Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Today's Edition

EveryNews

Stories that matter, signal over noise

Technologies

Google Play Services "Drains" Battery on Galaxy Watch — Samsung Remains Silent

After recent updates, Google Play Services began consuming over 10% of the battery on Galaxy Watch devices across various generations. Samsung has not responded, while users are seeking workarounds on their own.

Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

April 14, 2026 · 2 min read

Google Play Services "Drains" Battery on Galaxy Watch — Samsung Remains Silent
Galaxy Watch 7 (Фото: Samsung)

If your Galaxy Watch suddenly started draining twice as fast — the problem is likely not with you. A few weeks ago, owners of various Galaxy Watch models noticed a sharp drop in battery life: Google Play Services turned out to be the main culprit in battery statistics. The issue affected Watch 7, Classic 6, Classic 8, and Ultra 2025.

The numbers

According to one Reddit user, their Galaxy Watch Ultra previously held a charge for four days without AOD — now the situation is drastically different. In other cases, Google Play Services accounted for over 15–25% of total battery consumption — and continued to grow. In most documented cases, the service exceeds 10% of total consumption.

Key detail: user behavior hasn't changed. People weren't installing new apps or changing settings — the problem appeared after a security update or an update to Google Play Services itself.

What the community has already tried

  • Clearing the cache and storage of Google Play Services — provides a temporary effect.
  • Uninstalling and reinstalling Google Assistant on the watch — some users report the problem disappearing after this step.
  • Restarting stabilizes the situation briefly, but doesn't solve it.
  • Factory reset — an extreme option that also doesn't guarantee results.

"Google Play Services showed 60% consumption on my Watch 6 Classic. After uninstalling and updating Google Assistant — zero problems."

Samsung Community user

Why this isn't just an inconvenience

Google Play Services isn't an ordinary app. It's responsible for sensors, Bluetooth, GPS, and most of the watch's background functions. When it malfunctions, affected watches essentially turn into trackers requiring daily charging — even those models positioned as "week-long" devices.

That's where the real conflict emerges: updates that were supposed to improve security have degraded a key product characteristic. And neither side — neither Samsung nor Google — has taken public responsibility.

Manufacturer response: silence

Samsung has not officially responded to the problem. Android Authority reached out to the company for comment and is waiting for a response. Since the issue affects multiple models, a fix will likely come jointly from Samsung and Google.

But for now — no timelines, no confirmation. Users are left either waiting or experimenting with Google Assistant on their own.

If the next security update comes out without fixing this regression — how many users will simply decide that "Samsung watches drain quickly" and choose a different platform next time?

Related

Latest

Business

EU Against Google: Why the Latest Fine Could Change More Than Previous Ones

# European Regulators Target Google Again — This Time Over Digital Markets Act Violations. What's Behind the Accusations and Why It Matters Beyond the Corporation European regulators have renewed their scrutiny of Google, this time focusing on alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act. The charges underscore Brussels' increasingly aggressive stance on big tech monopolies and what officials say are anticompetitive practices. The accusations center on how Google leverages its dominance across multiple digital services — from search to advertising to mobile platforms — to disadvantage competitors. Regulators claim the company is using its market power in ways that stifle innovation and limit consumer choice. The case carries significance far beyond Google itself. It signals how the EU is attempting to enforce its landmark Digital Markets Act, legislation designed to curb the gatekeeping power of tech giants. A potential penalty could set precedent for how other large technology companies face similar scrutiny. For consumers and smaller tech firms, the outcome could reshape the digital landscape by creating more room for competition. For Google, fines and operational restrictions could fundamentally alter its business model in Europe, the world's most stringent regulatory market. The case also reflects a broader geopolitical divide, with the EU pursuing a regulatory approach that contrasts sharply with the lighter-touch oversight favored in the United States.

May 26, 2026