Level 1

41 points

iPhone X GPS not working

I have tried all the of the restarting the location services, updating, all of it, and the GPS is still intermittent at best. Is there a fix for this on the $1000 phone?

iPhone X, iOS 11.2.1

Posted on Dec 26, 2017 8:03 AM

Top-ranking reply

duckapalooza

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Feb 21, 2018 8:46 AM

Cross posting from thread "Q: iPhone X GPS accuracy is weak" because this thread also needs the answer...

After extensive investigations, including hours running multiple GPS apps on both iPhone X and older models, Apple replacing my iPhone X, and a ton of Internet research, it is clear to me what the problem is and everyone with this problem needs to be complaining to Apple. The more of us that tell them this is unacceptable, the more likely this will be fixed in the future.

There are two models of iPhone X - one (A1901) has the GPS accuracy problem and the other (A1865) works properly. If you purchase your phone through AT&T, or purchase an AT&T phone through Apple, you will get the A1901 phone. If you purchase an unlocked SIMless phone or through most other carriers, you will get the A1865 phone. Why does this matter?

The A1865 phone uses a Qualcomm chipset (cellular modem and the GPS chip) and these work great. It is the same family that has been in older iPhones for a long time (which is why this has not been a problem in the past). The A1901 phones (AT&T) come with an Intel chipset that seems to have lower specs all around, and in particular the GPS has more trouble connecting to satellites, and even with the same number of connected satellites, the accuracy is about half that of the Qualcomm (accuracy will show twice the distance).

If you are an AT&T customer, I recommend that you purchase an unlocked phone from Apple (this will be the A1865 version), then get it activated on AT&T and you will be fine. In my case, I purchased my iPhone X from AT&T and it took more than 14 day working with Apple to figure out what the problem was, so AT&T won't take it back. Apple also is unable to exchange this for me because it is not from their inventory, so can only exchange for the same model. If you are in my situation, you need to have them escalate this to engineering. There seems to be no other option for us at this point. This is why I am encouraging as many people as possible to communicate clearly to Apple what the problem is so that they will acknowledge the problem and help us. Hopefully it will become harder for them to claim that your phone is the only one that is having this problem.

Here is a page that shows what model iPhone X you get with each carrier in each country - https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-x-models-a1865-a1901-a1902-differences/

DO NOT BUY THE A1901 IF YOU CARE ABOUT GPS ACCURACY!

It is really not cool of Apple to sell us a phone with severely reduced GPS specs and not tell us there is a difference! Apple, please help us with this.

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104 replies

jkowerski Author

Level 1

41 points

Feb 21, 2018 12:14 PM in response to duckapalooza

I have a Verizon phone, so sorry to say, this theory isn't working either. I have found though, that my car, a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2013, the GPS will not work. If blue tooth is on or off, wifi is on or off, everything. But I have found that in my bosses car, a Lincoln Navigator, it works perfectly fine. They have finally escalated me to an engineer level (after five months of calling and complaining and getting three new phones). Every time I talk to Apple though, they insist that no one else is having this problem and they just want to replace my phone. I asked them to downgrade me to an 8 and they told me, and I quote "we can't do that because we aren't able to exchange money at the Apple level" which was odd to me because the next step was for them to ask me for a credit card to take a deposit to get a new phone, that still doesn't work, sent to me. So Apple. Still. Fix your GPS, and fix your crappy customer service. I have thought about getting a lawyer because I keep paying for this phone, that does not work the right way, and keep getting told there is nothing more that they can do.

moe52

Level 1

14 points

Mar 3, 2018 9:47 PM in response to Electrojake

Under 11.2.6, there are times when the problem does not happen for me but it's definitely not fixed. I am working with Apple and it's been escalated to engineering. They took logs of a failure event and we're waiting to hear a conclusion.

Very unusual and difficult problem. Apparently it is very rare. Not much solace for the 100-some-odd people here who have clicked "me too" on this but I can at least confirm that it's getting attention at Apple.

Mar 4, 2018 6:59 PM in response to moe52

Rare? That's the false narrative they want you to believe.

I have had two iPhone X in a row and BOTH had the exact same problem.

Additionally, the "no GPS while moving" issue is currently being complained about on numerous other iPhone and Mac forums so it's not as "rare" as they'd like you to believe.

The fact that the technical problem exists does not bother me at all. I fully understand the engineering side of the equation. What aggravates me is being treated as if the GPS issue does NOT exist and "I" am the defective component in all of this.

