[android] Galaxy S3 battery troubles.

[difinity]

2 days ago, for some unidentified reason the battery on my Galaxy S3 (running 4.4.1) began to drain at an alarming rate, (faster than it would charge)

 

Under the battery monitor the top usage shows gpsd. I have Googled about and uninstalled all my apps that use gps and at present have wifi off, screen brightness turned right down and any services turned off, effectively turning it into a dumb phone.

 

Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions ?

 

What is the easiest way of backing up my phone and doing a restore ?

 

Thanks.

[X-13]

I have Googled about and uninstalled all my apps that use gps

 

Couldn't you have just turned GPS off?

 

 

Random question, is your phone getting quite hot?

 

Mine did that [Old skool Galaxy S] and drained about 85% of the battery in about an hour. I've also read that it's an issue other people have had with the S3.

[difinity]

Sorry should have said. GPS is off.

 

Not hot, 25.3C according to OS monitor.

Edited November 23, 2012 by difinity

[gtg93]

Have you got a mobile antivirus installed? I've read that there are some malicous apps circulating at the moment that run processes in the background to drain your battery.

 

Avast should pick them up if that's the case:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity&hl=en

[linkazoid]

Try installing Better Battery Stats from XDA - link not available to hand at the moment.

 

Let it run for an hour and see what's draining it so quickly. Some app has a wakelock open which is stopping the device from sleeping.

[difinity]

Avast hasn't found anything.

 

I am using GSam battery monitor but it's showing nothing out of the ordinary. Even if it wasn't sleeping it should still be able to charge up under normal usage.

I left it on charge all night, screen off, wi fi off, all services off and it only managed to get to 45% charge.

 

I'm thinking a factory restore is the only way.

[gtg93]

I'm thinking a factory restore is the only way.

 

Just what I was going to suggest. I know it's a faff too but I'd not bother backing up apps or settings so this way if it is an app or settings causing it you'll be able to tell when you install the app / apply the setting.

 

If not get it back to Samsung - I think the battery's only have 6months warranty though as appose to the 12 the handset will have.

 

Failing that have you tried a custom ROM? Could be something wrong in the new Jelly Bean release.

[Poults]

As suggested, betterbatterystats from XDA (if you are rooted), and if you are get titanium backup and copy of the backup folder, factory reset, re-root and restore.

[difinity]

@gtg93 can you recommend a custom ROM ? Cyanogenmod ?

[gtg93]

I was under the impression development had stopped with Cyanogen? Don't take it as gospel though - if it hasn't that's being the best ROM I've had on my previous phones.

 

I've still got the S2 unfortunately so I couldn't give you much info that I knew was correct so wouldn't want to sell you a ROM that wasn't very good. I'd reccomend a read around XDA though, they're always quite happy to help and point in the right direction - just be sure to get the right ROM for the right phone as there are 2 or 3 versions of the S3 with slightly different hardware from what I've being told, but 8months into my contract with an S2, I've not being looking at the S3s too much, wouldn't want to get too envious

 

Samsung Galaxy S III I9300, I9305 - xda-developers < Direct link to S3 forum

[difinity]

Thanks everyone for your input. I did a backup and wiped the phone however the problem has got worse. The phone now wont charge, so its going back to Vodafone for a repair.