Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
An update on my situation:

My issue seems to be related to moving between wifi / cellular and cellular bands ie LTE, 3g etc. I can replicate the issue every time if i'm on wifi and turn on my music and then walk outside until I lose my wifi signal and the phone has to connect to cellular. The music stops and i can't get it to play until I either walk back to wifi OR do an action that resets the signal i.e. toggle airplane, cycle the phone etc.. My wife who has a 10 has LTE service in our yard, i have 3g on the Xs.

I finally called Apple over the weekend to diagnose my issue. I was instructed by a
"Senior" advisor to wipe my phone and set it up as new. Though reluctant to do so i restored as new, lost every app and have been spending the last 3 days downloading apps and signing into them. Painful. Extremely painful. Now then, apple told me they are aware of this issue and point to Verizon. They told me specifically Verizon has a ticket opened up on the Sept 25th around cellular / wifi issues. They also told me to go to Verizon to ensure I had the right carrier package and SIM card. After I restored i turned on music and walked outside and wallah... same issue.

I then marched over to Verizon and told them about my issue. Ironically they never heard of this issue. I told them to google "iphone xs celluar issue" so they did. I also got a new SIM card and they made sure everything was correct on my phone, it was/is. The new store manager called someone and told them about my issue and that apple had told me that it was a known verizon issue. Verizon gave him the run around and told them a. if I continue to have the issue I need to call Verizon and open a ticket and b. told them to notice the referenced google search indicates this issue exists with other carriers so pointed back to Apple.

I asked if I could get a new phone and I was told no because i'm past the 14 day return period. I explained that 14 days isn't enough time to determine a problem is a problem and this clearly is a problem. I was encouraged to open up a ticket with Verizon and call apple back.

I've had an iphone since day one and religiously upgrade a minute into the launch. I do this knowing i'm taking a risk with new hardware /software. This was and is the worst phone I've had to date. I absolutely hate it. Even after restoring to new outside having connection issues I constantly experience apps freezing and I suspect that too is a related issue. I work remotely so my cell phone is my lifeline. I have never EVER considered moving away from apple until the Xs came along however I'm at a complete loss. Any advice appreciated. #iwantmy10back

I have the same LTE/3G issues. I have no data connection even though I show full signal bars after disconnecting from WiFi.

Have you tried talking to Apple about exchanging it since you’re past the 14 day period?
 
An update on my situation:

My issue seems to be related to moving between wifi / cellular and cellular bands ie LTE, 3g etc. I can replicate the issue every time if i'm on wifi and turn on my music and then walk outside until I lose my wifi signal and the phone has to connect to cellular. The music stops and i can't get it to play until I either walk back to wifi OR do an action that resets the signal i.e. toggle airplane, cycle the phone etc.. My wife who has a 10 has LTE service in our yard, i have 3g on the Xs.

I finally called Apple over the weekend to diagnose my issue. I was instructed by a
"Senior" advisor to wipe my phone and set it up as new. Though reluctant to do so i restored as new, lost every app and have been spending the last 3 days downloading apps and signing into them. Painful. Extremely painful. Now then, apple told me they are aware of this issue and point to Verizon. They told me specifically Verizon has a ticket opened up on the Sept 25th around cellular / wifi issues. They also told me to go to Verizon to ensure I had the right carrier package and SIM card. After I restored i turned on music and walked outside and wallah... same issue.

I then marched over to Verizon and told them about my issue. Ironically they never heard of this issue. I told them to google "iphone xs celluar issue" so they did. I also got a new SIM card and they made sure everything was correct on my phone, it was/is. The new store manager called someone and told them about my issue and that apple had told me that it was a known verizon issue. Verizon gave him the run around and told them a. if I continue to have the issue I need to call Verizon and open a ticket and b. told them to notice the referenced google search indicates this issue exists with other carriers so pointed back to Apple.

I asked if I could get a new phone and I was told no because i'm past the 14 day return period. I explained that 14 days isn't enough time to determine a problem is a problem and this clearly is a problem. I was encouraged to open up a ticket with Verizon and call apple back.

