Some Samsung Galaxy S21 series phones are facing green line issue: report

Published On: April 18, 2024

Highlights

Some Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S21 FE screens show vertical green lines after certain software updates.
Samsung hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issue.
A faulty internal component is believed to be the possible cause of green lines on phone screens.

Several Samsung Galaxy S21 series users have been complaining about the infamous “green line” issue on their phones. Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S21 FE users appear to be mainly affected. Let’s see what the problem is, whether it impacts your phone usage, what causes it, and the solution.

Show Full Article

Samsung Galaxy S21 series green line issue: what is it

First, the issue is as it sounds: the phones have a vertical green line from the top to the bottom of the display.

Samsung S21 FE green line issue after i updated my phone Was never expecting this from Samsung ! #greenline #Samsung #samsung21FE @SamsungMobile @SamsungIndia pic.twitter.com/3LURFmKMOK
— à®ªà®¾à®ªà¯ à®°à®µà®¿ðŸŽ (@Babu__R) April 12, 2024

Multiple users have posted on X and Reddit about the sudden appearance of a green line on their Galaxy S21 series phones. Notably, this started appearing after certain software updates on their phones.
A Galaxy S21 Ultra user claimed on X the other day that the green lines surfaced after patching to the April security update. Although it doesn’t seem to affect the phone’s functionality, it can be annoying to look at.
Samsung is yet to comment on this issue. So, the exact reason is not known but here’s what we think:

What could be the cause of the green line issue?

This issue isn’t limited to just Samsung phones as you may have heard about other brand’s phones facing this issue.
Even though it’s known to happen following a software update, it doesn’t seem entirely a software bug. If it is, it could be easily fixed.
Unfortunately, the green line issue is said to be caused by a hardware defect. It is found on AMOLED displays with loose, damaged, or defective display connectors or flex cables. These internal components connect the motherboard and the screen.

Also Read

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra users complain of green line on the screen: report

OnePlus green line issue: company offers lifetime screen warranty, upgrade discounts

Samsung Galaxy XCover7 review: a true-blue workhorse

Perhaps, on older phones, the flex cable may get loose or damaged due to heat from resource-intensive tasks or environmental factors. The cables may also be faulty to begin with. But, there’s no conclusive evidence for any of this.
As for solving it, the phone’s display or worst-case scenario its motherboard may have to be replaced. But again, you are advised to contact Samsung’s customer support with photos and documents verifying the issue. The cause and solution may differ depending on the phone model and your specific circumstance.