Issues with the battery life :(

[JCMate10]

Hi

I just got my S21 256 GB (Exynos version). I moved away from my Note10+ as it was too big and battery too poor, bad finger print reader and then I truly hate the curved displays... I really like the look and feel of the S21. Awesome phone, nice screen, much better cellular reception, fine finger print reader.
BUT... The battery is aweful. I get 3½-4 hours screen on time and then its dead. Yesterday it went from 100-85 % after 50 min of browsing using Chrome. During the night (when it is not charging) energy comsumption seems great! the curve more or less flat-lines so it is only when being on. AccuBattery estimates the capacity to 3.820 mAh.

Could it be due to restoring the old backup from the Note10+? Any good ideas?
Should I just return it and get another (S21 or another brand). What are your experience with the battery life?

Thanks!

 

[DaReDeViL]

Hi

Restoring backups can be problematic sometimes. Try to factory reset your phone and install your apps manually.

 

[JCMate10]

Hi

Restoring backups can be problematic sometimes. Try to factory reset your phone and install your apps manually.

But then again, why? I guess it does not backup app data but only information about what apps I have? It seems to be downloading the latest apps from Google Play when restoring a backup?

 

[HugePotato]

Hey, I have a similar problem as you I guess. My phone has like 6 hours SOT max on 120 Hz if I unplugged it and used straight up without putting it down. Normal day is more like 4 hours SOT with background synchro etc. Guess that 120 Hz screen is real power hungry as some tests have shown that you can do more than 9 hours with 60 Hz.... What's interesting is that S21+ loses only an hour of SOT with 120 Hz enabled. I have also SmartSwitched from S7 but plan on factory resetting in a week or so but I don't think it will do much.

Guess Samsung may in time make things just a little better with updates but we can't know that for sure. For me it's just fine right now, if I had a long day I would use power saving to make sure it stays alive. Coming from S7 with a detoriated battery it's a huge upgrade for me anyway but I fear that battery will have to be replaced in 2 years time max.

edit: some app data is transferred as well for sure but I'm not 100% positive if it's Google backup or SmartSwitch. Anyway I think that in this case it's just a very power hungry screen

 

[JCMate10]

Hey, I have a similar problem as you I guess. My phone has like 6 hours SOT max on 120 Hz if I unplugged it and used straight up without putting it down. Normal day is more like 4 hours SOT with background synchro etc. Guess that 120 Hz screen is real power hungry as some tests have shown that you can do more than 9 hours with 60 Hz.... What's interesting is that S21+ loses only an hour of SOT with 120 Hz enabled. I have also SmartSwitched from S7 but plan on factory resetting in a week or so but I don't think it will do much.

Guess Samsung may in time make things just a little better with updates but we can't know that for sure. For me it's just fine right now, if I had a long day I would use power saving to make sure it stays alive. Coming from S7 with a detoriated battery it's a huge upgrade for me anyway but I fear that battery will have to be replaced in 2 years time max.

If I cannot make the battery perform with 120 Hz, I will send it return... Whats the point of buying a new fancy phone if you need to disable all the new an fancy? 60 Hz is like any other phone, and by using power saving you will throttle down the CPU and GPU so it is comparable with any other old phone. I think many reviews seem to say that battery life is nice - even with 120 Hz, so think it must be something else.

 

[HugePotato]

If I cannot make the battery perform with 120 Hz, I will send it return... Whats the point of buying a new fancy phone if you need to disable all the new an fancy? 60 Hz is like any other phone, and by using power saving you will throttle down the CPU and GPU so it is comparable with any other old phone. I think many reviews seem to say that battery life is nice - even with 120 Hz, so think it must be something else.

I will tell for sure after resetting the phone but that battery sure does not last as long as it should in my opinion. Especially in comparison to S21+ or Ultra that have 20% and 25% bigger batteries respectively but last way longer. Ultra has a better screen but Plus model still is more efficient I think and that is just ODD in my opinion . You could just disable 120 Hz on some days without turning on power saving so CPU stays the same.

Edit: One more thing is that some youtube channels or reviews post battery tests where they play youtube videos for 10 hours straight but come on it's not realistic usage. I got messaging apps etc all synchronizing and that makes the phone burn the battery way faster.

 

[DaReDeViL]

Let's not forget that S21 serie has an adaptive screen refresh rate which depends on the usage, not fixed 120Hz.

