Help Battery Draining Quickly

ironass · Feb 16, 2015

bIOforger said:
Huh? i don't have a huge battery drain as i said earlier, what i am saying is its worse under Lollipop than it was under Kitkat, especially when the screen is used properly. My screentime is a good 30mins-1 hour less than what it was using kitkat.

That's odd as independent tests and my own experience, show Lollipop to be more battery friendly as I stated in the Introduction of
S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide. This does not mean however, that you have not encountered some issues.

If i had a corrupt update wouldnt i be seeing issues all over the place?

Not necessarily. As you know, it only takes one, "i", not be dotted or one, "t", not be crossed and as with any software, it can have a minute knock-on effect.

Lollipop 5.0 is crap, lets face it. Hopefully 5.0.2 will cure some of these issues, well i know it will.

I will beg to differ, as my own experience has been very good on Lollipop. In fact, stock Samsung Lollipop was launched worldwide with 96 releases over 2 months and there was hardly a comment on these forums about it, see here, prior to the release of the Verizon version of Lollipop which, I will concede, is less than satisfactory it would seem as there are now a multitude of posts regarding it.

bIOforger · Feb 16, 2015

Whats your best screentime/uptime under lollipop then? But aren't you using a custom rom anyway?

It also depends on how you are using the device, i do alot of social media, so alot of fb/messenger (hogs) twitter, video etc. The fact is its not as good as kitkat was.

EarlyMon · Feb 16, 2015

Everyone's mileage varies from use.

Sometimes it rains here, sometimes it rains there - but what happens there doesn't mean always what happens here and vice versa.

Lots of factors involved when we take in different carrier signals, apps, prefs, the whole bit.

bIOforger · Feb 16, 2015

Indeed but i'm comparing it like for like in my own situation.

EarlyMon · Feb 16, 2015

bIOforger said:
Indeed but i'm comparing it like for like in my own situation.

Never a question for me.

That's not here and there, it's there and there on two different days - big difference from what I was saying.

ironass · Feb 16, 2015

bIOforger said:
Whats your best screentime/uptime under lollipop then? But aren't you using a custom rom anyway?

I alternate between the stock Samsung firmware and a custom ROM most days. As EarlyMon states, "Everyone's mileage varies from use."

Hypo Luxa · Feb 16, 2015

bIOforger said:
Its a hidden test menu,

Open the phone app on your Galaxy S5 and open the dial pad.
Type *#0*#

I try that and just get "Your call can not be completed as dialed"

Hypo Luxa · Feb 16, 2015

I did notice that when in put my phone sleep, it uses like no battery at all, which is good... except I cant use it when it is sleeping

ironass · Feb 16, 2015

Hypo Luxa said:
I try that and just get "Your call can not be completed as dialed"

The test codes are disabled on the hybrid carrier variants for Verizon and AT&T.

Hypo Luxa · Feb 16, 2015

wonderful. Thanks VZW. I really should go custom ROM on this. I've ROMed every other Android I ever owned but never on this one for some reason.

AZgl1500 · Feb 16, 2015

ironass said:
The test codes are disabled on the hybrid carrier variants for Verizon and AT&T.

Yup, sure are.
they have a very long code you must insert to get to their hidden menus.
I have done that a few times, and it is so convoluted, that even though I type at 120 wpm, and use Word to document my discussions with the Verizon Customer Service folks, I always seem to have missed one very important character and have never been able to repeat what I did.

Need to set up a Cam Corder and patch in the phone audio to it, then maybe next time I can catch it.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi & Data OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen on, turns WiFi & Data ON

bIOforger · Feb 17, 2015

ironass said:
I alternate between the stock Samsung firmware and a custom ROM most days. As EarlyMon states, "Everyone's mileage varies from use."

Ok whats your best screentime/uptime under stock lollipop or custom ROM??

bIOforger · Feb 17, 2015

Turning off wifi is making a huge difference to the batt life when the phone sleeps for me now, which backs up my statement about their being bugs with wifi under lollipop on the previous page, as i always had wifi on under Kitkat and it hardly made any difference at all. Unfortunately with it off i'm not getting my notifications/emails in realtime, which is annoying, but at least i know its not something else.

conanbarb · Feb 17, 2015

I've actually narrowed down my Lollipop battery issues to a single app: Star Wars Commander.

