A feature built into a whole line of Galaxy S phones seems to slow down the performance of many popular apps. In response, Samsung says it wants to give users a choice.
The problem seems to be with the Game Optimizing Service app. Last week, Korean users reported that the feature limits several apps in their operation, ostensibly saving battery. A list of ten thousand popular apps is circulating, which are restricted by the service. The list includes games and apps from Microsoft Office, Netflix, TikTok and more. Even apps from Samsung itself, such as the Secure Folder or Samsung Pay, would be ‘optimized’. Not on the list: benchmarking apps that could measure the impact.
A Korean YouTuber then renamed a 3DMark benchmark package to the popular game Genshin Impact to test the operation of the Game Optimizing Service. This should show that the service slows down the app drastically, writes tech site Android Authority, which came out with the story.
The feature seems to exist on Galaxy S phones up to the latest Galaxy S22. In an initial response to the news, Samsung said that it is investigating the complaints. In a statement to the site XDA-developers, the tech giant reports that the Game Optimization Service is intended to improve the performance of the CPU and GPU and prevent overheating during longer gaming sessions. Samsung also says it’s working on a mode that will prioritize games while playing, letting users choose where to strike a balance. However, Samsung does not mention the actual complaints about slowing down popular apps for the time being.
It’s not the first time smartphone makers have a different idea than users about how best to optimize their devices. Apple has previously been fined for slowing down older iPhones, ostensibly to save battery. Smartphone maker OnePlus also came under criticism last year for not giving certain popular apps access to the main processors to extend the device’s battery life.
