iPhone XS Max Is the mobile reception on the xs Max even worse than iPhone X ?

[jabbok]

Okay here's an update on mine, I took my sim card out of the XS Max put it back in the 8+ went to make a phone call and the phone is doing the same thing as on the XS Max dropping to 3G as soon as I dial out, I tested it in 2 different locations today to see if the same thing happens and it does.

Both phones are on the latest update for software 12.0.1 so now I am wondering if it's the software not the hardware so I may end up keeping my XS Max and sell the 8+ but I will continue to test it as I have 14 days to use it.

I will test the downloads when I get home and also check to make sure it's grabbing the 5g on wireless.

 

[vinegarshots]

I've seen posts elsewhere from people on non-xs phones that stopped getting good signal on ios12:

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/9p9zuh/anyone_else_having_cell_service_issues_since/

 

[Freakonomics101]

This really just sucks at this point. I love the phone when it works and now my X camera does not satisfy me at all so I don't want to go back to that or lose the screen real estate. Next move unknown lol.

Would you rather have a giant Wi-Fi iPod that has no cellular capabilities or a phone that has a slightly lower quality camera but with all the features of the giant iPod that also acts as a device that you can make/receive phone calls and SMS/iMessages with?

I do like the upgraded camera but I know what my choice is.

 

[solodogg]

I'm in the Atlanta market which I believe has 66 support. My phone reports it as a 66 tower and it is definitely the same tower as the 7, but the 7 reports it as 4. I can't be certain, but I don't think the XS would report it as a 66 tower if it was actually just a 4. My guess is this is a 66 issue, though it's entirely guesswork.

http://maps.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-aws-3-spectrum.html

Atlanta does not have AWS-3 (LTE B66), so your phone is just reporting B4 as B66. This has been happening now for at least the last 6 months or so, T-Mobile started reporting B66 on compatible devices since B4 is contained entirely within B66. AT&T started doing this a couple of years back with B12 being reported instead of B17. Your 7 reports B4 correctly because B66 is not a supported band on that device.

As a matter of fact, Fulton/DeKalb County has the same amount of spectrum available as Orange County, FL, and even holds the same blocks in AWS-1. Got any plans to come see Mickey in the next few weeks, it would surely be interesting to see if you experience the same issues down here that you do at home.

 

[madKIR]

Just got off the phone with a senior advisor, he said that the engineers are convinced this is all software related and will have a fix in the next update... Hmmm we’ll see.

Seeing is believing!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Long post incoming. Here's my latest update. Tried to include as much information as possible.

Background:

• 256gb Xs Max bought on launch day 9/21 in NYC
• AT&T set up with new SIM card; upgraded from a 7+. No change in plan etc.
• Serial: Zhengzhou: 8/12-8/18
• Experienced poor LTE and WiFi
• WiFi corrected with 12.0.1
• Been in touch with Apple rep since 9/25; sent logs, sysdiagnose files etc.

Update:

• 10/18 Went to Apple store for a replacement unit
• They tested and saw no issues with my hardware
• They took my SIM and put it in another phone (not Xs Max, looked like an older plus phone i.e. 7+ or 8+); the other phone with MY SIM card also exhibited slow speeds (!?!?)
• They told me to contact AT&T; I told them I already had. Most recently being yesterday WITH an Apple support person on conference with me. AT&T said no issues, no locks or flags on my account, no current data caps etc.
• Apple genius brought me a replacement phone with a NEW SIM
• Replacement Serial: Zhengzhou: 9/2-9/8
• Powered it on, ran a speedtest and STILL exhibiting slow LTE (~1-3mbps DL)
• I asked if we could try another unit, they told me no
• They gave me the replacement, told me they think it's the carrier
• I asked if it's not a carrier issue if I could come for another replacement; I got a wishy washy answer that I understood as a no
• They continued to tell me to follow up with AT&T

Takeaways:

• I am most curious about the SIM from my first Xs exhibiting slow speeds in another phone
• Going from this experience it now has me more confused about whether this is a software vs. hardware
• Given AT&T has already told me there is nothing wrong with my account on their end, I am curious what to do next???
• Could this possibly be resolved with a modem/carrier update as referenced in the current 12.1 betas?
• I'm really curious why this is impacting some users but not others? There are people on this forum on the same carriers in the same regions and some have issues and others not.

Conclusion:

• This sucks (very scientific I know)

Your SIM in another phone at the Apple store running one speed test slow is not indicative of anything outside of possible interference, increased traffic at the tower, and a plethora of other changing factors.

