iPhone XS Max Weak 5GHz WIFI Reception

Well, I got an XR today in the Toronto area from the Square One Apple Store. It came with 12.0 on it. Couldn’t even use my iPhone 7 backup to set it up because my 7 is at 12.0.1. Had to get the XR up to 12.0.1 first and then use my iPhone 7 backup to restore it from backup.

i bought and returned 3 XS and XS max’s over the last few weeks all due to poor 5K WiFi performance in weaker signal areas of my house. Got the XR to see if it is any better.

Initial 5K testing seems to show it is a bit better than XS and XS Max but still not up to the performance of my iPhone 7 in weak signal areas of the house. I really expected it to match or exceed my 7. I’ll keep it until 12.1 and re-evaluate.

I would hold on. So many, myself included, are having no problem that I believe the variability lies in the specific local cell network and router/WiFi network. Many have also reported that they’re experiencing the same thing on the new XR so a hardware issue is highly unlikely. Software probably plays a huge part in this. I know I wouldn’t give up my Max for any reason unless it wasn’t functional at all. But with my specific router and my cell network location I’ve not run into any problems. So far on most public WiFi networks I’ve had no problems. But the majority of them will be 2.4 networks with greater reach. If your issues are preventing you from using the device then you should dump it, however we should just be around the corner from iOS 12.1 so I would wait at least until then. But I do understand, if I couldn’t use my phone in and around my own house and if I weren’t heavily invested in Apple products I’d probably be looking at the Samsung store.

I’m doubtful about 12.1. Yes, WiFi was fixed (for me) but still lags a lot. Range improved with 12.0.1 but still lags. LTE, is way up in the air because this connection issue is both carrier and software/hardware related. WiFi was improved, after everyone swore it wasn’t fixable. I feel after 12.1, things will get more confusing because it will now support dual sim and carriers are waiting and ready for this huge change in cellular service. Will this fix??? Probably not. Will this issue remain forever?? I don’t think so.

I just went back to the 8 series. Everything is working as it should be and as I would expect. I’ll wait to see if they sort their stuff out. Once I don’t see any reports of issues from folks, then I’ll invest my dollars in a new device.

I could’ve sworn there was another name Liz... I remember reading about your 3rd replacement or so and lucked out with several replacements. Going back to an older phone is basically what most are doing. I just finished a test with iPhone 7,8,and XS. From app launching to web surfing..... actually the XS won by a second or so.... all running 12.0.1. I did a speed test from 500 feet away from my 5ghz router and the XS stayed connected and everything else dropped. Very strange.

That was me. I started having playback issues etc. with the second Xs and returned it. I thought I was out of the woods 😒 Decided to back up and punt and picked up an 8 plus (I had handed off my X already). Eh. Given the issues, my experience is better with this phone so I’ll hang here for now and track the threads.

Oh ok. Um. If you don’t mind me asking what do you mean by “playback issues”? Are you talking about streaming videos YouTube, Netflix etc...? If so, that’s not the phone. That’s your carrier throttling down your cellular d

Not those kind of issues. Same issues as first device that Apple gathered logs for. No throttle issues. I have 22gb per line, new fiber to the transfer box, new fiber to my house, fiber in my house. Transfer box sits at my driveway. And my wifi is tera unlimited. No glitches with any other device in my household from my son's Samsung, husband's X, the Note 9 I'm trying out for kicks or my 8 plus (which is running on said phone line).

Hmm. Ok. I didn’t know what you meant by playback issues. I’m giving mine one more try Tuesday when 12.1 releases. Also seeing similar lags on my x which I never had any issues with before. I’m 95% sure it’s software rel

Yeah, no difference whatsoever with 12.1 on my Xs. Extremely disappointed. Love my Xs but cannot accept that it doesn’t even connect to wifi when my daugther’s ancient 5s has a rock solid connection.

I didn’t have as much major issues with WIFI some saw.My other iPhones always dropped to the 2.4 ghz on my AirPort Extreme after I got to far away or left and came back. None would go to my 5 ghz until I reselected it. So not a big change in that regard with my Xs. I will wait to return home and see if my Xs grabs the 5ghz or like previous iPhones requires me to select it.

I have weak AT&T in neighborhood. Verizon same just no close towers. Tended to be mostly 1bar sometimes 2 on all phones not any changes much on Xs with 12.0 or 12.01.

With 12.1 I got two cell bars consistently just now and with too many walls 1 bar. But for first time in house I got 3 bars a noticeable change i ran tests and am getting 22-25 mb down now with cell at house and 5-7 up.

So in conclusion 12.1 is major improvement over 12.0 and 12.01 for weak cell signals which i had hoped for with upgrading to the Xs. I am getting as I had hoped (finally) improvements over earlier phones and even my Xs on pre 12.1 iOS

Got a new unit today, went from 256 max gold to 64 max silver. 5Ghz is working now strange...

Also I was messing with the settings under Privacy -> Location services -> System services -> wifi networking and bluetooth. When I have that setting off my speed test crawls. When turned on I get over 100+ mbps d/l.

I found also that after wifi use it sometimes does not reconnect properly to 4g. Phone indicates the connection is there, but no data traffic is possible. And only full restart works to fox this :(

Really bad. Never had these issues with any iPhone before. Kinda regret I did not wait longer to replace my sloppy working 5s.

Hope Apple soon offers a solution. With these prices.....

Yup. Same. I was crossing my fingers the entire update time. Gave it a good hour. LTE same. Couldn’t even use maps for gps. 1 bar. Couldn’t load. Pulled over, popped SIM card in my x and boom. 4 bars full LTE. Goodbye XS. Soooo done.

Has everyone with issues opened a case?:

"For those of you having connection issues, I highly, highly recommend doing what xxxxx suggests: call 800-MY-IPHONE, and open up a case. I just did, and it took about ten minutes.

After speaking to the initial support person, he routed me to the Senior Engineering team, who have a team of folks looking at this particular issue. I was asked to install two loggers on my phone (which took about a minute in total to do) and I've been asked to take three Speedtest screenshots tomorrow, along with one of my results page. Apple will be collecting data in the background in the meantime.