Samsung Fold 5 Android UI (out of region)

[SSchism]

If you buy a Samsung phone out of region i.e. EU use but purchased in US you will not get any Android patches or UI updates. There is no Samsung technical solution, so basically you have to buy another phone.

No idea why Android patches or UI should be locked to a region as you'd expect Samsung to make this update global.

You will not be made aware of this at point of purchase, SIM insertion or profile set up stages.

I only found out 14 months after purchase and now have a phone which will degrade over time as zero Android or UI updates will be done. Probably will reduced my phone and data security also.

Samsung direction is to trade it in for a new one. Very unlikely after this fiasco with this extra cost to me. 

I will be buying a new phone but it'll be Apple as they seems to have better global OS updates and security patching.

Incredibly bad response from Samsung customer support. Its a shame as its great hardware but stupid regional license policies association with Android and UI software let's the product down.

Good luck to the Samsung user community but its now good bye.

[keith30]

It's well known, see plenty threads on here complaining about not getting yet updates cos of that issue your just prescribed.

[SSchism]

Thanks, really poorly though out link for UI and Android to a region. Global hardware....

[Moiramon]

The biggest problem is the warranty is more or less void. The reason it's not global updates is that there are different hardware configurations in some regions. So it's not recommended to buy out of region Samsung phones. You can get updates though but you need to change the service provider software version to match the region the phone was intended for. You need to know what your doing or you could brick your phone. Hence it's recommended to buy a phone for your region. Buying a EU phone to use in the US is not really beneficial as the US spec phones normally have the better Snapdragon CPU on most phones.

[SSchism]

Again, need that advice at point of purchase, phone profile set up or when SIM is inserted. No point 14 or 15 months down the line. I bought US phone on US business trip as my other Fold 3 screen was in for repair and so went for an upgrade.

[Moiramon]

It depends if you told them you're going to use it in the EU.

[SSchism]

I didn't have that chat, but will do in future. Hopefully Apple sales person will remind me if I forget in future!

[Moiramon]

Also consider Google phone. There's are global so works anywhere. You'd also get updates a lot sooner.

[SSchism]

Good idea, I'll look into that. I'm more or less done with Samsung. Camera's any good on Google compared to Samsung?

[BandOfBrothers]

@SSchism my personal experience of importing a Samsung phone from Hong Kong to the Uk resulted in the phone still receiving updates, however the Manufacturer's Warranty was invalid and certain parts of the Samsung Members App under the benefits section was blank.