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crouch

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2012
143
263
As Packers suggested, make sure to perform a "Reset All Network" settings after updating.

I've been told to do this twice now, and it did absolutely nothing twice now, except cause me to lose years' worth of Wi-Fi passwords.

Low-strength LTE speeds on my XS remain abysmal on 12.1 even after this step. What's worse, the phone is now reverting again to 4G.
 

Waterman316

macrumors 6502a
Apr 1, 2018
573
622
92D10F1A-9410-4342-B3BD-6320255DEA43.png
07C466AE-E80A-4B9E-B080-FFBA0B9AE689.png
First image: before resetting network settings.

Second image: after resetting network settings.

Both on iOS 12.1

Both taken sitting in the exact same spot.
 
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Waterman316

macrumors 6502a
Apr 1, 2018
573
622
I should probably add that I have been in the same area (+\- 100 yards or so) for the last couple of days, and it still acts the same. 1, sometimes 2 bars lte (I’m aware the bars aren’t the most accurate way of judging signal strength, as well as speed tests), and drops to 4G if I put the phone in my pocket. Still doing the same. Data and calls/texts are still reliable for me though.
 
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roncron

macrumors 65816
Aug 15, 2011
1,182
2,282
....Looks like I'll keep my X another year. I'll pass on the XS Max, really wanted that bigger screen. :(
Most people who buy the XS or Max aren’t having problems. The group of folks here isn’t a representative sample of all XS and Max owners.

Some say that people who don’t think they’re having problems haven’t been in a scenario where they would encounter the kinds of problems we’ve been discussing here. That’s probably true for some but not all of the 10+ million owners of XS and Max units.

That’s not to say you can be certain you wouldn’t get a unit with problems. Many people have. So if you decide to buy, you have to accept the risk that you might get a device with issues and might end up wanting to return it.

But I think this risk is small. Others experiencing very frustrating connectivity problems might disagree, and their opinions are just as valid as mine. I used to be among them, but returned my 1st Max and got a replacement that seems to be working perfectly and at least as well as my X did.
 

Waterman316

macrumors 6502a
Apr 1, 2018
573
622
Geez! Which carrier are you on?
Att, which isn’t bad in my area generally. I have service of some sort every where I go. Fiancé has Verizon and every time we go camping or anywhere really. Even when we had the same phones (iPhone X). Her phone would read no service and I’d have 1-2 bars.
 
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vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
968
1,332
Not sure what carrier you are on, but I was getting fast speeds like that on my X on Verizon a year ago with 2 bars.

I get similar speeds on 2 bars, too, except I also max out at 140Mbps in the evenings on 3-4 bars. (Tmobile)

Regardless of signal strength, I hit the max the network capacity allows here. Gets overloaded in the afternoon.
 

jkozlow3

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2008
973
659
I just randomly received an email from the Apple senior advisor I was previously working with, providing log files to, etc. after not hearing from him for 2+ weeks. Sounds like engineering considers the cellular issues fixed.

Copy/paste of email:

Hi xxxxx,

I just received word from my engineers that we just pushed out an update for iOS 12.1 that should resolve issues with cellular service connectivity. If you could update your phone and then let me know if your issues persist that would be great. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions.
 
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crouch

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2012
143
263
I just received word from my engineers that we just pushed out an update for iOS 12.1 that should resolve issues with cellular service connectivity. If you could update your phone and then let me know if your issues persist that would be great. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any further questions.

Can you ask if they'd be willing to work with others? I upgraded today, and my issues were definitely not resolved.
 

jkozlow3

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2008
973
659
Can you ask if they'd be willing to work with others? I upgraded today, and my issues were definitely not resolved.

Of course they'll work with others. You really need to call and open a support case however. They won't take you or anyone else seriously if you don't call and open a case. The more cases that are opened, the more serious a software company will take ANY issue. This is how items get prioritized when engineers are tasked with investigating bugs/issues.

800-MY-IPHONE is the phone number.
 

indychris

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2010
703
1,527
Fort Wayne, IN
I've been told to do this twice now, and it did absolutely nothing twice now, except cause me to lose years' worth of Wi-Fi passwords.

Low-strength LTE speeds on my XS remain abysmal on 12.1 even after this step. What's worse, the phone is now reverting again to 4G.

You're resetting it wrong! (My apologies to Mr. Jobs!).

Seriously, I was hoping for good news here. I'm still chuckling at those people who think that there's not a problem and that those of us with serious issues are doing something improperly. I would invite anyone who has an AT&T XS/Max and is near the Fort Wayne area to come and take a drive with me so that we can compare reception in areas like SW Allen Co., driving across IN SR 14, US 24 from Huntington to Wabash, etc. I would be THRILLED if I could see a Max perform as well as my 8+ in those areas. My previous 2 Maxes failed and failed miserably in those locations as well as many, many others while driving across the US.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
968
1,332
Curious to hear - with the new update, is the cellular connectivity all good now?

Well, it definitely fixed my weak 5ghz WiFi, and definitely improved my LTE significantly--- BUT, as you know, my phone was already working fine before (minus the WiFi). But now that the WiFi is fixed, I have zero issues and am quite pleased.

Results of others will vary.

I know that Apple still has some software tweaks to make overall, though. The eSim doesnt work as primary line on Verizon in 12.1 due to some weirdness with the Verizon network and Apple's software (works on other networks though), and it wont be enabled until Apple makes some more software updates.
 

JoeyD74

macrumors 6502
Oct 31, 2014
396
214
So speaking of not paying attention...

My wife has a QC 8 on T-Mobile, and I have an Xs on the same carrier and account. There have been many instances where her phone was showing 4G or E while I was still holding on to 1 bar of LTE. We recently traveled from Indianapolis to Destin, and ran across many backwoods areas in Alabama with little or no coverage, and in every single scenario we noticed my phone had service wrote hers did, and would hold service longer than hers.

So what exactly are you looking for here? Do you need video of the phones side by side traveling every inch of Florida with Tim Cook riding shotgun while singing Elvis? I’ve posted results from good signal areas where people have complained that their Xs is slower, and I’ve posted results from bad signal areas where people claim their Xs can’t hold on to anything. Do you need one with 2 bars of service while I’m standing on my head in a vacuum chamber to see if it has any ill effect on the antenna?

Another part of the issue is the Xs showing service but not being able to actually do anything.
You're resetting it wrong! (My apologies to Mr. Jobs!).

Seriously, I was hoping for good news here. I'm still chuckling at those people who think that there's not a problem and that those of us with serious issues are doing something improperly. I would invite anyone who has an AT&T XS/Max and is near the Fort Wayne area to come and take a drive with me so that we can compare reception in areas like SW Allen Co., driving across IN SR 14, US 24 from Huntington to Wabash, etc. I would be THRILLED if I could see a Max perform as well as my 8+ in those areas. My previous 2 Maxes failed and failed miserably in those locations as well as many, many others while driving across the US.

Just like in real estate, location location location. Many live in an area with excellent coverage and will never have an issue, even if the phone has one.
I live on the edge of a dead area and the phone was useless at my house, even with WiFi calling. I boxed it up and returned it and back to my X. I loved the xs max but what can you do.
 
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