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vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
980
1,347
Not necessarily. The issue arises in areas with weak signals. If you live in an area with decent reception, you may never experience the problem. A poor antenna design with high gain will perform poorly in areas with weak signals.

According to Rollltide1, he now has a working phone, and he was testing in weak areas.

My phone also works in weak areas where i didnt have signal on my 7+
[doublepost=1539711293][/doublepost]Also, regarding all of the "bad antenna design" is the problem posts, did anyone look at the Pixel 1 XL's (HTC) antenna report from the same guy?


Pixel%2BXL%2BEIRP.png


iPhone%2BXS%2BEIRP.png


For the Pixel 1 he says "...while the HTC just seems to continue the company's passably average RF performance on LTE"

So he says the Pixel XL antenna is "passably average," but for the XS he treats it like it's a total design flaw? He even lengthened the gap between the 100 and 200 range on the XS chart versus the Pixel chart to make it look like the differences are even larger than they are, when in actuality the XS has better numbers.

Something is fishy with that guy...
 
Last edited:

madKIR

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2010
849
801
NYC
According to Rollltide1, he now has a working phone, and he was testing in weak areas.

My phone also works in weak areas where i didnt have signal on my 7+
[doublepost=1539711293][/doublepost]Also, regarding all of the "bad antenna design" is the problem posts, did anyone look at the Pixel 1 XL's (HTC) antenna report from the same guy?


Pixel%2BXL%2BEIRP.png


iPhone%2BXS%2BEIRP.png


For the Pixel 1 he says "...while the HTC just seems to continue the company's passably average RF performance on LTE"

So he says the Pixel XL antenna is "passably average," but for the XS he treats it like it's a total design flaw? He even lengthened the gap between the 100 and 200 range on the XS chart versus the Pixel chart to make it look like the differences are even larger than they are, when in actuality the XS has better numbers.

Something is fishy with that guy...
I don't see any change: it still shows the same graph numbers (e.g 200, 300, etc.), it might be zoomed in a little, but there is no manipulation there. Also, he never said that the Xs antenna is a total design flaw. He does mention that it's not spectacular and it's pretty much fair based on what people experience here. Also, Pixel XL was released a while ago, so that is not a fair comparison. The Xs should be compared to Pixel 2 and 3.
 
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Packers1958

macrumors 68000
Apr 16, 2017
1,954
2,587
South Dakota
According to Rollltide1, he now has a working phone, and he was testing in weak areas.

My phone also works in weak areas where i didnt have signal on my 7+
[doublepost=1539711293][/doublepost]Also, regarding all of the "bad antenna design" is the problem posts, did anyone look at the Pixel 1 XL's (HTC) antenna report from the same guy?


Pixel%2BXL%2BEIRP.png


iPhone%2BXS%2BEIRP.png


For the Pixel 1 he says "...while the HTC just seems to continue the company's passably average RF performance on LTE"

So he says the Pixel XL antenna is "passably average," but for the XS he treats it like it's a total design flaw? He even lengthened the gap between the 100 and 200 range on the XS chart versus the Pixel chart to make it look like the differences are even larger than they are, when in actuality the XS has better numbers.

Something is fishy with that guy...


If you do a search, you will discover a lot of people had LTE connection issues too with the Pixel 1 XL. The XL, Xs and Xs Max all have poor antenna design.
 

msooffutt

macrumors member
Feb 1, 2010
61
22
Not necessarily. The issue arises in areas with weak signals. If you live in an area with decent reception, you may never experience the problem. A poor antenna design with high gain will perform poorly in areas with weak signals.

Only problem with what you’re saying, is that not all of us have had this problem in weak signal areas. I’m convinced it will end up being a software issue. My Qualcomm X had a lot of these same symptoms and this was on iOS 11. Never tried it on iOS 12, because I sold it. Couldn’t be happier with my Max’s performance in weak areas. I would sometimes find that my X had lost signal for hours and would have to toggle airplane mode to fix it.
 
