S20 FE proximity sensor

[B CBSLC]

I'm having the same problem! https://youtu.be/f95u_PqrUrA

 

[THEPRFCT10]

I'm having the same problem! https://youtu.be/f95u_PqrUrA

Great video demonstrating the problem we are having as you are not alone and I am having the same exact issue as you my hope is after several communication attempts with Samsung via the members app several have responded telling me that it is a known issue with the virtual proximity sensor on this phone utilizing the front facing camera and that a software update is in the works to fix the issue and that it's not in fact a hardware problem so I guess we got that going for us

 

[californiajay]

Yes, this is the problem alright.
I've come to realize though that for me, it's really only a problem when I am on a call which requires me to keep the dial pad on the screen, like when I am picking options like "for customer service dial 1" etc. Normally when making a regular call, the dial pad doesn't come up. Same for answering a call. When the dial pad IS on the screen, I've learned that if I must put my ear to the phone, I can avoid the problem just by angling the phone away from my mouth and only touching the top of the phone with my ear.
So, I've learned to cope with it.

 

[THEPRFCT10]

Yes, this is the problem alright.
I've come to realize though that for me, it's really only a problem when I am on a call which requires me to keep the dial pad on the screen, like when I am picking options like "for customer service dial 1" etc. Normally when making a regular call, the dial pad doesn't come up. Same for answering a call. When the dial pad IS on the screen, I've learned that if I must put my ear to the phone, I can avoid the problem just by angling the phone away from my mouth and only touching the top of the phone with my ear.
So, I've learned to cope with it.

You can also push the power button when the screen flashes on to force it to stay off. It's a bandaid and it bothers me but I'm hoping an update will fix this.

 

[californiajay]

You can also push the power button when the screen flashes on to force it to stay off. It's a bandaid and it bothers me but I'm hoping an update will fix this.

Thanks, I know about that but I prefer to keep the power button to allow me to end calls. Besides, using the power button would defeat the purpose anyway since the problem manifests itself when I am on a call with a menu system where asked to "press 1 for customer service," or "press 2 to speak with a representative," and so on. The screen cannot be off during such a call.

I got the update pushed to me last night that fixes some of the screen issues and of course the first thing I had to try was the issue talked about in this thread. While I will not say yet definitively, I am happy to report that I have yet to see the phone dial a number when I bring it up to my ear now. Again, I am not going to jump to any conclusion here but if that update fixed this, I'd be thrilled.

EDIT: I've actually done some more testing and now see there really is no difference whatsoever. If ANYTHING, the screen lags a bit now or doesn't even come back sometimes after taking my ear AWAY from the phone. Apparently they tried to do something but may have actually made it worse because of that.

What a shame. It's otherwise a real nice phone but now with this problem and the fact that the screen doesn't always come back on, this may be a deal breaker for me.

 

[THEPRFCT10]

Thanks, I know about that but I prefer to keep the power button to allow me to end calls. Besides, using the power button would defeat the purpose anyway since the problem manifests itself when I am on a call with a menu system where asked to "press 1 for customer service," or "press 2 to speak with a representative," and so on. The screen cannot be off during such a call.

I got the update pushed to me last night that fixes some of the screen issues and of course the first thing I had to try was the issue talked about in this thread. While I will not say yet definitively, I am happy to report that I have yet to see the phone dial a number when I bring it up to my ear now. Again, I am not going to jump to any conclusion here but if that update fixed this, I'd be thrilled.

That's hopeful!

 

[warrusty]

I just purchased the Samsung S20 FE 5G UW (how about we shorten this to FE UW?) with all updates AND a glass screen protector and have no touch/proximity issues.

FYI I bought it at the Costco kiosk for a few dollars less per month, no activation charges and a 90 day return policy.

 

[californiajay]

That's hopeful!

You didn't see the edit on my post.
The problem with putting the phone to my ear has not gone away at all. As I said in a previous post, I have learned to make adjustments for it, but it has not gone away.
Another problem though is that since the update, it seems that the screen sometimes now does not turn back on after taking the phone AWAY from my face.I can see that when it does come back on it takes a bit longer than before, but every once in awhile it will not come back on at all. Not good.

 

[THEPRFCT10]

You didn't see the edit on my post.
The problem with putting the phone to my ear has not gone away at all. As I said in a previous post, I have learned to make adjustments for it, but it has not gone away.
Another problem though is that since the update, it seems that the screen sometimes now does not turn back on after taking the phone AWAY from my face.I can see that when it does come back on it takes a bit longer than before, but every once in awhile it will not come back on at all. Not good.

Ugh sorry to hear that. Bummer.

 

[J Dubbs]

You didn't see the edit on my post.
The problem with putting the phone to my ear has not gone away at all. As I said in a previous post, I have learned to make adjustments for it, but it has not gone away.
Another problem though is that since the update, it seems that the screen sometimes now does not turn back on after taking the phone AWAY from my face.I can see that when it does come back on it takes a bit longer than before, but every once in awhile it will not come back on at all. Not good.

You are incredibly patient just working with your phone as long as you have. A touchscreen smartphones number 1 priority is to go dark before you put it to your ear and light back up when you pull it away. After decades of making these devices there's no excuse for the simplest, most important feature not to work. I would have returned the phone the next day. And If the replacement didn't work, I'd be buying another brand of phone

 

[californiajay]

You are incredibly patient just working with your phone as long as you have. A touchscreen smartphones number 1 priority is to go dark before you put it to your ear and light back up when you pull it away. After decades of making these devices there's no excuse for the simplest, most important feature not to work. I would have returned the phone the next day. And If the replacement didn't work, I'd be buying another brand of phone

Well thanks, that's the first time I've been told I am patient LOL
Truth be told, I spoke with T-Mobile about returning the phone and they gave me a real hard time about it claiming that it would be a warranty repair issue and it would take a few days for them having the phone in their possession to determine whether or not I could receive a replacement. This was after owning the thing for only 2 days. Yes I was very upset about that but began to wonder if I was just being too critical of the device because the problem really wasn't all that severe.
I took a look at my wife's iphone 11 pro last night and saw that it too didn't turn off the screen until the phone was right up to her ear. Thing is, on normal phone calls it is not an issue. It only is when one needs to respond to prompts with the keypad. The phone is actually loud enough that when doing so, it's not even really necessary to hold the phone right up to one's ear to do so.
So again, I can live with it, but wouldn't mind seeing the problem go away.

 

[B CBSLC]

I also go the update and am still experiencing the issue. Also got mine at costco and also did the rebate thing, so its going to be a serious hassle to return. I also turned in my S9 (solid error). I submitted an error report to Samsung via the Samsung Members app and I was told that is the best way to get tech's to look at the problem. So if you can reproduce, do so, and send in an error report. Last night I activated a real time text by hitting the ellipses, I didn't even know I had activated the feature. Feels like a work around on a $650 phone is not an acceptable solution.

 

[jlost]

I had this same issue with a Sony phone I had once. Yes, pushing the power button fixes the issue temporarily.

 

[B CBSLC]

I got this response from Samsung https://imgur.com/771S4E5 They claim they can fix with a software update.

 

[wilson_smyth]

The virtual proximity sensor works a lot better when the phone is being used to make a call. Its still a lot slower than my s7 to go dark and light up again when i take the phone down from my head, but when on a call, it works a lot better than in the diagnostics mode.

My guess is that the algorithm controlling the "virtual sensor" is accounting for:
1. is the camera getting a lot less light.
2. is the screen experiencing a large area of touch up near the earpiece.
3. is the phone being used to make a call.

if the phone is not being used for a call at time of testing, the screen doesnt easily go black.