Samsung Galaxy S6 Problems: Bad Battery Life And Dodgy Wi-Fi Among Top Issues; How To Get Your Handset Working Again

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have been on the market for less than a week, but early adopters are already having issues with the new flagship devices. Many problems plaguing the first-sold Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets are common to new smartphones, such as battery life and Wi-Fi issues. But others are a little more specific to the Galaxy S6 devices.

Not to worry. Many of these issues can be easily resolved. Here’s a rundown of some of the issues users are having with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge and how to fix them.

Battery Life Issues

For the first time, Samsung has adopted a nonremovable battery in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. This means fixing many problems isn’t as simple as removing the battery and putting it back. While Samsung has teased iPhone users for being “wall huggers” due to the unreliable battery life of the Apple smartphones, some Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge users are now having the same problem. Some report that their Galaxy S6 handsets are losing more than 50 percent battery power in just a few hours. However, it seems battery issues aren't a widespread problem for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

Users who experience short battery life can attempt to solve the problem in a number of ways: by restarting their handset if it hasn’t been restarted in a while; by using the Battery Saver mode setting; by shutting off battery-draining apps and services; and by factory-resetting the handset if the problem is severe. If users must factory-reset their Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge handset, they should be sure to back up any data on the device.

Users should also keep in mind that certain battery issues are covered under the one-year warranty that comes with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Samsung will give users a free replacement of their handset if the device’s maximum power capacity drops below 80 percent during its first year of use. All users have to do is send the handset to a Samsung service center and pay for shipping.

Wi-Fi Issues

Dodgy Wi-Fi is an extremely frustrating issue for smartphone users. And some Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge users have reported that their Wi-Fi is slow even when connected to a strong signal. Some indications of Wi-Fi issues on the devices include slow loading times on social media apps such as Facebook and Twitter; in particular, users have reported images taking a long time to load or not loading at all. Apps like Google Now are also being affected by slow Wi-Fi, with the app taking too long to “recognize” an action or responding with “Can’t reach Google at the moment.”

Simple ways to combat Wi-Fi issues include restarting the handset, “forgetting” the Wi-Fi Network and reconnecting, resetting the modem or router or factory-resetting the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge handset.

Screen Rotation/Calibration Issues

An issue specific to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets is where the device becomes stuck in portrait mode even when the auto-rotation setting is turned on. Users with Verizon and Sprint Galaxy S6 Edge handsets in particular have reported this problem, detailing that the autorotation worked fine for the first few hours of usage but stopped thereafter.

The issue appears to be associated with the device’s gyro and accelerometer sensors, which regulate orientation. If a handset is on its side, it is those sensors that allow an app to go into landscape mode. Users can test whether the accelerometer sensor is functioning properly by typing *#0*# into the dialer app. This will take users to a system test page where they must then press "Sensor.” Users with affected handsets have found that the sensor’s x-axis co-ordinate is stuck at -32768.

Unfortunately, many users have found that go-to solutions like restarting or factory-resetting the devices have not remedied the issue. Users should still try these options to see whether they work, but they aren't guaranteed to do the job.

Many users have opted to wait and see if Samsung releases a software fix for the issue; however, it remains uncertain whether this is a software or hardware problem. Some users have opted to return their handsets for a new model.

Another option is giving the affected Galaxy S6 Edge handset a firm tap on its back to see whether that jolts the sensor back into function. However, users should be wary about this suggestion, as it could cause other issues.