I've had an iphone since day one and religiously upgrade a minute into the launch. I do this knowing i'm taking a risk with new hardware /software. This was and is the worst phone I've had to date. I absolutely hate it. Even after restoring to new outside having connection issues I constantly experience apps freezing and I suspect that too is a related issue. I work remotely so my cell phone is my lifeline. I have never EVER considered moving away from apple until the Xs came along however I'm at a complete loss. Any advice appreciated. #iwantmy10back

Same situation, except Apple store manager told me I was the first customer who and mentioned LTE issues. Googled “iPhone XS LTE issues and showed him countless threads on the subject” and be looked at me like I was an idiot. So I got my refund, walked across the parking lot to Verizon store and bought a Samsung Note9. I’ve had just about every iPhone that’s been made, and this will be my last. An end or an error but Apple has lost a customer for life on this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: H818H and mi7chy
Apple continues to release the phones in other countries around the world so I am not sure if Apple is "silent". By continuing to release, they have given you their answer.
 
This was not at a Verizon Wireless store. Just an example of how the signal degrades indoors. For my XS this happens all around town, outside town, at home etc. Both XSs had the same poor reception so this makes the probability that a hardware swap will help less likely.
I did do a test at a Verizon Wireless store and I had 8.14 down and .095 up with rsrp0 -105; after toggling airplane mode it went 33.6 dn 15.8 up and -75 rsrp0. XS did not switch to better signal in store on its own.

Not disputing that you or anyone doesn't have signal loss, degradation, carrier related issues, antenna design related issues, modem firmware problems, etc. with the XS. I've noticed a few quirks with my 8 Plus on Verizon that wasn't noticeable before. Of course, I'm waiting for iOS 12.1 with new carrier updates before I perform a DFU installation and set the device up as new. My reply to yours was in reference to your "inside" and "outside" readings. They're irrelevant when in any cellular provider store, Apple store, or other location that sells these devices because most, if not all, of them have cellular frequency boosters installed. What good is it to sell a new iPhone if the cellular signal inside the store has cellular frequency interference which creates an abysmal testing environment for a potential customer? How many are you going to sell to customers if that was happening?
 



Apple is looking into reports that some customers are experiencing LTE connectivity issues with the newly released iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

According to one iPhone XS Max owner, Apple is conducting an outreach program with some customers who have a new device that is experiencing LTE problems.

iphonexsmaxfront-800x457.jpg

Apple has asked him to install a baseband logger to track his cellular connection, presumably to figure out if there are any serious issues that need to be resolved. We've heard similar reports from MacRumors readers who have been asked to provide device logs to engineers when troubleshooting the issue.


iPhone XS and XS Max owners began complaining about LTE connectivity and signal problems shortly after the two devices launched on September 17. Many users have discovered noticeable differences in cellular reception between iPhone XS models and older iPhones like the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X.

Affected users have noticed fewer bars and poorer signal on iPhone XS and XS Max compared to older devices, but it doesn't appear to be a universal problem. While some people have complained of weak connectivity and slow speeds, others have noticed LTE improvements, which confuses the issue.

Many of the early complaints came from Verizon users, suggesting there are perhaps carrier firmware issues that need to be resolved, but it's unclear if carrier firmware is the full extent of the problem.

In the most recent iOS 12.1 beta, Apple updated the modem firmware in the iPhone to version 1.01.20-1, up from 1.01.12 in iOS 12.1 beta 1. On the Verizon network, the iOS 12.1 update also introduces new 33.5.6 carrier firmware.

iphonexsmaxios21firmware-800x779.jpg

New firmware on left, iOS 12.1 beta 1 firmware on right
Modem firmware updates are a routine part of major .1 iOS releases, so it's not yet clear if the new firmware specifically addresses issues that customers have been experiencing with LTE connectivity.

Early reports on the MacRumors forums have, however, suggested that iOS 12.1 does indeed bring some improvements. MacRumors archer75, for example, says the update has doubled his LTE speeds. Other users, though, have said the update does not address LTE problems.

Regardless of whether a fix has been bundled into the iOS 12.1 update, Apple is taking reports of LTE problems seriously and investigating what might be going on, so should this be a software-related issue, a resolution is likely in the works.

Article Link: Apple Looking Into LTE Connectivity Issues Affecting Some iPhone XS and XS Max Owners
[doublepost=1540408472][/doublepost]Sorry for the blank reply ‍♀️ Got my new phone on September 25th. After hours upon HOURS of calls, chats & visits to my carrier & Apple store, 10/04/18 they replaced my phone. 21 days later....2nd phone.....STILL an issue. At least twice a day I have the error no internet connection message or sending message failure to anyone that doesn’t have an iPhone. Both my carrier and Apple have tried passing the buck back & forth. Back & forth. My iPad has the same setup as my new phone SAME backup and it has ZERO issues. 4 other Apple products in my home: NO ISSUES. I now have to go to another Apple store on Sunday..... FOR A 3rd phone! To say that I’m disappointed is putting it mildly. I have easily spent over 24 hours driving to one store, chatting with a senior advisor, on hold with Apple, on hold with my carrier. This phone sucks....BIG TIME.
 