Don't let any Apple employee pass the proverbial tech buck to AT&T until and unless they can show proof that the problem is solely with Apple. And that they can't do.

I haven't noticed problems with my phone, because I don't use Wifi unless I want to update or do a quick backup. I am also in strong cell coverage with my usual traversing areas. If that weren't the case, I may be as one of the many here having a problem.

I also think returning a phone strictly (not saying you have) due to results from Ookla testing, instead of real world usage seems a bit contrived, in my opinion.

I also don't think it is really valid for people to compare Speedtest from the new phones with older iPhones. in my opinion, that is Apples to Oranges.

I still think this is all due to problems with iOS and the carrier(s) firmware. Hopefully, that will be acknowledged and specifically addressed with subsequent iOS / carrier updates. Others disagree and that is fine.

At this point, people need to keep filing bug reports, contacting Apple support on the phone and online. If many leave it on the hands of a few, that could slow the resulting process down.

 

[Hernan4651]

Seeing is believing!

As software developer, bugs sometimes are very hard to fix. Harder if you can't recreate the issue in the test environment. They need to say something , cause nobody knows what is happening.

 

[madKIR]

As software developer, bugs sometimes are very hard to fix. Harder if you can't recreate the issue in the test environment. They need to say something , cause nobody knows what is happening.

Weak antenna is happening. I’m pretty much aware of how software works. Thank you. Knowing Apple and how many times they’ve released faulty products without any acknowledgment or just with their straight lies, I wouldn’t be surprised if this one does not get fixed until the next iPhone is released.

 

[smoking monkey]

i think this is the best I can do, I'll be in Guam Friday afternoon, I'll try there since I have the T-MO ONE Plus, it roams there

Hawaii and Guam! Damn. Life is Sweet. Gotta lotta love for the little island of Guam.
The Asu Smokehouse BBQ shop at Chamorro Village is great. Wicked taste, wicked value for money.

The phone coverage there sucks big time though. Well at least it did for me...

 

[janeauburn]

I am sending back the XS Max at this point and keep my iPhone 8+ for now, if I knew for sure it was software I would keep it but with the cellular and slow internet it's just too expensive to keep and is unusable at times not worth the aggravation.

I think that spending more than 1 day in aggravation with a device that costs ~$1500 makes no sense. Isn't one's time simply more valuable than that? And aren't phones these days just phones, in the end? One iScreen is basically the same as the next.

Added bonus: It feels good to have that ~$1500 back in your account rather than Apple's.

 

[clarencek]

I had my first weird experience with my max yesterday.
I’ll throw my vote in that this is a software issue.

I was at a restaurant. Went to the back of the restaurant and my phone lost signal.
Went outside to make a phone call and while it showed 4G and three bars all my call attempts failed.
I switched to airplane mode and then back.
Phone went to four bars with LTE and worked as expected.

It seems like there’s something in the software that’s holding on to a tower or a band with poor reception.
Maybe it’s similar to the Wi-Fi issue with the phone switching to the slower network.

My point is if switching to airplane mode fixed the issue while standing in the same place, then it seems this can be fixed with software.

Sure maybe the antenna design is sub optimal but I bet apple will try and fix this via software (like the Wi-Fi issue) before they look at hardware.

 

[roncron]

Your theory sounds very plausible.

It sounds like a software patch to address cellular connectivity issues is in the works. Hopefully it’ll fix this for most if not all of us.

It’s also possible that there are multiple causes of these problems (possibly including defective hardware in a some units), since different XS & Max owners are reporting different kind of problems.

I had my first weird experience with my max yesterday.
I’ll throw my vote in that this is a software issue.

I was at a restaurant. Went to the back of the restaurant and my phone lost signal.
Went outside to make a phone call and while it showed 4G and three bars all my call attempts failed.
I switched to airplane mode and then back.
Phone went to four bars with LTE and worked as expected.

It seems like there’s something in the software that’s holding on to a tower or a band with poor reception.
Maybe it’s similar to the Wi-Fi issue with the phone switching to the slower network.

My point is if switching to airplane mode fixed the issue while standing in the same place, then it seems this can be fixed with software.

Sure maybe the antenna design is sub optimal but I bet apple will try and fix this via software (like the Wi-Fi issue) before they look at hardware.

 

[lex22]

I got a replacement phone and it might be marginally better, but its still not great.

