iPhone XS Max Weak 5GHz WIFI Reception

This is very disappointing to see that all of us have the exact same problem. My xs max has week wireless and cellular performance.I have to disconnect and connect to wifi to fix this all the time. Apple has been known for exceptional quality, but it looks like it is changing now. iPhones do not fit for purposes since they cannot even do their main function-call with good reception and be connected to the internet without problems.Extremely disappointed to pay $2400 for the phone and has to deal with that....

Looks like this is starting to hit the news. Hope this can be fixed via software.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/24/17895772/apple-iphone-xs-max-wifi-bad-signal

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-xs-max-mostly-fail-to.html

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/iphone-xs-iphone-xs-max-162913036.html

Same here with my 256 GB XS Max.

I have full bars on WiFi , but the speed is considerably less when compared to my iPad Pro.

Same exact location, same network (Apple AirPort Extreme). Multiple tests.

My XFinity connection is 125DN / 12UP BTW.

Mind boggling.See below:

First pic is iPad Pro.

Second shot is iPhone XS Max

I thought it was just me until I searched and found this thread. I upgraded to the XS Max and since getting it I mostly get 4g and much slower wifi speeds. I still have my X so I did a comparison both with just wifi enabled and the XS Max is much slower and I ran the tests several times.

I was suspicious of this on my new Max. Then I saw an article that linked to this thread. Checking my Max in one part of my apartment where the WiFi signal strength drops, 5GHz, my iPhone 7 remains strong with no fluctuations. On the Max my download speeds are not impacted and nothing drops out but the connection is weaker. Purely subjectively but cell connection seems weaker out and about in areas where my other phones have been fairly strong. I just hope this is not a hardware issue.

Same issue with slow LTE and WiFi. All my other iOS devices get great WiFi speed at home. XS Max drops to 2G with access point 5 feet away. Running UniFi nanoHD APs in house. Hopefully this gets fixed soon.

I upgraded from an iPhone 7+ to an iPhone Xs on Friday (launch day) and my Wi-Fi coverage is absolute garbage.

The old iphone 7+ running iOS 12 has no issue with Wi-Fi coverage and even on 5 GHz AC it has no issues with range. Speeds are up to par as well.

My new iPhone Xs drops Wi-Fi completely if I move from the room with the router to two rooms over. Even in the next room over its struggling for a connection.

As a background, I live in a two bedroom apartment and the WiFi modem is set to a/n/ac mixed mode for 5 GHz, with an 80 MHz channel. The SSID for my 5 GHz is different than for my 2.4 GHz network, which has 20/40 MHz channels and g/n mixed mode activated.

The new iPhone Xs also has issues with cellular connectivity but that’s a different can of worms...

Like many here I am seeing similar problems, but like those resetting network my phone which I received on 21st was initially good for a couple days but now has gotten worse. Cell data access on LTE seems good where the AT&T signal is 3 or above, but at my house which is 1-2 bars often just one the phone seems to have issues with connecting randomly (words sometimes I various software, other times I get errors)

If I am in house WiFi seems mostly ok, I have 5ghz and 2.4ghz named separately and I can connect to either, and when near my Airport express I get the same speeds my cable modem has allowed with X and older phones, but when I move away with more walls or especially go outside I seem to get randomly weak to medium WifI and with poor cell in my area my phone really now starts to have issues when sitting outside -- before Wifi could reach my iPhones fine. And with the weak AT&T signal of 1 maybe two bars I cannot seem to work well outside on cell either.

My X was much better in this regard but cell signal was still just 1-2 bars but the WiFI reached better outside (2-3 bars like I see on my Xs but they worked fine with out the Wifi signal strength varying to the point of loosing connection like my Xs does outside.

Russ

I did my best to replicate using as many common variables as I could between an X and XS Max, no issue here. The Max actually had higher average speeds over 15s runs in every spot around my home and outside. I then did a test clearing Safari and loading several different web pages, the Max was fully loading pages faster in most cases. The latter test was less objective as I tried my best to click at the same time, they both loaded so fast the difference was negligible in practical use. Lastly, I walked around with both phones watching the WiFi spikes and dips, both maintained 5AC at relatively the same rate, with the edge again to the Max for average sustained speeds on a 60s roam gradually getting further away from my Asus AC86U.