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Freakonomics101

macrumors 68030
Nov 6, 2014
2,740
1,799
You don't have to take it to a Apple store. You can actually mail it to Apple. You have 2 choices when you do that. They send you out a new phone right away, charge your CC, and when they get your old one, they remove the charge.

Don’t they still send you refurbished units? I did that with my iPhone SE and I received a refurbished unit.
 

Freakonomics101

macrumors 68030
Nov 6, 2014
2,740
1,799
the Apple representative providing me support for this issue has just disappeared for 3 days now, no contact, gone.

Same thing happened to me but regarding an Apple Watch issue. The rep had me do every troubleshooting step possible... even had me set up as new, 3 times, even though the last two wouldn’t do anything. Advised me to give it a couple days and if no fix, reach out. I’ve reached out twice. It has been over a week... no response. He even gave me his work schedule. Voicemail states it, too. Every other time, I would receive a call same or next day he worked.

My Apple Watch’s limited warranty ends soon. To save money on replacements, is this what they do? Ignore you to the point where nothing can be done or just ignore you because they’re done with you and to cover up the actual problem?
 
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elitypes

macrumors regular
Oct 5, 2007
114
201
Same thing happened to me but regarding an Apple Watch issue. The rep had me do every troubleshooting step possible... even had me set up as new, 3 times, even though the last two wouldn’t do anything. Advised me to give it a couple days and if no fix, reach out. I’ve reached out twice. It has been over a week... no response. He even gave me his work schedule. Voicemail states it, too. Every other time, I would receive a call same or next day he worked.

My Apple Watch’s limited warranty ends soon. To save money on replacements, is this what they do? Ignore you to the point where nothing can be done or just ignore you because they’re done with you and to cover up the actual problem?
I posted a similar issue. Everyone was quick to say it's because I was harassing them (haha) but it's not true. The Apple rep was super engaged and helpful. The last time I spoke with the rep was on 10/2 and I was told I would receive a follow up call about my issues on Friday 10/5. I never received a call and honestly thought nothing of it. I sent a note saying I would be free until 9pm that evening as previously they would ask me via email when a good time to call would be. The rep works CST and I am in EST, and I know her hours and coverage days given she's told me multiple times and she wrote it out in her emails; she works until 11pm EST. Again I didn't think much of it after not receiving any response. Last week was the 12.0.1 update which seems to have addressed my wifi issue. I sent an email last Tuesday (10/9) asking when we could touch base about the improved wifi but still unaddressed LTE problem. I haven't heard back since.

People were saying to give them time and that they're human and not to be annoying. I truly do understand that and don't think I have done anything outside the norm. However when someone I am working with tells me they will touch base and then don't and not reply at all I think I am justified in having sent 2 follow up emails after more than a week of when they said they would follow up.

To stress again, I am not putting on a tin foil hat or claiming this is some planned tactic of ignoring users. This is more just to state how bad Apple has been in communicating about this issue. Even with those of us that they were so proactive about reaching out to for logs and files. Has anyone who sent sysdiagnose files and logs heard back at all since? Even to hear back and just be told they are still looking into it would be more assuring than complete radio silence.
 

Hughey79

macrumors member
Sep 19, 2017
78
26
Iowa
As noted earlier today I was on the fence. I spent some time with Verizon on line and pulled the trigger for a 256 Max. She told me I had 14 days to return and no restock fee since I was ordering this way. We shall see what happens when it gets here and hoping its a newer model to see if what some said about some changes that may or may not have been done.
 

DevinNj

macrumors 68000
Apr 27, 2016
1,761
1,780
New Jersey
As noted earlier today I was on the fence. I spent some time with Verizon on line and pulled the trigger for a 256 Max. She told me I had 14 days to return and no restock fee since I was ordering this way. We shall see what happens when it gets here and hoping its a newer model to see if what some said about some changes that may or may not have been done.

Outstanding! Good luck and keep us posted.
 

