sp_2000 Author

Level 1

22 points

iPhone Xs/Max screen stutter/lag (4k/HDR/camera)

This topic has been mentioned on other forums on the net, but I will formally address it here on the Apple forums, as after chatting with an Apple rep, they advised they have not heard of any issues of the sort on Apple forums.

The issue (My model, iPhone Xs Max, 256GB Space grey, iOS 12.0.1):

When playing 4k/HDR/24fps content (tested on Netflix) with auto-brightness on, I experience stuttering or frame rate drops in certain scenes where it looks as if auto-brightness is adjusting parts of the screen to accommodate the HDR feature. It is more apparent in scenes where there are changes in brightness or effects. I have noticed this issue in HDR content in Youtube as well. Others have mentioned they have seen it in iTunes media also.

Also, when recording video in 4k/24fps (with auto-brightness on), I experience the same stuttering when panning the screen side-to-side. I am not talking about the regular OIS (stabilization), this is more of a screen stutter.

Once auto-brightness is off, the issue is gone. I have tested other Xs/Max models in store and they exhibit the same issues. Which leads me to believe this is a widespread issue. Some have claimed that they don't experience this issue, but it is very subtle at times and could be overseen.

Others have mentioned screen/animation stuttering while scrolling as well which I have noticed (with and without auto-brightness), I believe that could be improved as well.

These are the steps I have taken so far:

1. Restarted my phone -> No improvement.

2. Restore my phone to factory and set up as New -> No improvement.

3. Turned off motion/animations, true tone, background activity, location services, notifications. -> No improvement.

4. Tested other Xs (64GB, gold, iOS 12) and Xs Max (64GB, gold, iOS 12) models in store -> No improvement.

5. Tested on an iPhone 8 Plus (64GB, silver, iOS 11) no issues whatsoever, performs much better and smoother than the Xs models.

I am not certain if this is a software or hardware issue.

Hopefully Apple can acknowledge this issue and rectify it.

[Edited by Host]

iPhone XS Max, iOS 12.0.1, null

Posted on Oct 25, 2018 9:27 AM

Top-ranking reply

S-Tech

Level 1

28 points

Posted on Apr 7, 2019 1:15 PM

Apple eventually called me back. They told me the issue was known, reproducible and will be fixed in one of the upcoming iOS 12 bug fix versions.

For me it definitely helps when I disable auto brightness. Video playback is smooth when it is turned off. This has also been confirmed by the Apple agent who called me back.

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32 replies

Nov 12, 2018 10:46 PM in response to sp_2000

I have been dealing with this exact same issue and it’s maddening.

I also have noticed if you’re in pretty much any app, easy to test in settings, and you don’t touch the screen for 10 seconds or so when you try and go back a page or close the app it the animation shows some stutter or frame drops.

My iPhone 7 Plus ran iOS better than this brand new iPhone XS (5.8).

Dec 28, 2018 9:39 AM in response to sp_2000

I am having the same issues, the frames are dropping while watching content, and especially in the camera app I just got the xs max and I’m already expirencing this not tooo happy switching from 8 plus to get this experience.

Dec 29, 2018 3:40 PM in response to sp_2000

I’ve experienced the same studdering/lagging issue when playing back 4K HDR content from iTunes/TV (app). It looks just like when you use an underpowered laptop to attempt to play 4K content.

Really disatisfying.

Jan 22, 2019 10:23 AM in response to sp_2000

Very well explained. I’m having the same exact issue on my IPhone XS Max Gold 256GB even when I watching normal SD videos on Netflix/YouTube you name it. No fix updates for this from Apple either and I’m from Malaysia and we don’t have a official Apple support here. Wish Apple will address this problem on their coming updates.

Lin1518

Level 1

10 points

Feb 14, 2019 5:49 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

My Iphone XS max has serious video playback issue. My MP4 files have poor framerates.

