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Apple's iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launched last Friday, and shortly after, some customers who purchased one of the new devices started noticing an issue with LTE and Wi-Fi speeds and connectivity.

According to multiple threads on the MacRumors forums, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max users are experiencing connectivity problems with Wi-Fi and LTE on the two new iPhones when compared to other, older Apple devices.

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Multiple users have said that there are noticeable differences in cellular reception between the iPhone XS models and the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, with a 15-page thread suggesting this is a widespread problem that quite a few people are noticing. As described by MacRumors reader onepoint:Users are noticing fewer bars and poorer signal on iPhone XS and XS Max compared to devices like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, especially in areas where signal is weak. Many of the complaints come from Verizon users, suggesting the issue could potentially be carrier specific. Multiple AT&T users, for example, have said the signal is the same or better, while Verizon users are seeing signal issues.

Some iPhone XS owners have theorized that the issue is related to Qualcomm vs. Intel modems. The new iPhone XS and XS Max are using Intel modems, while older devices used a mix of Qualcomm and Intel modems. AT&T iPhone 8 and iPhone X models used Intel modems previously, while Verizon iPhones had Qualcomm modems. As explained by MacRumors reader radiologyman:Some AT&T and T-Mobile users are, however, complaining of connectivity problems too, while others have noticed better signal, leading to a confusing mix of user reports.

It's not clear if modem differences are causing the perceived connectivity issues that iPhone XS and XS Max owners are noticing or if there is a genuine bug with the new devices, but in the days following a new iPhone release, there are often carrier updates that can solve connectivity problems.

Given the confusing mix of information coming from users on the forums, the LTE connectivity problems may be related to software and could be fixed through the aforementioned carrier update or a software update from Apple, but we'll have to wait for more information to figure out exactly what's going on.

In addition to the LTE problems, there appears to be a separate issue with Wi-Fi. On the MacRumors forums, users began noticing slower Wi-Fi speeds on iPhone XS models compared to other Apple devices, which readers quickly deduced was a 2.4GHz vs. 5GHz Wi-Fi issue.

It appears that the iPhone XS and XS Max are preferring 2.4GHz networks over 5GHz networks when connecting to routers that use the same SSID for both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. From MacRumors reader playtillyadrop:The majority of people experiencing slower speeds found that their iPhone XS models were indeed connected to the 2.4GHz network rather than the 5GHz network. In our own testing, we found that when comparing an iPhone XS Max and an iPhone X, the iPhone XS Max connected to the 2.4GHz network while the iPhone X connected to the 5GHz network.

With routers that do not have separate SSIDs for the two bands, it can be difficult to tell which you're connected to, leading to perceived slower connection speeds.

This is clearly a bug that needs to be addressed by Apple through an update to make the iPhone XS models prefer the faster 5GHz network to the 2.4GHz network, but in the meantime, providing separate SSIDs for the 2.4 and 5GHz bands can allow you to make sure your iPhone is connected to the 5GHz band at all times.

Some users have also had luck with resetting their network settings and/or forgetting their Wi-Fi network and reconnecting, but the iPhone XS models appear to default back to 2.4GHz often if not made to connect to the 5GHz network.

This connection issue appears to be at the root of most of the slow Wi-Fi complaints, but there have been a few other complaints of poor connection speeds when connected to a 5GHz network, so it's possible there's also something else going on.

We've contacted Apple to ask about both the Wi-Fi and LTE issues that customers are experiencing with the iPhone XS models and will let MacRumors readers know if we hear back.

Article Link: iPhone XS and XS Max Owners Complain of Wi-Fi and LTE Connectivity Issues
I recently reported the signal and connectivity issues with my own iPhone X’s, I was given a case number and went to two different Apple Store Genius Bar to have it check...both location unsuccessfully rejected the issue as a hardware or software issue, in short they don’t have any clue. I’ll now be using my old iPhone 6s to avoid having signal issues while driving around. iPhone X’s is just a junk and should not be purchased for an “upgrade” totally JUNK”
 
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I recently reported the signal and connectivity issues with my own iPhone X’s, I was given a case number and went to two different Apple Store Genius Bar to have it check...both location unsuccessfully rejected the issue as a hardware or software issue, in short they don’t have any clue. I’ll now be using my old iPhone 6s to avoid having signal issues while driving around. iPhone X’s is just a junk and should not be purchased for an “upgrade” totally JUNK”
So it sounds like the software upgrades haven’t fixed the connectivity issues for everyone. Just sad.
 
