Galaxy S21 FE users, you have a small Christmas gift from Samsung. The company has released the December update for your phone. No, it isn’t the One UI 7.0 update you have been waiting for — that’s still at least a month away. Instead, you are getting the latest security patch with over 40 vulnerability fixes. The update is available globally, including in the US.
Samsung rolls out December update for the Galaxy S21 FE
Samsung recently started pushing the December security update, aka SMR (Security Maintenance Release), to the Galaxy S21 FE. The US units first received the new patch, with firmware build numbers G990USQSEGXK3 (carrier-locked) and G990U1UESEGXK2 (unlocked). The update has since expanded to more regions, including Europe, where it’s getting the build number G990BXXSBGXL2.
Regardless of the build version, the changelog is the same everywhere. Samsung is rolling out this month’s security fixes to the device. There are no additional changes, new features, or improvements. This update makes the Galaxy S21 FE more secure. As mentioned above, the December SMR contains over 40 patches, at least six of which are critical security fixes.
Samsung has already rolled out these patches to dozens of other smartphones, including all recent flagships and foldables. A handful of mid-range devices have also received the December update. The Galaxy S21 FE is the newest to the party. You can check for updates from the Settings app on your phone. Go to the Software update menu and tap on Download and install.
This Fan Edition handset is eligible for Samsung’s One UI 7.0 update, which is based on Android 15. The company is currently testing the big update. It has launched beta programs for the Galaxy S24 series in several markets. The stable rollout is expected to begin in late January, following the Galaxy S25 launch. The new flagships could debut on January 22, 2025.
