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Ifti

macrumors 601
Dec 14, 2010
4,047
2,611
UK
The fact that you are showing 2 to 3 bars and having that issue, tells me either there is a carrier issue, or you have a defective phone, not related to the issue discussed. Those of us with the issue have it occur when the signal is weak. Your signal does not appear weak.

Mine is the same - I generally have 1 or 2 bars of reception and the 4G icon is showing. Yet I cannot even browse a web page etc.
It happened today when I was in a building, and as soon as I went next door the reception etc was the same but my data was back and I was able to browse normally again.

In some areas its perfectly fine and in others (I assume where the handset has to work a bit harder for a strong signal) it just goes even though the handset shows a good 4G connection.

Im having a replacement shipped out to me and I'm going to compare both before deciding which to keep, unless they are both affected with the same issue.....!
 

cave1238

macrumors regular
Feb 20, 2012
148
91
Mine is the same - I generally have 1 or 2 bars of reception and the 4G icon is showing. Yet I cannot even browse a web page etc.
It happened today when I was in a building, and as soon as I went next door the reception etc was the same but my data was back and I was able to browse normally again.

In some areas its perfectly fine and in others (I assume where the handset has to work a bit harder for a strong signal) it just goes even though the handset shows a good 4G connection.

Im having a replacement shipped out to me and I'm going to compare both before deciding which to keep, unless they are both affected with the same issue.....!

Is your replacement from Apple or a carrier?
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
991
1,355
what he meant to say is blame everyone else but

Sad, the most expensive phone on the market and it cant even keep a strong enough signal to run a speed test....... o_O

Just ran a 2 bar Tmobile test, XSMax--

jHkkU8F.png


I've also been testing around town in weak areas, and even when it was at one bar in different areas around town, it didn't drop a signal at all.
 

cave1238

macrumors regular
Feb 20, 2012
148
91
From Apple, as was my original.

Ok, bought mine from Best Buy with AppleCare+, it’s out of the return period. It has a slight yellow tint on the screen, the LTE always drops to 3G in my workplace as where my X didn’t. I’m just wondering if I have a case for a replacement.
 

Ifti

macrumors 601
Dec 14, 2010
4,047
2,611
UK
Ok, bought mine from Best Buy with AppleCare+, it’s out of the return period. It has a slight yellow tint on the screen, the LTE always drops to 3G in my workplace as where my X didn’t. I’m just wondering if I have a case for a replacement.

As far as I’m concerned if I had paid for the AppleCare+ I should be able to get service from apple irrespective of where I purchased the handset.
 
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cave1238

macrumors regular
Feb 20, 2012
148
91
As far as I’m concerned if I had paid for the AppleCare+ I should be able to get service from apple irrespective of where I purchased the handset.

Did you initiate your replacement online, if so how and did you get the runaround from the rep?
 

Otflyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2017
1,474
999
SF Bay Area
I’ve been having some rare instances of WiFi and cell connectivity problems but, not enough of an issue to definitively say I will return it. I really like this phone. Today I went to the Apple store and bought a XR. I was amazed by it. Now I have the difficult decision of whether to return the XS Max and keep the XR. Believe it or not, one of the biggest issues I have regarding the XR is the unavailability of the Apple leather case. I’ve had them on all my iPhones. Most cases I have looked at do not satisfy me.
 
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SteelBlueTJ

macrumors 6502
Apr 2, 2012
445
67
USA
I was about to trade in my X for an XS Max until I stumbled upon this thread. Is the reception really that bad or has there been any improvement since launch? I am on Verizon btw, thanks
 

decypher44

macrumors 68000
Feb 24, 2007
1,813
2,991
Orange County, CA
I was about to trade in my X for an XS Max until I stumbled upon this thread. Is the reception really that bad or has there been any improvement since launch? I am on Verizon btw, thanks
Hit or miss. The majority of users are either good, or don’t realize. Then the rest have problems. I’d say that odds are decent that you’d be ok.
 
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Otflyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2017
1,474
999
SF Bay Area
I was about to trade in my X for an XS Max until I stumbled upon this thread. Is the reception really that bad or has there been any improvement since launch? I am on Verizon btw, thanks
It’s a crap shoot. You may get a good one or not. I’m on my third Max it is mostly ok but, I have has WiFi issues and slow LTE speeds. I traded my Max for the new XR today.
 
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smoking monkey

macrumors 68020
Mar 5, 2008
2,364
1,509
I HUNGER
It’s a crap shoot. You may get a good one or not. I’m on my third Max it is mostly ok but, I have has WiFi issues and slow LTE speeds. I traded my Max for the new XR today.

Too many people are having to swap 1 or 2 times. The odds say that 1 bad phone is unlucky, 2 bad phones is crazy unlucky, but 3 bad phones means there is absolutely something wrong with these phones.

The list of problems is vast. Phones no reconnecting to wifi when people get home. Phones saying they have coverage but don't. Phones dropping calls. Phones downloading texts and emails only after connecting to wifi. Slow wifi. Slow LTE. No coverage in previously covered areas...

I don't care what anybody says, if you have to toggle airplane mode on and off regularly the phone doesn't work properly.

Yet people changing to the XR are perfectly fine and having none of the problems. That more than likely tells us the new antenna is probably the cause of the XS issues.

Now that's not 100%, but if it has all the attributes of a duck, it's a duck!

They may be able to fix this with software and carrier updates and everything will be hunky dory. But for now, nobody should buy an XS series until we know for certain.
 

