Samsung: Difference between revisions

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==Consumer-impact summary==

====Repairability====

===Repairability===

Concerns have been raised about Samsung's business practices regarding serviceability, which have been criticized by trade organizations such as iFixit, and Repair.org<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Head |first=Scott |date=23 May 2024 |title=We’re Ending Our Samsung Collaboration |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/96162/were-ending-our-samsung-collaboration |url-status=live |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref> as well as industry professionals such as Jesse Cruz the owner of VCC Board Repairs,<ref>{{Cite web |title=VCC Board Repairs - Jesse Cruz |url=https://www.youtube.com/@VCCBoardRepairs |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and former technicians from Samsung's Independent Genuine Service Program, including ADRDaniel owner of Advanced Device Repair.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=26 Jun 2023 |title=Samsung authorized repair is a clown show; why good technicians reject authorization |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITmGXHSmL0&t=53s |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Daniel Advanced Device Repair |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ADRdaniel |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>[[File:Alternate model numbers 2.png|Alternate model numbers on samsungparts.com self service parts store.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Samsung Gh82-33385a S24 Ultra Lcd No Frame |url=https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33385a |website=samsungparts.com}}</ref>|thumb|363x363px]]

*The majority of Samsung Phones have components glued in place, making disassembly and reassembly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=24 Sep 2020 |title=What You Should Know Before You Fix: Samsung Phones |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/44164/what-you-should-know-before-you-fix-samsung-phones |url-status=live |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Matthew |date=12 Mar 2021 |title=There was hope Samsung had turned a corner in repairability, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a step backwards |url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/12/ifixit_samsung_galaxy_s21_ultra/ |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref>

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|}

====Bootloader unlocking====

===Bootloader unlocking===

[[Bootloader unlocking|Unlocking the bootloader]] of an Android device allows tech-savvy users to install a custom [https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom Android ROM], which replaces the whole system of the device.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=Custom firmware |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custom_firmware#Android |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Wikipedia |publisher=Wikipedia contributors}}</ref><sup>← {{Wplink|Wikipedia:Verifiability#Wikipedia_and_sources_that_mirror_or_use_it|[Wikipedia reference!]}}</sup> Many Samsung mobile devices outside the US and Canada can have their bootloader unlocked by various means, but this feature comes with many restrictions:<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/androidroot/comments/1g2xhd9/unlock_bootloader_for_newer_samsung_devices_in/</ref>

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https://valkyrie.cdn.ifixit.com/media/2023/01/30193712/Repair-Coalition-Letter-for-FTC-Energy-Guide-Ruling-ANPR-R611004.pdf</ref>

*Repair.org surveyed repair professionals who were able to acquire service manuals from manufactures including Samsung: "Even when they get access to those manuals, technicians sometimes don’t find the information they need. Repair manuals are often lacking fault codes and schematic diagrams needed to complete repairs."<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=8 Feb 2023 |title=Appliance Repair Pros Struggle to Find LG and Samsung Documentation |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/71693/appliance-repair-pros-struggle-to-find-lg-and-samsung-documentation |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref>

=== Refusal to implement feature requests ===

Samsung has refused to implement features highly requested by its user base on several occasions.

For example, a highly requested feature has been an option to always open the rear camera when the camera application is launched, regardless of which camera was in use when the camera application was last exited, to prevent the front camera from opening, resulting in missed pictures.

A "settings to remember" page already exists in the camera settings, but it only includes a setting for the camera '''mode''' (Photo, Video, ...), not the camera '''side''' (rear, front).

In October 2020, a Samsung representative stated "We are taking this as your suggestion. Thanks for providing your valuable suggestion and your suggestion is very important for us". As of late 2025, Samsung has not implemented this feature.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.05.10-073644/https://r1.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s/how-to-always-start-rear-camera-when-opening-camera-app/td-p/7402229 How to always start rear camera when opening Camera app]</ref>

Another highly requested feature was for Samsung's web browser "Samsung Internet" to store saved pages in the download folder without [[data lock-in]]. This was requested at least since 2020, yet the request has not been acted upon as of late 2025. Some users have stored thousands of web pages using Samsung Internet before realizing they are unable to create backups or move them to external storage.<ref>[https://archive.today/2020.12.06-103926/https://forum.developer.samsung.com/t/regarding-saved-webpages/5304/1 Regarding saved webpages - Samsung Internet - Samsung Developers Community Forums & Tech Support]</ref>

As of 2025, the pre-installed camera software on Samsung smartphones is unable to turn on the device's built-in rear LED '''continuously''' in photo mode, even though this had been requested before and would be easy for Samsung to implement. This forces the user to rely on third-party applications to be able to use a built-in device feature that the hardware already is capable of, or use an external light source.

A continuous torch light in photo mode has various uses such adjusting camera settings such as focus and exposure in close-up shots in darkness, QR code scanning in darkness with no external light source, and higher eye comfort compared to the short flash. Xiaomi smartphones have had this feature since the 2010s.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.11.03-081938/https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s24-serie/taschenlampe-soll-brennen-wenn-ein-foto-geschossen-wird/td-p/10439198 Taschenlampe soll brennen wenn ein Foto geschossen wird]</ref>

=== Arbitrary restrictions ===

Samsung sometimes imposes restrictions on their users that are technically not necessary. Two examples of such restrictions are on the Galaxy A series, the the lack of a manual flash option at the highest photo resolution of 50 or 64 megapixels depending on the model, meaning only automatic flash is possible, as well as the inability to set the resolution to 50 or 64 megapixels in manual mode.<ref>This can be confirmed with any Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone from 2021 to 2025.</ref>

