Samsung galaxy phones plagued by battery drain – whatsapp suspected

Samsung is facing a significant software issue impacting a wide range of its flagship Galaxy devices, including the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra, with rapid battery drain and overheating becoming widespread complaints.

Whatsapp emerges as prime suspect in galaxy software glitch

Initial reports surfaced within Samsung’s Community Forums, detailing a sharp decrease in battery life and significant thermal performance issues following the recent July 2026 Android update to One UI 8.5. Users are reporting a drastic decline in performance, particularly with the Galaxy S25 and S24 series.

NineToFiveGoogle initially flagged the problem, highlighting the severity of the situation. One Galaxy S25 Ultra user, after meticulously troubleshooting, discovered that the root cause stemmed from an unexpectedly prolonged and stalled WhatsApp backup process. Canceling the backup instantly restored battery life and dramatically improved device performance – a revelation corroborated by other affected users.

The backup bottleneck

The theory gained traction as multiple Reddit users independently reported similar issues, often resolving them by interrupting the WhatsApp backup procedure. This suggests a potential bottleneck or flaw within the encrypted backup process, consuming excessive resources and generating significant heat.

Samsung and meta – silence is deafening

Despite the mounting evidence, neither Samsung nor WhatsApp have yet issued official statements acknowledging the problem. This lack of communication is fueling user frustration and raising concerns about the rapid deployment of potentially flawed software updates. The speed at which this issue is spreading underscores the importance of thorough testing before releasing updates to such a vast user base.

A quick fix needed

While isolated incidents are possible, the sheer volume of reports points to a systemic issue. Users are demanding swift action from both Samsung and WhatsApp to identify the root cause and implement a robust solution. The situation highlights the delicate balance between delivering feature-rich updates and maintaining optimal device performance – a challenge that both companies must address urgently. A fix needs to come quickly.

Recommendation: If you experience battery drain or overheating after installing the One UI 8.5 update, immediately investigate your WhatsApp backup settings and consider interrupting the process. Regularly monitoring battery health and device temperature is crucial during this period.