iPhone XS Max Weak 5GHz WIFI Reception

My wife and I upgraded from iPhone 6s. We now have an XS and an XS Max, and we both have the same problems. At home we can use WIFI calling much like the previous phones. But connections get flaky more quickly, now. The LTE signal is catastrophic. We get 1 or 2 bars (better connection), but no internet capability. So is it over-stating the # of bars on our phones again?

It does remind me a lot of the iPhone 4 problems I had sitting in this exact same spot, having LTE troubles. And it reminds me of the over-stated # of bars problem.

These are expensive phones. Is someone's PCB layer out of spec in manufacturing?

Maybe it's a software problem, choosing the wrong bands because a subroutine sets the 2.4GHz strength value in the 5GHz strength value spot, then picks the wrong one. It could be a lot of things. Apple, please get on this quickly.

For every one of you having this issue saying "Apple, please get on this quickly" won't get your message where you hope. This is really a user to user forum.

The absolute best way and every one of you experiencing this should provide feedback via this link: Feedback - iPhone - Apple

I'm quite sure Apple is well aware of this (it has been reported in news articles) and I'm also equally sure their top engineers are working on this furiously. But solutions take take time and will need to be rolled out in a software update, which will need to be tested significantly to ensure the fix doesn't cause more things to go wrong.

Also the problem is that the phone is downgrading from 5 to 2GHZ which is not hardware but a bug which is fixable by software bug fixes. Hardware problems are a lot more severe than reception bugs l like the iPhone 8 logic board defect.

Don’t forget, you have a limited time to return your device, but you have forever to purchase it again, when this is worked out! And judging from the number of people returning and exchanging, there will be oodles sold at reduced refurb prices!

If they have called you or sent you an email then you have a way to contact them. The most helpful thing they are doing is having people install logging profiles on the devices and then after a time submitting the logs to them. I’ve had phone calls and emails from two different senior advisors and was told they were attempting to reach out to everyone posting here and have those with significant issues to install the profiles. I have the phone numbers and email addresses of both people. I don’t think at this time taking the phones into the store would be that helpful unless they’re completely non functional and then they would give you a replacement.

Even though it seems as if my WiFi reception is weaker compared to an iPhone 7 that I currently use, with a second line, I don’t lose that connection nor my cell connection. So they thought a logging profile on my phone wouldn’t be that helpful.

Out of curiosity, how are you quantifying "WiFi issues?"

For example, on my XS Max, I don't see signal strength issues per se, but I do see speed issues, and that's because there definitely does seem to be an issue where if an AP offers both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz service (in my case an 802.11ac Time Capsule) the device will prefer the 2.4 GHz connection even if the AP it's five feet away from offers nice clean 80 MHz wide 5 GHz channels it could connect to, thus limiting overall speed.

I haven't run into any LTE/cellular issues; I see similar signal strength to my X, and anywhere I have issues with signal I had the same issues with my X.

No, I see the same behavior with LTE on my XS Max as you do - I can now maintain calls in areas where I used to drop calls with my X.

I also don't notice any issues with WiFi speeds in normal usage with my XS Max, just on speed tests, but there seems to be some issue with the YouTube app choosing lower resolution.

This makes me wonder if there is some common API for determining WiFi "speed" that these apps use that may be broken in some way by iOS 12.

As I posted earlier, I'm seeing similarly abysmal WiFi speeds from speed tests running on my 10.5" iPad Pro.

I just upgraded from the x and now have the xsmax. My cell reception and wifi is half what it used to be. I lost cell signal almost my whole drive between Silver Lake CA and West Hollywood. I had to continuously call back the person I was talking to. I used to lose signal for a spell right on Canhuenga BLVD near Franklin, but now it was most of the ride, on the 101, Sunset, etc. Then I parked in the garage and my x used to work down a level OR 2!, now I lose signal as I drive in!!

Same with Wifi. I used to get great reception in my office on wifi, now I don't. Apple, please acknowledge problem and issue fix. I hope its software and not hardware. MAYBE this phone has Intel inside???? It was alt of money and I'd hate to have to return it!!!

Same thing with me. I went back to my X because my 3rd new replacement is on its way. That’s 3 XS’s that fail on cellular. LTE is hit or miss. I highly think it’s software. Antennas are blazing on my own testing and show a wide range of connec

Why would it prefer something over another, it has to be a bug. Clearly the

antenna has the option between the 2 but a system glitch is preventing it,

an update should fix it...

On Thu, Sep 27, 2018 at 10:07 PM Apple Support Communities <

Yes 3..... I suggest you switch back, continue with your current phone, get rid of the xs within the 14 day guarantee then wait until after the holidays for another purchase. Explain to your carrier. The next batch of xs’s may wo

Adding my name to the pile...

Just got my Xs Max yesterday and have been unable to connect to 5gz WiFi since...doesn't even show up in the list. I am using my MacBook Pro right in front of me with no problem as well as the iPhone 8 Plus right next to it as well...both no problem.

I also replicated the "hand behind the phone" drop in speed problem - you can literally watch the bars disappear/appear as you take your hand on/off the back of the phone.

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[Edited by Host]

“I also replicated the "hand behind the phone" drop in speed problem - you can literally watch the bars disappear/appear as you take your hand on/off the back of the phone.“

I can verify that as well which is why I've mentioned a few times that the Max seems to have a weaker connection to WiFi than my 7. However this has not led to any inability to connect or download anything. I don’t believe this is antennagate, I just think you’re adding an additional obstacle that the weaker connection has to deal with. But time will tell.

I’m not able to do that because I use the xfinity Pods as a mesh wireless network at home. You need to have the SSIDs for both the 2.4GHz & 5GHz networks as the same for the pods to work. Not having any issues with an iPhone X, an iPhone 8 Plus, & an iPhone 7 Plus, along with my iPad Pro, all right next to each other. Tested in different spots around the house, and the iPhone XS Max continually fails over from the 5GHz to the 2.4GHz. I can tell because the MAC Address for each network is different.

Yup. Today when I left work my XS max dropped the work guest WiFi as soon as walked out the door while my work 6plus held WiFi for another ten to fifteen feet.

AppleCare called me today and I have a call with them tomorrow to troubleshoot!