disturbing sluggishness with S8 Plus

[hstpctech]

Hi,

First thing first, I am aware the device is old by now, so I know what to expect from it.

I don't remember exactly when the problem started, but at least I have endured it for the past two years.

When I purchased the device, it was running Android 7. After a period, there was a slight slow down but I thought it's because I had too many apps installed.

But then, when the update gave me Android 8, things were suddenly speeding up again, buttery smooth. Right after the reboot, menu sliding were very responsive, launching camera, taking screenshots, etc. Alas, I didn't have the chance to launch any app to test it, since the speed-up lasted only for one minute or so.

The same thing happened again with the Android 9 update.

At this point, I'm certain Samsung is throttling the device. Wiping the cache partition and factory reset didn't resolve the problem.

Does anyone else had the same problem, and perhaps even share the solution?

Thanks.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

This isn't usually my go-to solution, but how does it perform and safe mode?

You say you know what to expect... But the device is 5 years old and that is a lot of time in the world of technology. It might just be showing its age.

 

[hstpctech]

In safe mode, I feel there is a very slight improvement. But to counter that deduction, it was fluidly smooth the two times I upgraded the OS, in normal mode.

Also, the problem started since at least two years ago, when S9 Plus is on the market.

My benchmark is the same suite of apps which I have been used since the beginning. For the sake of argument, let's just say Simcity Build-It, RR3, they all have been updated the minimum hardware is raised. But how to explain the sluggishness of Samsung Camera, the menu sliding, or taking a screenshot? In the beginning, screenshot a screen was instantly done, but now it takes about 3 seconds to complete.

 

[belodion]

[Thread moved to S8 Plus.]

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you using an SD card? If so, what if you unmount it and take it out?

 

[mustang7757]

Make sure also no antivirus, ad guards , app cleaners they can slow the device down

 

[MoreDef]

I'd suggest going minimalist with a device that old. I mean, it's not THAT old, but I've found even my old Note 4 ran better when I factory reset and kept it stock, in addition to deleting anything and everything not necessary. This would include Google apps, as they tend to like to run in the background in one way or another.

In addition, get rid of widgets and keep it as bare bones as possible.

Id also assume that because it is old, it got update on top of update on top of update using up a lot of memory and storage, which could lead to it slowing down. 5 years. Of updates is going to conflict with the hardware and software at some point.

 

[hstpctech]

If it makes a difference, I bought it long after the launch date, right before S9 Plus, so it wasn't exactly 5 years from the purchase date.

Widget is bare minimum, just the Samsung built-in weather, Google search bar, and GSAM battery monitor.

 

[hstpctech]

Are you using an SD card? If so, what if you unmount it and take it out?

I had a hunch about this, too. Will try it the soonest and post the result.

 

[hstpctech]

Make sure also no antivirus, ad guards , app cleaners they can slow the device down

I only started to use Kaspersky long after the alleged throttling problem, but removed it a while ago. It did speed things up a little, but overall, the sluggishness is still very apparent. Even auto-rotate is delayed by about 2 seconds, sometimes I had to shake the phone to make it work.

 

[mustang7757]

I only started to use Kaspersky long after the alleged throttling problem, but removed it a while ago. It did speed things up a little, but overall, the sluggishness is still very apparent. Even auto-rotate is delayed by about 2 seconds, sometimes I had to shake the phone to make it work.

If u havnt done factory reset i think maybe try it , even being old the s8 it has decent specs to act like that but do factory reset after u check sd card

 

[hstpctech]

If u havnt done factory reset i think maybe try it , even being old the s8 it has decent specs to act like that but do factory reset after u check sd card

I've pulled out the SD card and basic functions are substantially improved! Double-clicking for camera works nicely, half a second delay compared to one second or more. Screenshot is also about half a second now.

Auto-rotate still gives 1.5 - 2 seconds delay to work.

Let me try to empty the SD card and post the result. I wish to take factory reset as the last resort.

 

[B. Diddy]

Glad to hear it! Rather than just empty the card, I would reformat it (or better yet, try a new card). SD cards have a finite lifespan, and are more prone to failure than onboard memory, so it's possible the card is just old or failing.

 

[mustang7757]

I've pulled out the SD card and basic functions are substantially improved! Double-clicking for camera works nicely, half a second delay compared to one second or more. Screenshot is also about half a second now.

Auto-rotate still gives 1.5 - 2 seconds delay to work.

Let me try to empty the SD card and post the result. I wish to take factory reset as the last resort.

That's great, did you move apps to SD card ?, After removing should reboot the phone once more

 

[hstpctech]

The outcome so far is good.

Auto-rotate still gives a pause of 1.5seconds, with or without an SD. This must be OS related, since in the beginning auto-rotate was instantaneous. If anyone knows how to troubleshoot this one, I'd be very grateful.

All I did was remove my photos and music, all 6,000+ of them. I intend to check further before going factory reset, otherwise we wouldn't learn anything useful from it.
@mustang7757 I don't install any apps on the SD, since the performance would be much slower. It's all for storage purpose.
@b.diddy I will test the formatting route and post the result. It's a Sandisk 200GB, bought it some time after the phone.

Thank you to everyone who have read, and some who came up with suggestions!

 

[hstpctech]

Latest update: I put back some MP3s back onto the SD card, about 4,000+. It immediately drags down menus and everything else. Delete about a quarter of the files down to 3,200+, and voila, snappy Galaxy again.

 

[Mr Bojangles1]

Turn off animations

 

[mustang7757]

Latest update: I put back some MP3s back onto the SD card, about 4,000+. It immediately drags down menus and everything else. Delete about a quarter of the files down to 3,200+, and voila, snappy Galaxy again.

Awesome

 

[hstpctech]

I have, including zeroing all delays. No good, SD was the problem.