Battery drain in One UI 9? Some Galaxy S24 users are having a rough time

What you need to know

• Reports from Galaxy S24 users claim their phones are experiencing severe battery drain issues after One UI 9.
• One device under "heavy use" reportedly dropped 95% in a little over five hours; however, it appears quite excessive in nature.
• Another report from a Galaxy S25 user states their device dropped a whopping 40% while sitting idle.
• A recent report from a Korean Galaxy S26 user states their device locked up after downloading One UI 9 due a "webpage unavailable bug."

Samsung has had a busy month. One UI 9 is rolling out on its current-gen and past-gen phones, but it's the latter that's worse off.

A Galaxy S24 Ultra user has reportedly experienced severe battery drain since downloading Samsung's One UI 9 update (via SammyFans). The phone's battery reportedly consumed 95% of its charge in five hours and twenty minutes. The post states this was after "heavy use." However, this might seem a bit excessive. The Galaxy S24 Ultra in question only reported a little over three hours of "screen-on time" (SoT).

It's unclear how widespread the problem is. Some users haven't noticed vastly different battery experiences since downloading One UI 9, while others have. A 9to5Google highlighted a Reddit thread discussing whether or not the Galaxy S24 is suffering from extreme battery drain. Curiously, one user reports horrendous idle battery drain with their phone.

One user had only two and a half hours of SoT, and their battery dropped significantly. In almost 11 hours, their battery lost 40% of its charge while sitting idle. More users continued to share their "since last charge" data. Users with higher SoT showed understandable battery drain.

The folks at 9to5 noticed some reports concerning the Galaxy S25 series. A user said they've had to start charging their phone multiple times a day to get through. We've not noticed any significant changes in our Galaxy S25 Ultra, so this could be one of those weird case-by-case situations.

Bumps in the road

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central's Take

I hate tech problems. I'll always hate tech problems. But nothing's more frustrating than when you're struggling from something, but many others aren't. At that point, where do you find your answers? These battery drain issues have been gaining traction. I've seen reports on Samsung's community forums, and of course, there's Reddit, too. If something is amiss, hopefully Samsung sees it and can help those affected.

The situation only gets weirder when you factor in the strange setup bug that one Korean user encountered with One UI 9. The user states they're unable to get to the lock and home screens after updating to Android 17. They are consistently given an error on the final step, but Samsung responded quickly. To fix the "webpage is unavailable" error, Samsung said to ensure the browser is updated. What's more, it recommends switching to a stable Wi-Fi connection.

This is another that's not widespread. However, Samsung might roll out a fix for this to cover its bases and make sure more users aren't affected. The only question is when that might happen.

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Smart ring battle: Oura and Ultrahuman are in court again over a 'patent infringement'

What you need to know

• Oura and Ultrahuman find themselves in another dispute as the former sues over "patent infringements."
• Oura states Ultrahuman infringed on "design and internal component" patents with the Ring Pro.
• In 2025, Ultrahuman sued Oura for "ripping off" its patented health tech.

Oura is reportedly suing Ultrahuman over its Ring Pro. The company alleges Ultrahuman infringed a few patents when it created the device.

A report by TechCrunch highlighted the lawsuit between Oura and Ultrahuman. The latter claims Ultrahuman infringed on its "design and internal component" patents with the Ring Pro. In a statement to the publication, an Oura spokesperson said, "Ultrahuman has a history of copying Oura’s innovations, as demonstrated by the 2025 ITC ruling against the company." It adds, "Ultrahuman introduced a redesigned ring but failed to address continued infringement of Oura’s patents."

Specifically, Oura says it's suing Ultrahuman over the ring's "curved battery, circuit board, magnets, and sensors." However, as the publication notes, Oura was granted this internal-component patent (12,769,363) on October 20. The lawsuit was filed two days later.

Ultrahuman has struggled to get its products to U.S. consumers. The post reminds us of an import ban it faced, which forced its presence out of the country. The Ultrahuman Ring Pro was its ticket back into the market; however, Oura wants to stop that from happening. What's more, the company is reportedly seeking "monetary damages" in this lawsuit.

Ultrahuman's co-founder and CEO, Mohit Kumar, told TechCrunch, "Oura has now chosen to assert different patents, including one that was issued just two days before this lawsuit was filed." Presently, Kumar says courts have not stopped it from selling the Ring Pro to U.S. consumers, so it remains available even today.

