Note 9 screen discoloring and showing grain after March 2020 update

[srikrishnap]

I am on Latest build of Samsung Note 9 - India, with March security update on board. 

I noticed that my screen shows grain whenever the brightness auto adapts to lower levels, it doesn't get normal until I keep it locked for some time and then unlock. 

Model code:  N960F (INS)

Baseband number: N960FXXS5DTB6

Software version: One UI 2.0

Build Number: QP1A.190711.020.N960FXXS5DTB6

Android Version: 10

I tried to keep the auto brightness (adaptive) to off and yet this is happening occasionally when watching videos or pictures or simply pulling down the notification bar. 

I also Factory reset it today and I found it is happening right from start - during the setup screens. 

I am pretty disappointed something like an update is pushed and that breaks the quality of a device! 

It's livable but very annoying when you are showing a picture to someone and suddenly you see the screen becomes discolored and there are grainy black lines all over the display. 

Troubleshooting steps undergone:

1. Switch off Adaptive display - Issue persists

2. Boot to Safe Mode - Issue persists

3. Did a Factory Reset - Issue persists

4. Turned off Dark mode - Issue persists

5. Connected phone to PC with USB debugging ON - Issue persists

6. USB debugging turned off - Issue persists

7. Developer Options disabled - Issue persists

8. Wipe cache partition - Issue persists

The colors only seem to deteriorate based on the brightness slider. I think some thing has changed in the adaptive lighting or brightness that is causing this. 

I dragged the slider from 0 - 100 I notice the grain when it hits 20% to 70% after that the colors are slightly better  though but as soon as I reduce I see the grains and dark lines back. 

This is seen only after March update. 

Has anyone else faced it?

[rahmat611w]

got the same version ; same build number and suffering from the same issue

[srikrishnap]

I would suggest sending a big report to Samsung describing the issue. but it is unlikely that Samsung will respond to this as expected. phone is becoming worse everyday and I am barely able to use it. just so disappointed buying a phone that costs 60k and lasts only 15 months.

[rahmat611w]

omg , I started facing this issue, like, 3 - 4 days back , until that it was fine, mine is still fine and I can use it, and like, it turns yellow and horizontal lines only when I click the power off button , but if I clicked the power off button and wait for 5 to 6 mins and re click thr power on button it works fine

[rahmat611w]

maybe downgrading it would help , and yes if you recieve a call it turns yellow again with those horizontal lines argh

[srikrishnap]

the epic strategy of Samsung - you cannot downgrade to a an older version with a boot loader version lesser than what is installed currently.
those with March update have v5 which is unique in the history of note 9 update versions. You simply have no way to go back to even Feb build because that has v4.

[srikrishnap]

after three weeks of Samsung not caring to even acknowledge the issue and giving us a mere response to this issue worldwide this is how my phone has turned into... a big rectangle color patch on the middle of the screen!!!! can't use my phone at high brightness it only gets darker on sides and center is illuminated...

[rahmat611w]

this is the worst case , hmm, Samsung is still going to blame us , they cant man up and accept that it's the software issue , **bleep** let's us downgrade so that we can use the phone

[rahmat611w]

I seriously don't care for that one UI 2.1 or 2 anyway, one U1 is perfectly fine , works great provides me with basic needs , that's what I need right now , and inventing 20k just to replace the screen is just insane and unreal would rather buy note 10 lite instead, I'm losing hope in Samsung , atleast apple is far better at handling issues

[srikrishnap]

Absolutely true. And am done with this Samsung behaviour for what it was a pioneer in display technology has started screwing it really bad. I regret buying this phone and I just feel cheated because I know I had used my phone very lightly and there is no way that I could contribute to an issue as petty and disturbing like this with my usage!

[rahmat611w]

I have similar thoughts on it to , I haven't used my phone that heavily, that the screen would burn out all of sudden for this many people and that to out of no where I'm losing my mind and its like being stuck , maybe I would have just spend extra more Penny and bought iPhone instead 😑 , Samsung, LET US DOWNGRADE