iPhone 11 Pro Max 4G LTE Signal Issue

I have the same issue on my iPhone 11. I’m on iOS 13.1.2 and using eSIM and another sim for an overseas number. The 4G signal drops and come back after 20-30 seconds and this happens throughout the day. Took screen recording of these. Went to the telco and swap to a physical SIM card and the problem went away. So I did another trial using eSIM and the issue keeps happening.

Thinking might be a hardware issue, the telco gave me a new phone and using esim and also an overseas SIM card. Sadly the problem is still there. So I reckon might be a firmware issue.

I honestly don’t think it’s a batch of phones. If there’s anything I noticed with my issue, it is particular locations where the problem is consistent, where other areas are completely fine. I’m located in Australia, on the Telstra network, and was made aware of location based changes/updates where this issue seems to be apparent.

If the problem was hardware/batch related, the problem would be constant, which it isn’t.

I’d say most people experiencing the issue and feeling like it is a constant problem - is most likely experiencing it at regular locations like home or the office/work.

Since the day I got my 11 Pro Max, I’ve been unable to get LTE (or 5GE, as AT&T calls it) almost anywhere. In the rare instances that I do get a connection, as soon as I enter a building, it’s gone.

My first step in trying to resolve this was to call AT&T, but they immediately told me that they had already gotten “thousands” of calls about this issue with the 11. He didn’t specify Pro or Pro Max, he just said 11, but “thousands” was the word he used, which I’m assuming (hoping) was hyperbole. He said there was nothing they could do and that I needed to go to Apple.

I brought it to the Apple Genius Bar and they replaced my SIM card, but that did nothing. So I made another Genius Bar appointment, and they replaced my phone. I’m sorry to say, however, that the new phone has exactly the same problem.

In cases where I really need to use cellular data (because there’s no Wi-Fi available), I turn off Enable LTE in Settings, but that works only slightly better. Then, after a short period of time, it no longer works at all, and I have to restart my phone.

So I made yet another Genius Bar appointment, but the person with whom I met basically blamed it on AT&T and said I need to deal with them. (I pointed out that that’s where I began, and that they sent me to Apple, but that meant nothing to him.) He claimed that he wasn’t aware of this being a widespread issue. I pointed out that there are additional pages dedicated to it on the discussion forums every day, but he completely dismissed that.

So now I have a $1,600 phone that only connects to data on Wi-Fi.  I’m going to wait until iOS 13.2 is released and, if the issue persists after updating, I’m going back to the Genius Bar and demanding a new phone (the last guy I dealt with wouldn’t even consider it), since some people have seen the problem resolved with a replacement.

I bought the original iPhone, and I’ve upgraded every year since. I’ve never had a major problem like this with any prior phone, so this situation is extremely disappointing, to say the very least.

The crappy LTE signal is not carrier related it the fact that apple has to use the Intel modem, they are terrible and no software update can fix it its the hardware. I am hoping for 2020 iPhone to have qualcomm modems

Frustrating. Not sure if this would help but heard that an eSIM may resolve the issue. I didn't have to take that step but if you're still having issues, perhaps you reach out to Verizon to see if this is an option.

I hope you guys realized that this isn’t a carrier issue. This is the antenna bands that aren’t either strong enough, properly seated into the phone, or it’s the antennas not receiving the signal to send a call. Or quite possibly, the software that is bugging the antennas not to properly work. I’ve had a few people come into AT&T store with the same issues, but our towers are functioning properly around here. If it’s happening in multiple different countries, then it is a manufacturing error.

Mrholland57 wrote:

I’m having serious connection issues as well, my wife can be right next to me with her iPhone 8 with 3 bars and mine with barely have 4g, constantly loses connection! I cycle airplane mode a dozen or more times throughout the day and that seems to help but it’s temporary. I’ve power cycled the phone, reset the network connection you name it to no avail!

Hey, you might wanna read my post above, my problem was pretty similar to yours and I haven't seen it occur after upgrading to iOS beta 13.4

Hope it helps!

I am on the third iPhone 11 ProMax. Have had this one since August 1. This seems to be following the same pattern as the other two, but I am waiting to see more. It often has one bar less than my iPad. Never had a problem with my iPhone 5, 6, XsMax (and any other iPhone I might have had that I am not remembering in between the 6 and the X - don't recall if I had a 7. I know I did not have an 8). Problems first started when I got the 11 ProMax in January, 2020. Worked ok at first, but then within a few weeks, experienced calls breaking up and some dropped calls. Apple allowed me to send the first 11 Pro Max back and they sent me another one, as some report that it is a problem with the individual phone and a replacement fixed the problem. I think I got the second one in April or May. Same thing except worse. Worked ok for a few weeks, then gradually more and more breaking up and dropped calls until the phone did not work at all - did not pick up any cell signal at all and I was basically without a phone for many days until I spoke with Apple and they sent me a new one. Got my 3rd one August 1, 2020. Dropped a couple of calls at first, then was ok for several weeks. OK, but not good. Cell signal very low in my home, which was never a problem with prior models. But mostly I could call and hear and be heard until gradually getting worse in September. Now it mostly works, but sometimes the call breaks up and I have had a few dropped calls at home last week. One person at Apple I spoke to said that there is now an Intel chip in the phone, different from prior models. They say it is faster than before and they will stick with it for the 12. However, if this is the issue, it clearly does not work for me and I may have to go back to an 8 or something. Maybe switch to a Samsung or something, as it is really frustrating not to be able to use it at home. Also...Verizon says that there are 5 cell towers within a half mile of my home, so it isn't a Verizon problem.

I have tried getting a new Sim card also. Has not helped. Always has less bars than my iPad. On my third 11 promax. Never had a problem in my home with earlier models, including the 10 S max. Wish I never gave that up. Now it is only available from resellers. So third 11 promax starting to fail just like the two before them did. Never had a metal case. Have tried new Sim cards. Wi-Fi is on so that’s not the problem. Have five cell towers within half a mile according to Verizon. It’s the phone. The only thing I have not tried yet is trying to force it back to 3G. Some people have said that works. Seems like a dumb thing to have to do to get the latest model to work.

I'm thinking of swapping out the phone. I had issues with the Xs Max as well.

Can you return it?

@Ming36

No more issues regarding call dropouts since going to eSIM? Is that correct?

-I’m with Telstra and now have an eSIM for the second time around after having 2 Nano Sims (3rd iPhone 11 Pro)

look at getting a replacement. If that doesn’t work I would get the 11 not the Pro.

put it on airplane mode and then switch it back on again whenever you have a peoblem- the only thing that is working for me... switched 3 iphones and 2 sim cards...

You can blame this on Apple’s decision to use Intel modems rather than Qualcomm due to their disputes with Qualcomm on intellectual property.