Poor signal with iPhone 12 Pro Max

You can't compare bars between devices, they're just a measure of relative signal strength; e.g. three bars on one device does not mean the same signal strength as it does on another.

However, more importantly, you have no idea which cellular frequency your device was assigned to, so as I have stated several times now, if the tower assigns your 12 Pro Max to a frequency it supports that your other device does not, you may see wildly different signal strength readings and may drop calls on one while you have no issues on the other.

So your assertion is in no way supported by the data.

BS. If this was the case, Apple has plenty of R&D and should have done plenty of testing to know that Verizon was not completely ready to roll, especially in rural areas. They probably are forcing Verizon to upgrade their systems by using consumers as pawns. This way, Apple can ensure that they have a market for future upgrades.

If you think that's the case, you can believe it all you want.

Apple provides equipment that complies with published standards.

Verizon says they comply with the same standards.

That's the end of Apple's responsibility. As I said, if you buy a radio and the station is having broadcast tower problems, that's not the fault of the radio manufacturer.

Apple can try to "force" companies to make upgrades, but most often cell companies will just laugh as they know doing nothing doesn't hurt them as people will blame Apple.

I changed carrier from Bell to Telus. I should of know better, It’s the phone not the carrier. I had tested my daughters Telus SIM Card and sons Roger SIM card in my first iPhone 12 Pro Max but my neighbor has great reception with Telus. Never thought to ask what iPhone she had, guess what older model. Moved my husband on the same plan. Cost me $$$ to switch carrier! Same problem poor reception, drop calls, customers can’t hear me, driving same issues, customer can’t hear me or when I try to place a call “states no reception in area.” It’s in a population area with cell towers. Had phone replaced, probably a recycled iPhone 12 Pro Max someone return, it was refurbished with same issues. Same problem!!!!!!!! Called Apple Care, diagnostic, took the phone to a authorized dealer to look at. At least the Technican told me the truth. It’s hit or miss with the phone. It has been a steady stream of same issues from second day the phone was released is what she told me. Apple Genius store won’t tell me this, just blamed it on the carrier. She told me one guy switched out his phone 4 times before he got one that worked. iPhone 12 pro max is costing me fortune. My husband has old iPhone 10 LTE full bars, next to mine iPhone 12 Pro Max 1 bars on LTE. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is crap. I’m sure there are some good ones, maybe different serial numbers manufactured at a different time. I have tried all three major carriers in my area. Back to Apple, I’m demanding a brand new phone in original box none of this refurbished recycled crap. It’s the phone problem. I know how everyone feels. It’s been a nightmare with this model.

I don’t t drop calls but I hear the other party fine in the bevy and then they sound metallic and then I just hear blurbs and not words. I missed a phone meeting because couldn’t hear what they were saying

Poor reception on my new iPhone 12 Pro Max. I previously had a Samsung S7 Edge which was the best phone ever and never had issues other than running out of storage space. After years of being an android user I made the switch to an iPhone as other family members have. This however was a big mistake as the iPhone 12 Pro Max has very poor reception with one bar on LTE and where other family members have three or four bars on LTE. It also continually switches back and forth from 5G to LTE when in a 5G coverage area. I have always loved my iPad but regret making the jump from android. Definitely not worth the price paid for this phone!

Yet they still keep on advertising and selling them! Crazy isn’t it? My IPhone 12 Max Pro only works through the wifi at my house. So, when the electricity goes off so does the wifi, and I am left without any way to call anyone during these horrible fire storms ( it was off for eight hours a few days ago). We live rural on a farm. BTW, my husband’s Samsung still works if the power and wifi go out, so if he is home he can call for help. If he is gone…I just hope for the best.

You have 14 days to return it for a full refund, so you can do that and buy your preferred Android.

Meanwhile multiple millions of people around the world use their iPhone 12 every day without issues like those you describe.

Most everything you describe is indicative of cellular carrier issues with a tower and network signal issues in your area (especially the switch between 5G and LTE.)

You are correct millions of users around the world use their Iphone 12 without issue. If you live in a big city with mature 5G coverage you are OK. If you live in rural America or 1000's of small cities without mature 5G then those users are left holding the bag. Is it the carriers fault that the LTE section of the iPhone 12 Max sucks? No, but it is the Carriers fault for touting nationwide 5G coverage and selling these phones in areas that have poor 5G coverage. If you go back to the transition between 3G and 4G, Apple DID NOT offer a 4G phone for several years after the transition had begun. This was a Steve Jobs moniker, don't sell it till it's mature!!! Now with all the pressure to maintain market share, Apple releases a 5G phone at the beginning but develops the phone with limited LTE capability to reduce the cost. You can say it the carrier's fault all you want but it does not explain WHY an older iPhone or Android phone works fine on LTE while the iPhone 12 is a stinky pile of excrement. I can set my son's Iphone 10 and my Iphone 12 pro max within a foot of each other and the Pro Max has no signal and the 10 can make and receive calls. That points to the LTE section of the 12 is sub par. Not the carrier's fault!!!!

The LTE portion of the iPhone 12 is one of the best on the market, it's your carrier's tower configuration that is messed up.

The iPhone 12 has support for more LTE frequencies than any previous iPhone.

I've explained before, the problem is the iPhone 12 supports more and newer frequencies than older phones do.

The problem is some carriers have not properly optimized their towers for those new frequencies, so when the tower assigns the 12 to use them, it may see poor signal or none at all. The iPhone can't do anything about that, it has to use the frequency the base station controller tells it to.

Older phones using the older frequencies work just fine, but when the tower sees the iPhone 12 can handle the newer frequencies, it will send it there as they will be much less crowded as few phones can use them (yet) as compared to the other more heavily used frequencies.

You are blaming the phone for a carrier issue Apple cannot do anything about, as even they do not have the leverage to make a cellular carrier do anything.

but if that's the case and it is all the carriers fault, shouldn't android owners with 5g phones be complaining about poor reception as well? I mean maybe they have but I haven't seen it.. I have a few friends with 5g android Samsung phones and I haven't heard them complain once about terrible reception. With me at work i get 2 bars of 5g on my iPhone 12 pro max and suddenly it switches to two bars LTE if I move an inch at my desk. When it gets to 2 bars on LTE, forget about loading a website or starting a podcast, playing a youtube video etc.

I agree with you, friend on android 5G on same provider as me has full reception with no issues. I need to use wifi calling in my house with my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I was hoping Apple would of address with the latest software update but same problem exits.

Each device seemingly supports a different subset of frequencies - strange but true,

Also, carriers make a huge difference as well; there are many areas around me that have one bar on AT&T and full bars on Verizon, and others with full bars on AT&T and No Signal on Verizon.

What makes it worse is antenna design and placement on each tower also comes into play.

WiFi Calling is a cellular carrier feature and Apple has no control over it.

If you really feel that away about your purchase if it was 14 days ago or less you can return your phone for a full refund, otherwise you could sell your 12 Pro Max on eBay and buy a used iPhone 8 Plus on the same site or try to find a carrier that still has some in stock.

I'm assuming it's with the phone and the fact that there are no towers in our county and the surrounding counties. My wife and I have spent untold hundreds of dollars for antennas and boosters to no avail. I'm not sure if its the lack of phone signal towers or what but Apple and ATT need to clean up their act.