Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra users report sudden battery drain, overheating and slow charging after the July 2026 update, raising questions about software and background app activity.
Key Highlights
- Battery drain reports rise.
- Overheating affects some users.
- WhatsApp backup suspected.
- Samsung confirmation still awaited.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra users are reporting battery drain and overheating issues after the July 2026 software update. Complaints include rapid battery loss, higher temperatures, poor idle battery life and, in some cases, unusually slow charging.
The reports have gained attention in late July, with Galaxy S24 Ultra owners also mentioning similar problems. However, Samsung has not officially confirmed that the July update contains a widespread battery bug.
Galaxy S25 Ultra Battery Drain Reported After July Update
The latest complaints appear to be linked with devices running Samsung’s July 2026 software and security update on One UI 8.5.
Some users say battery life became noticeably worse soon after installing the update. The reported problems include excessive battery use while the phone is idle, increased heat and reduced deep-sleep activity when the screen is off.
One Galaxy S25 Ultra owner using European firmware S938BXXSBCZG3 reported battery drain of around 24% per hour while idle. The user also reported a battery temperature near 40°C and almost no deep sleep.
This is an individual case, so it should not be treated as typical performance across all Galaxy S25 Ultra devices.
Overheating and Slow Charging Are Also Being Reported
Battery drain is not the only concern.
Another Galaxy S25 user said the phone remained around 41°C or higher after installing the July security patch. The device reportedly took around four to five hours to reach 80% charge, despite Samsung charging equipment being used.
The user later said performance improved after several restarts and after enabling Power Saving and Samsung’s Light performance profile.
These reports suggest that the problem can behave differently from one device to another.
WhatsApp Backup Could Be One Cause
A notable clue has emerged from recent user discussions involving WhatsApp backups.
Some Galaxy S25 Ultra owners reported that WhatsApp became stuck on “preparing backup.” During this process, users noticed higher battery consumption and increased phone temperature.
In one reported case, stopping the stuck backup removed the overheating problem, although WhatsApp continued to consume more battery than expected.
Similar WhatsApp backup complaints have also appeared from users of phones made by other brands. Therefore, this specific problem may not be caused entirely by Samsung’s software.
It is possible that several issues are contributing to the recent battery drain reports rather than one universal Galaxy S25 Ultra fault.
Has Samsung Confirmed a Galaxy S25 Ultra Battery Bug?
As of July 30, 2026, Samsung has not officially confirmed that its July firmware contains a widespread Galaxy S25 Ultra battery-drain defect.
For now, the evidence mainly comes from user reports and recent coverage of post-update issues. This means owners should avoid assuming that every S25 Ultra running the latest update will experience the same problem.
Samsung says abnormal Galaxy battery consumption can have several causes. These include apps running heavily in the background, poor mobile network conditions, active connectivity features and battery condition.
The company also notes that 5G connectivity can increase power consumption and device temperature because the phone may need to maintain multiple network connections.
What Galaxy S25 Ultra Owners Can Check?
Users who noticed sudden battery drain after the July update should first open Settings > Battery and check the battery usage graph. Look for apps consuming unusually high amounts of power, especially while the phone is not being actively used.
WhatsApp users should also check whether a backup is stuck or generating unusually high background activity.
Restarting the phone may help if it remains warm while idle. Users can also run Device Care > Optimise now and temporarily test Power Saving or the Light performance profile.
Samsung Members provides another useful option. Open Phone Diagnostics and check the Battery status to identify possible battery-related problems.
Users can also compare overnight battery drain on Wi-Fi and mobile data. A major difference could indicate that network conditions or cellular connectivity are contributing to the drain.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A36 5G Review: Full Specs, Launch Date and Features
What Galaxy S25 Ultra Users Should Know Now?
The latest evidence points to a genuine cluster of Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra battery drain complaints following the July 2026 update, but the exact cause remains unclear.
Samsung firmware could be one factor, while abnormal app activity, WhatsApp backups, network conditions and other background processes may also contribute.
For now, affected owners should monitor battery usage and background activity rather than immediately assuming a hardware failure. More clarity could arrive through a future Samsung software patch, WhatsApp update or an official statement explaining the cause.
Until then, the Galaxy S25 Ultra July update battery drain issue remains one to watch, especially for users experiencing unusual heat, fast idle drain or slower charging.
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