Which is why I don’t find plausible the notion that all XS and Max devices are problematic but the problems have gone unnoticed ...
So it can’t be that all units have a defect or design flaw.
Yes it can be. I have not seen a single person confirming that their XS Max is performing equally to an 8, 7 or 6 in low signal areas. Will you be the first one? So to me it's way more than 10% impacted. By the way I don't care which brand of modem the phone is using or FCC tests. I just go by practical field observation.
Here the simple test I am asking for any XS Max user stating their phone is great in low signal area:
- Go to a remote outdoors area with an 8, 7 or 6.
- Find an area where your 8, 7 or 6 switches between no signal and 1 bar of either 4G, 3G or E (if you have 1 bar LTE it's not a low signal area according to my request)
- When your 8, 7 or 6 just barley get's one bar, look what your XS Max gets?
The handful of XS Max I know in 100% of cases in these situations fall behind the 8, 7 and 6. To me personally this means can't even send or receive a text. It's especially worse when in a pocket or belt holster.
In this situation is seems the 8/7/6 best, then XS and XS Max the worst. But then a handful is not a scientific sample size. On the other hand all users here who are hitting these areas, have confirmed the same observation. Not one user has confirmed otherwise. All the speed tests with WiFi and LTE and toggling on and off mean nothing to me for this low signal scenario. I can see where these may get fixed with a software update.
During the week I am typically not in such areas and I enjoy my XS Max. On the weekend as outdoor enthusiast I meet with others and there it is noticeable. I carry a second phone for work (first a 6 which I upgraded 2 weeks ago to an 8). Others have 6/7/8 or Android's. They are sending and receiving text more reliable than XS Max and XS Users.
I would be surprised if a software update will fix this. We may see next week. But then it's already November and in another 10 months the XI ... I am sure Apple will have noticed this and the XI will have a hardware change ...
I did not mention iSheep and I love my XS Max for everything else. For emergencies I can rely on my work 8. So I am keeping my XS Max ... kind of pathetic ... so if anything I might be an iSheep.