Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Stuart6

Suspended
Jan 30, 2017
81
48
Mine has gotten better. Not perfect, but a lot better than how it was at launch. I would prefer it to be optimized and working properly at launch as it is my first full screen iphone I bought. I never bought the iphone X in 2017, so I was excited to get the Xs, but the wifi/LTE issues at launch left me with a sour taste in my mouth, but better late than never I guess.
 

newellj

macrumors G3
Oct 15, 2014
8,154
3,047
East of Eden
Been a while since I've been here, but I still have a video from a few months ago with my 7 and my XS side by side. The upstream was night and day better on the 7 (like 400% faster.) That said, it seems to have been greatly reduced with recent updates so I sold the 7.

My experience with the 7 was terrible. I went through half a dozen in the first six weeks after launch. All had terminal LTE issues. I finally got one that was sort of OK and had it until late last year, when it stopped connecting on LTE bands. Traded it in on an Xs that did well (which I just returned for an Xs Max which looks fine but needs a week or so to really show whether it works well or not on LTE).
 

newellj

macrumors G3
Oct 15, 2014
8,154
3,047
East of Eden
Comparing field test numbers, the Xs I had got much better reception than my 7. And the Xs Max that I traded the Xs for this weekend seems to be somewhat better than the Xs was.
 

RonJohnson

macrumors newbie
Sep 28, 2018
12
7
Sounds like the problem has either cleared up or gotten better for a lot of people.

Anyone not seeing improvements? I might have to reconsider either getting a XR or XS Max.

I posted in this thread a couple months ago.

The only improvement i've seen has been in my speed tests. However, the jitter and ping are still higher than my previous devices, including my wife's 6S.

In day to day use, it's very obvious when using the device. Sometimes, the phone doesn't even realize it is connected, with several apps telling me "no internet connection". There is a delay when browsing the web of a few seconds, certain apps and widgets like weather take longer to update me.

I just got another replacement device (2nd one) and has the same issues. I give up at this point. If it gets fixed, great. Otherwise, I might just get an iPhone 8 and call it a day.
 

bushman4

macrumors 601
Mar 22, 2011
4,146
3,942
Reception on Xs Max is much better than at launch. Updates and Carrier updates must have had something to do with it. But remember these are not Qualcomm modems
In the new phones they’re Intel
 

The Oak

macrumors 6502
Nov 12, 2013
378
256
Reception on Xs Max is much better than at launch. Updates and Carrier updates must have had something to do with it. But remember these are not Qualcomm modems
In the new phones they’re Intel

Qualcomm was very afraid that Apple would let leak Qualcomm's software code with the Intel parts. I am not completely convinced that Intel's parts are not up to snuff ... with the right software behind it.

If Apple was allowed to use Qualcomm's software code ... with Intel parts ... I think this would be a different story.

Edit:

Who knows :(
 

jim29411

macrumors member
Nov 14, 2016
82
56
Qualcomm was very afraid that Apple would let leak Qualcomm's software code with the Intel parts. I am not completely convinced that Intel's parts are not up to snuff ... with the right software behind it.

If Apple was allowed to use Qualcomm's software code ... with Intel parts ... I think this would be a different story.

Edit:

Who knows :(
Did you mean to say "I am not completely convinced that Intel's parts are up to snuff ... with the right software behind it."
 

The Oak

macrumors 6502
Nov 12, 2013
378
256
Did you mean to say "I am not completely convinced that Intel's parts are up to snuff ... with the right software behind it."

Hmmm ... how's this: I am completely convinced that Intel's parts are up to snuff ... with the right software behind it.

I feel, with the right software behind it, Intel's part I could be as capable as Qualcomm's. If Apple was allowed to use Qualcomm's software code with Intel parts, the Intel parts could perform equally as well as any Qualcomm part. This is a pure guess; however, why else would Qualcomm be scared if Apple used Qualcomm's software code with Intel's parts???
 

jim29411

macrumors member
Nov 14, 2016
82
56
This thread has gone really quiet. Does the silence imply that that problems have been resolved by Apple to everyone's satisfaction? I really want to get an XS Max, but don't want to do through all of the hassles.
 

archer75

macrumors 68040
Jan 26, 2005
3,116
1,747
Oregon
This thread has gone really quiet. Does the silence imply that that problems have been resolved by Apple to everyone's satisfaction? I really want to get an XS Max, but don't want to do through all of the hassles.
It's been fine for me for quite awhile. Better than an 8+. Side by side comparison in fringe areas.
 

Kimmie92592

macrumors member
Feb 13, 2013
57
21
California
Mine still sucks. I’m on T-Mobile. No service in iffy areas. Sometimes when I have two to three bars there is no service. The Apple rep I was dealing with told me that the bars really don’t mean anything. Okay so then what are the bars for? They had some long explanation that I didn’t understand. The last I was told was to contact T-Mobile. T-Mobile says it’s not their problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RonJohnson

archer75

macrumors 68040
Jan 26, 2005
3,116
1,747
Oregon
Mine still sucks. I’m on T-Mobile. No service in iffy areas. Sometimes when I have two to three bars there is no service. The Apple rep I was dealing with told me that the bars really don’t mean anything. Okay so then what are the bars for? They had some long explanation that I didn’t understand. The last I was told was to contact T-Mobile. T-Mobile says it’s not their problem.
Perhaps it's just those areas? Was your previous phone fine in those areas? Did you switch carriers? No, the bars don't mean anything. Each manufacturer can change in software what they display as. You really have to bring up the service menu to see.
I also have T-mobile and no issues.
 

