iPhone XS Max Weak 5GHz WIFI Reception

This is my issue as well. I was out and about yesterday and was mostly connected to 4G instead of LTE, all in areas where I’ve always had a reliable signal. Same with dropping from 5GHz to 2.4GHz on Wi-Fi. I’ve tried a network reset, and that seems to help initially, but not for less than a day. Rinse repeat.

Coasterman25 wrote:

I’ve wrote a on here a couple times about 5ghz not connecting or holding the connection, but I said my AT&T LTE has been great. Well add me to the list of LTE not even connecting with full bars this morning. Went from full LTE bars, tried to open safari webpage and it dropped to 1 bar and would not open page. iPhone XS max

Then that is a carrier issue.

I was thinking the same thing, but then remembered my 8plus would still be on the upgrade program if I switched back, so might as well stick with this because they will fix it.

Also, ever since my call with AppleCare and remove SIM card and putting it back in after testing it in my 8plus, the phone has been pretty solid.

Chrissaid wrote:

Think I’m sticking with my XS. I’m still on the trade in program plan and have payments for my 8plus so why take the xS back? Either way I’m still paying.

I think they’ll make good. They always do, right?

I am doing the same in fact I sent my X back in the update and apple has it now ;-). My Xs in good cell areas actually rocks, my cells have always been weak near my house no mater the iPhone I have -- AT&T but Verizon not good either where I live. I use my wifi to supplement internet use when I am at home and want to use iPhone and can still just cannot use 5mghz outside for now (it works inside but does weaken a bit). All my iPhones have defaulted to 2.4 in my house eventually so the issue for me is not a real problem it happens more readily but the 5ghz was always weak especially out side but a bit worse now.

I agree Apple should be able fix it for us eventually and I can use my new phone and the camera and just use 2.4 where I have to for now at home. ;-)

When I originally posted here, back when there were only 2 or 3 pages of posts I thought I was having an issue with my Max. With the cell connection I did see frequent drops from LTE to 4G to no service. That was the first few days but then att pushed out a couple of carrier updates and haven’t had a problem since. With WiFi I was seeing greater fluctuation in the WiFi icon bars with this phone. I have all our iOS devices set to use only the 5GHz band of our network. I have them named separately on our Apple Time Capsule router. In my area with all the 2.4 networks around interference is high on 2.4 with dramatically reduced download speeds on all devices.

With the Apple router you can use Airport Utility to actually look at a numerical indication of a device’s connection strength. It gives you a one time number. I’ve been using that while placing my active iPhone 7, a second line, and my Max in a couple areas in my apartment that I know have weaker penetration of that 5 band. It’s not scientific proof but the results have been the same for both phones. Because of the weaker areas of 5 band reception I’ve been looking at possibly getting a new router later on. I’ve been looking at the newer mesh versions where I could put one of their satellites in the weak spots. Looking through many reviews and videos I’ve seen many displays of people not getting the download speeds that their isp service is set for over WiFi. Especially if the device has been switched over to the 2.4 network which many of these new routers do automatically as you move into an area where the 5 band starts to falter. So even the routers have to be brought into the determination of whether the phone or any device is performing properly.

So even though a one time number of signal strength on that Airport Utility isn’t scientific proof of anything it;s good enough to make me think there isn’t anything wrong with my Max. Now the charging issue, another story. I have had a couple of instances of that not working the way it should.

George Mcgee wrote:

I am extremely happy with the response I have received and I know Apple is putting forth some great effort here. The concern some people are having relates to the 14 day return window that will be closing soon if they purchased on launch day. If it is a hardware or software issue that would be nice to know so that those decisions whether to return can be made.

I am curious, though, how you know you are not experiencing the WiFi issues for sure? In my case I know because I can directly compare my XS to my X and previous iPhones in the house which get max throughput from my ISP and maintain their WiFi connections. I can also see on my router that my XS is almost always connected to 2.4 GHz, whereas my other devices stay connected to 5 GHz band. And as an example, even when I am connected to 5 GHz I sometimes have weird connection issues such as no throughput

I guess the answer is simple. A problem to me is one which reduces the usability of the phone. If for example, I have difficulty accessing websites, or streaming music, or watching a YouTube video. That's an issue and would be a problem. Since getting my XS Max, I have had no issues whatsoever doing anything with my Max that I did with my X. I stream music fast. I watch a video without interruption. I open a website quickly. Apps update immediately. I'm just not having any issues using the phone. So I haven't performed a speed test because to me they are unreliable and what would the point be if I'm having no issues using the phone. I also have zero Bluetooth connection issues. In fact with my Max, I'm able to go further from my phone with my BT headphones than I could with my X.

I do find it somewhat amusing the comments about not having great range with 5ghz internet. That's actually normal. In a good and relatively close proximity to a 5ghz signal, the phone should do well. As you move further from the router, it would be expected behavior to lose signal. 5ghz is faster in a shorter distance from the router. 2.4ghz is slower, but goes out further. Now, if you want me to point out an issue, my Max does prefer to join my 2.4ghz band at home. Well, so did my X. So long ago, I simply had my phone forget the 2.4ghz band and my phone connects to the 5ghz side immediately and strongly.

rbrylawski wrote:

George Mcgee wrote:

I am extremely happy with the response I have received and I know Apple is putting forth some great effort here. The concern some people are having relates to the 14 day return window that will be closing soon if they purchased on launch day. If it is a hardware or software issue that would be nice to know so that those decisions whether to return can be made.

