You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Poor GPS performance on new iPhone 11 (Maps, Waze, Google Maps)

Recently acquired an i11 to replace the i6 (which I still have). Both devices are up to date (13.1.2 and 12.4.2, respectively). On the i11, Waze regularly claims "no GPS" during clear sky driving (no tall buildings / mountains). Apple Maps position indicator regularly drifts off of the current road and asks to "Proceed to the route". If I set the i11 and i6 next to each other at my home, fire up Google Maps and zoom in a bit, the i11 position marker wanders around like a drunken sailor but on the i6 is rock solid.


Visited local Apple store who asked if they could reset the phone to factory, have me put Waze back, and go driving - if it still had problems despite having no prior "state" from a restored backup they'd exchange the phone. We did all that and so the i11 was replaced. Sadly, no improvement. :(


At this point, it would be swell if Apple could acknowledge there is an issue being worked. I am trying to work a case with Waze to see if they can shed light but so far I have not heard specific feedback on my posted video and debug log evidence. I would do similar for Apple Maps but do no know how.


I've seen other posts about GPS problems but nothing that seems to be an acknowledgement from Apple that there is a software issue to be addressed in a pending "dot" release.

iPhone 11

Posted on Oct 12, 2019 1:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 9, 2019 3:19 PM

Got a call from a senior support advisor today. She reported that Engineering says that this problem has had numerous reports and that a software patch would be coming out. Their current advice is to "be sure to keep up with software updates" as a future update will include a fix. I asked the obvious questions.


  1. Is Engineering saying this is an iOS bug or an app bug? iOS
  2. When will this be fixed? She said that they did not indicate a release date.


Similar questions

17 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 9, 2019 3:19 PM in response to randoUser

Got a call from a senior support advisor today. She reported that Engineering says that this problem has had numerous reports and that a software patch would be coming out. Their current advice is to "be sure to keep up with software updates" as a future update will include a fix. I asked the obvious questions.


  1. Is Engineering saying this is an iOS bug or an app bug? iOS
  2. When will this be fixed? She said that they did not indicate a release date.


Jan 4, 2020 3:05 AM in response to mbernier1974

I did a little investigation with the help of some friends: from iPhone 8 and newer, GPS reception is noticeably poorer. I use the app "GPSdiagnostic"m which consistently shows poorer reception for the newer phones. They don't/hardly work indoors, in a plane etc. while older models do.

Incidentally, as from iPhone 8 the phones are Galileo (EU GPS system) compatible, which means different hardware. I do not believe it is a software problem but I'd gladly be proven wrong.


The picture shows the difference between iPhone 6+ (!) and iPhone Xs. Similar results for a 5s.

So, I payed 1200€ for a phone with poorer GPS, I also had to pay 30€ when exchanging my Xs due to this problem because the screen protector is not covered by the warranty and the exchange solved nothing.

So yes, I'd say time for a class action!

Nov 17, 2019 11:34 AM in response to randoUser

Update - have had multiple calls to Apple but no resolution. One support person did explain that Apple Maps is not an Apple app - it is by Tom Tom, so each question from "engineering" that I answer could take up to 5 business days to get a response. So far, I have had to reopen my case after waiting more days than that more than once to see what is going on. Currently have iOS 13.2.2 on the phone and still... no joy. Tried resetting network settings ... no joy.

Poor GPS performance on new iPhone 11 (Maps, Waze, Google Maps)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.