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iPhone XS iPhone XS - MMS pictures extremely bad quality

MacUse-R

MacUse-R

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 24, 2017
185
21
So i have had this problem for several iOS versions on my iphone XS, when i send regular MMS the recipient gets the pictures with extremely bad quality, one can´t even read the text on the pictures.
But the same pictures looks normal on my phone.

This does not happen when using iMessage, (i.e. between two idevices), only with regular MMS. I first thought its my cellphone network, but i have tried with SIM cards from other networks and its exactly the same problem.
It worked fine sending pictures through MMS for the first month with this phone.
I have also tried my SIM card in other iphones and then it works fine to send pictures with MMS.
So it seems the problem is on the iphone XS itself?
I have the MMS picture quality set to high, so its not that.

Im not totally sure but it might have started after i accepted and hit "yes" on one of those network operator update messages that the network operator sends out when there is an update for the network?

Are those network operator updates altering/saving anything on the phone itself, or only on the SIM card?

I have spoken with my operator customer service but they don´t understand anything, and they tend to blame Apple. I also spoke with Apple but they couldnt give me any answers either.

Have anybody had this kind of problem, or have a clue what might be the cause for it?
IMG_0764-1.jpg
 
This is the expected behavior. The iPhone reduce de picture quality to fit the MMS maximum size (600 KB). That’s why iMessage (100 MB) is so much better. Use whatsapp instead for people not on iMessage.
 
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Reactions: nicho
There is an iMessage picture max size? I’ve had that issue before but I’m blaming it on sms system rather than the phone itself
 
Oh i didnt know that MMS reduces the picture quality to such an extent.

Yes when i send pictures through other ways it works fine, for example pictures through the Skype app has a perfectly acceptable quality and of course iMessage.

Okay, so then maybe its the MMS size compression that is at fault here? So 600 KB is the maximum size allowed for a MMS?
Anybody have an idea approximately what size a normal iPhone XS photo is, and an iPhone 6 photo, at their highest available picture quality settings? I guess they are way more than 600 KB?
 
MMS is an outdated standard, i wouldn't use it anymore. That's why your photos are heavily compressed to fit the maximum file size. An average photo taken with both the iPhone 6 & Xs has ~2.5 - 3 MB in file size, maybe more.

I would stick to iMessage, and if you can't, use a third-party messenger like FB Messenger, WhatsApp or Telegram etc...
 
Elitegate said:
MMS is an outdated standard, i wouldn't use it anymore. That's why your photos are heavily compressed to fit the maximum file size. An average photo taken with both the iPhone 6 & Xs has ~2.5 - 3 MB in file size, maybe more.

I would stick to iMessage, and if you can't, use a third-party messenger like FB Messenger, WhatsApp or Telegram etc...
Click to expand...

Yes i agree, i dont actually have a need to use MMS, i was just worried that there were something wrong with the phone itself, and since the warranty expires in a couple of weeks i wanted to make sure that any problems are taken care of before the warranty expires.

I knew that photos are being compressed, but i couldnt imagine that they get compressed to such an heavy degree that not even the text can be read in many cases.

But thats comforting to hear that its most likely the result of the MMS compression. I will gladly stay away from the outdated MMS standard in favor of more modern techniques.
 
MacUse-R said:
Yes i agree, i dont actually have a need to use MMS, i was just worried that there were something wrong with the phone itself, and since the warranty expires in a couple of weeks i wanted to make sure that any problems are taken care of before the warranty expires.

I knew that photos are being compressed, but i couldnt imagine that they get compressed to such an heavy degree that not even the text can be read in many cases.

But thats comforting to hear that its most likely the result of the MMS compression. I will gladly stay away from the outdated MMS standard in favor of more modern techniques.
Click to expand...

Yeah don't worry, it's the MMS protocol itself, and not your phone. As long as your camera takes photos just fine, it's the MMS.
 
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