I've found that if I launch Star Wars Commander, It causes something in the Android OS to go haywire, run hot, and wreak havoc on my battery and I'm lucky to get 6 hours. If I don't launch Star Wars Commander I can get 12 hours out of my battery easy.

If you look at the battery stats, it shows Android System and Android OS as the major culprits, but not Star Wars Commander. My only workaround is to launch Star Wars Commander, do my thing, and then reboot the phone since the Galaxy S5 Task Manager surely doesn't kill whatever is causing the drain.

For the record, this did not happen with KitKat and I have not done a FDR which I'm trying to avoid.

Is it a Lollipop issue? Star Wars Commander issue? I say it's both. Star Wars Commander probably isn't written to use ART properly and Lollipop isn't error handling or recovering from it well. I'm no Dev so this is pure speculation and just my guess.

Moral of the story, look past just the OS and look at the apps that may be causing the issue as well.

pirahna · Feb 19, 2015

I've been getting about 50% of the battery life since the 5.0 update as I was on kitKat. I have tried a full restore and the problem continues. This really sucks.

conanbarb · Mar 4, 2015

conanbarb said:
I've actually narrowed down my Lollipop battery issues to a single app: Star Wars Commander.

I've found that if I launch Star Wars Commander, It causes something in the Android OS to go haywire, run hot, and wreak havoc on my battery and I'm lucky to get 6 hours. If I don't launch Star Wars Commander I can get 12 hours out of my battery easy.

If you look at the battery stats, it shows Android System and Android OS as the major culprits, but not Star Wars Commander. My only workaround is to launch Star Wars Commander, do my thing, and then reboot the phone since the Galaxy S5 Task Manager surely doesn't kill whatever is causing the drain.

For the record, this did not happen with KitKat and I have not done a FDR which I'm trying to avoid.

Is it a Lollipop issue? Star Wars Commander issue? I say it's both. Star Wars Commander probably isn't written to use ART properly and Lollipop isn't error handling or recovering from it well. I'm no Dev so this is pure speculation and just my guess.

Moral of the story, look past just the OS and look at the apps that may be causing the issue as well.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and did a Factory Data Reset. The overheating issues have gone away and the battery is definitely better. Star Wars Commander must have just been a catalyst for issues from the Lollipop rolling upgrade. The FDR was for sure a pain and took a few hours to get everything downloaded, installed, and configured, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined and definitely worth it.

If you are having overheating/battery issues since the upgrade, I recommend FDR pronto. You'll thank yourself later as I wish I had done it earlier.

bIOforger · Mar 4, 2015

A factory reset is not the solution and it has not helped everyone. It depends on how you use the phone/what apps you run etc etc there are too many factors. Most people use wifi at some point or have it on most of the time, this is buggy under lollipop 5.0, i'm pretty sure this is cursing alot of people like me who have already done a FR.

conanbarb · Mar 4, 2015

bIOforger said:
A factory reset is not the solution and it has not helped everyone. It depends on how you use the phone/what apps you run etc etc there are too many factors. Most people use wifi at some point or have it on most of the time, this is buggy under lollipop 5.0, i'm pretty sure this is cursing alot of people like me who have already done a FR.

I'm only sharing my experience since it was a solution for me and also for a number of other people on various forums. We all know Lollipop .50 has bugs, hence 5.0.1, 5.0.2, and 5.1...

I fully realize a FDR doesn't fix everybody's problems, but it sure as heck fixed mine and to completely ignore it as a possible solution if you haven't tried it would be doing a disservice. I could have saved myself weeks of frustrating battery drain/overheating if I had just done it in the first place like many recommend after a major software upgrade.

bIOforger · Mar 5, 2015

conanbarb said:
I'm only sharing my experience since it was a solution for me and also for a number of other people on various forums. We all know Lollipop .50 has bugs, hence 5.0.1, 5.0.2, and 5.1...

