironass]

@Rufaro14 

Your screenshot shows that you have the Snapdragon U.S. variant that is carrier locked to AT&T. 

You might be better posting in the U.S. section of the forums for your device model as this is the European, Exynos, forum. See...

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S21/bd-p/GalaxyS21

[Rufaro14]

ok thank you

[Rufaro14]

i am currently not in the us though and my phone still works with another sim card