One other weird behavior I've noted is that with my 6s, when on a phone call, I could still get LTE data. I remember this because I'm on Verizon and before LTE, we could not do that. Well now when I'm on a call with my Xs, 12.0.1 Verizon phone, I can no longer be on a call and use any data services. When I'm on long conference calls, this is something I need and no longer have. And before you ask, yes, my phone has LTE voice and data enabled.

 

[Hughey79]

Update...
Got my Max yesterday. Besides taking forever to get it set up with all updates and getting it back to beta it seems good for now. However, with that said I have not wanted to mentally screw myself yet and have not completed a speed test with WiFi or lte. I'm to afraid to.
Based on the serial number it was built in the Zhengzhou factory, 2nd half of 2018, and the 14th week. So it is a latest build that Verizon had to send to me. Hoping that its better.
"IF" some of the info is accurate that there is a software fix coming then that would be swell but only time will tell with any of this anyway. Finally to end this I did not see any physical build defects others had.

 

[richard371]

If you feel it works as good as your previous phone then don't worry about it. I found issues with my Max and AW4 that I never would have noticed coming from the iPhone X and AW3 without reading these forums. Its good people report issues to Apple etc. but just sitting here reading these forums about all the issues you will find some you would never have known you have and would not bother if you don't know about them. What's seen can't be unseen.

 

[jona2125]

If you feel it works as good as your previous phone then don't worry about it. I found issues with my Max and AW4 that I never would have noticed coming from the iPhone X and AW3 without reading these forums. Its good people report issues to Apple etc. but just sitting here reading these forums about all the issues you will find some you would never have known you have and would not bother if you don't know about them. What's seen can't be unseen.

I’ve said this a few times, I have been showing the general population things for many years various bugs that exist but until they were pointed out would get shrugged off or are unnoticed.

 

[chripuck]

http://maps.spectrumgateway.com/t-mobile-aws-3-spectrum.html

Atlanta does not have AWS-3 (LTE B66), so your phone is just reporting B4 as B66. This has been happening now for at least the last 6 months or so, T-Mobile started reporting B66 on compatible devices since B4 is contained entirely within B66. AT&T started doing this a couple of years back with B12 being reported instead of B17. Your 7 reports B4 correctly because B66 is not a supported band on that device.

As a matter of fact, Fulton/DeKalb County has the same amount of spectrum available as Orange County, FL, and even holds the same blocks in AWS-1. Got any plans to come see Mickey in the next few weeks, it would surely be interesting to see if you experience the same issues down here that you do at home.

Not Mickey but I'll be in Jacksonville to cheer on my Dawgs, so we'll see how it performs there.

That's good to know about B66 in the Atlanta area, though I live in the northern suburbs in North Forsyth/South Cherokee (lots of band 12 around me.)
[doublepost=1539969670][/doublepost]

This is a thread for those with the Xs and Max that have issues. I have seen with my own eyes that my Max is worse than my X, both on Verizon, both with iOS 12.0, side by side. Max loses connection in weak areas, while the X remains connected, without ever dropping connection.

Yes, the difference is the majority of us are opining about reasons and sharing our evidence. The guy he was replying too seemingly just wants to complain about awful Apple. That's not constructive nor helpful so there's no need for it.

 

[ZipZap]

Long post incoming. Here's my latest update. Tried to include as much information as possible.

Background:

• 256gb Xs Max bought on launch day 9/21 in NYC
• AT&T set up with new SIM card; upgraded from a 7+. No change in plan etc.
• Serial: Zhengzhou: 8/12-8/18
• Experienced poor LTE and WiFi
• WiFi corrected with 12.0.1
• Been in touch with Apple rep since 9/25; sent logs, sysdiagnose files etc.

Update:

• 10/18 Went to Apple store for a replacement unit
• They tested and saw no issues with my hardware
• They took my SIM and put it in another phone (not Xs Max, looked like an older plus phone i.e. 7+ or 8+); the other phone with MY SIM card also exhibited slow speeds (!?!?)
• They told me to contact AT&T; I told them I already had. Most recently being yesterday WITH an Apple support person on conference with me. AT&T said no issues, no locks or flags on my account, no current data caps etc.
• Apple genius brought me a replacement phone with a NEW SIM
• Replacement Serial: Zhengzhou: 9/2-9/8
• Powered it on, ran a speedtest and STILL exhibiting slow LTE (~1-3mbps DL)
• I asked if we could try another unit, they told me no
• They gave me the replacement, told me they think it's the carrier
• I asked if it's not a carrier issue if I could come for another replacement; I got a wishy washy answer that I understood as a no
• They continued to tell me to follow up with AT&T

Takeaways:

• I am most curious about the SIM from my first Xs exhibiting slow speeds in another phone
• Going from this experience it now has me more confused about whether this is a software vs. hardware
• Given AT&T has already told me there is nothing wrong with my account on their end, I am curious what to do next???
• Could this possibly be resolved with a modem/carrier update as referenced in the current 12.1 betas?
• I'm really curious why this is impacting some users but not others? There are people on this forum on the same carriers in the same regions and some have issues and others not.