I fully realize a FDR doesn't fix everybody's problems, but it sure as heck fixed mine and to completely ignore it as a possible solution if you haven't tried it would be doing a disservice. I could have saved myself weeks of frustrating battery drain/overheating if I had just done it in the first place like many recommend after a major software upgrade.

I know i wasn't having a go at you, just stating a FR doesn't always work thats all. Glad it worked for you.

ironass · Mar 5, 2015

For anyone experiencing an abnormal battery drain, lags or high data usage you may want to check out the following...

Top Five Worst Apps That Drain Your Smartphone Battery And Performance: Facebook, Spotify, Instagram And More

1. Facebook

2. Spotify

3. Instagram

4. Path

5. Amazon

For the full report, see, here.

Try wiping the cache and data of these apps to see if that helps your battery and performance. See #1.5 User Apps: Wiping cache, data and uninstalling

You should also check any other apps that you are using to ensure that they have been updated for Lollipop and ART. See #1.2...

ironass said:
Some of these problems are caused by app's or settings that are not suitable for the new firmware. Remember, not all app's/games on the Play Store may be compatible with your new firmware yet. This is down to the developers of those apps who have had 6+ months notice to update them. Most have, some have not.

One way to check what is draining your battery is to install GSam Battery Monitor from the Play Store. Now you can put your phone into Safe Mode for a few hours and see if there is anything in the stock firmware that is unduly draining your battery, see #1.4 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide. Then you can repeat the test in normal running mode for a few more hours, with all your user apps enabled and check what is draining your battery once more. This should help determine whether the problem lies with the firmware or with the user apps and settings. If a particular app is registering as a battery drainer then you can try wiping the cache and data for that app, as per #1.5 of S5 Lollipop Update Problems - Dummies Guide, or you can choose to uninstall it.

bIOforger · Mar 5, 2015

I really wish Facebook would update/code their app properly. There have been a couple recently but its always for function changes, not for bugs or making it more efficient.

ironass · Mar 5, 2015

Here are some other performance, storage and battery draining apps...

Top 10 Performance-Draining Apps

Facebook
Path
9GAG Funny Pics & Videos
Instagram
Spotify Music
BBM (BlackBerry)
QQ (Tencent Technology)
textPlus Free Text & Calls
Wattpad Free Books & Stories
iFunny : )

Top 10 Battery Drainers -- Run at Start Up

AllShareCast Dongle S/W Update (Samsung)
ChatON Voice & Video Chat (Samsung)
Beaming Service for Beep'n'Go (Moheam)
magicApp: Free Calls (magiclack VocalTec)
Samsung WatchON Tablets
Facebook
Path
PPS for Mobile
Vault-Hide SMS Pics & Videos
Al-Moazin Lite Prayer Times

Top 10 Storage Eaters

NY Times -- Breaking News
Tango Messenger Video & Calls
Spotify Music
Facebook
Chrome Browser
9GAG Funny pics & videos
Instagram
LINE camera -- Selfie & Collage
Vine
Talking Angela

Top 10 Battery-Draining Game Apps

Puzzle & Dragons (GungHo Online Entertainment)
Hay Day (Supercell)
Candy Crush Saga (King)
Minecraft -- Pocket Edition (Mojang)
Cookie Jam (SGN)
Pet Rescue Saga (King)
Clash of Clans (Supercell)
Bubble Witch 2 Saga (King)
Farm Heroes Saga (King)
Angry Birds (Rovio Mobile)

Taken from. What's killing your battery? Android's top 10 performance-sapping apps

bIOforger · Mar 5, 2015

lol i would say most games are battery drainers as you have the screen on for prolonged periods

ironass · Mar 5, 2015

bIOforger said:
lol i would say most games are battery drainers as you have the screen on for prolonged periods

That is true of any app or game that keeps the screen awake. However, some, like Candy Crush Saga, will be more draining than others, like Ping Pong.

bIOforger · Mar 5, 2015

lol ping pong, yea true, sorry i was being facetious

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