iPhone XS Max Is the mobile reception on the xs Max even worse than iPhone X ?

[I7guy]

What is your network? Thanks
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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.

Network is Verizon. The thing is the number of bars don’t correlate to the performance. Even with two bars performance is good.

 

[Otflyer]

Network is Verizon. The thing is the number of bars don’t correlate to the performance. Even with two bars performance is good.

There were times when I had two bars but, no data. So in my experience, the bars are basically meaningless. Updates have improved my phones connection to where I don’t really have any complaints.

 

[AustinIllini]

Need an iOS device for work. Didn't think twice about a XS. Went ahead and bought a refurbished X. Should be enough to get me through for a while.

 

[jim29411]

Need an iOS device for work. Didn't think twice about a XS. Went ahead and bought a refurbished X. Should be enough to get me through for a while.

That seems to be the best decision that you can make if you don't want the hassle of replacing your phone multiple times. Apple really screwed up this year and dropped a deuce with the XS and XS Max. Shame on Apple.

 

[dotzero123]

There are some with issues but also many without. I’m on Verizon network reception and speed blow my 7+ aw

 

[jim29411]

There are some with issues but also many without. I’m on Verizon network reception and speed blow my 7+ aw

I believe that many folks just haven't experienced the issues yet that may be related to the phone switching bands in areas of low signal where certain combinations of bands are deployed.

 

[bushman4]

some Xs Max have a problem with reception
Which is evident by all the posts in this thread
However the majority do not. If you get a bad one return it. That’s the best you can do

 

[AustinIllini]

some Xs Max have a problem with reception
Which is evident by all the posts in this thread
However the majority do not. If you get a bad one return it. That’s the best you can do

I don't think you can make that assertion based on this thread. You can say "some have a problem". You cannot make the assertion "most don't". Some implies a sample (more that 0). Most implies a sample over which you don't have sufficient evidence.

 

[davedvdy]

some Xs Max have a problem with reception
Which is evident by all the posts in this thread
However the majority do not. If you get a bad one return it. That’s the best you can do

I think it depends on the area some live in too, but even then we are getting mixed responses.
Some may depend on the carrier (CDMA vs GSM), buildings people work or live in, cellular signal is tricky. Also, the amount of users on a network at any given time affect things too.

 

[VineRider]

Interesting
https://www.cultofmac.com/607082/iphone-4g-speed-rankings/

XS and max posting higher speeds according to opensignal

 

[Stuart6]

Interesting
https://www.cultofmac.com/607082/iphone-4g-speed-rankings/

XS and max posting higher speeds according to opensignal

When the Xs/XS max is working, it works good and is fast in terms of network speeds. It's the signal strength that lets it down though. I never had issues with the speed when it's working well. My previous issues were with the bad signal strength that leads to worse speeds. It seems better now though.

 

[The Oak]

When the Xs/XS max is working, it works good and is fast in terms of network speeds. It's the signal strength that lets it down though. I never had issues with the speed when it's working well. My previous issues were with the bad signal strength that leads to worse speeds. It seems better now though.

"It's the signal strength that lets it down though."

So when your car runs out of gas, you blame your car?

It is not just about SpeedTest and if it reports low then the LTE must suck.

I installed OpenSignal on my XS. It was quite revealing. I initially also thought my XS just must suck when it came to LTE. When using OpenSignal however, and comparing to the averages that OpenSignal revealed for the given area I was in, my XS was rarely lower than average reported for the area. Mostly, it was much higher even. Now, if a given area was just plain slow, my XS speeds were also in range - it can't create signal out of nowhere. However, again, it was at or above the averages given by OpenSignal. It is hard to complain with that.

 

[decypher44]

"It's the signal strength that lets it down though."

So when your car runs out of gas, you blame your car?

It is not just about SpeedTest and if it reports low then the LTE must suck.

I installed OpenSignal on my XS. It was quite revealing. I initially also thought my XS just must suck when it came to LTE. When using OpenSignal however, and comparing to the averages that OpenSignal revealed for the given area I was in, my XS was rarely lower than average reported for the area. Mostly, it was much higher even. Now, if a given area was just plain slow, my XS speeds were also in range - it can't create signal out of nowhere. However, again, it was at or above the averages given by OpenSignal. It is hard to complain with that.

Or, compare with friends and family with different phones on the same network who are standing right next to you. And when one notices how horribly their Xs(M) is, one tends to be pissed off and regrets paying through the nose for such an inferior connection.

But the screen and speakers are nice.

 

[I7guy]

When the Xs/XS max is working, it works good and is fast in terms of network speeds. It's the signal strength that lets it down though. I never had issues with the speed when it's working well. My previous issues were with the bad signal strength that leads to worse speeds. It seems better now though.

"It's the signal strength that lets it down though."

So when your car runs out of gas, you blame your car?

It is not just about SpeedTest and if it reports low then the LTE must suck.

I installed OpenSignal on my XS. It was quite revealing. I initially also thought my XS just must suck when it came to LTE. When using OpenSignal however, and comparing to the averages that OpenSignal revealed for the given area I was in, my XS was rarely lower than average reported for the area. Mostly, it was much higher even. Now, if a given area was just plain slow, my XS speeds were also in range - it can't create signal out of nowhere. However, again, it was at or above the averages given by OpenSignal. It is hard to complain with that.

