GPS accuracy iOS 13 and/or 11 Pro Max

I have the same problem. When I open Apple Maps App or Google Maps App, the blue point (current location indicator) still moving all the time and the radius changing from wider area to smaller and vice versa. I found this problem since I bought the iPhone 11 Pro Max in January until now with iOS version 13.4.1. This problem never occurs with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 that can catch the GPS signal very fast with very high accuracy in a few seconds. I know that the GPS chipset is different on both phone that get the signal from different satellites. However I hope that the problem comes from the software and can solve in the next version of iOS update. This shouldn't happen with a most expensive mobile device in 2019-2020.

penockio, did you read my post right above yours? So what if it takes some seconds (or even 20) to acquire? This makes no difference. Does it work with google maps in the car? Did you test it with GPSdiagnostic?

kerrybtx, if that happens go to Apple and insist on a phone replacement. Mine does not do that. See my step 1 above. I assume that google maps is in the foreground right? And that in settings-general-background app refresh that google maps is turned on?

Yes, Google maps, Apple Maps and Waze all the same with the map open/ visible. The problem occurs as highway speed and low speed driving. Sometimes it works well sometimes not. None of my previous phones were this way.

GPS is only claimed to be accurate to within 16 feet:

US Government GPS Information: GPS Accuracy

For more resolution like that, other location services are used like the stored location of nearby Wi-Fi hot spots.

Sorry, but I still expect a 100% working GPS when spending 1000 bucks for a smartphone. Currently it’s only working fine during movement but I expect from Apple that it also works fine if I am standing still. Even my cheaper and way older 6S was better.

Of course I am complaining. Because my iPhone 6S is performing much better. Same accuracy - different behavior.

Normally I would expect an improvement when upgrading to a newer model. Even an equal result would be okay. But a degradation?

How could it? That's the accuracy of the GPS system according to the US Government (emboldening mine):

For example, GPS-enabled smartphones are typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky 

https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/

I know. But I expect a stable location on the map. Even if the accuracy is showing +/- 16 feet all the time, the blue dot in google maps or Apple Maps is jumping around while I am not moving myself. iPhone 6S does not show this behavior.

I opened a case with Apple. It was pretty useless. She had me check a few settings (that were correct already) and showed me how to submit a problem from the Apple Maps app. I suppose I will have to keep hounding them.

Then sell your phone and purchase a used iPhone 6S if you believe it was more accurate.

Straight GPS cannot be more accurate than specified by the US Government.

Location accuracy is improved when there is more than one WiFi access point your phone can see that has registered their actual locations in a database, typically a service like Skyhook:

Skyhook: Submit a Wi-Fi Access Point

That is the only way to get location accuracy greater than that provided by GPS itself.

Note if your location appears to move, it may simply because the phone is being more accurate about its location calculations; for example a phone that only changes the location on a map once it has moved more than fifty feet will seem to be more "stable" than one that updates its position each time it recalculates it.

I think William has nailed it. redmonk78, you said google maps works fine in the car. You found a hiking app that does GPS filtering and works fine. Walking around it works fine to get you where you want to go. You have a complaint that is not really a problem with the phone.

it‘s not that easy. Google maps is working fine. Okay. Satisfied. But I cannot simply use a another hiking app with filtering. As explained more than once: I have to use my special app, where all my tracks are gathered and stored. I cannot Import from another app with filtering and I cannot change my app which I am using for years now. I would lose all my tracks from the past years. And the technical explaining why the gps signal is not stable in the map is - to be honest - bullshit (sorry for saying this). I have tried different GPS devices and NONE is such unstable like the 11 pro.

Even when I walk a circle, the iPhone 11 Pro is the only device that shows me a tangle of lines, but nothing that resembles a circle.

So do not tell me that this is normal :-(

And yes: of course I could use such other devices for my tracking, but I do not want to carry so much hardware with me. I just want to use one device and this should be my new iPhone 11 Pro as I am also taking great photos with it.

Let‘s stop the discussion here. You cannot help me and I can only hope that maybe a software update will fix the issue one day. Otherwise I have to upgrade to a iPhone 12 (which will be hopefully better) or change to Android (with way better accuracy even below 16 feet).

If you want to believe an Android can resolve distances just using GPS with more accuracy than the US Government, which operates GPS, states can be done, that's your business.

Otherwise, as I mentioned, it may well be that the app that shows you as a mess of lines is not filtering for new positioning information as without Wi-Fi hotspot location via databases, each point may be +/- 16 feet from the last one calculated. That's just the way GPS works.

Once again, the official US Government statement on accuracy:

For example, GPS-enabled smartphones are typically accurate to within a 4.9 m (16 ft.) radius under open sky.

https://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/performance/accuracy/

same issue on my iphone 11 pro max that i got less than a month ago. the gps and maps show me running around my neighborhood when im literally just sitting in my house. On both Wifi and cellular, it has helped me with pokemon go tho since i can usually reach all pokestops without leaving my house haha.

but its annoying when i need it to work, which is majority of the time. my iphone 7 plus had zero issues with gps.