About battery life, I come from a regular S20 which has the exact same 4000mAh battery and can attest that the regular S21 lasts way longer after 4 days of use, and it can only get better.

First thing to check is the network type. If you don't need/have 5G, think about lowering your setting to 4G max as searching for 5G is very power consuming.

Enabling location search via bluetooth and wifi also drains a lot of juice.

Also ensure to have the latest firmware update (AUAB) and check your battery history for any app's abnormal power consumption.

Good luck

 

[blinkin]

Same issue here. I got the phone on Friday so it's 3 days of active usage. First two days were terrible, today is better but the phone basically mostly laying on the desk, not much happening. Now it's 2h20m SOT... I restored from Google backup (around 180 apps). I'm coming from p30 pro which had like 7h SOT with same apps setup (but without 5g and 120hz).

What I've noticed is that during the first software update, the phone was optimizing like 450 apps? Does Samsung come with 270 apps out of the box or Google restore screwed thing up?

 

[JCMate10]

Same issue here. I got the phone on Friday so it's 3 days of active usage. First two days were terrible, today is better but the phone basically mostly laying on the desk, not much happening. Now it's 2h20m SOT... I restored from Google backup (around 180 apps). I'm coming from p30 pro which had like 7h SOT with same apps setup (but without 5g and 120hz).

What I've noticed is that during the first software update, the phone was optimizing like 450 apps? Does Samsung come with 270 apps out of the box or Google restore screwed thing up?

I see same insane powerusage of Chrome... 6,4 % in 13 minute on your screenshot...
Funny thing is that when you add all the numbers up, you are far from 100 %. It´s a shame you cannot see the system apps causing the issues.

When I think of my Huawei Note 10 Pro, I am truly sorry that I sold that one
I will consider to factory reset it, otherwise it goes back... It is pretty useless if it cannot last more than 3-4 hours screen on time.

 

[Soundchasr]

Coming from S20. So far, very disappointed with battery life. Hoping for some improvement in the future.

 

[Soundchasr]

On the left is the S21. On the right the S20. See the difference....

 

[SpiritBreak3r]

The battery drain is severe in my case. Just using instagram/reddit for 10 mins drops the battery by 7-10%. I did not smartswitch. (S21 256GB Snap)

Edit: The phone's also debloated using ADB AppControl's preset.

 

[blackhawk]

The battery drain is severe in my case. Just using instagram/reddit for 10 mins drops the battery by 7-10%. I did not smartswitch. (S21 256GB Snap)

Edit: The phone's also debloated using ADB AppControl's preset.

Be careful what you disable. If it has dependencies it could cause excessive cpu cycles.
Power management gave me a lot of trouble until I completely disabled it. Maybe that's been fixed but consider all possibilities.
Trial and error... play with it.

Android 10/11 removed some of the diagnostic tools found in Pie... for security, right.
Load Karma Firewall and try blocking some of the system apks especially Android and Google that aren't constantly needed. Unblocking them is just as easy. Unfortunately in 10 and higher it's very useful logging function is disabled I've been told... you know security.
Karma uses almost no battery unless your viewing the app its self.

Apparently Galaxy Labs Battery Tracker not longer works as well. I use this app a lot.
Thanks for nothing Google... these are some of my reasons I'm not upgrading hardware or firmware until at least Android 12

 

[JCMate10]

Be careful what you disable. If it has dependencies it could cause excessive cpu cycles.
Power management gave me a lot of trouble until I completely disabled it. Maybe that's been fixed but consider all possibilities.
Trial and error... play with it.

Android 10/11 removed some of the diagnostic tools found in Pie... for security, right.
Load Karma Firewall and try blocking some of the system apks especially Android and Google that aren't constantly needed. Unblocking them is just as easy. Unfortunately in 10 and higher it's very useful logging function is disabled I've been told... you know security.
Karma uses almost no battery unless your viewing the app its self.

