Samsung Galaxy S23 users are blaming One UI 6.1 for slower charging speeds, but we’re not convinced
Samsung’s feature-packed One UI 6.1 update finally rolled out to older Samsung phones on March 28, but several users are complaining that the software upgrade has caused their devices to charge slower and at lower wattage.
According to a post from the Samsung Community Forum (via TelephoneArena), One UI 6.1 causes phones including the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 to “lock” on 15W charging, even when higher wattage chargers (like Samsung’s own 25W fast charger) are in use. Another post from the UAE version of Samsung’s Community Forum describes the same issue for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so it appears the issue is not region dependent.
However, as worrying as this phenomenon sounds, we’re not convinced that One UI 6.1 will actually limit charging speeds on older Samsung phones – for several reasons.
For starters, unlike phones that use VOOC charging technology, Samsung devices rarely charge at maximum wattage when the screen is on. For example, Samsung’s own 25W charger typically charges a Galaxy S23 at 15W or 20W when the phone is in use, reserving the 25W wattage for when the device is sleeping.
Secondly, the charging power is reduced as the battery percentage increases, so there is a chance that some affected users will see 15W charging speeds because their Samsung phone is already sufficiently charged.
And finally, charging and battery issues are part and parcel of downloading any major mobile update, so this issue may only be a temporary annoyance as older Samsung phones struggle with the higher demands of One UI 6.1 (even Apple ones). devices have fallen victim to increased battery consumption after major iOS updates).
In each case, SamMobile found that their Galaxy S23 device – when paired with a 120W PPS charger – charged normally after the One UI 6.1 update. The phone reportedly charged at around 20W, with occasional speeds of 25W recorded, much like when running One UI 6 before the release of One UI 6.1.
Other Samsung users responded to the aforementioned Community Forum post with their own positive experiences: “I have a Galaxy S23 and am charging it with a 25W Samsung charger,” one user wrote. “It took the same amount of time (~75 minutes) (to charge) as before the upgrade.”
So it’s clear that this loading speed issue isn’t universal – and it may not be a problem at all. In all likelihood, affected devices will correct themselves as they become more accustomed to One UI 6.1, and if not, Samsung will surely roll out a software patch in the coming weeks.
Concerning the positive Effects of One UI 6.1, Samsung’s latest update brings a host of Galaxy AI features – including Generative Edit and Circle to Search – to older Samsung phones, while lesser-known features like Instant Slow-Mo also make the generational leap.