Some Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra owners say their phones are losing battery unusually quickly, becoming hotter and charging more slowly after installing Samsung’s July 2026 security update.
Complaints have appeared across Reddit and Samsung’s community forums, where affected users describe battery life falling sharply even during light or normal use.
One Galaxy S24 Ultra owner said the phone dropped from 85% to 5% after only two hours of screen time. Others reported excessive heat during basic tasks and charging speeds that appeared slower than before the update.
Samsung has not officially confirmed that the July update is causing the problems, so it remains unclear how widespread the issue is or whether every complaint has the same underlying cause.
Users Are Reporting Three Related Problems
Battery drain is the most common complaint, but it is not the only issue being reported.
Some owners say their Galaxy S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra now feels warm during activities that previously caused little or no noticeable heat. Others claim charging takes longer, potentially because the phone reduces charging speed when its internal temperature becomes too high.
One Samsung Community post describes rapid battery loss during both active use and screen-off periods, with the phone falling below 15% within around three and a half hours. The same user also reported constant warmth, reduced charging performance and general performance problems following the update.
Battery drain, overheating and slow charging can be connected.
When an app or system process continues running heavily in the background, it uses more power and generates additional heat. A warmer phone may then limit processor performance or charging speed to protect the battery and other internal components.
That does not prove the July update is responsible, but it could explain why some owners are seeing several symptoms at the same time.
WhatsApp May Be Involved For Some Users
Several affected owners have pointed to WhatsApp as one possible source of the increased battery consumption.
A Samsung Community discussion suggests that disabling automatic WhatsApp backups has reduced battery drain for some users following the One UI 8.5 July update. However, this is only a community-reported workaround and has not been confirmed as a universal fix.
The problem could involve the way WhatsApp or another app interacts with the updated system rather than a fault affecting the entire operating system.
Users can check this by opening Settings, tapping Battery, and reviewing the list of apps using the most power. An app consuming an unusually large percentage of the battery while barely being used may be contributing to the problem.
Still, not every complaint mentions WhatsApp. Other users report heavy battery loss without identifying one application as the clear cause.
The July Update Was Mainly A Security Patch
Samsung began distributing the July 2026 security update to the Galaxy S25 series around July 14, followed by the Galaxy S24 series in additional markets.
The Galaxy S25 firmware ends in CZG3, while the Galaxy S24 update carries firmware ending in DZG1 in supported regions. Samsung’s July Security Maintenance Release includes security fixes supplied by both Google and Samsung.
The update was not presented as a major feature release, which makes the reported changes in battery life and temperature more noticeable.
However, phones may temporarily use more power after installing an update while the operating system optimizes applications, rebuilds files and relearns usage patterns. That process should normally settle after several days.
The current reports are attracting attention because some users describe unusually severe drain combined with heat and slower charging rather than a small, temporary reduction in battery life.
Samsung Has Not Announced A Fix
Samsung has not publicly acknowledged a widespread fault or announced a corrective update as of July 30.
That means affected owners should avoid assuming their battery has permanently degraded. The problem may be caused by a background service, an app compatibility issue or a software process that can be corrected through another update.
For now, users can restart the phone, install all available Galaxy Store and Google Play updates, inspect battery usage and temporarily restrict any application showing abnormal background activity.
Disabling WhatsApp automatic backups may also be worth testing for users who see the app near the top of their battery usage list, but it should not be treated as a confirmed solution.
A factory reset may sometimes correct persistent software problems, but it should be considered only after backing up important data and trying less disruptive options.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra are still supported premium devices, so Samsung will likely investigate if the complaints continue to grow.
Until the company provides an explanation, however, it is difficult to determine whether the July patch contains a broader bug or has exposed separate problems affecting only certain devices and applications.
Via: Mashable | Android Headlines | Samsung Community | Reddit
