According to Korean users, the Game Optimizing Service module installed by default on Samsung Galaxy smartphones limits the performance of some 10,000 applications. The builder is investigating.
The information is surprising. But it seems supported by testimonials and tests. For some time, Korean users of Galaxy smartphones have been complaining on the forum meeco of the Game Optimizing Service (GOS) application which would significantly reduce the performance of their mobile. Installed by default by Samsung on certain models, this app works constantly in the background with the aim of optimizing the behavior of the smartphone in games, balancing performance and consumption. A laudable objective in principle, but which currently poses two problems according to Android Authoritywho looked into the matter.
First, GOS uses a list of some 10,000 “greedy” applications whose performance would be voluntarily reduced. There are games, of course, like Candy Crush or Clash Royale, but also, which is more annoying, non-gaming applications such as TikTok, Instagram, Microsoft Office, Netflix or Google Keep. Worse, some Samsung apps like Secure Folder, Samsung Pay or Samsung Cloud would also be on the list of software to “curb”! Then, and this is the major annoyance, the Game Optimizing Service module can neither be uninstalled nor deactivated. As a result, it is impossible for the user to circumvent this very zealous policeman…
Samsung Galaxy: limited performance in 10,000 applications
Obviously, test (benchmark) apps such as 3DMark, Antutu, GFXBench, PCMark or GeekBench 5 are not on the blacklist. Logical, because it would prevent them from measuring the real capacities of the devices, which need all their power to show high scores in these speed races. But a smart guy had the idea to do a very instructive experiment. As he shows in the video he shared, this Korean YouTuber had fun changing the name of the 3DMark package to be taken into account by GOS. And there, surprise, the score of the smartphone collapsed: in the WildLife Extreme test, it went from 2,618 points in normal mode to only 1,141 points once slowed down by GOS… Proof that Game Optimizing Service can further reduce the performance of the apps it processes by 50%. And in particular all the “classic” applications which should not be restrained.
This somewhat tarnishes the reputation of the manufacturer, and above all, the real capacities of the models concerned – which have not yet been identified – whose real performances do not correspond to those promised by the famous benchmarks. Samsung, which has been alerted, has not yet found an explanation or a solution. But the manufacturer is investigating to unravel this curious story. To be continued…