I am using the default video player in phone. My videos are offline. They worked fine in my previous 7 plus and Iphone X.

Am disappointed with the quality. Contacted apple support, went round and round and round, transfering calls here and there.

sent them a few of my videos recording of my phone with poor framerate. Kept telling me to restore my phone. Seriously, can anyone share whether restoring phones works? I turned off auto brightness etc. Issue still persist. Apple support didn't even reply me for 3 weeks despite saying they will inform their engineers.

also they claimed that this framerate issue is unheard of. Sure?

my mp4s are offline, some are 1080p hd. Stuttering playback, jerky videos at random, very poor framerate.

regretted selling my iphone x to buy a max

Lin1518

Level 1

10 points

Mar 3, 2019 10:33 PM in response to Jdbeduhn

Yes. My calls were either directly to Australia or a brand new representative will handle my case. A lot of precious time wasted until I gave up.

kept asking for more videos although I have sent them.

kept saying there is no issue with the phone, just software issue. Do a reset with itunes. Guess the protocol is to keep asking ppl to reset although personally, i feel that it may not be a software issue.

Anyway, have given up, a phone which cost singapore dollars $2000 plus can't play a normal mp4 file offline without serious framerate issue.

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,827 points

May 15, 2019 6:26 AM in response to S-Tech

Never saw any stutter or lag whatsoever on my XS Max before (or for that matter my OLED TV with all motion compensation and smoothing turned completely off), still don't now.

Glad it's fixed for those sensitive to it.

May 27, 2019 4:29 PM in response to sp_2000

My iPhone XS 256G Every time I attempt to watch something in 4K HDR from my iTunes movies I’ve purchased it will play for about a minute or two sometimes less and it just stops playing. I have to hold the fast forward or rewind to get it to play for another additional minute or two before I have to do the process all over again. Any suggestions? Besides a restart I’ve tried all the basics with no success

arjun_a

Level 1

14 points

Nov 6, 2018 1:30 AM in response to sp_2000

Did anyone hear from apple on this? Any updates? Stuck in a limbo here 😟

Dec 29, 2018 3:40 PM in response to ManoahBruner

forgot to mention, XS Max here as well.

Apr 7, 2019 12:44 PM in response to sp_2000

I’m still getting this lag. Had this phone for a week and 6 months after this phones been out it’s been awful the fact that this is still happening

Apr 7, 2019 12:45 PM in response to victoriafrombeds

If anyone has anything to suggest that would be appreciated. I have a iPhone XS Max. Had it for a week and it’s been nothing but stress

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,827 points

Apr 7, 2019 12:55 PM in response to victoriafrombeds

I've tried and tried again and again, I still can't see this - no lag, no stutter even on the posted videos.

I still wonder if it's something you're either sensitive to or not, like DLP rainbows.

eliotkh

Level 1

4 points

Apr 18, 2019 9:51 AM in response to S-Tech

I am really hoping they fix this. It's been nothing but stress with these animation lags ! (My old iPhone 6 had zero lag)

S-Tech

Level 1

28 points

Feb 15, 2019 3:23 PM in response to Lin1518

I have the same issue on the XS max. For me it only happens with HDR content and when the auto brightness is turned on.

An interesting finding I have made: even if auto brightness is turned off, the phone still does adjust the brightness automatically during playback of HDR content and dependent on the surrounding light. Try the following:

turn auto brightness off
go to a dark room
lower brightness manually close to minimum
start playback of a Dolby Vision show on Netflix (I tried lost in space episode 1)
during playback, turn on the lights in the room
you will realize that the display brightness increases instantly
turn the lights off
display brightness goes down instantly

So my guess is that turning auto brightness on might cause the two independent auto brightness controls to interfere and thus to cause issues. Just a guess, but there seems to be a dedicated HDR-driven automatic brightness control that you cannot actually disable.

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iPhone Xs/Max screen stutter/lag (4k/HDR/camera)