iPhone XS Max Weak 5GHz WIFI Reception

I'm doubtful the 5Ghz ac Wi-Fi can be resolved with software updates.

Resetting network settings didn't help. Complete phone reset didn't help either.

Here's why: https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/antennagate-reduxs-if-so-what-can-apple.htm l

Weak antenna gain issue

That looks like a hardware fix is needed to me. Waiting past the return period for a potential fix scares me, in particular given the price of these new XS Max iPhones. I'm not sure I'm willing to gamble that much money that a real fix is coming.

Bottom line is my iPhone 8 Plus can get a 5Ghz ac signal all over my house while the XS Max can't. I really wanted my household to completely switch to XS Max, but this situation is pretty discouraging.

I have the same problem with my new IPhone Max. Wifi reception is poor than my other phone which is IPhone 8. This is ridiculous.

I hope they can fix this ASAP.

If u reset the router and start it again, i think it helps a little bit. At least it worked for me.

Add mine and my wife’s iPhone XS Max’sto the list. It will not stay connected to 5ghz Wi-Fi even though I am sitting right next to the router. iPhone X did not have this problem, nor does either of my iPads. I’m on AT&T and have the 64 gb versions

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.

Same issue here... I have absolutely abysmal WiFi speeds (2.2 mbps) in my office on my iPhone Xs Max yet my iPhone 7 is much faster (15 mbps). I'm from Canada, so I paid close to $2k for a phone that's 50% or more slower than a two year old iPhone. Luckily, I have 14 days for a return... which is exactly what I think I'll do. I don't think a software update can fix this hardware issue. This will be the first iPhone that I've ever returned... very upset about this issue.

My wi-if is ok it’s my cell signal I have 1 bar and keep dropping calls and anyone I speak with says excuse me I hear every other word. Going to give it a few days see what happens if not my husband and I will be returning ours. Thankfully I have a land line home because making calls would be a nightmare from my house.

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

Same issue here with XS Max. The wifi is incredibly slow compared to any and all other devices i can test on my network, and when compared to my old iPhone X. And for some reason the phone wifi signal plummets if i'm like 15 feet or more away from the router. i never had these issues with my X, which is concerning. I'm on Verizon, and carrier signal has been consistent with my old phone, but the wifi is atrocious.

I agree... I'm honestly 'just sad' as well... I loved my iPhone X and the only reason I upgraded was for the 'max' size. After having the Xs Max, I don't want to go back to the smaller phone, but it appears that I'll have to... at least until there is some sort of fix for the issue. Very disappointed.

That’s exactly why I got the XS Max, too. I’ve got a logging profile installed on mine, to help out the Apple tech, but he asked to capture a screen recording of the issue, too... Which can be difficult to do when trying to duplicate an issue that’s not consistent.

Again, from what I’m seeing (at least regarding Wi-Fi) is that my iPhone fails over from my xfinity router’s 5GHz to 2.4GHz connection. My SSID is the same for both networks. I’ll be out and about all day today so I’ll have plenty of opportunity to test my AT&T LTE connection. I know the logging profile captures a LOT of info. At least they’re eager to fix this. I didn’t get the impression that he’s trying to prove me wrong, you know? And although a lot of people were able to test iOS 12, how much “real world” type testing was done on the XS & XS Max?

For me though, it's not that it's falling over to the 2.4 band... when I'm on the 5 ghz band, my wifi is amazing when I'm beside my router or any other router... it's as soon as I get away from the router that the 5 ghz band just drops completely to the point where a speed test fails on upload. My iPhone X and iPhone 7 are both still getting great speeds with no drop off... the radios on the new iPhones are brutal... and that actually makes me angry when I blew a couple of grand on an upgrade.

What I am seeing is that in high strength cell areas my Xs screams. But at my house no good AT&T towers near so my cell signal is marginal (I am still on old unlimited which is still cheaper than “new” unlimited plans FYI). So with all my iPhones I have relied on WiFi to deal with the weak cell in my neighborhood.

What I have always seen with most of my phones is that they all want to drop to my 2.4 band when I move far enough from the Airport extreme i still use. If I come back to my house in front yard the phone grabs this band first and I cannot see the 5ghz til I am in the house. So I have always noticed a problem outside when I am using data intensive apps to upload data with my iPhones and normally I either kill the wifi and my 1-2 cell bars of LTE will let me work, or I will turn wifi on and off and get it working outside.

I never really tested signal strength much with my earlier iphones thru the X. Upload speeds yes and I am getting same with my 2.4 and 5 on my Xs as I did with X and earlier.

But now playing with things for past 24 hours as I have observed issues with my WIFI and cell— especially outside and weak cell of one-two bars I get with all iPhones—- are two fold:

1) When my Wifi (both 2.4 and 5) get weak outside with most of house in way just turning WiFi off and doing the data intensive app upload with the weak cell is failing a lot compared with my X and older iPhones. Again this issue I have had with all phones somewhat (a bit worse yes with Xx), For now, until AT&T forces me off the old unlimited plan by continual price upgrades I will stay with them.

I have thought about another carrier with more towers (verizon for example). But my kids who are on Verizon do not get much better cell either and I am only half mile form towers and interstate so something is not good about my location no matter the iphone or carriers. In most areas the Xs is fine and i know the weak areas in town anyway and deal with them as I need to. So again not much of a change is needed with the Xs for me personally.

2) My WiFi is now part of the time— radomly I can sometimes get as good results (depending on how close to room with WiFi and just randomness as well) other times the weaker area where I sit in front yard with my chair i cannot get Wifi to work either in 2.4 or 5ghz bands. It shows one or sometimes 2 with 5 and up to 3 with 2.4 but my apps and speed test apps will fail saying internet gone/sever cannot be gone. So there is a subtle drop in how weak cell and WiFi work in my yard compared to earlier iPhones. this is a minor issue as I can just go in house and then WiFi works.

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

I was able to capture a log file and get a couple screenshots (note to self: happened at 11:15amCST) for the tech. I should be able to upload it all to them this evening. Fingers crossed whatever info is there can help them. If I knew what keyword to filter in console, I could get that to them too, maybe.

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....