Back & Forth

(Image credit: Ultrahuman)

These two companies have gone back and forth for years now. In 2025, Ultrahuman sued Oura. It accused Oura's Ring 4 of "ripping off its patented smart ring tech." The core of this dispute concerned "sleep tracking, circadian tools, and women’s health features." Ultrahuman said it "pioneered" those features. There was also a major difference between the two companies.

While Ultrahuman offers its features without a paywall through PowerPlugs, Oura features a subscription-heavy model. Ultrahuman also clarified why it was suing Oura. It said that defending its patents wasn't the primary goal. Instead, "positioning itself as a defender of open health data and Indian innovation on the global stage" was more important to the company.

Ultrahuman has continued to do just that in 2026. The company partnered with HealthEx, which brings users' official medical records into the app. You can compare your smart ring's data against your medical records and take those insights to your doctor. Earlier in October, it rolled out Heart Scan for the Ring Pro. Heart Scan needs sixty seconds to deliver a snapshot of your heart's condition at a moment's notice.

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OnePlus rolls out Android 17 to the OnePlus 15 ahead of schedule

What you need to know

• OnePlus has started rolling out its Android 17-based update to the OnePlus 15 and Pad 4 ahead of the October 29 schedule.
• ColorOS 17 brings redesigned animations, improved Quick Settings, more customization, and updated privacy controls.
• OnePlus says users can choose ColorOS 17 and roll back to OxygenOS, although supported rollback versions remain unconfirmed.

OnePlus has begun rolling out its stable ColorOS 17 update based on Android 17 ahead of schedule to the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus Pad 4. The rollout was originally planned for October 29, but the company has already begun pushing the software to eligible devices. That’s another step away from the OxygenOS identity that longtime fans know.

The stable update is being rolled out to the OnePlus 15 (CPH2745), as per the announcement on OnePlus’ Community, and it seems that the first to get it are those who signed up for the open beta. OnePlus Pad 4 will also be part of the initial rollout, but availability will depend on the way OnePlus rolls out the update in phases.

A new look with practical improvements

ColorOS 17 is based on Android 17 and brings redesigned animations, improved Quick Settings panels, more customization options, and updated privacy controls. OnePlus also promises better background process management to improve battery efficiency, which could make a difference for people who push their phones throughout the day.

This update is a part of a larger change at OnePlus. ColorOS will be the foundation of the next chapter of the company’s software after it announced it will leave North American and European markets. OxygenOS and ColorOS have shared a lot of their underlying tech over the years, but the change still marks a major departure from the branding that helped cement OnePlus in the hearts of Android fans.

There is also a regional wrinkle. OnePlus says eligible users can choose whether to switch to ColorOS 17, and those who make the jump can roll back to OxygenOS. However, the company has not yet revealed which versions of OxygenOS will be available for rollback.

Who gets it next?

Next in line are the OnePlus 15R, OnePlus 13, and OnePlus 13s. The wider rollout will be in stages, so don't panic if your phone hasn't got the notification just yet.

Owners can check by going to Settings > About device > ColorOS. It's worth pointing out that not every major software update is worth installing the second it appears; waiting for early reports can help you avoid unexpected bugs.

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That's a problem: Galaxy S26 Ultra suffers a horrendous setup bug after One UI 9

What you need to know

• After updating to One UI 9, a Korean user states they've encountered a critical setup bug.
• The user is unable to view their lock screen or home screen with this bug, but Samsung was quick to respond.
• They were encouraged to update their browser and to connect to Wi-Fi, not their cellular service.

The last thing anyone wants is a software bug that completely kneecaps their device. Unfortunately, that's exactly what some Galaxy S26 Ultra users are experiencing.

A user on Samsung's Korean forums says their Galaxy S26 Ultra is experiencing a critical error after updating to One UI 9 (via SammyFans). They state in their report (machine-translated), "Since the UI 9.0 update, this keeps appearing on my phone screen. The screen is black and the home screen isn't appearing either." What they're referring to is an error message that reads, "The webpage is unavailable... for the following reasons."

As the user states, they're unable to get past this startup screen after downloading Samsung's major Android OS upgrade. The only good news is that Samsung was quick to respond to their report. According to Samsung, "The development team has confirmed that this issue occurs when using an unstable system WebView on certain networks. We kindly ask that you follow the troubleshooting guide below."