I believe so. I have no issues with my replacement iPhone Xs Max now. Enjoying it as I should have from day 1.

Were you outside of the 14 day return policy? I got mine launch day and reception hasn’t gotten any better. Did you goto Apple store or your carrier?
 
I don’t think that this can be fixed via software upgrade. I had the problem on two different devices. I finally reverted back to a X that my local Apple store still had in stock last week.

This was an official Apple store? I only ask bc I'm surprised that they actually still sell them. Was it at a discounted price? I'm interested in doing this as the late connectivity issues keep me from jumpin on the Xs. I'd miss the dynamic range of the xs camera though...
 
[doublepost=1540408472][/doublepost]Sorry for the blank reply ‍♀️ Got my new phone on September 25th. After hours upon HOURS of calls, chats & visits to my carrier & Apple store, 10/04/18 they replaced my phone. 21 days later....2nd phone.....STILL an issue. At least twice a day I have the error no internet connection message or sending message failure to anyone that doesn’t have an iPhone. Both my carrier and Apple have tried passing the buck back & forth. Back & forth. My iPad has the same setup as my new phone SAME backup and it has ZERO issues. 4 other Apple products in my home: NO ISSUES. I now have to go to another Apple store on Sunday..... FOR A 3rd phone! To say that I’m disappointed is putting it mildly. I have easily spent over 24 hours driving to one store, chatting with a senior advisor, on hold with Apple, on hold with my carrier. This phone sucks....BIG TIME.
Hate seeing this, I hope they fix this soon. I’ve had a few dropped calls which never seemed to happen before.
 
This was an official Apple store? I only ask bc I'm surprised that they actually still sell them. Was it at a discounted price? I'm interested in doing this as the late connectivity issues keep me from jumpin on the Xs. I'd miss the dynamic range of the xs camera though...

They did at the time. It was $100 off original price. Best Buyhad them too.
 
[doublepost=1540408472][/doublepost]Sorry for the blank reply ‍♀️ Got my new phone on September 25th. After hours upon HOURS of calls, chats & visits to my carrier & Apple store, 10/04/18 they replaced my phone. 21 days later....2nd phone.....STILL an issue. At least twice a day I have the error no internet connection message or sending message failure to anyone that doesn’t have an iPhone. Both my carrier and Apple have tried passing the buck back & forth. Back & forth. My iPad has the same setup as my new phone SAME backup and it has ZERO issues. 4 other Apple products in my home: NO ISSUES. I now have to go to another Apple store on Sunday..... FOR A 3rd phone! To say that I’m disappointed is putting it mildly. I have easily spent over 24 hours driving to one store, chatting with a senior advisor, on hold with Apple, on hold with my carrier. This phone sucks....BIG TIME.

Wow that sucks! For such an expensive device you would think this should not be an issue. You don't happen to have Verizon do you?
 
Is it safe to assume based on Apple's silence that it is a hardware issue?
I think it's safe to assume it's a very limited (relatively) number of phones impacted. If this were a fundamental hardware issue, this wouldn't be such a non story. I don't see any news on it.

Not saying there are zero issues, but if one batch was a problem, that might be 50,000 phones.
 
I'm still not convinced that a small number of phones are involved. I believe that all of the new iphone XS and XS Max phones have the problem and that most folks are not very savvy regarding cellular phones and just assume that they have flaky service if their phone drops more calls than usual or has connection problems. Look at the website that was references early in this thread describing the poor antenna gain characteristics of the iPhone XS. Do you believe that Apple has changed the antenna design to correct for the negative gain characteristics in the phones that folks claim have no issues?

For now, I'm not taking any chances with the new XS phones and am staying with my iPhone X.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ifti and Jmicha3l
I'm still not convinced that a small number of phones are involved. I believe that all of the new iphone XS and XS Max phones have the problem and that most folks are not very savvy regarding cellular phones and just assume that they have flaky service if their phone drops more calls than usual or has connection problems. Look at the website that was references early in this thread describing the poor antenna gain characteristics of the iPhone XS. Do you believe that Apple has changed the antenna design to correct for the negative gain characteristics in the phones that folks claim have no issues?

