April 30, 2024, 12:25 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
A defect that occurs relatively rarely causes a green line to appear on displays in Samsung smartphones. However, it seems that more users are currently affected, possibly due to a faulty Android update.
The defect primarily affects the display in older Samsung flagship models released between 2020 and 2022. In one country, Samsung support is now offering free repairs.
Update: Samsung Germany comments
TECHBOOK asked Samsung Germany whether support here also offers free repairs for the defect and received the following statement:
Samsung aims to provide its customers with the best possible experience with their mobile devices. Outstanding product quality is always a priority.
If users notice a display defect with a green line on their device, please contact Samsung customer service. Customers can find contact options at https://www.samsung.com/de/support/service-center/.
Statement Samsung Display Error “Green Line”
Samsung Pulls the Plug on These Smartphones
Samsung Service Launches in Germany–But There’s a Catch
Green line appears after Android update
On social media, users have reported in recent months about a green line appearing on their Samsung smartphones’ displays. It is unclear what exactly causes this issue. Such a defect typically indicates a hardware problem. It seems that models from the Note20, S20, S21, and S22 series are primarily affected.
In many cases, the defect occurs after installing an update for the Android operating system, according to user reports. Information from the news portal “Android Authority” suggests that the problem has increased following the installation of the April security patch.
Samsung offers free repair for display defect
User Tarun Vats has posted screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) that allegedly show interactions with Samsung support in India. According to these, Samsung acknowledges the “Green Line” defect and offers free repairs even outside the warranty. The repair, according to the screenshots, includes the display assembly with touch layer and glass (“OCTA”), battery, and a set of adhesive films for rework (“Rework Kit”). The offer applies to the following models:
- S22 Ultra (SM-S908E)
- S21 (SM-G991B), S21+ (SM-G996B), S21 Ultra (SM-G998B)
- S20 (SM-G980F), S20+ (SM-G985F), S20 Ultra (SM-G988B)
- Note 20 (SM-N980F), Note 20 Ultra (SM-N986B)
If the information is accurate, affected devices are eligible for repair if the purchase date is no more than three years ago. There must also be no physical or water damage. The free repair offer is valid only until April 30, 2024.
It is unclear what exactly causes the sudden appearance of the green line on the smartphone display. Typically, such a defect indicates a hardware problem. The reasons for this are varied and range from loose cable connections to dead pixels caused by pressure on the display. The latter can occur, for example, if the battery overheats and expands. This would at least explain why Samsung support in India also replaces the battery in affected devices.