The company suggests updating your browser, such as Google Chrome. It also recommends switching to a Wi-Fi network, not your phone's cell service. Once that's done, users can try logging into their Samsung Account as normal.

There's a chance this bug could get fixed in a future software update, but Samsung hasn't confirmed that yet.

Not a good look

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

This problem seems quite specific. Right now, it's unclear how widespread the problem is. However, One UI 9 hasn't been all roses for Galaxy users. Users on Reddit reported an "XML Access Denied error" almost two weeks ago (via Android Police). This error reportedly froze users' devices, which seems to have impacted the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S24, and others.

One user had to remove their SIM card in order to proceed, while another found relief by booting in safe mode with their Wi-Fi connection off.

These issues are frustrating, considering how long users have waited for Samsung's Android 17 update. We've been met with nothing but delays; however, in late September, the Galaxy S26 series finally got it in the U.S. T-Mobile customers reportedly got it first with a 4GB download. Shortly after, others received it for their respective carriers (or unlocked version).

Over the past few weeks, the update has rolled out for several budget phones, the Galaxy S25, and S24 series.

Android Central's Take

I've seen similar frustrations amongst users online when it comes to problems with Samsung's updates. We wait so long for them, go through delays, and then there's a major bug like this. It often makes one wonder about Samsung's quality control or what's going on with these delays. You'd think some delays were to squash these critical issues, but then they happen anyway.

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Kindle Unlimited is now Kindle Plus, and Amazon is betting big on AI audiobooks

What you need to know

• Kindle Unlimited is now Kindle+, keeping the $11.99 monthly price, 20-title borrow limit, and existing user data intact.
• The subscription now includes thousands of additional audiobooks sourced via Audible’s ACX and Amazon's synthetic Virtual Voice tech.
• The expanded audio catalog is currently exclusive to US subscribers, with a broader international rollout planned for a later date.

Amazon has rebranded its Kindle Unlimited subscription as Kindle Plus, expanding its ebook subscription into a wider identity and adding thousands of audiobooks to the mix.

The US monthly price is still $11.99, but the expanded catalog means subscribers can access more audio content, including books narrated by AI, without having to pay for another subscription.

The rebrand was launched on October 22, and Amazon has kept the core benefits the same. Subscribers still can check out up to 20 titles at a time from a rotating selection of ebooks, comics, and magazines, with no return deadlines. History, bookmarks, notes, and progress all transfer in as well, so existing members won’t have to start over just because Amazon decided the old name needed an upgrade. Kindle Plus is not associated with Amazon Prime and Audible.

Audiobook expansion

Along with the rebrand, Amazon is adding thousands of titles, including audiobooks created through its Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) and AI-generated recordings via its Virtual Voice technology, as per ZDNet. The latter allows self-published authors to transform their written work into narrated audio without hiring a human narrator, potentially bringing more books to listeners who’d rather press play than flip pages.

But there is a catch. Qualifying ebooks enrolled in Kindle Direct Publishing’s KDP Select program can be automatically included in Virtual Voice audiobooks by the authors. This will make it easier to grow the catalog but also raises questions about how much of the new selection will feature synthetic narration and whether the experience will be comparable to professionally narrated audiobooks for listeners.

The change gives readers more options to switch between reading and listening without adding another bill. Amazon’s approach provides a less complicated path for authors to publish in audio, but AI narration won’t be for everyone, particularly those who like expressive performances.

At the moment, the expanded audiobook selection is only available in the US, but Amazon promises wider international availability at a later date. The company has not set out a firm timetable for other markets.

Kindle Plus is therefore more than a fresh logo, but it’s not a total revamp either. The question is whether Amazon can make its growing audio library worth exploring while giving subscribers enough clarity about who’s actually reading their next book aloud.

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Google Chrome will let you know if a website 'doesn't seem right' with these updates

What you need to know

• Google detailed several updates for Chrome that aim to help users stay safe while browsing online.
• Google states it has rolled out alerts for suspicious websites and bright red, full-screen warnings for sites that are "known to be dangerous."
• Other updates include Gemini's AI-powered alerts for scams and notifications to help users avoid risky situations.

Google is bringing improved warning systems for potentially dangerous websites in Chrome.