I am curious, though, how you know you are not experiencing the WiFi issues for sure? In my case I know because I can directly compare my XS to my X and previous iPhones in the house which get max throughput from my ISP and maintain their WiFi connections. I can also see on my router that my XS is almost always connected to 2.4 GHz, whereas my other devices stay connected to 5 GHz band. And as an example, even when I am connected to 5 GHz I sometimes have weird connection issues such as no throughput

I guess the answer is simple. A problem to me is one which reduces the usability of the phone. If for example, I have difficulty accessing websites, or streaming music, or watching a YouTube video. That's an issue and would be a problem. Since getting my XS Max, I have had no issues whatsoever doing anything with my Max that I did with my X. I stream music fast. I watch a video without interruption. I open a website quickly. Apps update immediately. I'm just not having any issues using the phone. So I haven't performed a speed test because to me they are unreliable and what would the point be if I'm having no issues using the phone. I also have zero Bluetooth connection issues. In fact with my Max, I'm able to go further from my phone with my BT headphones than I could with my X.

I do find it somewhat amusing the comments about not having great range with 5ghz internet. That's actually normal. In a good and relatively close proximity to a 5ghz signal, the phone should do well. As you move further from the router, it would be expected behavior to lose signal. 5ghz is faster in a shorter distance from the router. 2.4ghz is slower, but goes out further. Now, if you want me to point out an issue, my Max does prefer to join my 2.4ghz band at home. Well, so did my X. So long ago, I simply had my phone forget the 2.4ghz band and my phone connects to the 5ghz side immediately and strongly.

Well said, like you I am doing the same things I did with my X and with 7plus before. So its totally usable and I get to use the new features as well -- the camera being one of my reasons to use my upgrade program.

Same behaviors with my 2.4 and 5ghz as you describe not much new. Only difference is if I am outside it would do this on X and earlier phones but now 5ghz is almost too weak in same areas of yard (pretty far from my router) outside so I just have to let it use 2.4ghz there and all is well.

Have not had it forget the 2.4 yet since that is so much stronger and it cannot see it outside -- wondering about the aluminum siding on outside doing something based on what someone told me recently. But that would work great inside for sure.

Interesting on bluetooth I never have tested how far I can get from my iPhones but like you see no problems

Don’t use your iPad Pro as a comparison. My 12.9 Pro could pull a WiFi signal out of a rock. It gets great reception on 5Ghz all over my home. I have a 2nd phone, iPhone 7, and it and my new Max perform almost identically to each other on that 5 band. All devices are set to use only that band. The new XS and Max seem to switch more quickly from 5 to 2.4 as the signal degrades. That could be by design or an iOS 12 “feature”. I don’t run into this because my devices have been made to forget my 2.4 band so there’s no switching. But again my 7 and new Max perform identically. Neither loses a connection anywhere in my apartment. But I do have a couple weak areas where download speeds are impacted. If I used my iPad Pro as a comparison then every phone out there from every manufacturer is defective. Oh, my Max is a launch day phone.

Yes. Same as everyone else. Right now, it’s 50/50. 50% software/firmware and 50% hardware. From what I’m hearing, it’s a software problem affecting primarily the XS and Max. Hopefully it’s not hardware, as I’m also hearing. I decided to hang on to my Xs and use my X for the time being. Unfortunately, for now, it’s a waiting game for a “fix” or something we all have to live with until iPhone 11.....

Same problem with my XS. The phone goes through long stretches (5mins+ at a time) where it can't see my 5g network at all while all my other devices (ipad, MacBook, wife's iPhone 8) are still on the 5g network. Eventually will find it again, but then drops it mins later. This is the only device in my entire house having this problem.

jerryknows wrote:

Unfortunately, there’s too much evidence that this is hardware and cannot be fixed with updates or carrier updates. Some say it’s fixable but a lot more “prove” it’s unfixable.

And what are your qualifications to make such a statement? 99.9% of the operation of iPhone is controlled by software. Unless you're an Apple Engineer and you can validate what you're saying, you're just adding to the hysteria here.

There's very little Apple can't solve with software. And this too will be resolved.

Yeah I’ve heard good and bad about 12.0.1. For me, cellular is still the same because there’s no carrier settings update but for wifi, 5ghz is where it should be. 200 feet away from my router scores 250-260 even buried under a few pillows on a bed. Before the update it was 30-35 downloads.

Your phone absolutely supports the Qi Standard for charging. I charge my XS Max on a Qi charger only. iPhone X, XS, XS Max and the upcoming XR all have Qi charging. If yours isn't working with a certified Qi standard charger your phone is defective. My XS Max is also lightning fast. Far faster than my iPhone X was. You should schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius bar.

I definitely agree. I’m in the same boat. I had 4 replaced but no success. As much as I want to own my XS as my daily phone, I just can’t trust it. One minute it’s super fast and signal is great, and another minute, entirely drops out of LTE and WiFi and sometimes both then reconnects. I’m holding strong for tomorrow or Tuesday for iOS 12.1 because there is a carrier setting update tied in with the software firmware. Only because I’ve heard that fixed the issues with LTE and WiFi. Yes, for me, 12.0.1 fixed my WiFi by far. Just holding up until this week when 12.1 rolls out. If not, back to my x for go

I’m using the current developer version on my iPhone X’s max and it looks much better for me for LTE, I have no LTE connection issues anymore but it seems that WI-FI has still issues with the low speed