Samsung has finally released the Android 12 update for the Galaxy A21. The update is currently rolling out in the US to carrier-locked models and brings along the July 2022 security patch. The unlocked version of the Galaxy A21 hasn't received the update yet, but we expect it to get the major Android OS update within the next few days.
The Android 12 update for the Galaxy A21 comes with firmware version A215USQU7CVI3. According to Samsung's changelog, the update brings One UI Core 4.1 to the mid-range smartphone. If you want to download and install the Android 12 update on your Galaxy A21, you can do that by navigating to Settings » Software update and tapping Download and install. You can also download the new firmware file from our firmware database and flash it manually.
Galaxy A21 Android 12 (One UI Core 4.1) features
The Galaxy A21 gets a UI redesign with the Color Palette feature. It extracts primary colors from a chosen wallpaper and applies those colors to various UI elements across the system. Privacy and security have been improved, too. The phone can now display permissions at a glance so that you can decide whether you want an app to have permission to a specific aspect of your data. You can also choose to offer apps an approximate location instead of an accurate location. You can also choose to get notified if an app accesses information in your phone's clipboard.
The updated Samsung Keyboard offers more emojis, animated emoji pairs, more languages and input methods, and quicker access to emojis and other expressions. The widget picker UI design has been improved, and all the stock widgets now have a newer styling. You can switch audio output directly from the lockscreen and even check calendar entries.
Samsung has cleaned up the camera app's UI and enabled the Portrait Mode for pets. The camera app also starts recording videos as soon as the finger touches the shutter button. Earlier, the video recording used to start after the shutter button was touched and released. The new design makes sure that you never miss a precious moment.
The Gallery app now has enhanced stories, easier album sorting, image remastering, and the ability to edit or remove information (date, time, and location) within an image file. The Photo Editor also supports unlimited edits, and the whole editing history is saved, which means that you can revert changes. The sharing UI has been improved. You can customize sharing options, navigate between sharing options, and check if an image that's being shared is looking good.
The improved Calendar app has a better search, a new widget for the home screen, a quick add for events, easier date and time selection, and the option to recover deleted events. Samsung Internet now offers better search, an option to search directly from the home screen using the new widget, and the option to start the browser directly in secret mode.
The Device Care section has been improved, too. It offers you an overall status of the phone and offers various features to check if particular hardware is working as expected. Accessibility features have been improved with added Eye Comfort options and customization of flash notifications. The Dual Clock widget has improved, and switching between calls and texts is now easier.
The Dark Mode has been enhanced, and so has the charging information and animation. The display brightness slider is now thicker, offering easier access to controls. Search performance within the Messages, My Files, and Settings app has improved. There's now a central safety and emergency menu where you can add or edit relevant information.
The Edge Panel no longer blurs the background, which means that you can easily see what's going on in the current app while accessing the Edge Panel. The Picture-in-Picture window is now resizable, and there are quick access options to pop-up windows.