Conclusion:

• This sucks (very scientific I know)

You cannot win this unless you can stand in the store with some other device that measures the quality of the network signal. If you can establish that the iPhone is not utilizing the signal properly then you can make your point.

Have you tried using a completely different phone measuring the signal on each?

This whole thing is a no win situation until someone can step up with hard facts to shove in Apple's face. Genius is only an adjective and not a measure of technical competence.

 

[kneezmo]

[QUOTE = "depredación, post: 26670064, miembro: 804835"] Estoy en tmo y recibo mi teléfono hoy. Esperemos que sea consistente con tu foto. Jaja


¿Por casualidad sabes la fecha de construcción, fábrica? Hay un hilo en los foros que muestra cómo descifrar el número de serie.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-xs-and-iphone-xs-max-antenna-issues-build-date.2146749/ [/ QUOTE]


This web shows you all. Put serial number and go

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
[doublepost=1539973185][/doublepost]i have the X and Xs, and X have an stable signal.. Xs its looking all the time. I read a lot about users with i7, 8 and X, and few of them have problems since update to iOS 12, but not sure if this is only software.. I dont keep a 1000$ phone im not sure if this can be fixed by an update, because iOS 12 beta 4 doesnt fix nothing right now. I think the best point its go for an X for a few dolars less.. and skip this gen. Ofc is only my opinion.. but all here now iPhones never have the best conectivity..
Right now im trying the mate 20 pro and LOL.. amazing conectivity.

 

[elitypes]

You cannot win this unless you can stand in the store with some other device that measures the quality of the network signal. If you can establish that the iPhone is not utilizing the signal properly then you can make your point.

Have you tried using a completely different phone measuring the signal on each?

This whole thing is a no win situation until someone can step up with hard facts to shove in Apple's face. Genius is only an adjective and not a measure of technical competence.

It's definitely impossible to win at the Genius bar.

Going into this appointment I had proof that I raised a case soon after buying my phone. Proof that the first genius recognized I had an issue but advised me to hold off until a potential software update. I also had proof of working with Apple support in sending logs and sysdiagnose files from not only my phone, but comparisons with my iPad (Air 2) and my wife's iPhone 6s. I had screenshots showing issues with connectivity taken from the same location at home. ALL of this is in my case. Even the Apple support rep told me she would put in a note to have the genius swap my phone just to try, although we both acknowledged that we didn't think it would fix the issue.

Unfortunately in this position, there's little I can do when the genius acts dismissive and runs through a set of cycled responses and actions. Yes I tried airplane mode. Yes I tried resetting my network settings. Yes I tried restoring as new. Yes I have called AT&T, even WITH Apple support on the line with me.

No I didn't go into the appointment with another device with me. I'm no technical expert, maybe just a slightly more informed consumer. I work a full time job that happens to be in close proximity to the Apple store. I'm just stating this as people make a case that I could have, should have done this/that. I'm just saying this to show I am a regular guy who didn't have hours of time at the Apple store. I did what I thought was all I could, and again it doesn't help when the genius doesn't seem willing to help or acknowledge anything (if they are even allowed to).

Again this is in NO WAY me going into conspiracy theories. The guy is doing his job. He is supposed to act like any issue is a non issue and cycle through the standard trouble shooting. Even IF he knew there was a problem, what would a genius do? Tell me there's an unknown defect and that I am SOL? Instead what he did do was VERY begrudgingly replace my phone and tell me to take it up with AT&T. And to be fair, best case what could he have done? Brought out endless replacements until maybe I got a working unit? Who knows if that would even be possible given we still don't know what the root cause of the problem is?

