Monday, September 9, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 (GT-N5100) S-pen misalignment issue after Android 4.2.2 update

Several weeks ago, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 (GT-N5100) around the world started to get a firmware update to upgrade its Android version 4.1.2 to Android 4.2.2. The build number of my Galaxy Note 8.0 becomes JDQ39.N5100XXCMH1 after the update.

Unfortunately, this firmware update has introduced a new bug to the S-pen of the tablet. There is a slight offset of the landing point of the S-pen on its screen. This problem doesn't exist in previous version of firmware with Android 4.1.2, where the S-pen landed perfectly.

The misalignment problem behaves differently depend on the orientation of the tablet. When it is in upright portrait mode (where the Samsung logo is on top), the landing point is offsetted to the bottom right from the tip of the S-pen, as shown below:


When it is rotated clockwise in landscape mode, the landing point is offsetted to the bottom left from the tip of the S-pen.


When it is rotated anti-clockwise in landscape mode, the landing point is offsetted to the upper right from the tip of the S-pen.


When it is rotated 180 degree upside-down (where the Home button is on top), the landing point is perfect!


This S-pen misalignment issue does not bring much issue for handwriting, but will be a disturbance when drawing, sketching, or selecting an area with the S-pen, as we need the S-pen to land precisely on the screen.

Information and discussions in the Internet seems to conclude that this S-pen misalignment bug with Samsung GT-N5100 Android 4.2.2 firmware is related to its kernel.

If you are owning a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 (GT-N5100) and have not updated to the latest firmware with Android 4.2.2 yet, you have the option to withhold the firmware update to keep yourself away from being affected by this bug.

If you have already updated to the latest firmware and hit by this bug, here are your options:
  • To turn your tablet upside-down whenever you use your S-pen. Hopefully it will work fine in that weird position.
  • To restore to the previous firmware of Android 4.1.2. You can either bring the tablet to Samsung service center and ask them to revert the firmware for you. If you can find a copy of the previous firmware for Samsung GT-N5100 of your region in the Internet, you can try to use Odin to flash it to your tablet and wipe out all its caches (do this solely on your own risk!!).
  • To wait for Samsung to come out with a bug fix, probably in the next release of firmware update.
  • To flash a custom ROM which managed to fix this bug.
FYI, here is the on-going discussion in XDA-Developers forum about this S-pen misalignment problem with Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2414053


2 comments:

Voyager8 said... Reply To This Comment

This S-pen misalignment problem seems to have fixed by firmware release with build number JDQ39.N5100XXCMI1.

AndyH said... Reply To This Comment

Seems the problem has returned in the recent kitkat update to 4.4.2. Been trying to find answers or a work around and came across your page. Hope Samsung issue a Note 8 update to fix the issue soon.

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