What is causing this in those who are experiencing it? Are there different modems in our Max's?

Same problem with XS Max AT&T. Losing LTE where I had it with my X. I had tried a Note 9 before the iPhone release and was surprised to get reception where I had not with the X -- something I had put down to an AT&T weak signal. When I got the XS Max I thought the ”improved” modem would make a difference but, as I said, it is worse than the X. No signal where I had it with the Note and dropping signal where the X would hold it. There definitely is a proble and looking forward to Apple acknowledging/addressing it.

It is super frustrating because these XS and XS Max phones are so nice in very other respect. I really wanted to switch.

I guess we'll do a return and then wait until Apple releases a hardware revision. I'm honestly just sad.

iPhone XS Antennagate Can’t Be Fixed with Software, Expert Says

jerryknows wrote:

Yeah I’m seeing way too many complaints on the XS and Max... I’m on my XS since last Friday and cellular is not the same as any other iPhone. Performance is spot on, wifi is perfect. I’m one bar less wherever I go but no lagging. It doesn’t connect to my verizon network extender for more than a few minutes, LTE to 3G 4 bars to 1.... even complete drops (no service) in a good signal ar

For me in strong cell areas — much of town but just not my house— I am getting better speeds with AT& T on my Xs. Inside house I would agree my Wifi I use to make up for poor cell (and that I use for MacBooks, iPads,Apple TV) is as good as before. But for some reason outside the weaker WiFI is now over half the time too weak to use if I am at the weakest outside area— closer to room outside it is good. And my already weak cell strength is a bit worse also especially when I am using for data intensive up/downloads my apps fail (when not using wifi outside) with loosing network, it used to be they were weak but worked. I had hoped the new antenna setup would work to enhance weak cell areas. It does not appear to be doing that and maybe is a bit weaker (cannot quantify it however just subjective experience). Perhaps an update to software will make these new antennas work better with my weak AT&T cell signals at my house. But elsewhere in town my Xs is better so this is minor just an adjustment for now in how I need to use the Xs at home outside with the weaker WiFI behavior....

Updated:

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/antennagate-2018-youre-getting-my.html

"You're getting my findings wrong"

excerpt:

Unfortunately -- though I do not think nefariously -- some forum posters and media outlets have run with my findings, questions, and explanations/solutions to form distorted or at least simplified conclusions that say something to the effect of the new 4x4 MIMO antenna array is to blame, the Intel baseband modem is not to blame, the Intel baseband is indirectly responsible due to design compromises that would not have been made for a Qualcomm baseband, etc.

My husband and I both got Xs last night. I live in LA where there is generally great reception for my carrier. He does not have a problem today, but I do. I barely get 2 bars traveling around or drops coverage altogether. My 8 has full bars, my husband has full bars (on the same carrier), but the Xs does not.

I called Apple Care and they want me to send in my phone and told me if they didn't find anything wrong with it, they'd send it back to me. The guy was dismissive and didn't believe me that it was the phone that has an issue. Check out any one of these 200+ responses and see that it's not isolated.

GIS_Kid wrote:

This strengthens my assertion that iOS 12 has nothing to do with the issue... it's hardware.

Yes I agree. For me issue is minor as I mostly use Xs inside house and my Wifi is good there as you can see. But I had to test the iPad outside when Neurobit found iPad and Xs were same on iOS12. I suspect the tests were inside without the issues I am thinking have to do with the new antennas on the Xs series and my house specifically and others probably have issues in different areas of their homes that are doing same thing as my outside wall/siding seems to be causing. My understanding is the new 4by antennas (for cell and Wifi) probably are sensitive to issues like I have outside and others have various homes with walls and such that have things blocking the Wifi like I find outside but I am only guessing. Hopefully software update will help the Wifi (and other antennas) work with these variables in peoples homes and work.