iPhone X iPhone X cellular signal strength

[mazdamiata210]

It's odd. I had 3, even 4 bars late last night. Before coming home I stopped at this deli up the street and this was a total dead zone, I had NO service. Once again it's back down to 2, then 1. Eh...I'm not in a contract with ATT, no NEXT plan, installment nonsense so maybe it's time to dump ATT, I've been with them since 2004 when they were Cingular.

[doublepost=1511905759][/doublepost]

If I stick the same SIM card into the iPhone 8+, I'll get 3 bars, down to 2, back to 3. Same location in my home, still in my office where my X is. It doesn't hit 1 bar.
Beats me!

Exactly so you just proved that it's the garbage phone, has nothing to do with AT&T.

 

[darkelipse04]

Moving from an iPhone 7 (AT&T) to iPhone X (AT&T) the reception has been about the same in my area. LTE signal always weaker than the Faux 4G signal.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

My iPhone X seems to have about 1 bar less than my previous 7 Plus on Rogers in Canada. Not scientific, but I don't recall not having full bars as often on 7 Plus as I do on the X.

 

[iOS XXX]

I’m with ATT. I use to have 1 bar in my home with my iPhone 7 Plus. Never did I have 2 bars in my house on my iPhone 7. With my iPhone X, I now have 2 bars.

 

[area52]

Fast.com is your friend.

Never heard of this site. But there seems to be a big discrepancy between it and speed test. Which one is correct?

**Obviously not on the X...That'll be here tomorrow

 

[tromboneaholic]

Never heard of this site. But there seems to be a big discrepancy between it and speed test. Which one is correct?

**Obviously not on the X...That'll be here tomorrow

I don't have Verizon. I don't see big discrepancies between the two with T-Mobile. One guess could be Verizon throttling fast.com since it is Netflix...

 

[iloveallgadgets]

Does *3001#12345#* work on the iPhone X/8/8+ with Intel modem? Because my 8+ A1897 (w/ Intel modem) doesn't show any signal values on the field test app, only a bunch of placeholder text strings.

 

[CastleLogic]

I have been dealing with the low signal/drop to 3G/cannot connect to LTE issue for the past two weeks wth my iPhone X and wanted to chime in here with what I have observed so far. I have the unique privilege to personally own multiple devices, specifically the Samsung Galaxy S8+, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 6s Plus, BlackBerry KeyOne Black Edition, and Essential PH-1. I have also now owned a total of 3 iPhone X devices. I can unfortunately corroborate that there is some kind of serious cellular connectivity problem with the iPhone X that does not affect any other device. If I take my SIM (I even tried brand new SIM), and put it into any of the aforementioned phones that are not the iPhone X, including Apple's current and past offerings, I lock onto an LTE signal almost instantly and have full service with a strong signal. I do not experience any dropouts, dropped/missed calls, or any other type of problem with data or voice coverage. Not so with the X.

Every single iPhone X that I have had so far exhibits the same problems. More often than not iPhone X refuses to connect to LTE and prefers to drop down and stay on 3G. This is in perfectly working LTE areas. When it does acquire LTE signal, it has a tendency to drop out, with signal bars still fluctuating and showing a connection, but data and voice are down. As stated here, sometimes acquiring an LTE signal can take a very long time. Most extreme I have seen approached 24 hours. Mind you, if I look at the cell service menu, the phone sees the towers but just keeps on cycling through them and not connecting until it eventually gives up and just settles on 3G. Reception has also been atrocious in-itself. For example, yesterday I was located in the same space as my wife, her on an iPhone 8 Plus, me on an iPhone X. I had no service, she had two bars and stable service. Same cell tower, same Geo-location (within 3 meters). Even putting the iPhone 8 Plus side by side with the iPhone X, connected to the same tower on the same OS, everything the same, the 8 Plus consistently measures 20%-30% better readings regarding signal power, quality, and signal-to-noise ratio.

Throughout this time I have been working with Apple to try to resolve this issue. I have done full hardware replacements, and tried devices from different batches. This had no effect and my case is still open. Most recently, I have allowed Apple to log my device telephony for a period of ~24 hours. I have provided 1.7GB worth of diagnostic logs to Apple engineering analyze and they have been looking at them apparently but I do not have a response yet.