newellj

macrumors G3
Oct 15, 2014
8,154
3,047
East of Eden
I checked my LTE signal on the way out of Boston on the commuter rail earlier this week. I'm getting a good strong signal in places where I know I never got a signal on my 7. I had an Xs for a while and wasn't aware of this problem, so I don't have any comparison on that route for the Xs vs. the Max. The fact that the Max had a good signal in places where the 7 was dead says a lot.
 

jim29411

macrumors member
Nov 14, 2016
82
56
Mine still sucks. I’m on T-Mobile. No service in iffy areas. Sometimes when I have two to three bars there is no service. The Apple rep I was dealing with told me that the bars really don’t mean anything. Okay so then what are the bars for? They had some long explanation that I didn’t understand. The last I was told was to contact T-Mobile. T-Mobile says it’s not their problem.

Hi Kimmie,

Did you ask T-Mobile why they say it is not their problem? Does T-Mobile know of an Apple reception problem with the Iphone XS and XS Max? If so, can you get T-Mobile to give you more information so that you can go back to Apple and tell them that it is not T-Mobile's problem?
 
Last edited:

RonJohnson

macrumors newbie
Sep 28, 2018
12
7
This thread has gone really quiet. Does the silence imply that that problems have been resolved by Apple to everyone's satisfaction? I really want to get an XS Max, but don't want to do through all of the hassles.

Don't buy one.

As I mentioned, i'm on my 3rd XS. Apple is saying now after my next replacement, they'd have to switch me to a different model altogether. This is not really ideal mostly because i'd have to downgrade and somehow pay off my EIP through T-Mobile for a lesser device.

T-Mobile is saying my best bet is to pay off half the phone and use the trade-in value to clear the remaining balance while purchasing another phone through them. At this point, that seems like the direction i'm going to go in. I really hate Android, but I am considering going back simply because i'm sick of having to downgrade or stay on older model phones because Apple has been dropping the ball with their newest devices.
 

The Oak

macrumors 6502
Nov 12, 2013
378
256
12.1.3 is really good for my XS (Verizon USA). It really seems to vary to the individual.

My XS performs just as good (mostly far better) than my iPhone 7 Qualcomm (Verizon USA). That was not always the case at first, but has steadily improved with each update.

I do find from 3G to LTE my XS seems to hang on to the 3G for a long time before flipping to LTE.

12.2 betas also have new modem firmware too - hopefully implying better performance and stability.

With the stability of 12.1.3 (at least for me) I have not jumped onto these latest betas.
 

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,165
25,346
Gotta be in it to win it
2ABC13F0-0E2C-4C77-8549-74EDEE9C4CF4.png
12.1.3 is really good for my XS (Verizon USA). It really seems to vary to the individual.

My XS performs just as good (mostly far better) than my iPhone 7 Qualcomm (Verizon USA). That was not always the case at first, but has steadily improved with each update.

I do find from 3G to LTE my XS seems to hang on to the 3G for a long time before flipping to LTE.

12.2 betas also have new modem firmware too - hopefully implying better performance and stability.

With the stability of 12.1.3 (at least for me) I have not jumped onto these latest betas.
12.2 beta is very good.
 

The Oak

macrumors 6502
Nov 12, 2013
378
256
I will also add that with 12.1.3 (XS Verizon USA) using OpenSignal - my phone is typically on PAR or far exceeds the values measured for the area.

So if OpenSignal measures low benchmarks for the area, guess what, my XS will score low too; again though, typically on PAR or greater.
 

MrStrouse

macrumors newbie
Jan 9, 2019
3
5
I just replaced my T-Mobile iPhone XS Max a few days ago in Vegas and the new one that I have seems to hold onto signal a lot better than the other. Also in the gym I go to, I always have to leave my phone in one particular window , the previous phone would only ever show one bar of signal and data was very slow, this phone shows 2 constantly and data speed are significantly better. Aside from that, the camera on this one seems to take better pictures as well. I’m sure it doesn’t matter as modems are all the same on this model, but the new phone they gave me is also sim unlocked compared to the T-Mobile locked iPhone that I had.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ROLLTIDE1

decypher44

macrumors 68000
Feb 24, 2007
1,813
2,991
Orange County, CA
Three failed calls yesterday. XSMax. The call would be ok for 15-30 seconds, then “call failed”. Three times in one day. Haven’t had this issue for a few months. Now it’s back.

This is on 12.2b2.
 

The Oak

macrumors 6502
Nov 12, 2013
378
256
XS 12.1.4 Verizon USA

I actually pulled a 125 Mbps down and 20.9 Mbps up. I have never seen this fast period anywhere I have traveled. Prior I was if memory serves in the 25/10 range or lower for this area - don't go here much. Verizon could have tweaked some towers? Apple's updates are working?

Somethings working :)
 

imlynxy

macrumors 65816
Mar 8, 2012
1,430
626
View attachment 820128
12.2 beta is very good.
What is your network? Thanks
////

Finally swapped my XS Max 512 under Apple Care due to slow data and poor recption. On the same 12.1.4 got almost 2x more on Att, 1.5x VZW , 1.3 T-mobile.

Sprint was loosing network 5-10 times per day, VZW 2-3 times a day, att 1-5times a week, the most stable was T-mobile

My case, it was a bad iPhone. Now have stable network with 4 major carriers.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.