Freakonomics101

macrumors 68030
Nov 6, 2014
2,740
1,799
I posted a similar issue. Everyone was quick to say it's because I was harassing them (haha) but it's not true. The Apple rep was super engaged and helpful. The last time I spoke with the rep was on 10/2 and I was told I would receive a follow up call about my issues on Friday 10/5. I never received a call and honestly thought nothing of it. I sent a note saying I would be free until 9pm that evening as previously they would ask me via email when a good time to call would be. The rep works CST and I am in EST, and I know her hours and coverage days given she's told me multiple times and she wrote it out in her emails; she works until 11pm EST. Again I didn't think much of it after not receiving any response. Last week was the 12.0.1 update which seems to have addressed my wifi issue. I sent an email last Tuesday (10/9) asking when we could touch base about the improved wifi but still unaddressed LTE problem. I haven't heard back since.

People were saying to give them time and that they're human and not to be annoying. I truly do understand that and don't think I have done anything outside the norm. However when someone I am working with tells me they will touch base and then don't and not reply at all I think I am justified in having sent 2 follow up emails after more than a week of when they said they would follow up.

To stress again, I am not putting on a tin foil hat or claiming this is some planned tactic of ignoring users. This is more just to state how bad Apple has been in communicating about this issue. Even with those of us that they were so proactive about reaching out to for logs and files. Has anyone who sent sysdiagnose files and logs heard back at all since? Even to hear back and just be told they are still looking into it would be more assuring than complete radio silence.

I totally agree with you. When it comes to someone following what they say they’ll do, that’s important to me. If they forget and reach out later, no problem. Beyond several days after a promised follow up, that’s when things start to be worth being concerned about. I also understand family emergencies happen. I’ve been there. But there’s always the opportunity of having someone fill in to reach out to the ongoing cases that they were working on until they return.

I wouldn’t be so concerned if my Apple Watch’s warranty wasn’t about to be up. It’s rather disrespectful to just drop someone like a rock like this. These phones are hella expensive and I truly believe y’all deserve, at least, a response within a reasonable amount of time. 72 business hours, max.

Some say it’s not the best idea to not say anything until they know what the issue is but hiding it makes them look a lot worse.
 

decypher44

macrumors 68000
Feb 24, 2007
1,812
2,987
Orange County, CA
Not sure what the consensus is on build date and location, but using the chart that was shared, I have:

FF / X / D - Zhengzhou 9/9-9/15

Where do I land in all of this?

Never had the WiFi issue, but slower LTE, couple dropped calls, lower bars.
 

Tibits

macrumors 6502
Feb 23, 2011
341
155
Not necessarily. The issue arises in areas with weak signals. If you live in an area with decent reception, you may never experience the problem. A poor antenna design with high gain will perform poorly in areas with weak signals.

I've been spending time and traveling between areas with signals, and my XS has been performing on par with my X.
 
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seezar

macrumors 6502a
Jan 18, 2018
596
608
I've been spending time and traveling between areas with signals, and my XS has been performing on par with my X.

My Xs Max signal has been on par with my X. No issues so far with reception.

I've had a similar experience. I received my Max on launch day and it's handling of phone signal has been as good as my qualcomm X. I've been following this thread so I've been paying attention to my signal more than I normally would and have done lots of speedtests. My daughter now has my X and so we run side by side tests.
 

Packers1958

macrumors 68000
Apr 16, 2017
1,954
2,587
South Dakota
I've been spending time and traveling between areas with signals, and my XS has been performing on par with my X.
Here is my example of how it fails in areas with really weak signals. I was in a gymnasium watching volleyball. It's a brick building with a metal roof. The roof will affect reception. Was there with my family. All of us on Verizon. I had the Max, and everyone else had an older iPhone connected to LTE. Their phones would drop to 1 bar and keep connection, although LTE speeds dropped to 2 or 3 Mbps. My Max, had no signal or would constantly drop to searching for signal. That's the type of situation where the Xs and Max will fail. At home I have great connection, so I will not notice any issues. It's the fringe connections, that will fail on these phones. If you have 1 to 2 bars or more, you likely will never have this issue. It's when the phone is struggling to maintain 1 bar. Other phones will remain connected. The Max will struggle.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,528
26,155
According to Rollltide1, he now has a working phone, and he was testing in weak areas.

