Samsung Initiates Deployment of Regulations for Disputed App Speed Limitations on Galaxy S22 Series
Samsung has a knack for causing a stir with its flagship releases, and the Galaxy S22 series is no exception. The company has been criticized for messing with app performance through its Game Optimization Service, or GOS. Intriguingly, certain benchmarking apps were left untouched.
Users have uncovered that Samsung's GOS restricts over 10,000 common Android applications. This feature is preinstalled on the latest Galaxy S-series devices and is predominantly used by gamers to enhance their device's performance during gameplay.
Unique to Samsung, the GOS was found to disrupt performance in games and numerous everyday apps. The list of affected apps includes popular ones like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, ride-hailing services like Uber, and even Samsung's own applications, such as Samsung Pay.
A Korean YouTuber provided additional evidence of throttling through a video. Interestingly, they chose to benchmark using 3DMark instead of Geekbench, and the results indicated that the device's performance was halted unless the apps were categorized in a manner that didn't trigger GOS in the background. This led many to believe that Samsung was manipulating its benchmarks, which is why Geekbench removed the last four years of Samsung devices from its global leaderboard.
According to Korean Samsung community forums, a software update is supposedly Samsung's response to the GOS throttling issue. Translated from Korean to English using Google Translate, the update mentions removing the "initial CPU/GPU performance limit when running the game" and allowing users to bypass GOS for specific apps. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the update on our review unit, so I can't confirm if this option is readily apparent.
We reached out to Samsung to see if US-based Galaxy S22 units would receive a similar software update. There's been no word from the company on a planned update for this side of the world.
Fortunately, this issue isn't as pressing as the infamous Galaxy Note 7's exploding batteries. Game launchers, like the ones offered by Google and OnePlus, have become an integral part of the Android experience. Game Mode, introduced in Android 12, and OnePlus Games, which offer performance enhancements and gameplay recording options, are examples.
However, Samsung has a history of inflating performance benchmarks, which is why some regard this incident as more than just a coding error. If Samsung was indeed cheating, why were popular apps included in the game optimization list while benchmarking apps were overlooked?
Game launchers are designed to showcase your Android device's capabilities, but they may need a little restraint as well. Samsung needs to figure out a way to allow testers to collect data without compromising the consumer's experience.
The tech industry is constantly seeking ways to improve device performance, and Samsung's GOS is a prime example. However, concerns about its impact on future updates are rising, as users question why certain apps are affected while others remain untouched. With the potential for manipulation in benchmarks, transparency and fairness are crucial in the realm of technology.