* In spite of my frustration I have no doubt Apple will get this issue put to bed and the next rendition of their 'X' phone will be perfect. ✅

moe52,

Please keep us posted on your progress on the GPS issue. 🙂

Best regards,

-Ej-

Mar 4, 2018 7:52 PM in response to Electrojake

Electrojake, I am also on my second iPhone X for the same problem. Soon I will be getting a third iPhone X from apple as a replacement. I have a feeling that the GPS will still not work. I can only guess at what is really wrong with these phones. All I know is that there is definitely something faulty in the phone and Apple has absolutely no solution other than to keep switching out phones until the one year warranty runs out.

moe52

Level 1

14 points

Mar 8, 2018 10:35 AM in response to jkowerski

Yes, seems to be a Bluetooth conflict with specific cars but variable. I asked on a BMW forum and no one with my make and model (2005 Z4) reported anything like it. I am considering disconnecting my car's Bluetooth (which is so crappy I never use it anyway) but need to figure out how.

By the way, there are great third-party Bluetooth adapters from VicTsing for under $20. They have great reviews. Here's one: Amazon.com: VicTsing V4.2 + EDR Bluetooth FM Transmitter for Car, One Key Button, Wireless Car Stereo Radio with Dual US…

moe52

Level 1

14 points

Mar 28, 2018 10:39 AM in response to estherfromleidschendam

To be clear -- the problem here is that GPS fails only in one car (I believe it is interference with some wireless device in the car.) My GPS works fine everywhere else and it is only when this car is on. It seems to be quite rare (not everyone here agrees with that).

If your GPS fails everywhere, then it's a different thing and you should get warranty repair from Apple.

Mar 28, 2018 10:47 AM in response to moe52

I mentioned the problem while driving. Someone asked me to check my complete phone with the TestM app and my gps doesnt work corrext.

When Im at home or wherever he “finds” me But travelling it is terrible.

Have you tried the check with that app? Otherwise would you be so kind to trie?

Apr 3, 2018 8:53 AM in response to Superklimak1984

Hope this doesn't confuse the issue but...

I have noticed that upon loading a new iOS the GPS functions work perfectly, but then as the weeks roll by the GPS gets more and more unpredictable until it becomes unusable.

Yeah, sounds nuts, but since I upgraded to 11.3 the GPS function is crisp, accurate, and immediate on both my phones, (just like it was when I first loaded 11.2.x).

Over the next several weeks the GPS function will deteriorate until is it unusable. Doing a complete phone reset does nothing to improve it either!

As for car interference...

My wife's iPhone 6 works perfectly in our car at any speed, (while my X only works if the car is between 0 and about 20 MPH).

✅ Thanks to all who add GPS issue comments to this thread. ✅

Every scrap of data helps!

-Ej-

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,773 points

Jan 23, 2018 4:10 PM in response to Sparks90

Do you keep WiFi and Bluetooth ON all the time?

Feb 20, 2018 6:39 AM in response to jkowerski

Update your phone to iOS 11.2.6 and try the GPS.

Please let us know the results.

Thanks!

Mar 28, 2018 9:00 AM in response to jkowerski

I tested my Iphone with the app TestM... everything was oke accept my GPS 😢

Tried to contact mu supplier but no answer yet.

Would you be so kind to check it with this app also?

sirosc

Level 1

15 points

Jan 6, 2018 12:38 PM in response to jkowerski

I too have been having GPS issues from day one with my iPhone X. I get the same behavior with Waze, Google maps, and apple maps. The app acquires GPS for maybe 5% of the time, the rest of has a general idea of my location but I'm lost as far as the apps are concerned.

I work in technology so I have some sympathy for the challenges in deploying major code releases, but I expect a fix by now for a $1000 device. I also expect official support sites to have some official support.

This level of service is how you lose customers. And believe it or not Apple, you do need us!

Ranji

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2018 9:11 PM in response to jkowerski

I bought mine on Dec 8 and my GPS won’t work. I’ve tried calling Apple and went to Genius Bar and they ensure me nothing is wrong with my hardware, which seems fishy because it shouldn’t be just impacting a small number of phones then? Especially if EVERY mapping app is impacted?

Jan 23, 2018 3:08 PM in response to jkowerski

I thought it was my uber app (I’m a driver). Imagine the frustration when I realize not only is it hard to get my riders from point A to point B but I, myself can’t travel anywhere new without frustration. Apple please fix this.

jkowerski Author

Level 1

41 points

Jan 24, 2018 7:13 PM in response to jkowerski

So following up. Apple is INSISTING there is no problem at all. Like many others. They have sent me a new phone. And it still isn’t working. They say that no one else in this world is having this problem and it’s must be just my phone. It’s one thing to admit there is a probelm and make it right with those of us that want our $1000 phones to work....it’s another thing to just keep telling me I am the only one with this problem when clearly it isn’t just me. I’m pretty much done with Apple at this point.

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iPhone X GPS not working