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

[jkozlow3]

The 4th phone is what made it better. Now back to testing One strange thing if I airplane mode it it will go back to full signal then if I keep using data it stays full signal but when it no longer needs data it switches to another band and goes back to 2 bars. This is on AT&T .

Yeah, I think that's pretty common behavior for iPhones (maybe other phones as well). If I'm doing something, the phone doesn't switch bands/towers unless it absolutely HAS to (i.e. signal goes below a certain threshold).

For example, if I'm on a call when I walk in the house, the phone will rarely switch to my LTE Network Extender until the call ends. It *can* (and has) switched to the Network Extender while on a call and returning home, but this is rare. It's like the phone doesn't want to jeopardize making a change that could result in a negative outcome (which is understandable I guess).

 

[indychris]

So far, my experience with the max follows very close to what pcmag reported. I don't know much about radios and antennas, but my max performs better than my x did, when it comes to real world situations, and I don't really think the antenna is the problem. With that said, it is an expensive phone, and Apple hasn't figured out the problem yet, so I understand your reluctance.

This is what is so perplexing to me. What is more ‘real world’ than setting two iPhones (8+ & XS Max— actually 2 Maxes as I replaced one half way through the trip) side by side while driving almost 5,000 miles across the USA? Yet my experience left my Max continually dropping calls, failing to send texts, and showing ‘No Service’ at least 10-15% of the trip while the 8+ registered ‘NS’ barely at all and handled calls and texts like a champ.

As I’ve stated before, I sure hope that it isn’t some inherent design flaw as I absolutely love the Max aside from the fact that it’s virtually useless to me as an actual phone.

 

[chadx85]

I upgraded to the xs+ from the x. Whenever I receive a call I watch the phone call time go up to about 20 seconds before it ends up dropping. The person on the other end usually tells me that I never answered and it went to voicemail. I’ve noticed I can’t seem to load much of anything on my phone unless I’m on WiFi. These are just a few Speedtests from today in various places, tell me what you think? They aren’t normal are they?

 

[PBz]

I upgraded to the xs+ from the x. Whenever I receive a call I watch the phone call time go up to about 20 seconds before it ends up dropping. The person on the other end usually tells me that I never answered and it went to voicemail. I’ve noticed I can’t seem to load much of anything on my phone unless I’m on WiFi. These are just a few Speedtests from today in various places, tell me what you think? They aren’t normal are they?
View attachment 794498

Make a wish. Seriously, that’s pretty bad. The call issue is evidence enough IMO.

 

[Otflyer]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

 

[George Knighton]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

Maybe I'm just lucky, I dunno.

When iOS 12.1 came out, I think it must've included a help for 4x4 MIMO on WiFi because I'm maxing out my bandwidth with the iPhone now. Right up against 300 Mbps.

With the cellular signal, it *looks* like I don't have the same reception that I had with the iPhone X but it's hard to tell because the XS Max now includes Band 71, and because they don't want you looking at the decibels anymore. I don't know how to show the -dbM (or whatever it's called) any longer.

I have had one single incident of dropping a call where I think it was my fault. This is a place on my commute that usually shows one bar of service but the call usually continues, and since iOS 12.1 I have held several calls through that same area. It is probably a coincidence because I don't know how an iOS change could help the signal (not without overpowering the phone).

But what do I know.

I reported as a bug an incident where I took out my iPhone XS Max and saw zero bars of service where I knew there ought to be. Cycling airplane mode restored three bars of service.

That's the only time I've seen that so...maybe I'm just lucky.
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That is not that strange. I have AT&T and it shows a strong signal when on band 5, but data (LTE) is poor and slow on band 5. It is showing the GSM signal even though LTE is technically available on band 5. Most of the time, it is on band 2, which shows a poorer signal because it is just showing the LTE signal, but the data speeds are good. I have no problems using band 2 even though it shows a lower signal. This is the case with various phones (mostly Android since it is easier to see the measurements on Android phones).

This happens to me all of the time, too.

I get a super-strong Band 12 signal that'll do well with an HD Voice call, but they don't own enough MHz to give impressive data throughput.

Meanwhile, on low signal strength Band 2 and Band 4, it zips right along!

 

[jlt1984]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

Pretty much resigning. I received my last Max attempt yesterday and WiFi is great, but I’ve been testing it against an s9+ on LTE today and I’ve had usable data everywhere which is an improvement...I guess. By usable I mean I’m getting 1-2Mb and the s9+ is getting over 100down and 80 up. Same band same tower. Something isn’t right, or at least something isn’t $1300 right in my opinion. Will stay silent and idle until Pixel comes out because I’m going to try it.

 

[rebretz000]

Ran into my first problem with my new iPhone Xs I received. I was at my parents and the WiFi router rebooted to update. My phone would not switch over to data but both of my parents older iPhones did.

 

[DotCom2]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

I returned my 2nd Max and now I am on my third. Seems to be a little better but I can't really tell because I got sick and am laid up so I can't go out in the wild to test. Plus I want to test while driving around to diff spots but also want to have spouses iPhone X with me to compare which also becomes a problem. So will try next week if I feel better.
The Wifi issues and charging issue were both cleared up by the last update though. But we all knew that.

I was able to do a little bit of testing comparing the X with the Max outside for a bit and it does seem that this new Max is on par with the X where before there was significant difference. But as I said, this was just a very small test outside in my backyard where we have very bad reception in the first place.

