iPhone Xs wifi slow (half the speed of iPhone8)

I just got the iPhone Xs and noticed the wifi was slow. I checked this versus my iPhone 8 and it's constantly half the speed using various apps like WiFi Sweet Spots or iPerf. It's also noticeable loading content from my local network too. What's going on?


I've tried both 5ghz and 2.4ghz, rebooted router, verified latest router firmware, rebooted phone, reset network settings on the phone, I don't have wifi assist on, disabled bluetooth all without any change. It's always about half the speed of the iPhone8.


The only time it seems close is if I'm literally standing right next to the router. Else if I'm a couple feet away, the Xs drops to half the speed.

iPhone Xs, iOS 12

Posted on Sep 22, 2018 10:09 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 7, 2019 1:00 PM

Is it updated to the latest version of iOS? iOS 12.0.1 fixed this issue...

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


iOS 12.0.1

 

iOS 12.0.1 includes bug fixes and improvements for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

  • Fixes an issue where some iPhone XS devices did not immediately charge when connected to a Lightning cable
  • Resolves an issue that could cause iPhone XS devices to rejoin a Wi-Fi network at 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz 👈🏻
  • Restores the original position of the “.?123" key on the iPad keyboard
  • Fixes an issue where subtitles may not appear in some video apps
  • Addresses an issue where Bluetooth could become unavailable

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222 

62 replies

Sep 25, 2018 9:34 PM in response to alexsantisteban

alexsantisteban wrote:


Nothing works. The only thing that seems to work is to separate the two frequencies, 2.4 GHz and 5GHz and force the iPhone to connect to the 5GHZ band. So far the connection has been steady over 120 mbps all day long.


I have had the two frequencies set separate for long time as I had issues with not sticking to 5 ghz without having separate. As long as I am in house it seems no matter the strength of the signal on the 2.4 and 5 I get the same consistent speeds I have gotten with all my iPhones and iPads and MacBooks based on my ISP plan.


where I start to have issues now with the Xs vs X and older phones is that when I am outside my cell signal is still not very strong in neighborhood but my WIFI always reached me fine in yard around house. -- 2-3 out of 4 WIFI bars but it worked fine up til X. Now my Xs has a flakness with WIFI outside (developed after a couple days was fine for awhile) that results in loosing internet in various apps and my cell is not strong enough to be used WIFI is needed in my yard. I can see the bars flicker from 3 to 1 to zero back to 2 and 3and when I do speed tests outside the WIFI even when showing 3 bars like inside fails to find/connect to server to do test most of time and when I does the speeds are dismal so my phone is having problems in connecting through house outside but no problem even in distant rooms as long as inside.

Sep 29, 2018 2:37 PM in response to eyepwn

same issue. tried my 6s and my wife 6s. both have consistent speeds throughout the house. if I walk 3 feet away from my router, speeds cut in half. LTE also *****.


if I don't hear anything from Apple in 1 week, returning this phone. switched from android last year. came to apple to get away from the problems with Android OEMs. I did not pay good money for this to be happening.

Oct 2, 2018 7:50 PM in response to eyepwn

Apple does not know what to do. Working with apple senior support and engineering and 5 times they have asked for logs and information. Now was told to go 24hrs off wifi completely. Regardless that is not the full issue. I am not their tester as I paid in full for this product. So far undecided if I am going to return the phone and walk away as support cannot even keep their story straight.

Oct 12, 2018 8:20 PM in response to eyepwn

Don't know if this will work for everyone else, but I had the same issue since purchasing the XS; Just performed the iOS 12.0.1 update and that seems to have at least fixed the wifi issue. Don't get me started on the "restoring from a backup" problems. I have no doubt that the crawling wifi speeds I've had since day one are the culprit.


[Edited by Host]

Oct 24, 2018 1:37 PM in response to NickMadsen

Same here. My WiFi speed seems to cap at 5mb/s, my SO also have a XS Max but haven’t updated it to 12.0.1 and that phone is doing 144mb/s at the moment. Usually when this happens I can just normally restart the iPhone normally and it works for a couple of days, but today it’s just gone downhill. I’ve restarted it like three or four times and it’s still stuck on slow speeds. I didn’t notice this issue before 12.0.1, maybe it was there but it wasn’t noticeable as I have a fast connection to start with 🏻♂

Dec 4, 2018 1:17 AM in response to matthewrajch

I tried the same thing.. it’s actually improves a bit but not much.. I have 600 Mbps speed.. my XS was giving only 40 to 80mbps max.. after factory reset now it gives around 120Mbps..but still every time I open certain apps it’s keep on loading .. for example when I open LinkedIn it’s take almost a minute or more to refresh.. really frustrating.. does not have any loading issue when connected to LTE.. 120 Mbps is still fast.. eventhough I dont get my full speed wifi on my XS..but it’s acts like 1.2Mbps.. sometimes feels like smashing the phone.. my 8 plus has no issue eventhough I had only 150Mbps speed that time..earlier I thought its the issue with the app developer .. but when same thing start happening on so many other apps.. only on wifi.. ? Only on XS?

Dec 12, 2018 12:27 PM in response to Alile1515

Brand new XS. I don't have this issue on my 6S that I still have.


Here's the issue. Wifi loading facebook or instagram videos (these are good sites to test on wifi) After a while, after a reboot, things are fast fast loading. After a few min and the rest of the day, if in WIFI in the XS facebook videos and instangram pages with lots of images and videos, LOAD SLOW, If I turn wifi off and use the network, it's INSTANT LOADING!


ANd ideas? Again, the iphone 6s is super fast on wifi, but the XS is not. Now, running a speed test in the xs shows same great speeds as the 6s does. BUt something is up with these phones as the wifi loading pages with images gets slower on wifi. Hope someone else can chime in....

Dec 12, 2018 12:40 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

The iphone 6s doesn't do it that on wifi. I've tested this over and over. It's not the router..... It's the XS that works fast after a reboot, but after a few min loads sites with pics and vids super slow.... Doing a search online has this effecting others as well.


It's hard to notice on normal sites, But try facebook app and go into someones's photos or instagtram pages with videos,. the videos will play, but at reduced resolution, not super clear.. Then turn off wifi and videos get clearer. You may not notice this unless you use your phone A LOT.

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iPhone Xs wifi slow (half the speed of iPhone8)

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