Apparently Galaxy Labs Battery Tracker not longer works as well. I use this app a lot.
Thanks for nothing Google... these are some of my reasons I'm not upgrading hardware or firmware until at least Android 12

Just reading all of the above things make it sound like Samsung is handfeeding Apple with new customers. Seriously, in 2021 there should be no need to do any manual tweaking of services running. I have no preference with regards to brands; have had several iPhones, OnePlus, Huawei, Samsung, .... I choose my phone based on needs and not brand. I have never, ever, had issues like this with any of my iPhones,. It´s just insane how big a difference there is with power management and effectiveness of CPUs comparing most Android phones with iPhones. I dont tend to start a war here - I use Android myself

 

[blinkin]

Just reading all of the above things make it sound like Samsung is handfeeding Apple with new customers. Seriously, in 2021 there should be no need to do any manual tweaking of services running. I have no preference with regards to brands; have had several iPhones, OnePlus, Huawei, Samsung, .... I choose my phone based on needs and not brand. I have never, ever, had issues like this with any of my iPhones,. It´s just insane how big a difference there is with power management and effectiveness of CPUs comparing most Android phones with iPhones. I dont tend to start a war here - I use Android myself

Unfortunately I have to agree.

It seems like Samsung rushed the release. Or focused mostly on the ultra although I'm not sure if they have the same problem...

 

[SpiritBreak3r]

Be careful what you disable. If it has dependencies it could cause excessive cpu cycles.
Power management gave me a lot of trouble until I completely disabled it. Maybe that's been fixed but consider all possibilities.
Trial and error... play with it.

Android 10/11 removed some of the diagnostic tools found in Pie... for security, right.
Load Karma Firewall and try blocking some of the system apks especially Android and Google that aren't constantly needed. Unblocking them is just as easy. Unfortunately in 10 and higher it's very useful logging function is disabled I've been told... you know security.
Karma uses almost no battery unless your viewing the app its self.

Apparently Galaxy Labs Battery Tracker not longer works as well. I use this app a lot.
Thanks for nothing Google... these are some of my reasons I'm not upgrading hardware or firmware until at least Android 12

I've disabled exactly the same apps that were disabled on S20. Here's the list

## Ant:
com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
com.dsi.ant.sample.acquirechannels
com.dsi.ant.server
com.dsi.ant.service.socket
## Facebook:
com.facebook.appmanager
com.facebook.katana
com.facebook.services
com.facebook.system
## Linkedin:
com.linkedin.android
## Microsoft:
com.microsoft.appmanager
com.microsoft.office.officehubrow
com.microsoft.office.outlook
com.microsoft.skydrive
## Spotify:
com.spotify.music
## Upday:
de.axelspringer.yana.zeropage
## Netflix:
com.netflix.mediaclient
com.netflix.partner.activation
## Swiftkey:
com.touchtype.swiftkey
com.swiftkey.swiftkeyconfigurator
## Hiya:
com.hiya.star
## Dex:
com.sec.android.app.dexonpc
com.sec.android.desktopmode.uiservice
com.sec.android.app.desktoplauncher
com.samsung.desktopsystemui
## Bixby:
com.samsung.android.app.routines
com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
com.samsung.android.bixby.agent.dummy
com.samsung.android.bixby.service
com.samsung.android.app.settings.bixby
com.samsung.systemui.bixby2
com.samsung.android.bixby.wakeup
## Samsung & general:
com.samsung.sree
com.sec.android.app.sbrowser
com.samsung.android.voc
com.sec.android.easyMover
com.sec.android.easyMover.Agent
com.android.bookmarkprovider
com.samsung.android.drivelink.stub
com.samsung.android.forest
com.samsung.android.fmm
com.samsung.android.game.gametools
com.samsung.android.game.gamehome
com.samsung.android.game.gos
com.samsung.android.calendar
com.sec.android.cover.ledcover
com.samsung.android.app.ledbackcover
com.samsung.android.app.simplesharing
com.samsung.android.app.social
com.samsung.android.rubin.app
com.samsung.android.coldwalletservice
com.samsung.android.scloud
com.samsung.android.app.spage
com.samsung.android.mdx
com.samsung.android.app.sbrowseredge
com.samsung.android.kidsinstaller
com.sec.location.nsflp2
com.samsung.android.app.mirrorlink
com.samsung.android.samsungpass
com.samsung.android.samsungpassautofill
com.sec.android.app.billing
com.samsung.android.authfw
com.samsung.android.spayfw
com.sec.spp.push
com.samsung.SMT
com.samsung.android.svoiceime
com.samsung.android.fast
com.sec.android.daemonapp
com.diotek.sec.lookup.dictionary
com.sec.android.app.parser
com.samsung.sec.android.teegris.tui_service
com.sec.android.app.shealth
com.sec.android.sdk.health
com.sec.android.service.health
com.samsung.android.smartswitchassistant
com.samsung.klmsagent
com.samsung.android.app.tips
com.samsung.android.themestore
com.samsung.android.themecenter
com.android.egg
com.samsung.android.mdecservice
com.samsung.android.sm.devicesecurity
com.samsung.android.oneconnect
com.samsung.android.beaconmanager
com.sec.android.widgetapp.webmanual
com.samsung.gamedriver.S11MaliG77
com.sec.android.app.SecSetupWizard
com.sec.android.app.setupwizardlegalprovider
com.sec.android.app.myfiles
com.samsung.android.messaging
com.samsung.android.app.reminder
com.samsung.android.aware.service
com.samsung.android.app.sharelive
com.samsung.android.mateagent
com.samsung.android.app.omcagent
com.samsung.android.securitylogagent
com.samsung.klmsagent
com.samsung.android.brightnessbackupservice
com.samsung.android.shortcutbackupservice
com.sec.android.app.ringtoneBR
com.android.wallpaperbackup
com.samsung.accesory
com.samsung.android.service.peoplestripe
com.samsung.android.dynamiclock
com.android.dynsystem
com.sec.android.diagmonagent
com.samsung.clipboardsaveservice
# system update
# com.wssyncmldm
com.samsung.android.icecone
com.samsung.android.mobileservice
com.sec.android.soagent
com.samsung.sait.sohservice
com.samsung.crane
com.samsung.android.sdm.config
com.sec.android.app.setupwizardlegalprovider
com.sec.mhs.smarttethering
com.samsung.android.allshare.service.mediashare
com.samsung.android.mdm
com.sec.mldapchecker
com.sec.android.app.servicemodeapp
com.sec.factory.camera
com.sec.android.app.DataCreate
com.samsung.android.cidmanager
com.samsung.android.smartmirroring
com.samsung.android.mdx.kit
## Knox:
com.samsung.android.knox.containeragent
com.samsung.android.knox.analytics.uploader
com.sec.enterprise.knox.cloudmdm.smdms
com.samsung.android.knox.attestation
com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation
com.samsung.android.knox.containercore
com.samsung.knox.securefolder
com.samsung.android.bbc.bbcagent
com.android.managedprovisioning
com.samsung.knox.keychain
com.knox.vpn.proxyhandler
com.samsung.ucs.agent.ese

