u/An_Krishna

I need to know if I'm going crazy or if Samsung actually did this.

Updated my Galaxy S23 to One UI 8.5 and my Bluetooth audio has been completely destroyed across every single device I own.

My car (Bose system): Before the update, volume 14/40 was more than enough. Loud, punchy, dynamic. Now I'm cranking it to 25/40 and it still sounds weak, compressed, and lifeless. The bass is muddy, the highs are harsh. It literally sounds like I downgraded my car stereo.

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: The Samsung Seamless Codec used to sound rich and full. Now everything is flat and compressed. Volume doesn't help. It just gets louder and worse. These are premium earbuds and Samsung has made them sound cheap. At this point they're not even worth streaming from a Samsung phone.

Sony WH-1000XM4 (LDAC): Connected these hoping it was just a Samsung codec issue. Nope. Even on LDAC at highest bitrate, the soundstage collapsed. They lost all warmth and depth. My premium headphones now sound flat and boring.

This is not placebo. I've tested the same tracks, same files, same apps. The only variable is the update.

And that's just audio. The rest of the phone is falling apart too:

· UI is jittery and stuttery

· Constant frame drops when scrolling

· Apps lag when opening

· Phone overheats doing basic tasks like streaming music or browsing Reddit

I bought this phone because it was supposed to be a flagship. Now it performs worse than my old midrange phone.

Samsung has a reputation for degrading devices with updates to push people toward newer models. I always thought people were exaggerating. Now I'm experiencing it firsthand and it's infuriating.

An update should make your device better, not objectively worse.

I regret buying this phone. I regret updating. And honestly, I don't trust Samsung anymore.

If you haven't updated yet, seriously consider holding off. And if you have updated, tell me I'm not alone here. Has your Bluetooth audio gone bad too?

My Galaxy S23 is about 2 years old, and recently I noticed that the back glass panel is slightly protruding from the frame. On closer inspection, it looks like the battery may have swollen.

The timing is what concerns me. After the One UI 8.5 update and the following period, the phone became noticeably sluggish and started heating up even during light tasks such as using WhatsApp, even when I'm in an air-conditioned room. I was also a One UI 8.5 beta user before the stable release. I noticed the battery bulging issue sometime after these changes, although I can't say for sure whether the update, increased heat, and battery swelling are related or if it's just a coincidence.

A bit of context:

Phone is around 2 years old.

I live in a place where ambient temperatures can reach 38°C, but I spend most of my time indoors in air-conditioned rooms.

I use a PD charger with PPS and don't use any cheap chargers.

No gaming. Mostly office use in air-conditioned environments, with occasional travel of up to 5 hours on weekends.

The device has been running warmer than usual since the One UI 8.5 update, even during basic messaging and social media use.

Has anyone else experienced battery swelling on an S23 around the 2-year mark, especially after noticing increased heat following the One UI 8.5 update? Is Samsung covering out-of-warranty battery swelling cases in any regions? Also, is it safe to continue using the phone until I can get it checked, or should I stop using it immediately?

It didn't happen when updating. It's after 8.5 update phone is heating up even for normal tasks. I care for my devices, that's why I mentioned I still use a 7-year-old device.

Any advice would be appreciated.