Samsung HAF-CIN/EXP Filter, 2-Pack

For the past year I have had problems with Samsung refrigerator water filters. I have used Amazon subscription service to provide a new filter every six months. Last year one of the replacement filters had very slow flow and eventually stopped working. I returned that one to Amazon and bought another Samsung filter locally. That filter also had slow flow and then stopped working like the filter was clogged. The replacement filter arrived from Amazon and it worked fine. In December I received my semiannual filter delivery, and just installed it today. Started off with a slow flow and the flow began to slow down even more. Removed the filter and reinstalled it to see if that would help, but it did not. At that point I compared the filter that had worked for six months and the new filter. I also checked the reviews and found others had the same problem. One review said Samsung had changed the filters and the new ones would not work because the hole in the filter was smaller. Pictures taken for this review show both holes are 4mm. However, if you look at the picture of both filters, and the individual pictures you will see that the older filter has a larger center section around the hole and has four support points stabilizing that section. The newer filter has the smaller center section, but does not have the four supports equally spaced around the center section. Instead there appears to be plastic slotted piece surrounding and supporting the center section. Whether that slotted section is where the water enters or leaves it would greatly hamper the flow of water as it covers roughly one half (50%) of the opening. My Samsung refrigerator is just over six years old the the new redesign of the water filter does not work properly in my fridge and apparently numerous other old fridges. At $40.00 apiece and mostly new design filters on the market, do not order additional Samsung filters until Samsung fixes the problem. Generic brand filters may be your only choice other than leaving the filters out altogether. Really expect better from Samsung. Amazon has been great exchanging one filter but I have two more newer filters that don’t work. If you do purchase this filter for a Samsung fridge check the code on the upper right of the label on the filter. You can do this before you break the sealed wrapper, and if the code looks like the dot matrix B0381 that is the older filter. The stamped on EG22 is on the new filter. The code number may change but the formatting should be the same. Hope this helps some of you are having the same kind of problems and remember the filters are not clogging up, the newer design just doesn’t work. Finally, my fridge is a Samsung RF26J7500SR, 26 cubic foot three door fridge. UPDATE: After more than two hours on the phone with Samsung Customer service, a person in their E-Commerce Department, confirmed that last year Samsung changed the design of this model filter. The individual I spoke did not know the reason for the change in design but these are usually cost cutting decisions since the model number remained the same. All genuine Samsung filters have a small label on the back that has a pull-off strip that when placed on a magnet reveals a series of green stripes. That same label has a QR Scan code that will verify the serial number on that label as a genuine Samsung filter. There is no solution for the filter problem for my model fridge or other older model fridges that use this filter and are having problems. Newer Samsung fridges that use this filter apparently can handle the lower water pressure coming through the filter. A tech in their parts and service department said it was probably to help control the splashing that occurs when you replace a filter. Hope this helps.