This type of behavior has been the same on three different iPhone X devices. They were from different batches, though all the same model, A1901, which uses the Intel modem. The only obvious difference between these devices and all others listed above is that all others I listed above actually use the Qualcomm modem. Take that for what it's worth. I do not know the cause, but it is one obvious difference. Having said that, the fact that we have a few Verizon users here that would definitely be using the Qualcomm modem makes me concerned that this might be an antenna design issue. I am still hoping it is a firmware issue.

[doublepost=1511975660][/doublepost]Any update from Apple on this? I am having the same issue.

 

[abercrombie]

It seems that the cellular signal strength on my iPhone X is weaker than that on my previous iPhone 7. This seems to hold true for all reception areas. I’m basing this on the number of reception bars. Anyone else experiencing this?

Having the same issue on AT&T. Notice especially at work when all my notifications come in all at once when I hit an area with strong reception. My iPhone 6 never had such issues.

 

[lah]

I don't have Verizon. I don't see big discrepancies between the two with T-Mobile. One guess could be Verizon throttling fast.com since it is Netflix...

I think that's it. When I had Verizon Unlimited for a few months this year I remember they capped video to 720p (I think?). So I'm sure since it's a Netflix site, it's being throttled. I currently use ATT and I see no difference between Fast.com and speedtest app.

 

[thadoggfather]

I think the antenna design has more to do with RF than the chipset of the radio itself

But idk

Seems like Verizon model and att model people are reporting weaker signal?

My X "feels" slightly less quick to grab a signal than 7+ but I have no reference at all. Both Intel models.

My 7+ still on iOS 10 and X obviously 11 with the new signal bars

So that means nothing!

But on calls in my finicky reception apartment X seems slightly more problematic

 

[Dizzy714]

I thought I had weak antennas on my AT&T X, so I exchanged it for the Verizon ‘global’ model and I have the exact same issue. I go to my local gym at the same hours daily and never have I ever had streaming issues (Netflix, YouTube, Music) on my 7 Plus, since having the X I damn near chuck the damn thing across the gym floor because I can’t for the life of me get a damn thing to stream - hell, I can’t even get the Music app to detect data reception to even search through Apple Music. Thought it may be a faulty new SIM card, nope. Thought it may be something not provisioned properly on AT&T’s database, nope. The X’s antennas are a broken downgrade from previous phones. I hope to God that this can some how be alleviated through a software update, but I feel that’s wishful thinking as my 7 Plus (I still have) on the same iOS firmware does not have the problem. Ridiculous.

 

[thadoggfather]

I thought I had weak antennas on my AT&T X, so I exchanged it for the Verizon ‘global’ model and I have the exact same issue. I go to my local gym at the same hours daily and never have I ever had streaming issues (Netflix, YouTube, Music) on my 7 Plus, since having the X I damn near chuck the damn thing across the gym floor because I can’t for the life of me get a damn thing to stream - hell, I can’t even get the Music app to detect data reception to even search through Apple Music. Thought it may be a faulty new SIM card, nope. Thought it may be something not provisioned properly on AT&T’s database, nope. The X’s antennas are a broken downgrade from previous phones. I hope to God that this can some how be alleviated through a software update, but I feel that’s wishful thinking as my 7 Plus (I still have) on the same iOS firmware does not have the problem. Ridiculous.

Don’t wanna go too far off topic but ya keeping the Verizon?

Were the screens as good?

 

[area52]

I don't have Verizon. I don't see big discrepancies between the two with T-Mobile. One guess could be Verizon throttling fast.com since it is Netflix...

Ah that makes sense. Though isn’t that what the FCC is for, to prevent that sort of thing?...oh wait never mind, they don’t protect consumers anymore....

PS before this degrades into a political thing...that was just intended to be relevant humor.

 

[irod87]

I haven't had any signal or speed issues but the bars do seem lower on the X. Usually only show 1 or 2 bars.

 

[Dizzy714]

Don’t wanna go too far off topic but ya keeping the Verizon?

Were the screens as good?

This screen is a bit warmer than my last one, which I’m a bit bummed about - but the tradeoff of being fully unlocked I’m accepting. The warmer screen has nothing to do with model, that’s going to vary display to display in all models.