For now, I'm not taking any chances with the new XS phones and am staying with my iPhone X.

Someone mentioned they swapped it out twice and finally got an xs max working like normal. It makes me wonder why big name youtubers only focused on BeautyGate and chargegate.... while this connection one is the biggest issue. Confidence?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ifti
I just got a iphone xr today replacing iphone xs. Iphone xr has better reception wifi and lte than my iphone xs. Screen is not as good as XS but good enough for me and camera I don't care about the difference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tofupunch
Contacted Apple support today about my LTE/3G issues and they said it looks like a hardware issue, so I will be getting my phone replaced.
 
Contacted Apple support today about my LTE/3G issues and they said it looks like a hardware issue, so I will be getting my phone replaced.

Did they tell you to goto the Apple store or you carrier? I was just chatting with Apple support yesterday and they admitted its a known issue and have their engineers working on a fix. Who knows when that will happen.

I just want to get my phone replaced and hope the replacement has better reception. I'm out of my 14 day window however.
 
I'm still not convinced that a small number of phones are involved. I believe that all of the new iphone XS and XS Max phones have the problem and that most folks are not very savvy regarding cellular phones and just assume that they have flaky service if their phone drops more calls than usual or has connection problems. Look at the website that was references early in this thread describing the poor antenna gain characteristics of the iPhone XS. Do you believe that Apple has changed the antenna design to correct for the negative gain characteristics in the phones that folks claim have no issues?

For now, I'm not taking any chances with the new XS phones and am staying with my iPhone X.
You’re speculating. If the issue were even close to evident, this would not be such a quiet issue. You can’t stop people complaining about connection problems if they are bad. All evidence points to this being limited to certain phones or very specific situations. I know 25 people with the XS and no one has issues. “All phones” having the problem would be a huge story. It’s just not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roncron
You’re speculating. If the issue were even close to evident, this would not be such a quiet issue. You can’t stop people complaining about connection problems if they are bad. All evidence points to this being limited to certain phones or very specific situations. I know 25 people with the XS and no one has issues. “All phones” having the problem would be a huge story. It’s just not.

I have been an Apple fan for years and really want to believe you, but unfortunately there is conflicting evidence.
Did you examine the URL that I provided regarding the XS antenna gain characteristic curves? Did you compare the gain characteristics of the XS to the gain characteristics that are published for the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X? If you examined this information, you would conclude that the iPhone XS exhibits poor antenna performance when compared to the iPhone 8 or the iPhone X.

https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/iphone-xs-and-xs-max-mostly-fail-to.html
 
I'm still not convinced that a small number of phones are involved. I believe that all of the new iphone XS and XS Max phones have the problem and that most folks are not very savvy regarding cellular phones and just assume that they have flaky service if their phone drops more calls than usual or has connection problems. Look at the website that was references early in this thread describing the poor antenna gain characteristics of the iPhone XS. Do you believe that Apple has changed the antenna design to correct for the negative gain characteristics in the phones that folks claim have no issues?

For now, I'm not taking any chances with the new XS phones and am staying with my iPhone X.
Nope mine works perfectly.

Full bars at work and much improved speeds from the x.

The amount affected is small otherwise a bigger deal would have been made about this
 
Nope mine works perfectly.

Full bars at work and much improved speeds from the x.

The amount affected is small otherwise a bigger deal would have been made about this

In good signal areas the phone will have better performance than the iPhone X.

What about the situation where you have limited signal such as one or two bars? The problem described with the XS antenna will limit transmit performance such that you will be able to receive the signal from the cell site, but the cell site will not be able to receive the signal from your phone due to the gain characteristics of the antenna.

How does you phone perform in low signal areas where you have one or two bars of signal? Does it drop voice calls or have problems with data connections?
 
In good signal areas the phone will have better performance than the iPhone X.

What about the situation where you have limited signal such as one or two bars? The problem described with the XS antenna will limit transmit performance such that you will be able to receive the signal from the cell site, but the cell site will not be able to receive the signal from your phone due to the gain characteristics of the antenna.

How does you phone perform in low signal areas where you have one or two bars of signal? Does it drop voice calls or have problems with data connections?
I get 1 bar of service at home but generally EE for one is very poor at my house. Never has it dropped any calls. I never use 4G at home as I have wifi and data speeds at my home are poor. Even on my x it was no different and on my 7 plus too. EE is just poor until I leave the house.

No issues anywhere else though.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.