Unlocked Galaxy S21 models in the USA received Android 13 and One UI 5.0 almost a month ago, but that update came with a slightly older security patch (it had the October patch instead of the November patch, for those wondering). Now, Samsung is rolling out another Android 13-based update for unlocked Galaxy S21 modes, and this one doesn't have the latest security patch, either.
Unlocked Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultras in the USA are currently receiving an update with firmware version G991U1UEU5DVL1, G996U1UEU5DVL1, and G998U1UEU5DVL1 respectively. The update includes the November 2022 security patch, even though the December patch is already available for Galaxy S21 models elsewhere in the world and for some carrier-locked variants in the country.
December security update still not here for unlocked Galaxy S21 in the US
Thankfully, it seems the update isn't just about security enhancements. Unfortunately, we don't have the changelog at this time, so there's no telling what's new or changed. However, Samsung has hopefully fixed some bugs that may have slipped past it in the initial Android 13 release and some users will find their One UI 5.0 experience getting better after installing the latest update.
Speaking of installing updates, the procedure remains the same as usual. You can either wait for a notification about the update's availability to show up on its own, try a manual over-the-air download from the phone's Settings » Software update menu, or upgrade by downloading the latest firmware from our site and installing it on your S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra using a Windows PC.
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