==Incidents==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Consumer-impact summary==
-====Repairability====
+===Repairability===
 Concerns have been raised about Samsung's business practices regarding serviceability, which have been criticized by trade organizations such as iFixit, and Repair.org<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Head |first=Scott |date=23 May 2024 |title=We’re Ending Our Samsung Collaboration |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/96162/were-ending-our-samsung-collaboration |url-status=live |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref> as well as industry professionals such as Jesse Cruz the owner of VCC Board Repairs,<ref>{{Cite web |title=VCC Board Repairs - Jesse Cruz |url=https://www.youtube.com/@VCCBoardRepairs |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> and former technicians from Samsung's Independent Genuine Service Program, including ADRDaniel owner of Advanced Device Repair.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=26 Jun 2023 |title=Samsung authorized repair is a clown show; why good technicians reject authorization |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ITmGXHSmL0&t=53s |url-status=live |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Daniel Advanced Device Repair |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ADRdaniel |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>[[File:Alternate model numbers 2.png|Alternate model numbers on samsungparts.com self service parts store.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Samsung Gh82-33385a S24 Ultra Lcd No Frame |url=https://samsungparts.com/products/gh82-33385a |website=samsungparts.com}}</ref>|thumb|363x363px]]
 *The majority of Samsung Phones have components glued in place, making disassembly and reassembly difficult.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=24 Sep 2020 |title=What You Should Know Before You Fix: Samsung Phones |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/44164/what-you-should-know-before-you-fix-samsung-phones |url-status=live |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Matthew |date=12 Mar 2021 |title=There was hope Samsung had turned a corner in repairability, but the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a step backwards |url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/12/ifixit_samsung_galaxy_s21_ultra/ |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=The Register}}</ref>
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 |}
-====Bootloader unlocking====
+===Bootloader unlocking===
 [[Bootloader unlocking|Unlocking the bootloader]] of an Android device allows tech-savvy users to install a custom [https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/android-rom Android ROM], which replaces the whole system of the device.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=Custom firmware |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custom_firmware#Android |access-date=17 Aug 2025 |website=Wikipedia |publisher=Wikipedia contributors}}</ref><sup>← {{Wplink|Wikipedia:Verifiability#Wikipedia_and_sources_that_mirror_or_use_it|[Wikipedia reference!]}}</sup> Many Samsung mobile devices outside the US and Canada can have their bootloader unlocked by various means, but this feature comes with many restrictions:<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/androidroot/comments/1g2xhd9/unlock_bootloader_for_newer_samsung_devices_in/</ref>
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 https://valkyrie.cdn.ifixit.com/media/2023/01/30193712/Repair-Coalition-Letter-for-FTC-Energy-Guide-Ruling-ANPR-R611004.pdf</ref>
 *Repair.org  surveyed repair professionals who were able to acquire service manuals from manufactures including Samsung: "Even when they get access to those manuals, technicians sometimes don’t find the information they need. Repair manuals are often lacking fault codes and schematic diagrams needed to complete repairs."<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=8 Feb 2023 |title=Appliance Repair Pros Struggle to Find LG and Samsung Documentation |url=https://it.ifixit.com/News/71693/appliance-repair-pros-struggle-to-find-lg-and-samsung-documentation |access-date=29 Jun 2025 |website=iFixit}}</ref>
+=== Refusal to implement feature requests ===
+Samsung has refused to implement features highly requested by its user base on several occasions.
+For example, a highly requested feature has been an option to always open the rear camera when the camera application is launched, regardless of which camera was in use when the camera application was last exited, to prevent the front camera from opening, resulting in missed pictures.
+A "settings to remember" page already exists in the camera settings, but it only includes a setting for the camera '''mode''' (Photo, Video, ...), not the camera '''side''' (rear, front).
+In October 2020, a Samsung representative stated "We are taking this as your suggestion. Thanks for providing your valuable suggestion and your suggestion is very important for us". As of late 2025, Samsung has not implemented this feature.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.05.10-073644/https://r1.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s/how-to-always-start-rear-camera-when-opening-camera-app/td-p/7402229 How to always start rear camera when opening Camera app]</ref>
+Another highly requested feature was for Samsung's web browser "Samsung Internet" to store saved pages in the download folder without [[data lock-in]]. This was requested at least since 2020, yet the request has not been acted upon as of late 2025. Some users have stored thousands of web pages using Samsung Internet before realizing they are unable to create backups or move them to external storage.<ref>[https://archive.today/2020.12.06-103926/https://forum.developer.samsung.com/t/regarding-saved-webpages/5304/1 Regarding saved webpages - Samsung Internet - Samsung Developers Community Forums & Tech Support]</ref>
+As of 2025, the pre-installed camera software on Samsung smartphones is unable to turn on the device's built-in rear LED '''continuously''' in photo mode, even though this had been requested before and would be easy for Samsung to implement. This forces the user to rely on third-party applications to be able to use a built-in device feature that the hardware already is capable of, or use an external light source.
+A continuous torch light in photo mode has various uses such adjusting camera settings such as focus and exposure in close-up shots in darkness, QR code scanning in darkness with no external light source, and higher eye comfort compared to the short flash. Xiaomi smartphones have had this feature since the 2010s.<ref>[https://archive.today/2025.11.03-081938/https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/galaxy-s24-serie/taschenlampe-soll-brennen-wenn-ein-foto-geschossen-wird/td-p/10439198 Taschenlampe soll brennen wenn ein Foto geschossen wird]</ref>
+=== Arbitrary restrictions ===
+Samsung sometimes imposes restrictions on their users that are technically not necessary. Two examples of such restrictions are on the Galaxy A series, the the lack of a manual flash option at the highest photo resolution of 50 or 64 megapixels depending on the model, meaning only automatic flash is possible, as well as the inability to set the resolution to 50 or 64 megapixels in manual mode.<ref>This can be confirmed with any Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone from 2021 to 2025.</ref>
 ==Incidents==