My phone also works in weak areas where i didnt have signal on my 7+
[doublepost=1539711293][/doublepost]Also, regarding all of the "bad antenna design" is the problem posts, did anyone look at the Pixel 1 XL's (HTC) antenna report from the same guy?


Pixel%2BXL%2BEIRP.png


iPhone%2BXS%2BEIRP.png


For the Pixel 1 he says "...while the HTC just seems to continue the company's passably average RF performance on LTE"

So he says the Pixel XL antenna is "passably average," but for the XS he treats it like it's a total design flaw? He even lengthened the gap between the 100 and 200 range on the XS chart versus the Pixel chart to make it look like the differences are even larger than they are, when in actuality the XS has better numbers.

Something is fishy with that guy...

For starters, you're comparing a $700 Pixel XL with a $1,000 iPhone XS.

Second, the comparison was between iPhone X and XS. It's a design flaw because antenna gain was a huge step backwards compared to last year.
 

madKIR

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2010
849
801
NYC
Here is my example of how it fails in areas with really weak signals. I was in a gymnasium watching volleyball. It's a brick building with a metal roof. The roof will affect reception. Was there with my family. All of us on Verizon. I had the Max, and everyone else had an older iPhone connected to LTE. Their phones would drop to 1 bar and keep connection, although LTE speeds dropped to 2 or 3 Mbps. My Max, had no signal or would constantly drop to searching for signal. That's the type of situation where the Xs and Max will fail. At home I have great connection, so I will not notice any issues. It's the fringe connections, that will fail on these phones. If you have 1 to 2 bars or more, you likely will never have this issue. It's when the phone is struggling to maintain 1 bar. Other phones will remain connected. The Max will struggle.
And that's the reason why Apple will never address it! There is no need for them to do so: it's a working phone and many people will not notice this issue at all. Whoever is expecting Apple to to do/say anything about it is just wasting their time.
 
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vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
980
1,347
Here is my example of how it fails in areas with really weak signals. I was in a gymnasium watching volleyball. It's a brick building with a metal roof. The roof will affect reception. Was there with my family. All of us on Verizon. I had the Max, and everyone else had an older iPhone connected to LTE. Their phones would drop to 1 bar and keep connection, although LTE speeds dropped to 2 or 3 Mbps. My Max, had no signal or would constantly drop to searching for signal. That's the type of situation where the Xs and Max will fail. At home I have great connection, so I will not notice any issues. It's the fringe connections, that will fail on these phones. If you have 1 to 2 bars or more, you likely will never have this issue. It's when the phone is struggling to maintain 1 bar. Other phones will remain connected. The Max will struggle.

Your experience is not everyone's experience. In my local mall, I have ALWAYS had no service in the Apple Store on my Qualcomm 7+.

I get usable signal there on my XSMax.
 

elitypes

macrumors regular
Oct 5, 2007
114
201
I am going to try the genius bar again this Thursday. Following the complete radio silence from the Apple rep for over a week and a half, I'm pretty fed up. I was asking how they would support a replacement and further replacements if I keep getting a bad unit. If they don't want to reply then I'll ask someone in store. It's ridiculous.

I am fully aware that a replacement might not do anything, but I feel I need to try something given how bad the cellular reception is on this phone and how I am not getting any replies from the rep I had been working with. The only minor optimism I can muster among my growing pessimism is how RonCron, DotCom, and Rolltide seem to have lucked out with working units after multiple replacements.
 

msooffutt

macrumors member
Feb 1, 2010
61
22
Your experience is not everyone's experience. In my local mall, I have ALWAYS had no service in the Apple Store on my Qualcomm 7+.

I get usable signal there on my XSMax.

This is exactly the same experience I’ve had as well. Places my Qualcomm X had problems, my max does not. I don’t live in an area with great reception either. I believe people are having genuine problems, but It hasn’t been a problem for me. I don’t know why people just assume that everyone, not having an issue, lives in an area with excellent reception.
 
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