iPhone switches to 4G despite stronger 5G signal

The iPhone is not designed to connect to the strongest signal.

It is designed to connect to the signal with the best combination of signal strength, speed, low noise, low distortion, lack of interference. You get the idea.

If your iPhone connects to 4G, then the 4G signal is providing a better combination of important signal components than the 5G signal is providing at the time.

Let your carrier know that you know what they are up to, and tell them that you will go somewhere else if they cannot deliver consistent high quality 5G service. It won't do much good to talk with the new hires who are reading text from their monitors. Ask to speak to a senior support person.

I have not had a single 5G drop in months since I switched carriers.

theacousticpookie wrote:

How do I stop my iPhone 14 Pro Max from switching to 4G when 5G has a stronger signal?

I have the setting “5G On” and also “Allow more data on 5G” yet despite this it almost always prefers 4G. This is extremely annoying as I my internet relies on personal hotspot, wired and wireless.

Another seperate issue is that, for example, if I use it whilst waiting for a game to load, and then put the phone to sleep the internet usually cuts off for a brief moment (around 10s), which is also extremely annoying

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Tell your cellular data provider how annoying it is that you pay for 5G service and it goes to 4G.