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

I have felt from day 1 the mobile reception on my Xs max has been crap

Hanging. Slow safari loading even when I see full coverage bars

Have just accepted it at this stage and hope my new September phone will be better

Battery life also took a huge knock after the first couple of weeks of ownership
 
Here's what I found: I think I had a bad device. My service on a different iPhone XS Max. That being said, Apple and the carriers have seriously dropped the ball on servicing failing radios. The fact that if you call Apple, they say "call your carrier because it sounds like a carrier issue" is simply unacceptable. Calling the carrier, they blame Apple.

It's not okay in the slightest.
 
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I'm seriously wondering what is wrong with modern Apple phones. I had an XR in which the reception itself was decent, but had a ton of various connectivity issues and I hated the big size. Now I have an iPhone 8 with the coveted qualcomm chip. Thought it would be a perfect compromise. Just right size, decent camera, theoretically good performance.
I was at a friend's place recently, which is one of those odd cell phone signal dead spots. My new 8 was unusable. I couldn't even receive any incoming iMessages. It then occurred to me to pull out my work phone, which is a ratty old iPhone 5c. While web browsing was slow due to the low signal, I still was able to browse on LTE, whereas my 8 was useless. That paired with horrible GPS performance, and it's making me want to give up on iPhones altogether.
 
Several times a day messages I receive on my Xs Max. What a dud.

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JoeyD74 said:
I get the same on my X on Verizon
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Mine is Verizon. I think the only phones that are effected are the CDMA versions. Qualcomm designed the CDMA chips for the CDMA carriers (Verizon and Sprint). Everyone I know who has a Xs on these two networks is having issues. My 8 plus does not have ANY cellular connectivity issues. I recently purchased a Pixel 3a XL to try and the reception and sound quality BLOWS AWAY any iPhone I have ever owned and have owned every one since they were released on Verizon. If I ever purchase another iPhone it will have to be a Qualcomm chip.
 
fastbagger said:
Mine is Verizon. I think the only phones that are effected are the CDMA versions. Qualcomm designed the CDMA chips for the CDMA carriers (Verizon and Sprint). Everyone I know who has a Xs on these two networks is having issues. My 8 plus does not have ANY cellular connectivity issues. I recently purchased a Pixel 3a XL to try and the reception and sound quality BLOWS AWAY any iPhone I have ever owned and have owned every one since they were released on Verizon. If I ever purchase another iPhone it will have to be a Qualcomm chip.
Click to expand...

I think the Verizon X (not Xs) had a Qualcomm modem.
 
See this website that explains how to find out which modem you have:

https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-find-iphone-x-modem/

I originally tried 2 Maxes in the fall of 2018. Both had terrible connectivity from cellular phone calls to data to WiFi and also Bluetooth. They were just unusable for me. I returned both within the 14 day window. I was able to pick up a new X at Best Buy. It works perfectly with no connectivity issues. Not sure why the Maxes didn’t work for me and the X does. My X has the Qualcomm modem.
 
Nhwhazup said:
See this website that explains how to find out which modem you have:

https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-find-iphone-x-modem/

I originally tried 2 Maxes in the fall of 2018. Both had terrible connectivity from cellular phone calls to data to WiFi and also Bluetooth. They were just unusable for me. I returned both within the 14 day window. I was able to pick up a new X at Best Buy. It works perfectly with no connectivity issues. Not sure why the Maxes didn’t work for me and the X does. My X has the Qualcomm modem.
Click to expand...
Because of the Qualcomm modem
 
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It's gotten quite ridiculous how too the cell reception is on the XS / Max. All too often I find 1 or 2 bars in what should be a well covered area (Verizon in Houston). I never had these reception issues with my X. Today I even found a spot, where I had 3 bars, and could not get any data. And just recently I even did a clean wipe, so it shouldn't be any software / setting. Frustrating beyond belief...
 
mcvaughan said:
It's gotten quite ridiculous how too the cell reception is on the XS / Max. All too often I find 1 or 2 bars in what should be a well covered area (Verizon in Houston). I never had these reception issues with my X. Today I even found a spot, where I had 3 bars, and could not get any data. And just recently I even did a clean wipe, so it shouldn't be any software / setting. Frustrating beyond belief...
Click to expand...
I totally feel for you. I went through the same crap with 2 Maxes last fall. I have ATT in NH. I would swap the SIM card between my old Plus phone and the Max to see the difference. Both Maxes were pitiful.
 
This phone is a total joke, -120db on 2 separate carriers? I thought it was T-Mobile at first but even with Verizon I get jack signal
 

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Is this still an issue? Is there a different revision of the hardware that doesn't have this issue?
 
I have a Verizon Xs, don't think I've had a dropped call yet in 6 months. That said, it's not uncommon to show 1-2 bars of service pretty much everywhere.

Still looking forward to Apple dumping Intel and going back to Qualcomm and/or in-house so we never have to deal with this again.
 
I have an XS with T-Mobile and service has been ****** since day one. In areas that should be 4 bars I’m lucky to get two. Can’t wait to get a new one next month.
 
fryfrkhlly said:
I have an XS with T-Mobile and service has been ****** since day one. In areas that should be 4 bars I’m lucky to get two. Can’t wait to get a new one next month.
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Mine too! I’ve never hated my iPhone before but my xs max on TMobile has been the worst. Very poor reception. Shows bars of service when there’s no service at all. iPhone 7 works. Not this piece of junk. Keeps dropping Bluetooth. I can’t reliably use maps. I have to use my husbands iPhone 7 if I need gps. I’m so much regretting this purchase still, even almost one year later. I’ve had multiple contacts with Apple and TMobile and they just point the finger to each other.
 
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The Oak said:
Rumor has it they will be using a different antenna material this time around ... should be interesting ...
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Bingo there is the issue. My wife's Xr on V works fine because the Xs has that MiMo antenna setup. I think the combo of the Intel chip and MiMo is the issue.
 
Kimmie92592 said:
Mine too! I’ve never hated my iPhone before but my xs max on TMobile has been the worst. Very poor reception. Shows bars of service when there’s no service at all. iPhone 7 works. Not this piece of junk. Keeps dropping Bluetooth. I can’t reliably use maps. I have to use my husbands iPhone 7 if I need gps. I’m so much regretting this purchase still, even almost one year later. I’ve had multiple contacts with Apple and TMobile and they just point the finger to each other.
Click to expand...

Yes same here!! It’s so frustrating. I finally stopped trying and use WiFi when I can but even that is hit or miss sometimes. I’m counting down till I can get a new one lol
 
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