From talking with the technicians from both locations “no issues from both software nor hardware” but both analysis were unable to pinpoint the problems from multiple problems with iPhone X’s signal or connectivity issues, in short “Apple don’t have any clue”...What a waste of money!,,
 
I just upgraded to an XS and WiFi is awful on my phone. Is there any fix yet? I haven’t found one...
 
I just upgraded to an XS and WiFi is awful on my phone. Is there any fix yet? I haven’t found one...

You’re right...mine was the same even WiFi signal was at full bar. There’s really something wrong internally with this iPhone X’s...4G/LTE was even worst!!!
 
From talking with the technicians from both locations “no issues from both software nor hardware” but both analysis were unable to pinpoint the problems from multiple problems with iPhone X’s signal or connectivity issues, in short “Apple don’t have any clue”...What a waste of money!,,
I hate to say it but I truly think at this point, Apple knows exactly what is going on but is not going to fix the issue in this batch of phones. I believe all that can be improved with software updates has already been done. If your phone still has issues, you need to live with it until the 2019 release or trade it now.
 
I hate to say it but I truly think at this point, Apple knows exactly what is going on but is not going to fix the issue in this batch of phones. I believe all that can be improved with software updates has already been done. If your phone still has issues, you need to live with it until the 2019 release or trade it now.
From talking with the technicians from both locations “no issues from both software nor hardware” but both analysis were unable to pinpoint the problems from multiple problems with iPhone X’s signal or connectivity issues, in short “Apple don’t have any clue”...What a waste of money!,,

I just upgraded to an XS and WiFi is awful on my phone. Is there any fix yet? I haven’t found one...

You’re right...mine was the same even WiFi signal was at full bar. There’s really something wrong internally with this iPhone X’s...4G/LTE was even worst!!!

Software Update 12.1.2 didn’t do anything to resolve signal problems for my iPhone XS, 4G/LTE & WiFi Signals both still awful for this lousy model...

Same. This phone sucks.
Sorry about all the issues. My XS, on Verizon has the same signal strength on wifi and 4G/LTE as my 6S and 8 had. Also have the same performance as they had.
Basically no difference for me.
 
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Seems this is a specific batch in specific locations because the complaints have really died down. So much for a hardware issue.

For those that do continue to have issues, I wouldn’t stop telling Apple until they fixed it.
 
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was going to upgrade from the iPhone 8 to the XS but I dunno after reading a few pages I think im going to pass and just buy a Apple Watch lol
 
I have my XS Since Black Friday. Haven’t lost a single call yet. Speeds are no different than my 6s.
Definitely don’t feel any problems with it or difference from my 6s.
Like most people I read a lot about it and try to find a problem, but so far there are none.
I really enjoy this phone and it’s size factor. If the XR was the size of XS, that’s what I would have now. I bought the XR and simply couldn’t stand the overall size and weight.
I love being able easily use one hand to operate my phone (no. 1 reason for choosing XS).

I got $300 Walmart gift card which I’m using for gas for my cars. So at the end it was great deal. Im happy and lucky to have no problems with this one.
Production week: 44.
 
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was going to upgrade from the iPhone 8 to the XS but I dunno after reading a few pages I think im going to pass and just buy a Apple Watch lol
Buy the XS of you want. Chances are that you will not experience this problem. I have four XS Max phones sitting here and none of them have ever had this problem.
 
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I still think there may be issues with the Intel XMM 7560 modem chip on the 2018 iPhone models. My iPhone X (Model A1901 with the Intel XMM 7480 chipset) has not experienced the connectivity issues people complained about in iOS 12.1.2 (Build 16C101).
 
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