Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra and S24 Ultra Battery Woes
Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra and S24 Ultra: July 2026 Update Battery Drain Issue
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra are flagship smartphones manufactured by Samsung Electronics, released in early 2026 and early 2024 respectively. The July 2026 software update, intended to improve security and system stability, has been reported to cause abnormal battery drain on both models, with some users experiencing a 25% to 40% reduction in battery life. The issue also appears to affect the Galaxy S25 Ultra, though to a lesser extent. According to a Samsung spokesperson quoted by Lowyat.net, "We are aware of the reports and are actively investigating the cause. A fix is expected within two weeks."
Key Facts
| Attribute | Galaxy S5 Ultra | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2026 | January 2024 |
| Battery Capacity | 5,500 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Processor | Exynos 2600 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Exynos 2400 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Starting Price (USD) | $1,399 | $1,299 |
| July 2026 Update Version | One UI 7.1.1 (build S928BXXU1AXF1) | One UI 7.1.1 (build S928BXXU1AXF1) |
What Is the July 2026 Update Issue?
The July 2026 update for Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra and S24 Ultra is a security and stability patch released on July 15, 2026. Users began reporting excessive battery drain within 24 hours of installation, with some devices losing 30% charge overnight. The issue is linked to a background process related to the "SmartThings" framework, according to preliminary analysis by XDA Developers.
The July 2026 update caused a measured 35% increase in average battery discharge rate on the Galaxy S5 Ultra compared to the previous June update.
How Does It Affect Battery Life?
Battery life on affected devices drops by 25% to 40% under normal usage patterns. Standby drain increases from approximately 0.8% per hour to 2.5% per hour. Users report that the phone becomes warm even when idle, and the battery percentage drops visibly during short periods of inactivity. The issue persists even after a factory reset, indicating a system-level problem.
In a controlled test by Lowyat.net, a fully charged Galaxy S24 Ultra lost 18% battery in 6 hours of standby after the July update, compared to 4% before the update.
Which Devices Are Affected?
The primary affected devices are the Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra (model SM-S938B) and Galaxy S24 Ultra (model SM-S928B). Reports also indicate that the Galaxy S25 Ultra (model SM-S938U) experiences a milder 10% to 15% battery drain increase. The issue is not present on the Galaxy S23 Ultra or earlier models. Samsung has confirmed the problem is limited to devices running One UI 7.1.1 with the July 2026 security patch.
As of July 20, 2026, over 12,000 user reports on Samsung's community forums cite battery drain after the July update, with 78% of those reports coming from Galaxy S5 Ultra owners.
What Is Samsung Doing About It?
Samsung has acknowledged the issue in a statement to Lowyat.net: "We are working on a corrective update that will be released within two weeks. In the meantime, users can try clearing the cache partition or disabling SmartThings temporarily." The company has not yet issued an official timeline for the fix, but internal sources suggest a patch may arrive by early August 2026.
Samsung's official response, as reported by Lowyat.net, states: "We are aware of the reports and are actively investigating the cause. A fix is expected within two weeks."
How It Compares: Battery Drain Across Models
The battery drain impact varies by model. The Galaxy S5 Ultra, with its larger 5,500 mAh battery, loses more absolute capacity but a similar percentage to the S24 Ultra. The S25 Ultra shows a smaller relative increase. The table below summarises the average standby drain per hour before and after the July update, based on user-submitted data compiled by Lowyat.net.
| Model | Standby Drain Before Update | Standby Drain After Update | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S5 Ultra | 0.9% per hour | 2.7% per hour | +200% |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | 0.8% per hour | 2.5% per hour | +212% |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 0.7% per hour | 1.2% per hour | +71% |
The Galaxy S24 Ultra experienced the highest relative increase in standby drain at 212%, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra saw a more modest 71% increase.
Common Questions
How can I fix battery drain after the July update on my Galaxy S5 Ultra?
Try clearing the system cache partition by booting into recovery mode (power off, then hold Volume Up + Power). If that fails, disable SmartThings in Settings > Apps. A factory reset is not recommended as the issue persists. Samsung promises a fix within two weeks.
Will Samsung release a patch for the battery drain issue?
Yes, Samsung has confirmed a corrective update is in development. According to Lowyat.net, the company stated a fix is expected within two weeks from July 20, 2026. Users should check for updates in Settings > Software Update after early August.
Is it safe to install the July 2026 update on my Galaxy S24 Ultra?
If you have not yet installed the update, it is advisable to wait for the upcoming fix. Users who have already installed it can mitigate drain by disabling background processes. The update does not pose a security risk, but battery life will be significantly reduced until the patch arrives.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on the Lowyat.net report titled "Samsung Galaxy S5 Ultra and S24 Ultra Battery Woes" published on July 20, 2026, at https://www.lowyat.net/2026/400263/samsung-july-update-battery-drain/. Additional data points were sourced from user reports on Samsung's official community forums and XDA Developers. All battery drain percentages are averages from a sample of 500 user-submitted logs. Currency conversions are not applicable. This article was last updated on July 21, 2026.