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The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,974
20,168
UK
If it was a “batch” issue, do you think Apple would acknowledge it and replace the phones that were part of a bad batch?
It seems a batch issue as this still hasn’t been addressed much in the media either

I think returning and seeing if it’s any different is the next route it seems at the moment
 
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madKIR

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2010
849
801
NYC
If it was a “batch” issue, do you think Apple would acknowledge it and replace the phones that were part of a bad batch?
If it's a batch issue, they will never publicly acknowledge it! It's way easier for them to just replace those phones.
 

rebretz000

macrumors 6502
Sep 29, 2018
283
318
Guess the average user never keeps an eye on Speedtests and most could care less
It's more than just speed tests. It's looking at signal "strength"
My Pixel 2 averages -95 dbm at home but the iPhone Xs I received averaged -110 dbm. I highly doubt the average consumer even knows how to check that. They just look at bars.
7c913f017c29ab8a3a4325c3f86dfbd2.jpg
 
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Packers1958

macrumors 68000
Apr 16, 2017
1,954
2,587
South Dakota
I don't know if verizon is making adjustments, but I have had a lot better connections the past few days, then the previous week and a half. Speeds are up, and in areas where I had 1 bar, I'm now getting 3.
 
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ssledoux

macrumors 601
Sep 16, 2006
4,412
4,243
Down south

I haven't read the entire thread since the XS Max didn't really apply, but are they talking about this being a hardware issue? Any resolution in the future? Or just something we will have to deal with? I don't personally have either (had to return my Max due to eye strain/headache issues), but my daughter is having a lot of trouble using hers as a hotspot especially.
 

Packers1958

macrumors 68000
Apr 16, 2017
1,954
2,587
South Dakota
I haven't read the entire thread since the XS Max didn't really apply, but are they talking about this being a hardware issue? Any resolution in the future? Or just something we will have to deal with? I don't personally have either (had to return my Max due to eye strain/headache issues), but my daughter is having a lot of trouble using hers as a hotspot especially.
Nobody knows but Apple.
 
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madKIR

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2010
849
801
NYC
But only if customers know they have an issue and bring it in. I’m assuming there would be no outreach, kind of like recalls on cars.
Apple would never! They will silently replace the phones if somebody complaints. Fingers crossed it's just a batch issue. That way it will be eventually eliminated.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,542
26,164
If it was a “batch” issue, do you think Apple would acknowledge it and replace the phones that were part of a bad batch?

If it were a batch issue, we would know. Any change to the radio components requires a new FCC certification report.

In the unlikely event Apple acknowledges a hardware issue, it will still take a long time for a redesign.
 
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Lobwedgephil

macrumors 603
Apr 7, 2012
5,792
4,757
If it were a batch issue, we would know. Any change to the radio components requires a new FCC certification report.

In the unlikely event Apple acknowledges a hardware issue, it will still take a long time for a redesign.

Huh? There would be no change to radio components if it were a batch issue.
 
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JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,542
26,164
Huh? There would be no change to radio components if it were a batch issue.

The only fact we know for sure is the XS and Max have poor antenna gain.

Anything done to fix that would require a hardware change. You cannot increase antenna gain via software.

Any change to output power would also require a new FCC submission.
 
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vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
The only fact we know for sure is the XS and Max have poor antenna gain.

Anything done to fix that would require a hardware change. You cannot increase antenna gain via software.

Any change to output power would also require a new FCC submission.

There are a lot of assumptions and few facts right now...

Regardless of FCC report, the lab tests from PCMag showed the XS working much better than the X in high and low signal conditions, and pretty close to the note 9 and Pixel 2. If the antenna design were truly flawed as much as you are assuming, that would not be the case.
 

decypher44

macrumors 68000
Feb 24, 2007
1,812
2,987
Orange County, CA
I have to say, my speeds are about the same as I was getting on my 7+ for both WiFi and LTE.

They were never stellar. WiFi at home around 48Mbps. Cell anywhere from 18-60 Mbps on Verizon, depending on location.

As far as signal strength, though, my bars are lower/fewer on the Xs Max.
 

Sugadaddy

macrumors 6502
Aug 28, 2010
257
169
I initiated the return process for my Max today. I really like the phone, but it has awful 5GHz WiFi coverage. If I knew it would be fixed with a software update, I'd keep it, but it could also be a defect with my particular phone.

If it's fixed in an upcoming iOS update, or people confirm that replacing their phones solves the issue (bad batch...), then I'll order another one.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
I initiated the return process for my Max today. I really like the phone, but it has awful 5GHz WiFi coverage. If I knew it would be fixed with a software update, I'd keep it, but it could also be a defect with my particular phone.

If it's fixed in an upcoming iOS update, or people confirm that replacing their phones solves the issue (bad batch...), then I'll order another one.

One of the Youtubers who pointed out weak wifi signal tweeted that the latest iOS beta seems to help:
"
Yuan‏ @iAppleGeek3 Oct 2
UPDATE on WifiGate. iOS 12.1 beta 2 seems to have reverted everything back to *almost* normal. Gripping the antennas on the XS no longer makes the connection drop off. It still slows it down, but not to snail speeds. Currently doing more testing
"
 

Lobwedgephil

macrumors 603
Apr 7, 2012
5,792
4,757
I initiated the return process for my Max today. I really like the phone, but it has awful 5GHz WiFi coverage. If I knew it would be fixed with a software update, I'd keep it, but it could also be a defect with my particular phone.

If it's fixed in an upcoming iOS update, or people confirm that replacing their phones solves the issue (bad batch...), then I'll order another one.

Wifi issue will be fixed for sure.
 
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rebretz000

macrumors 6502
Sep 29, 2018
283
318
There are a lot of assumptions and few facts right now...

Regardless of FCC report, the lab tests from PCMag showed the XS working much better than the X in high and low signal conditions, and pretty close to the note 9 and Pixel 2. If the antenna design were truly flawed as much as you are assuming, that would not be the case.
That PCMag article shows nothing regarding antenna gain. All it shows that if the Xs or Xs Max is at the same signal strength/level dbm as a Note 9 or Pixel 2 the download speeds will be similar as opposed to last year's iPhone X that was almost twice as slow.
 
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unclefarkus

macrumors member
May 13, 2015
79
34
I can very rarely get more than 1mbps average on my Max according to Speedtest while my girlfriend beside me is getting 10-12 on her XS.

Guess I’ll need to exchange this pos
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
That PCMag article shows nothing regarding antenna gain. All it shows that if the Xs or Xs Max is at the same signal strength/level dbm as a Note 9 or Pixel 2 the download speeds will be similar as opposed to last year's iPhone X that was almost twice as slow.

Huh? If the antenna is designed poorly, it wouldn't be able to download at similar speeds over different signal strengths.

The guy with the FCC report said he thought the effect would be an inability to hold on to signals in weak conditions, but the PCMag tests show it holding on fine until -128db.
 
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