In a blog post, Google announced that it's rolling out an update for Chrome's Safe Browsing when "Enhanced protection mode is enabled." Chrome now has warnings for suspicious and dangerous websites. If the browser deems a website to be "suspicious," Google says this typically means there's a "risk of user harm." It explains that suspicious websites "exhibit deceptive patterns" associated with sites looking to steal or capture your data.

However, if the browser is "confident" that a website is truly dangerous, then that means it discovered something of a "high risk" to the user. Google says these warnings will appear for sites that are "known to be malicious." Users will tell the difference between these two warnings quite easily. Suspicious sites will produce a warning pop-up in your address bar.

The alert will say "this site doesn't seem right" with a boldly colored button to take you to safety (it returns you to Search or wherever you've come from). But if a website is truly dangerous, the entire screen goes red with "dangerous site" in the center.

These updated warnings will be present on Chrome for desktop and Android.

Dangerous websites

(Image credit: Google)

ClickFix is another issue Google said it's worked on for Chrome. It explains that ClickFix is a "social engineering technique that tricks users into manually copying and executing malicious commands." It hides under the guise of "fixing an issue," which never existed in the first place. Google Chrome's Enhanced Protection will now protect users from copying and executing suspicious commands.

In terms of the onslaught of on-device AI, Google Chrome has recently received a healthy dose of Gemini. The AI isn't only useful for summarizing webpages. Gemini is capable of delivering scam warnings when users visit malicious websites. These alerts cover "scams, spam, and unwanted notifications." While Google previously said that it uses data and machine learning to determine what is "malicious," users can overrule it.

Gemini's alerts will display what it believes to be dangerous. However, if it made the wrong decision, the user can mark it as safe.

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Galaxy Watch user wakes up to an awful blister after apparent 'burn' overnight

What you need to know

• A Galaxy Watch 5 Pro user said they woke up to a painful blister and an apparent skin burn after the device overheated during the night.
• They say the watch won't turn on anymore, and other users say they've encountered similar problems with the Watch 5 and Watch Ultra 2.
• A Samsung Galaxy S24 user had quite the scar this year when their device "combusted" in South Korea.

A Galaxy Watch user woke up to an unsightly (and painful) overnight battle scar. The report claims the watch "burned" them, leaving a terrible wound.

The user reported the problem on the Galaxy Watch subreddit, stating, "​I wore my watch to bed, as I have done for the last 3 years, and woke up with a burn on my arm" (via Android Authority). They say the problem occurred with a Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The watch was "fully charged" when they went to bed; however, it was "completely dead" once they woke up.

Interestingly, a conversation in the thread mentioned a similar incident with a Galaxy Watch 5 six months after launch. One user reports that their significant other's Galaxy Watch 5 "...burned her in her sleep too. Not nearly as bad as OP's watch did. But did enough that she stopped wearing it altogether."

Another report involved a Galaxy Watch 2. The user said, "I have the same issue, but not blisters yet." Many have mentioned contact dermatitis, but this issue (the one in the original post) doesn't match that. The publication mentioned this, too, but contact dermatitis would align more with a skin irritation/rash. The user here reports blistering.

This is a scary issue, and one that certainly needs attention. The original post says that their Galaxy Watch 5 Pro won't turn on anymore. They're unsure if they should seek a replacement for the overheating issue.

Devices so fire, they caught fire

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Android Central's Take

Our "smart" devices are scary, aren't they? These issues don't happen often, but when they do, it's jarring because you don't expect it to. Something happened internally for the user's Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The rapid heating and severe battery drain definitely signal in my head that something's amiss. The problem is the "what." What went wrong, and since this has happened a few times before, what's Samsung prepared to do?

The publication brought up something interesting: the usual safeguards to avoid severe overheating were seemingly nowhere to be found. Android Central has reached out to Samsung about this issue and will update this article when we hear back.

While not a smartwatch, a Galaxy S24 user experienced a nightmare this year when their phone went up in flames. The problem occurred in South Korea. The user states their Galaxy S24 "combusted" under normal use. The phone had reportedly started to swell rapidly before it burst. Then, the flames consumed it. All the user states they were doing was browsing the internet, and it started to smoke.

When the fire department arrived, it confirmed a "lithium battery ignition." The user was okay, receiving treatment for burns and smoke inhalation. Samsung also reached out quite quickly. Let's also not forget that a similar issue took place with a Galaxy S25 Plus, too.

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