My initial reaction was that the new Max is better but that might just be wishful thinking.
EDIT:
I forgot to add that I did tell the Apple employee the reason for my return and told him how bad my LTE signal was and that testing an iPhone X sitting right next to me the LTE signal was horrid in comparison. I asked if he has seen a lot of returns with this issue, and of course he said none. (typical). Right after I told him all this he asked who my carrier was and I told him AT&T. He said, "Oh, that's why." This is right after I told him that my spouses X sitting right next to me got excellent coverage! LOL! Go Figure!

 

[Wags]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

I returned mine. Told the manager why. Said oh ya. Okay. Did not offer exchange or say never had any problems like that.
I did not have the WiFi problem. Worked great in stronger signal areas but terrible in weak areas. Unfortunate. Back to the X.

 

[jabbok]

I am getting my 2nd XS Max on Monday hope this one works better as I have someone who wants to buy my 8+ on Wednesday so I will only have a couple of days to really test it. The problem with my 1st one was it would say LTE then as soon as I went to make a phone call it dropped to 3G every time, the SIM card was replaced did the same thing.

 

[MyMacintosh]

I just got hit with this issue this morning. I had two XS Max and neither had this issue. I’m now on XS with T-Mobile as well....

FWIW I updated to 12.0.1. Wasn’t having this issue on iOS 12

 

[tigres]

2nd XS. This phone is a POS.
Data is sporadic at best. If I could hit apple HQ from MI, I would throw it through the new window. Done with it-
It’s great at dropping calls too.

 

[PBz]

Just observing here. I want the XS but waiting to see better results. Will likely give XR a shot. Now torn a bit on XS vs XSM. I’ve been rocking the 8+ naked for a few days now and it’s liberating..handed it to my son last night at a restaurant after he finished a grilled cheese.. no screen protector.. letting it live. I would have had the XS if not for this thread.

 

[BoneMa]

I work for Apple Authorized Retailer in Czech Republic,Europe and today i looked into database about all colours of XS MAX 256 GB and in total there was only 1 complaint and money given back because of problem: cannot connect to Wifi AP. but nothing else. So maybe USA really got a big bad batch

 

[scrappygolucky]

I work for Apple Authorized Retailer in Czech Republic,Europe and today i looked into database about all colours of XS MAX 256 GB and in total there was only 1 complaint and money given back because of problem: cannot connect to Wifi AP. but nothing else. So maybe USA really got a big bad batch

This is good info. How many in total did you sell?

 

[BoneMa]

This is good info. How many in total did you sell?

will look on this tommorow when i get to work
it is 10:31 PM here

 

[Otflyer]

Pretty much resigning. I received my last Max attempt yesterday and WiFi is great, but I’ve been testing it against an s9+ on LTE today and I’ve had usable data everywhere which is an improvement...I guess. By usable I mean I’m getting 1-2Mb and the s9+ is getting over 100down and 80 up. Same band same tower. Something isn’t right, or at least something isn’t $1300 right in my opinion. Will stay silent and idle until Pixel comes out because I’m going to try it.

I’ve been with Apple since the iPhone 4. This is the first time I would like to jump ship and try android but, alas, I don’t have a backup phone in case I wanted to go back to Apple if android didn’t suit me. I also just bought an Apple Watch 4 so, for better or worse I’m sticking it out with my XS Max and hoping and waiting for Apple to come up with some software updates to improve the experience. My connectivity isn’t as bad as some others on here have reported. I don’t get or receive many phone calls.

 

[jetjaguar]

No problems here with WiFi but I rarely get over 2 bars on mobile even though my X always had more

 

[ferjilo]

Anyone notice signal is not returning when the phone loses reception momentarily. Switching airplane mode doesn't seem to fix it. The only way to regain signal is to reboot the phone. Wondering if mine is defective. Got a 512gb, so these are not readily available in store.

I have the same problem. Wondering the same, or should we wait for a sw fix?

 

[Wags]

I work for Apple Authorized Retailer in Czech Republic,Europe and today i looked into database about all colours of XS MAX 256 GB and in total there was only 1 complaint and money given back because of problem: cannot connect to Wifi AP. but nothing else. So maybe USA really got a big bad batch

Really no complaints outside US. Got to be with US carriers and XS set up. To be determined how this gets fixed.

 

[Messier77]

Got 114mbps download on LTE on my Max whereas I never really got above 60ish mbps on my 8plus. But I’ve noticed that the Max drops to 4G more often than the 8plus and can be sluggish to return to LTE.

 

[decypher44]

Ugh!

Well, I never had the WiFi issue. LTE bars are usual one or two with this thing (normally full). But still, it was ok. Slowish speeds, but ok.

But today, it started dropping calls. This is something new to me. I’m on Verizon in OC, CA. Believe me, there’s plenty of coverage. If the calls keep dropping, I’m going to be pretty irate. North of $1300 and it has difficulty being a phone.

 

[Sugadaddy]

This thread has slowed since yesterday. Are you all starting to resign yourselves to live with your new iPhones connectivity issues. Maybe it’s just because it’s the weekend and we have more important or fun things to do.

I returned my Max this week. I updated to 12.0.1 before mailing it, and WiFi seemed better. Didn’t have time to test if LTE had improved.

Overall I liked it, but didn’t seem to be worth its price. With all the other devices I own, it made me realize my phone is just used for calls, messages, email, and basic stuff when on the road. The XR will do all that for less money.

 

[bushman4]

Where is Apples
QUALITY CONTROL??????
Without connectivity an iPhone is a brick
And Connectivity is one of the basics Apple should have perfect
Shame on Apple Their Quality Control has gotten worse!!!