Galaxy S3 Battery Took A Dive

[Dave903]

Hi All, this is my first post here and I apologize if I am giving too much information. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 (Model# SGH-T999L) phone which I really like. It runs on the TMobile network and I got it about three years ago when the S4's came out and the prices on the S3's dropped to $250. Until recently I haven't had any issues with the phone but within the last two to three months I am dropping a lot of calls and my signal metre is showing 1 to 2 bars no matter where I am. I did some research and all indications pointed to me updating the OS which I hadn't done since I got the phone. I believe the OS when I got the phone was 4.0 and now after I updated the OS it is 4.3.

Since I updated the OS I have noticed some changes in the look and functionality of my phone but nothing I can't live with. My signal meter is now showing a solid 4 to 5 bars no matter where I am and in a month of heavy use (which is normal for me) I haven't dropped a single call. So far so good but I am also noticing that my battery life has taken a serious nose dive since I did the update. I charge my phone every night and before the update moderate use would take the battery down to between 75% to 85% as indicated by the battery metre. After the update moderate use is taking the battery down to between 65% to 75% as indicated by the battery metre and I am curious as to why.

Was the battery metre before the update that inaccurate and since the update the new battery metre is that much more accurate? Is OS 4.3 that much more of a battery hog that OS 4.0? Has anyone else experienced this? I keep my Bluetooth and WiFi off except when I am using it and I keep my running apps to a minimum so what gives, or am I worrying for nothing? Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Charge up to 100%, then let it drain to 20-30% with normal usage, without charging in between. Then show us:

1. The main Settings>Battery screen.
2. The fullscreen battery graph screen (which shows Awake time and Cell Signal Strength).
3. The Screen category (to see total Screen On time).
4. The Cell Standby category, if present (to see Time Without Signal).

http://forums.androidcentral.com/am...ide-how-post-screenshots-android-central.html

Do you use a task killer app? If so, try getting rid of it, at least temporarily--those kinds of apps can be counterproductive, and actually lead to battery drain.

Another general thing to try is a cache partition wipe: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...ing-into-recovery-mode-galaxy-s2-s3-tab2.html

 

[Dave903]

Hi B. Diddy, thanks for your warm welcome and thanks for your assistance. I will follow the steps you outlined and post what you have asked for tomorrow morning.

I have been doing more research on this and I have found out that Android 4.30 is a huge battery hog along with numerous other missteps and failings that Google made when they rushed the update to market but I'm stuck with it and I guess I have to make the most of it. I really wish I had never done the update. A few dropped calls is a small price to pay considering the damage the this OS update has done to my phone.

To be on the safe side I just ordered a replacement battery off of Amazon.Com and should get it on Tuesday. Until then I will just have to keep my phone on constant charge and hope it holds out. Notice that I didn't say I ordered a new battery because a lot of what I am hearing about these batteries from Amazon.Com is that the sellers have had them laying around for ten years of longer and they are dead out of the box when they get to the customer. I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and pray for a good outcome because I don't have $38 to pay for a battery at Batteries Plus and I certainly don't have $60 to pay for a battery from T-Mobile. Cross your fingers for me and I'll post more next week. Thanks again.

 

[B. Diddy]

To be honest, I don't recall any Jellybean version being too taxing on the battery on any of my Nexus devices, so the battery drain you're experiencing might be specific to the Samsung modification of 4.3.