 

[blinkin]

I have factory reset the device and didn't restore from Google backup, let's see how it goes now. It took some time to download everything manually but hopefully it will help.

Before doing it I tried disabling 5g and AOD but it didn't help.

 

[UPSGuy]

I just returned my S21 and went back to my Note 10. The battery life was so bad you could just watch it go down and the 5G was a fraction of the speed of 4G on the Note 10.

 

[Superrman]

Hi

I just got my S21 256 GB (Exynos version). I moved away from my Note10+ as it was too big and battery too poor, bad finger print reader and then I truly hate the curved displays... I really like the look and feel of the S21. Awesome phone, nice screen, much better cellular reception, fine finger print reader.
BUT... The battery is aweful. I get 3½-4 hours screen on time and then its dead. Yesterday it went from 100-85 % after 50 min of browsing using Chrome. During the night (when it is not charging) energy comsumption seems great! the curve more or less flat-lines so it is only when being on. AccuBattery estimates the capacity to 3.820 mAh.

Could it be due to restoring the old backup from the Note10+? Any good ideas?
Should I just return it and get another (S21 or another brand). What are your experience with the battery life?

Thanks!

ive check mine with 2 apps AccuBattery and C battery widget with full charage and some partial both showing avarage of 3777 out of 3888 rated) "4000mah" designed. so yours a bit better then mine so far... you did 1 to 100% change? its more accurate (but stress and ruin battery faster overtime if doing this to much)

anyway with avarage use after 24 hours im with 30% (no heavy games\youtube, just camera and browse\whatsapp. etc)
PS sry for my bad english

 

[RobinJ1995]

Can confirm. My 3.5 year old OnePlus 5T with a 3200mAh battery got better battery life than a brand new Galaxy S21+ with a 4800mAh battery. 3 hours screen on time. I'm not impressed with the battery life so far to say the least...