Nhwhazup

macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2010
3,474
1,718
New Hampshire
Too many people are having to swap 1 or 2 times. The odds say that 1 bad phone is unlucky, 2 bad phones is crazy unlucky, but 3 bad phones means there is absolutely something wrong with these phones.

The list of problems is vast. Phones no reconnecting to wifi when people get home. Phones saying they have coverage but don't. Phones dropping calls. Phones downloading texts and emails only after connecting to wifi. Slow wifi. Slow LTE. No coverage in previously covered areas...

I don't care what anybody says, if you have to toggle airplane mode on and off regularly the phone doesn't work properly.

Yet people changing to the XR are perfectly fine and having none of the problems. That more than likely tells us the new antenna is probably the cause of the XS issues.

Now that's not 100%, but if it has all the attributes of a duck, it's a duck!

They may be able to fix this with software and carrier updates and everything will be hunky dory. But for now, nobody should buy an XS series until we know for certain.
I agree. Returned 2 Maxes and bought an X. I wouldn’t jump back into this mess unless Apple came out, admitted the problem and had a definite fix.
 

Ifti

macrumors 601
Dec 14, 2010
4,047
2,611
UK
Did you initiate your replacement online, if so how and did you get the runaround from the rep?

Yes was done via online chat. A few diagnostics run and it was the rep that suggested it as I said getting to an apple store was inconvenient. I don’t want to go to a store, wait ages (their appointments are always late), then have all the diagnostics done again and fed a load of script before pressing for a replacement.
Online chat was easier and more convenient.
 

bushman4

macrumors 601
Mar 22, 2011
4,147
3,952
Too many people are having to swap 1 or 2 times. The odds say that 1 bad phone is unlucky, 2 bad phones is crazy unlucky, but 3 bad phones means there is absolutely something wrong with these phones.

The list of problems is vast. Phones no reconnecting to wifi when people get home. Phones saying they have coverage but don't. Phones dropping calls. Phones downloading texts and emails only after connecting to wifi. Slow wifi. Slow LTE. No coverage in previously covered areas...

I don't care what anybody says, if you have to toggle airplane mode on and off regularly the phone doesn't work properly.

Yet people changing to the XR are perfectly fine and having none of the problems. That more than likely tells us the new antenna is probably the cause of the XS issues.

Now that's not 100%, but if it has all the attributes of a duck, it's a duck!

They may be able to fix this with software and carrier updates and everything will be hunky dory. But for now, nobody should buy an XS series until we know for certain.
There is a problem and Apple tech has acknowledged it. Hopefully it’s firmware or software and wil be taken care in the next update 12.1
Then again it could be the intel modem but it’s hard to believe Apple would not have spot that
In any case give Apple tech support a call !
1-800- my Apple
That’s the only way this gets resolved
 

torqueflight

macrumors member
Apr 3, 2018
37
35
I went to Best Buy yesterday to look at the XR and do some more comparisons. A sales rep came up to me to see if I had any questions. I asked if any of the phones were set up with a SIM card so I could do a speed test of LTE and told him it was due to all the issues being mentioned here and a few other places. He went into a barrage of dribble... started off by point blank, flat out, there is no way there is an issue with the phones. Said we have way too many people trying to use the verizon towers for what they are designed for. He went further to point out that the towers were like what, 15 years old? (Lol). (He looked 15 years old). Then went into how bad the U.S. is compared to Europe and when he went over there and was on 5G his phone was blazing fast and coming home now back to crawl. So I silently think to myself do I engage this idiot for the fun of it or avoid the ensuing frustration. I could have asked him to explain why the signal/connection issues are on multiple carriers and to explain why, when these customers went to a different phone they had no such issues. I could have also asked him if he had an early 5G prototype phone and could I see it since I’m pretty sure no one is selling that handset yet. But, I decided to just tell him I didn’t need any more of his “help” and go about my day. I just recently started to give Best Buy a chance again after getting fed up interacting with sales people like this. A few months in and going well until today. I want to see brick and mortar stores stay around for the competition and convenience but some days staying home and shopping online has its advantages.
 
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Nhwhazup

macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2010
3,474
1,718
New Hampshire
Every salesperson in multiple different stores claimed this was the first they had heard of the connectivity problems. This included Apple, ATT 2 different stores, Verizon and Best Buy.
 
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decypher44

macrumors 68000
Feb 24, 2007
1,813
2,991
Orange County, CA
Every salesperson in multiple different stores claimed this was the first they had heard of the connectivity problems. This included Apple, ATT 2 different stores, Verizon and Best Buy.

Isn’t that frustrating? I hate that. Either they are lying, or they have no clue. No matter the reason, they are never going to be of any help.

It would be really nice if MR bothered to follow up with Apple to again try and get any comment. But they won’t.
 

CoolBradG

macrumors regular
Aug 7, 2010
212
64
Apple Support Claims. its software issue and fix is coming soon.
They don't want any more logs or can't do replacement any more.

so wait game starts.

I hope so. I'm tired of waiting and my iPhone 7's battery is crap. It's so bad I'm driving 2 hours to an Apple store to have it replaced this week. I wish I was also buying my XS but I refuse until these connectivity issues get resolved.
 
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jacklivehere

macrumors regular
Oct 9, 2014
244
118
Utopia
I hope so. I'm tired of waiting and my iPhone 7's battery is crap. It's so bad I'm driving 2 hours to an Apple store to have it replaced this week. I wish I was also buying my XS but I refuse until these connectivity issues get resolved.

I suspect if this is software issue may be linked to dual sim update which is coming next week/Tuesday (as per rumor)
Let’s see
 
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