Many players have reported a PUBG Mobile update battery drain issue after installing recent updates. Battery drain happens when the game consumes power faster than expected, causing devices to heat up, run down quickly, and feel less responsive. For mobile gamers who enjoy long sessions on the go, this problem can be frustrating and even limit playtime.
Battery consumption in mobile games is always a balance between performance and efficiency. PUBG Mobile regularly updates its graphics, gameplay systems, and network features to improve visual quality and player experience. However, some of these improvements can unintentionally increase battery usage, especially on older or mid-range devices. Understanding why this happens and how to fix it lets you continue enjoying the game without sacrificing battery life or overheating your phone.
In this detailed guide, we’ll explain what causes the battery drain issue after a PUBG Mobile update, how it affects different devices, and practical ways to reduce power consumption so you can play longer sessions without rapid battery loss.
Why PUBG Mobile Update Causes Battery Drain
When a new PUBG Mobile update rolls out, it may introduce:
- Enhanced graphics with higher frame rates,
- Background processes such as new matchmaking or anti-cheat services,
- Network activity changes,
- New animation or physics systems.
While these elements improve gameplay, they also increase processing load, which directly impacts power usage. Mobile CPUs and GPUs work harder, which consumes more energy and generates more heat. On high refresh rate devices (90Hz, 120Hz), rendering more frames per second can also significantly increase drain.
Battery drain is most noticeable on older phones or models with smaller batteries, where hardware struggles to keep up with newer game features. In some cases, unoptimized code within the update may cause certain processes to run longer than necessary, leaving battery drain issues lingering until a follow-up patch resolves them.
How to Identify the Battery Drain Issue
You may be experiencing PUBG Mobile update battery drain if you notice:
- Rapid battery percentage loss while playing,
- Device heating up quickly,
- Shorter overall battery life compared with pre-update sessions,
- Battery drain even when the game isn’t in the foreground but running in the background.
Monitoring apps or built-in battery usage stats on your phone can help confirm if PUBG Mobile is consuming disproportionate power compared with other apps.
Step 1: Lower In-Game Graphics Settings
The most effective way to reduce battery drain after a PUBG Mobile update is to lower in-game graphics settings. High frame rates, extreme graphics quality, and rendering distance require significant processing power. Reducing these settings lessens CPU and GPU workload, which directly impacts battery usage.
Try setting:
- Graphics quality to Smooth or Balanced,
- Frame rate to Low or Medium (especially on older devices),
- Disable unnecessary effects like shadows or motion blur.
These adjustments make the game less demanding and help save battery life.
Step 2: Limit Frame Rate
High refresh rates (90Hz, 120Hz) enhance visuals but increase power consumption. Setting the frame rate to a lower value—like 60Hz or lower—can dramatically reduce battery usage without severely impacting playability.
Devices with adaptive refresh rates may benefit from locking to a stable, lower refresh rate during gameplay.
Step 3: Close Background Apps
Background applications consume RAM and processing power, indirectly contributing to battery drain when PUBG Mobile runs simultaneously. Before playing, close other apps, especially streaming, navigation, or social apps that refresh data in the background.
Step 4: Disable Unnecessary Network Features
Some PUBG Mobile background services—such as advanced anti-cheat or real-time analytics—may increase battery usage. If the game allows, disabling real-time voice chat, network-heavy features, or unnecessary notifications can help.
Note: Turning off network features may slightly change gameplay experience but can help battery life.
Step 5: Use Power Saving Mode
Most modern phones include a power saving mode that limits background activity, reduces screen brightness, and optimizes CPU usage. Activating this mode while playing PUBG Mobile can extend battery life, though it may also reduce performance slightly.
This is especially useful for long sessions or when you’re away from a charger.
Step 6: Keep Your Device Cool
Heat accelerates battery drain. Using PUBG Mobile in hot environments or while charging can cause your device to heat up, forcing it to throttle performance and consume more battery. Avoid direct sunlight and remove thick phone cases that trap heat.
Cooling the device through passive airflow (fan, cooler pad) can help stabilize battery performance.
Step 7: Check for Follow-Up Patches
Developers often release follow-up patches that address performance and battery drain issues introduced in major updates. Keeping PUBG Mobile updated ensures you receive fixes that reduce unnecessary power consumption and optimize new features.
If the battery drain is caused by unoptimized code, future patches often fix these problems.
Step 8: Monitor Battery Usage Patterns
Use built-in battery analytics on your phone to see how much power PUBG Mobile consumes compared with other apps. Android and iOS both provide detailed statistics that show per-app battery usage over time. If PUBG Mobile consistently uses a disproportionate amount, the issue may be tied directly to the update’s code and require an official fix.
Device-Specific Considerations
Different devices handle power management differently. High-end phones with large batteries and advanced cooling systems often deal with intensive games better. Conversely, mid-range or older models may struggle with new graphics features, making battery drain more noticeable.
If your device is older, reducing game demands significantly (into the lowest possible settings) usually yields the best battery improvements.
Is Battery Drain Safe for Your Device
Battery drain itself is not harmful if it is temporary and expected during gameplay. However, excessive heat or prolonged high usage can accelerate battery wear over time.
Monitoring temperature, avoiding extended sessions while charging, and using optimized settings help protect your device’s battery health in the long run.
Why PUBG Mobile Updates Affect Battery Life
Every major update introduces new features, graphical enhancements, or expanded systems. These changes can increase CPU and GPU load, and when hardware works harder, battery usage increases. Sometimes developers prioritize visuals or gameplay improvements over optimization initially, planning to refine efficiency in later patches.
Understanding this helps set expectations—new features often come with performance costs that are tuned over time.
FAQ
Does PUBG Mobile drain more battery after every update?
Not every update causes battery drain, but large updates with heavy graphical or system changes can temporarily increase usage.
Will future updates fix battery drain?
Yes. Developers often patch performance issues in subsequent updates based on user feedback.
Does turning off sound help battery life?
Turning off sound has minimal effect compared with graphics or network features.
Are certain phones more affected than others?
Yes. Mid-range and older phones typically show more noticeable battery drain with intense games.
Can background apps affect PUBG Mobile battery usage?
Yes. Background apps increase overall power use, which can amplify drain during gameplay.
Is it better to play on Wi-Fi or mobile data for battery life?
Wi-Fi usually uses less power than mobile data, but overall impact depends on network strength and stability.
The PUBG Mobile update battery drain issue is frustrating but often manageable with the right adjustments. By lowering graphics settings, limiting frame rates, closing background apps, and using power or temperature optimizations, most players can reduce excessive power consumption. Developers typically refine performance in future patches, so keeping the game updated also helps. With these steps, you can enjoy PUBG Mobile without rapid battery loss and get more playtime out of every charge.