Or, compare with friends and family with different phones on the same network who are standing right next to you. And when one notices how horribly their Xs(M) is, one tends to be pissed off and regrets paying through the nose for such an inferior connection.

But the screen and speakers are nice.

In my opinion, the intel modems on my Xs max is in every way better than the qualcomm modems on my 6s. Voice quality and download speed are better with the max in the areas that were marginal with the 6s. Why there is such a wide variation in the perception of reception on the xs on these forums, I don't know.

 

[Stuart6]

"It's the signal strength that lets it down though."

So when your car runs out of gas, you blame your car?

It is not just about SpeedTest and if it reports low then the LTE must suck.

I installed OpenSignal on my XS. It was quite revealing. I initially also thought my XS just must suck when it came to LTE. When using OpenSignal however, and comparing to the averages that OpenSignal revealed for the given area I was in, my XS was rarely lower than average reported for the area. Mostly, it was much higher even. Now, if a given area was just plain slow, my XS speeds were also in range - it can't create signal out of nowhere. However, again, it was at or above the averages given by OpenSignal. It is hard to complain with that.

I am posting what I experienced. I noticed the reception is bad at launch. The speed seems fine when it works. Most of those issues have cleared up for me since then.

 

[Otflyer]

Interesting
https://www.cultofmac.com/607082/iphone-4g-speed-rankings/

XS and max posting higher speeds according to opensignal

That’s all fine and good IF you can make a connection.

 

[jim29411]

In my opinion, the intel modems on my Xs max is in every way better than the qualcomm modems on my 6s. Voice quality and download speed are better with the max in the areas that were marginal with the 6s. Why there is such a wide variation in the perception of reception on the xs on these forums, I don't know.

It could also be that you are running different carrier settings on you XS as compared to your 6S and therefore the two phones are using difference frequency bands.

 

[I7guy]

It could also be that you are running different carrier settings on you XS as compared to your 6S and therefore the two phones are using difference frequency bands.

I’m sure that is what you are suggesting. However there is a wide variation in performance for the max crowd here.

 

[SDM908]

So I am on Verizon and I have been watching this thread for some time now and want to get an XS Max. Would you recommend getting one now? Or waiting for iPhone 11? Also if I was to get one should I buy one through the apple store or Verizon store? Thanks

 

[Otflyer]

So I am on Verizon and I have been watching this thread for some time now and want to get an XS Max. Would you recommend getting one now? Or waiting for iPhone 11? Also if I was to get one should I buy one through the apple store or Verizon store? Thanks

If you need a phone now, buy it. You can always return or exchange it if you have problems.

 

[The Oak]

So I am on Verizon and I have been watching this thread for some time now and want to get an XS Max. Would you recommend getting one now? Or waiting for iPhone 11? Also if I was to get one should I buy one through the apple store or Verizon store? Thanks

I doubt Apple will get its Qualcomm issues sorted out by the i11; hence, Intel modems for all and here to stay for a bit I would think.

The updates have taken the phone a long way and much improved since launch. I will be honest and add that uploads rates still seem low(er) - but in the same breadth the same or not far from my i7 Qualcomm - and also inline with OpenSignal for the area. I would not notice it however if I did not do SpeedTests on the flip side. This could be Verizon too however and dedicating more resources to download.

Downloads have pretty much doubled since launch. I am seeing triple digits which I have never seen and more consistently now to boot (at least in my area). This could be efforts by both Apple and Verizon too.

 

[StellarVixen]

Got my XS Max two weeks ago, reception is amazing. Never had any problems.

But then again, I didnt have problems with the X, either.

 

[SDM908]

I doubt Apple will get its Qualcomm issues sorted out by the i11; hence, Intel modems for all and here to stay for a bit I would think.

The updates have taken the phone a long way and much improved since launch. I will be honest and add that uploads rates still seem low(er) - but in the same breadth the same or not far from my i7 Qualcomm - and also inline with OpenSignal for the area. I would not notice it however if I did not do SpeedTests on the flip side. This could be Verizon too however and dedicating more resources to download.

Downloads have pretty much doubled since launch. I am seeing triple digits which I have never seen and more consistently now to boot (at least in my area). This could be efforts by both Apple and Verizon too.

Yea I understand what you are saying and thank you for the response, so overall would you recommend buying one? I currently have an 8plus.
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Got my XS Max two weeks ago, reception is amazing. Never had any problems.

But then again, I didnt have problems with the X, either.

Good to hear, which carrier are you on?

 

[The Oak]

My wife has an XS Max - beautiful phone - she has never complained about connectivity.

Coming from an 8+ though, I might be more inclined to wait for the 11 or 12.

 

[decypher44]

So I am on Verizon and I have been watching this thread for some time now and want to get an XS Max. Would you recommend getting one now? Or waiting for iPhone 11? Also if I was to get one should I buy one through the apple store or Verizon store? Thanks

Coming from an 8+, I personally would wait the est 6 months for the XI (or 11, whatever they go with).