There were at least 2 big youtubers who mentioned having LTE issues in their first reviews (and they have also posted updates saying it’s working fine after latest updates)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone XS Max Is the mobile reception on the xs Max even worse than iPhone X ?
- Thread starter mydogeatsbeats
- Start date
-
- Tags
- iphon xs max
- Sort by reaction score
There were at least 2 big youtubers who mentioned having LTE issues in their first reviews (and they have also posted updates saying it’s working fine after latest updates)
My Max (with 12.1) does not transfer well while at home on wifi. We have 10 AE access points spread out through the house. It is VERY noticeable when the call switches from one to another. I've actually dropped several calls because of it. AT&T service in my part of town is horrendous. Trying to get a signal in my basement is not possible. We rely heavily on wifi calling. Maybe it's the AE, but my X never had this problem.
Also, at least 30 minutes into a call, while using BT to Beats headphones for the call, the call will become completely garbled. I have to switch away from the BT connection, and then turn it back on. Hoping 12.1.1 solves some of these issues.
Also, at least 30 minutes into a call, while using BT to Beats headphones for the call, the call will become completely garbled. I have to switch away from the BT connection, and then turn it back on. Hoping 12.1.1 solves some of these issues.
I haven’t seen to many complaints from people on the Sprint network. I have a xs max on Sprint and had major problems with LTE when my 7+ had great service. Live in the Southern New Hampshire area where service is pretty good. Had my phone replaced under warranty for another problem and same issue. Updated to 12.1 and cleared up most of my issues. Can’t wait for the next update to see if it gets better.
Last edited:
I will say a couple of things about this, as clearly my phone doesn't have this issue, but interesting nonetheless. I have always had good signal(At&t), but I did the eSim and Verizon physical sim to combine work and personal.
At&t is my eSim, and I get better bars, and better field tests when using as an eSim compared to physical sim, no idea why. Now a lot of people here have the issues with Verizon, I have Verizon running my data, and my physical sim. For the most part it has been great, but I do see my Verizon signal drop in places the aren't usual, but have never had an issue with data, as my phone is using data from Verizon.
So clearly my phone doesn't have these issues like others, but I have seen Verizon drop a bit more than usual.
At&t is my eSim, and I get better bars, and better field tests when using as an eSim compared to physical sim, no idea why. Now a lot of people here have the issues with Verizon, I have Verizon running my data, and my physical sim. For the most part it has been great, but I do see my Verizon signal drop in places the aren't usual, but have never had an issue with data, as my phone is using data from Verizon.
So clearly my phone doesn't have these issues like others, but I have seen Verizon drop a bit more than usual.
Verizon annoys me with their 'unlimited plan' lies
All the carriers are the same really. At the end of the day they all can throttle you.
So yesterday I experienced the more extreme issues that some have been having. Was in Los Angeles for Rams/Seahawks game at the Coliseum. Coming home on the train, it showed 3G for a bit (haven’t seen 3G in ages!!!). But then, showed full bars LTE....but NO DATA. Nada. Not even the simple google homepage would come up. Tried rebooting, tried toggling. Nothing. Extremely frustrating!! I wanted to throw the thing off the train.
This is exactly what happened to me at SFO last week.
See Is the mobile reception on the xs Max even worse than iPhone X ?
Last edited:
get this in NYC all the time during rush hour. too many people using the network in the same place
Yes, but I’ve never experienced it like this with any previous iPhone (all on same network).
Typically, if your phone shows full LTE signal and it's not downloading, it's a carrier problem (like network congestion). This happens on other phones all the time (just do a google search for Full LTE No Data or variants thereof).
Yes, I am fully aware of that. It wasn’t a carrier issue. Train full of people streaming video. I’m assuming some had Verizon (as do I). This is something different. This is something brand new to me. Never experienced before on an iPhone with or without Verizon.
