Before You Hit "Update", Think TWICE!
Samsung's Software Updates: A Silent Killer for Performance?
Samsung has long been known for its premium hardware, but what if I told you their software updates are intentionally designed to slow down your device? Over the years, many users like me have suspected that major software updates gradually reduce battery life, camera performance, and overall speed—pushing users to upgrade to the latest model. To test this theory, I made a hypothesis in my previous post and many of you wanted a detailed testing procedure. So, I conducted an experiment using three Galaxy S24 Ultra devices.
The Experiment: Same Device, Different Software Updates
I tested three Galaxy S24 Ultra units:
- Device 1: Brand new, production date May 2024 (on May 24 patch).
- Device 2: Brand new, production date May 2024 (on January 25 patch).
- Device 3: My personal unit, production date March 2024 (on January 25 patch).
Testing Conditions: Real-World Use, Not Just Benchmarks
To ensure fairness, I tested all three devices under identical conditions:
- Same cellular network (same SIM provider and signal conditions).
- Cellular calls for 1.5 hours each.
- Daily apps: Instagram, YouTube video streaming, Netflix, Facebook, Reddit, and WhatsApp.
- Camera usage: Photos and videos in various lighting conditions, including night mode and HDR.
- Gaming: Subway Surfers and PUBG Mobile.
- AnTuTu Graphics Stress Test to push GPU performance.
- Kept in room temperature 27℃.
- Same settings:
- Adaptive battery: Turned off.
- No background activity.
- No bloatware.
- Same apps & versions, same sales region for all the three phones.
- Performance profile: Standard mode.
- Brightness level: 70%.
- Always-on display: Turned on.
The Results: A Clear Performance Decline
Battery Performance Drops After Update
I flashed the March 2024 security update (S928BXXS1AXBN) onto devices 2 & 3 (which were on the January 25 patch before) to match them all on a similar state. Device 1 remained in the May 24 (S928BXXS2AXD5) patch as I couldn't flash the March patch on it, don’t know why!
Then, I monitored the Screen-On Time (SoT):
- Brand-new devices: More than 7 hours 30 minutes of SoT.
- My personal device: Over 7 hours of SoT. (Understandable, as the battery had degraded slightly.)
After updating to the January 2025 patch (S928BXXS4AYA1) to all three devices:
- SoT dropped to 6 hours 15-40 minutes—a noticeable decline.
Even on standby mode, the battery drained faster than expected, making it difficult to last a full day. This decline suggests the update may have introduced new background processes or inefficiencies that weren't present in the older firmware, or its planned obsolescence??
Camera Performance Has Degraded
Photos take longer to process, especially in night mode. Longer processing time for HDR shots, making quick captures frustrating. Increased noise and softer details, even in well-lit environments. Colors appear duller than before, losing their vibrancy and contrast. The brand-new camera experience is gone already.
Device Responsiveness Becomes Sluggish
Animations and scrolling feel slower, making the device less fluid. Apps take longer to open, especially heavier applications. Multi-tasking has noticeable lag, even when switching between just two apps. Read/write speeds dropped by 8-10%, affecting app performance.
Gaming Performance Shows Micro-Stutters
PUBG Mobile shows frequent frame drops, making gameplay less smooth. Device heats up to 43℃ after extended play, whereas before, it remained cooler. Frame rate consistency dropped by 7% over long gaming sessions, affecting responsiveness. Longer loading times for high-performance apps, including games and video editors.
Interesting Fact: No Way Back!
Samsung is way too smart—once you update your phone, no matter how many times you go back and flash an older firmware, the performance and feel remain the same as the latest update. This suggests deep-level firmware optimizations that persist even after downgrading. I could identify this fact by comparing the two new devices side by side.
Samsung’s Updates: Secretly Slowing Down Your Phone?
This performance downgrade isn't an accident—it seems intentional. Samsung wants the Galaxy S25 Ultra to feel like a gigantic upgrade over its predecessor. However, when the S24 Ultra first launched, it was a beast. It ran smoothly, had exceptional battery life, and delivered top-tier performance. Now, post-update, it’s just another ordinary smartphone. If you hold an S25 Ultra today, you will feel the same punch you did when you bought the S24 Ultra last year. But the updated S24 Ultra is way behind the comparison So, what really changed in just 11 months?
Samsung’s Hidden Strategy: Why Do They Do This?
The most logical explanation is planned obsolescence. While Apple has been caught doing this in the past, Samsung appears to be implementing similar tactics, but more subtly. Their seven-year software update promise sounds great, but if devices start underperforming within a year, how usable will they be by year three? Some might call this a conspiracy theory, but it raises an important question: Should we trust manufacturers blindly when it comes to software updates? Instead of silently nerfing performance, Samsung should be more transparent about how updates impact older devices.
So, if your phone runs smoothly, ask yourself—do you really need that next security patch right now? While security updates are essential, they shouldn't come at the cost of usability. Before you hit “update,” think twice!
Disclaimer: The Challenge of Providing Hard Evidence
While my test results strongly suggest a performance decline, I must clarify that I cannot provide absolute proof or raw data logs. Due to technical constraints, including Samsung's encrypted bootloader and firmware restrictions, independent performance tracking is difficult. Additionally, Samsung does not allow full downgrades to previous firmware versions, making long-term comparative analysis nearly impossible. However, many users—including myself—have reported similar experiences, further supporting the idea that Samsung's updates may intentionally degrade performance.