 

[mcdj]

I recently took a 3 hour train ride that I have taken at least 20 times since the iPhone 2g, from NYC to Albany NY.

For the first time in recent history, I spent the majority of the trip on 4G. In the past, I would see the phone drop bars in the remote sections of the trip, but almost always stay on LTE.

In my experience with the X (AT&T, Intel), either the reception isn’t as good, or the reporting of the signal has become more realistic.
[doublepost=1512026155][/doublepost]

Don’t wanna go too far off topic but ya keeping the Verizon?

Were the screens as good?

C’mon man. It’s bad enough with the constant Qualcomm vs Intel thing. Do you really need to bring the screen into that battle? It’s a panel lottery. Always has been, always will be. Don’t try to game the system with a modem chip. It’s just more noise.

 

[Ajrobres]

I have 5 bars all the time with my new iphone X. Verizon best coverage!

 

[thadoggfather]

I recently took a 3 hour train ride that I have taken at least 20 times since the iPhone 2g, from NYC to Albany NY.

For the first time in recent history, I spent the majority of the trip on 4G. In the past, I would see the phone drop bars in the remote sections of the trip, but almost always stay on LTE.

In my experience with the X (AT&T, Intel), either the reception isn’t as good, or the reporting of the signal has become more realistic.
[doublepost=1512026155][/doublepost]
C’mon man. It’s bad enough with the constant Qualcomm vs Intel thing. Do you really need to bring the screen into that battle? It’s a panel lottery. Always has been, always will be. Don’t try to game the system with a modem chip. It’s just more noise.

“Game the system”
“Into that battle”

...What are you talking about?

We’re having a conversation about reception on X and Intel v Qualcomm was coming up earlier in this thread

No battles, no gaming of any systems: simply inquiries.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Assuming this is a USA only issue... Then I don't know if my opinion will be valid or not since I'm assuming Australia only has one model sold [no duo models w/ mixture of Quallcomm or Intel modems]

I'm using OPTUS in Australia. From what I noticed so far I still cut off at same areas but my signal seems amazing in most areas except the bits where i cut off obviously [due to Optus' nature and under tunnels and such]

iPhone X Space Grey 256GB user here.

 

[Gmouse]

Seeing same problem with AT&T. Got the X on Friday, 11/24 and set it up. That weekend we took trip to Detroit, then returned to Lakewood, CO, and all the time it had lower bars than my iPhone 7+ on same version of iOS, had data issues, and was on 4G a lot of the time. At home, my office is in the basement family room, and, had dropped calls that I normally don't have. I used the AT&T app "Mark The Spot" to send several reports to AT&T on slow data or dropped calls, so, hoping either pressure from users or phone companies will cause Apple to fix...I'm afraid that they have just screwed up by making the X too small to have large-enough antennas.

 

[thadoggfather]

Seeing same problem with AT&T. Got the X on Friday, 11/24 and set it up. That weekend we took trip to Detroit, then returned to Lakewood, CO, and all the time it had lower bars than my iPhone 7+ on same version of iOS, had data issues, and was on 4G a lot of the time. At home, my office is in the basement family room, and, had dropped calls that I normally don't have. I used the AT&T app "Mark The Spot" to send several reports to AT&T on slow data or dropped calls, so, hoping either pressure from users or phone companies will cause Apple to fix...I'm afraid that they have just screwed up by making the X too small to have large-enough antennas.

Was your 7+ the att model too?

 

[Gmouse]

Was your 7+ the att model too?

Yep.

 

[thadoggfather]

Yep.

Interesting.

I really do think the antenna design is inferior to regular/plus models, That’ll probably be one of the magical features as part of X-S.

But i dont find it horrible, iPhones still get good reception. Still, sucks to have a regression at all for a NEWER model.

 

[Gmouse]

Interesting.

I really do think the antenna design is inferior to regular/plus models, That’ll probably be one of the magical features as part of X-S.

But i dont find it horrible, iPhones still get good reception. Still, sucks to have a regression at all for a NEWER model.

They want to give me a lesser phone, then Apple can charge a correspondingly lesser price. After all is said and done, its primary function is as a phone, regardless of other abilities. Don't like getting ripped off.