I get it on my 8 Plus. taking the LIRR from Penn, AT&T was virtually unusable most of the way. walking around queens blvd during PM rush, same thing. 3-4 bars LTE and no service. Had this on various iphones for years.
Comes and goes with IOS updates too. It was OK on 11 until 11.4.1 crapped out my 8 plus reception. 12.1 is a little better. I have a family member with a Galaxy S7 and his phone seems better. I'll probably test it some more this week to be sure of the differences
Yes, this is very normal. Despite full bars, I can't use data in the SF Transbay Tube during rush hour. It works just fine off peak though.
How often do you ride the train home from a Rams / Seahawks game?
It’s a little hard to rule out network congestion when there’s some nearby event that’s drawing huge crowds in the vacinity, before, during, and after.
At my house I range from 9Mb to 140Mb from peak to off hours, and I’m not even in a heavily populated area.
I've had these issues occur with two XS's and an XS Max and my other devices at the same time of the event are working just fine on the same network. Even Apple concurs it's not the network as my report submittals were uploaded through WiFi tethering from other devices (X, S9, Note9). They've compared data from my X and XS that were sent and that was the only real answer they would ever give me was that network doesn't seem to be a direct cause of my issues but wouldn't say it was the phone either but still decided they needed the phone.
I’m in congested, heavy populated areas all the time. I live in Orange County, CA. I go to games, concerts, conventions all the time.
And did you skip over the part where everyone around me, including my gf with her 6+, were all able to stream video, upload to FB, etc?
I do kind of know what I’m talking about. You’re not telling me anything I don’t know. Not quite sure what your intent is here. I’ve seen your comments, and they are all basically poo-pooing everyone’s claims. If you have no issues, fantastic. Doesn’t mean we don’t.
I’m sure plenty of people have issues, and plenty of people are also paranoid from forums and assuming any service issues are a phone problem. Not assuming anyone is either / or, just trying to present all possible factors.
It’s possible that your outbound transmit signal is too weak for some reason. Or could be software. Have you tried the beta?
I also live in OC California (Laguna Niguel) which is the original Land of the NIMBYs. All cell towers here are hidden in church steeples and other structures and are few and far between with the exception of T-Mobile that has cells on street lights. For some reason, Verizon and ATT do not deploy on street lights in this city. As a result of the NIMBY restrictions, the signal here in Laguna Niguel is really weak (1 to 2 bars is the norm on Verizon). The weak signal is not a problem and never an issue with the iphone 5,6,7,8, and X. I am waiting until all of the issues are completely resolved with the XS Max before upgrading. It is sad that Apple is having basic reception problems especially at their premium price point.
Apple, if you are reading this, it is time to do the right thing and fess-up to the issues publically. I have been a loyal fan-boy for years but these recent phones with reception problems along with the butterfly MacBook Pro keyboard problem has me considering Samsung and Dell.
Additional info: I am on Verizon.
No, I steer clear from beta. I need my phone functioning as best I can (full-time single dad, work, etc). I was reading from a couple of people that the last official update helped them, but it hasn’t helped mine, and looks like not for other folks, either. Hopefully the next release will help.
Apple has been pretty forthcoming with hardware problems overall lately. They just launched a repair program for regular iPhoneX due to hardware problem and MacBooks too.
Sidenote: I only use Windows machines, and you should know that Windows 10 is kind of a cluster right now. The bugs in the recent updates are crazy (deleting user files with no warning, etc). That is not a route to a problem free experience.
If we're at b2 right now, about when do you think we can expect the finalized version to drop?
Correct, just launched for an issue that has been getting fixed in store for an AppleCare+ claim (Apple did not consider it a manufacture defect and basically blamed the owner) for at least 7 months now when I did an X for a co-worker and was told by the store they've been aware of the issue with the X but Apple refused to do anything further aside from acknowledge there's a "minor" problem. It's convenient they address the issue now that you can't go buy a new X at all.
It would be funny if they phase out the xs and xs max next year too. Sweep everything under the rug.