I don't mean to be so dour, but I am feeling more and more defeated after this whole thing. Also to preempt those who would say "stop crying! return it! get a new phone!". I understand that. I want to keep the phone, I like the iOS ecosystem etc. I'm supposed to be contacted by a senior advisor again, and then ultimately I'll have to figure out what to do. Also people saying that the same few of us are posting non-stop to complain, that's not my intention. I am just trying to update folks interested with all the details with MY OWN experience to help the conversation. I have been and will continue to be civil. Not looking for any forum drama.

 

[kneezmo]

[QUOTE = "ET iPhone Home, post: 26666898, miembro: 622642"] ¿Crees que Apple solucionará esto con el supuesto diseño de antena con las próximas producciones? Simplemente no puedo ver a Apple rediseñando este teléfono, sin importar cuán minúsculo sea. [/ QUOTE]

No. They did not do it with the i4, and they did not do it with the bendgate of 6 until they got the 6s. If there is an error, they will fix it in the following model .. they have never solved anything halfway, so if it is hardware ... better to have an X 2017 and wait another year.
[doublepost=1539975897][/doublepost]

Well, not that this helps anything but I thought I'd just update on my personal decision. After much deliberating with myself over taking the chance on the XS or simply getting the known entity (the X) I decided to go with the X.

Went to Best Buy today and picked up the 256 GB version. Pretty comfortable in my decision as I don't have to deal (potentially) with these issues. Hopefully, Apple is working on a fix that will come soon. I'll continue to monitor this thread as I'm curious but I sincerely wish those XS owners with problems the best of luck. I truly hope Apple fixes this and totally understand your frustration!

Same here.. after read a lot about this, i take a new X 256 silver and just enjoy far from this problems.
[doublepost=1539976726][/doublepost]

Do they still sell the X?

i take an X 256 silver .. safe option at the moment man.. no problems.

 

[DotCom2]

It's definitely impossible to win at the Genius bar.

Going into this appointment I had proof that I raised a case soon after buying my phone. Proof that the first genius recognized I had an issue but advised me to hold off until a potential software update. I also had proof of working with Apple support in sending logs and sysdiagnose files from not only my phone, but comparisons with my iPad (Air 2) and my wife's iPhone 6s. I had screenshots showing issues with connectivity taken from the same location at home. ALL of this is in my case. Even the Apple support rep told me she would put in a note to have the genius swap my phone just to try, although we both acknowledged that we didn't think it would fix the issue.

Unfortunately in this position, there's little I can do when the genius acts dismissive and runs through a set of cycled responses and actions. Yes I tried airplane mode. Yes I tried resetting my network settings. Yes I tried restoring as new. Yes I have called AT&T, even WITH Apple support on the line with me.

No I didn't go into the appointment with another device with me. I'm no technical expert, maybe just a slightly more informed consumer. I work a full time job that happens to be in close proximity to the Apple store. I'm just stating this as people make a case that I could have, should have done this/that. I'm just saying this to show I am a regular guy who didn't have hours of time at the Apple store. I did what I thought was all I could, and again it doesn't help when the genius doesn't seem willing to help or acknowledge anything (if they are even allowed to).

Again this is in NO WAY me going into conspiracy theories. The guy is doing his job. He is supposed to act like any issue is a non issue and cycle through the standard trouble shooting. Even IF he knew there was a problem, what would a genius do? Tell me there's an unknown defect and that I am SOL? Instead what he did do was VERY begrudgingly replace my phone and tell me to take it up with AT&T. And to be fair, best case what could he have done? Brought out endless replacements until maybe I got a working unit? Who knows if that would even be possible given we still don't know what the root cause of the problem is?

I don't mean to be so dour, but I am feeling more and more defeated after this whole thing. Also to preempt those who would say "stop crying! return it! get a new phone!". I understand that. I want to keep the phone, I like the iOS ecosystem etc. I'm supposed to be contacted by a senior advisor again, and then ultimately I'll have to figure out what to do. Also people saying that the same few of us are posting non-stop to complain, that's not my intention. I am just trying to update folks interested with all the details with MY OWN experience to help the conversation. I have been and will continue to be civil. Not looking for any forum drama.

I think you should just get what you want, post what you want, say what you want etc. etc. etc. and don't worry what others may say.

 

[Hernan4651]

I had my first weird experience with my max yesterday.
I’ll throw my vote in that this is a software issue.

I was at a restaurant. Went to the back of the restaurant and my phone lost signal.
Went outside to make a phone call and while it showed 4G and three bars all my call attempts failed.
I switched to airplane mode and then back.
Phone went to four bars with LTE and worked as expected.

