Prime Core Battery issues - hardware?

meridius · Oct 29, 2018

This phone had a bad or incorrect charger used with it before the summer. This resulted in (before) flickering screen issues and a weak battery (probably now). There are no flickering screen issues at the moment nor have there been for some time (I think this was when the old bad charger was used) but just battery issues.

While abroad I bought what was probably a reconditioned battery but the problem that seems to be repeating itself is that the phone charges to 100% and then after an hour or so followed by a restart the phone battery is at 78% or so which makes no sense.

I am now using the original charger and have installed two apps from Google Play: Battery Repair and Advanced Battery Calibrator after reinstalling android. I am monitoring the situation. Maybe these apps will fix the problem but I can't be sure.

I have a few questions:

- Could the incorrect charger have damaged any hardware outside the battery? Can I check this through a Google Play app?

- If the hardware is not damaged then I will either try to fix the existing original battery using additional software (any recommendations?) or buy a new battery which is even harder as I think most on the market are reconditioned. I think the one I bought abroad is reconditioned but I am testing with both the original and the new (reconditioned) one now.

Many thanks for any advice.

lvt · Oct 29, 2018

It's just the battery aging with the time.

Replace the battery and everything will be fine.

If the screen continues flikerflic, it could be another issue.

meridius · Oct 29, 2018

lvt said:
It's just the battery aging with the time.

Replace the battery and everything will be fine.

If the screen continues flikerflic, it could be another issue.

There was only screen flickering with the old dodgy replacement charger and never with the original one.

I am having problems recognising a genuine and new battery vs. a reconditioned one. There are so many dodgy phone shops out there selling supposedly genuine batteries which are actually poor quality reconditioned ones. I guess new batteries from the older model phones like this one (SM-G361F) are hard to find.

I do not have the luxury of mail order from overseas because of customs regulations where I am based.

lvt · Oct 29, 2018

You can use a specialized app like Accubattery to monitor your battery. A new and healthy battery should be rated 100% after a couple of charging cycles. An used battery would never reach the 100% mark.

meridius · Oct 29, 2018

lvt said:
You can use a specialized app like Accubattery to monitor your battery. A new and healthy battery should be rated 100% after a couple of charging cycles. An used battery would never reach the 100% mark.

Thanks for your advice. I will look into this app.

meridius · Apr 1, 2019

lvt said:
You can use a specialized app like Accubattery to monitor your battery. A new and healthy battery should be rated 100% after a couple of charging cycles. An used battery would never reach the 100% mark.

I am getting back to this post after a long time...

The version of Accubattery on Google Play isn't compatible with either this model of phone or the Android Version (5.1.1).

Once again, could this be a hardware issue as well and is there any way of testing this?

I think a genuine battery is hard to find locally and online is difficult. So many batteries are sold as brand new genuine when they are actually reconditioned.

lvt · Apr 6, 2019

meridius said:
The version of Accubattery on Google Play isn't compatible with either this model of phone or the Android Version (5.1.1).

It's weird, I still can find and install Accubattery from Playstore for my Nexus 7 (5.1.1)

meridius · Apr 6, 2019

I installed an apk from here: https://apkpure.com/accubattery/com.digibites.accubattery

The remaining battery time readings are all over the place at the moment with one of the batteries after I power off and on again.

If I went to a shop to buy a new or reconditioned battery would I be able to run a useful test on this? I don't know what these places are like but do some shops try to reset the hardware (or should they at all) and how?

lvt · Apr 6, 2019

Given the phone's age I think it's the time to replace its battery and charger altogether.

You should be able to buy a brand-new battery for your phone from eBay or Amazon.

meridius · Apr 6, 2019

What is an appropriate charger for this phone? I have the original Samsung one. Would a fast charger work without damaging the hardware?

Interestingly the results of battery health etc. on AccuBattery were exactly the same for the original battery and the other one I bought in South America last year, unless the app needs to be reset. They both suggest a poor actual battery capacity...:

Battery Health: Estimated Capacity: 669 mAh / Design Capacity: 2,000 mAh – Battery Health: 33%

Battery Capacity Estimate: 798.0 mAh / Design Capacity: 2,000 mAh

From what I can remember the other battery had a Battery Health of 25% or so in the first reading, so maybe both batteries have problems.

I think I will only buy a battery and/or charger if there is at least a three to six month guarantee.

ZoeNgetu · May 10, 2019

Go flat so quick

ZoeNgetu · May 10, 2019

Go flat so quick

Prime Core Battery issues - hardware?

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