It seems like there’s something in the software that’s holding on to a tower or a band with poor reception.
Maybe it’s similar to the Wi-Fi issue with the phone switching to the slower network.

My point is if switching to airplane mode fixed the issue while standing in the same place, then it seems this can be fixed with software.

Sure maybe the antenna design is sub optimal but I bet apple will try and fix this via software (like the Wi-Fi issue) before they look at hardware.

That makes sense. But what if the phone detects in that moment that the low speed band has better signal than the fastest ? How could you determine what to do by software? This could bring more problems like a phone not working at all cause it always try to use the fastest band and maybe it couldnt even pair cause the signal is weak.
That example, the wifi . I think is a lot easier to resolve cause you KNOW at what kind of ssid are you connected and you could scan and choose the 5ghz if exists with the same ssid.

I am afraid, like I said before, that this kind of bug maybe is very hard to fix . And obviously more difficult to fix it fast. That is my point that Apple needs to say something and calm down the ppl that is experiencing this issue. Maybe it take a month to fix this but if you say at least that it will take time ppl will understand and wait. The problem is the return window and not knowing what's wrong and what is Apple doing.

 

[kneezmo]

[QUOTE = "Lerxt, post: 26656203, miembro: 769631"] Este es un foro de Apple, ¿a quién le importa lo que recibe un píxel o cualquier otro teléfono? [/ QUOTE]
dont be rude man... was only a question.

 

[madKIR]

It's definitely impossible to win at the Genius bar.

Going into this appointment I had proof that I raised a case soon after buying my phone. Proof that the first genius recognized I had an issue but advised me to hold off until a potential software update. I also had proof of working with Apple support in sending logs and sysdiagnose files from not only my phone, but comparisons with my iPad (Air 2) and my wife's iPhone 6s. I had screenshots showing issues with connectivity taken from the same location at home. ALL of this is in my case. Even the Apple support rep told me she would put in a note to have the genius swap my phone just to try, although we both acknowledged that we didn't think it would fix the issue.

Unfortunately in this position, there's little I can do when the genius acts dismissive and runs through a set of cycled responses and actions. Yes I tried airplane mode. Yes I tried resetting my network settings. Yes I tried restoring as new. Yes I have called AT&T, even WITH Apple support on the line with me.

No I didn't go into the appointment with another device with me. I'm no technical expert, maybe just a slightly more informed consumer. I work a full time job that happens to be in close proximity to the Apple store. I'm just stating this as people make a case that I could have, should have done this/that. I'm just saying this to show I am a regular guy who didn't have hours of time at the Apple store. I did what I thought was all I could, and again it doesn't help when the genius doesn't seem willing to help or acknowledge anything (if they are even allowed to).

Again this is in NO WAY me going into conspiracy theories. The guy is doing his job. He is supposed to act like any issue is a non issue and cycle through the standard trouble shooting. Even IF he knew there was a problem, what would a genius do? Tell me there's an unknown defect and that I am SOL? Instead what he did do was VERY begrudgingly replace my phone and tell me to take it up with AT&T. And to be fair, best case what could he have done? Brought out endless replacements until maybe I got a working unit? Who knows if that would even be possible given we still don't know what the root cause of the problem is?

I don't mean to be so dour, but I am feeling more and more defeated after this whole thing. Also to preempt those who would say "stop crying! return it! get a new phone!". I understand that. I want to keep the phone, I like the iOS ecosystem etc. I'm supposed to be contacted by a senior advisor again, and then ultimately I'll have to figure out what to do. Also people saying that the same few of us are posting non-stop to complain, that's not my intention. I am just trying to update folks interested with all the details with MY OWN experience to help the conversation. I have been and will continue to be civil. Not looking for any forum drama.

I had a similar experience when the 4 was released. I had a very dismissive and rude genius. It really depends on a person. Fortunately, in most cases I dealt with professional people at Apple.
There is probably a lot of pressure on them now from the corporate side. If Apple doesn’t acknowledge the issue and there are a lot of complaints, I can imagine the amount of work they have to do.
Usually, their senior advisors are very helpful and responsive: I had to work with a couple once when my 5S was malfunctioning due to the blue screen of death (it was a widespread hardware fault with some batches) and the other time when there was an issue with interlacing lines on the iPhone 5 screen. That time I was actually given an email of one of them and I was able to send him emails directly. He was super responsive and nice. I’d say just explain your situation to them in a rational way. They will listen. They should be able to offer you a full refund if this can’t get fixed.