iPhone XS Proves Faster Than iPhone X but Slower than Galaxy Note 9 in LTE Speed Test

[MacRumors]

The Intel XMM 7560 LTE modem in the iPhone XS and XS Max beats the Intel/Qualcomm modems in the iPhone X, but it isn't quite as fast as the X20 modem used in the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, according to data sourced from Cellular Insights and Ookla and shared by PCMag.

Cellular Insights compared Apple's iPhone XS Max with the iPhone X equipped with an earlier Intel modem, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and the Google Pixel 2 using the 20MHz channel of Band 4, used by Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and several major Canadian carriers. Download speeds were tested at full strength and at a lower signal to determine overall comparative performance.

According to the data, in situations where there is strong signal, the 4x4 MIMO antennas in the iPhone XS and XS Max offer double the speeds compared to the iPhone X, and also help improve speeds in weak signal conditions. Compared to the Note 9 and the Pixel 2, the iPhone XS Max is a bit slower, but the difference is slimmer as signal gets weaker.

At signal levels below -120dBm (around zero and one bar of reception), the iPhone XS Max becomes more competitive with the Android phones using the Qualcomm X20 modem, but at the lowest signal, the Qualcomm X20 modem outperforms the Intel modem in the new iPhones.

Real world testing pulled from Ookla speed test results also suggest the iPhone XS is a good deal faster than the iPhone X. On average, the iPhone XS offers 6.6Mb/s faster download speeds on all U.S. carriers, and even better performance on Canadian carriers with a 20.2Mb/s speed boost.

AT&T is the carrier in the United States that appears to be seeing the biggest speed boost, while the difference is smaller on Verizon and Sprint. AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone X models used Intel modems and Verizon and Sprint used Qualcomm modems, which could account for the difference.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 with Qualcomm X20 modem outperformed the iPhone XS in both the United States and Canada, with the Galaxy Note 9 offering mean download speeds of 43.2Mb/s and the iPhone XS offering mean download speeds of 38.9Mb/s. Data for Ookla's speed comparison was collected during the week of September 24.

Despite the favorable results on these performance tests, many new iPhone XS and XS Max users have complained of LTE connectivity issues on the new devices. PCMag speculates that this is due to problems with the first versions of the iPhone XS firmware, which could be causing trouble with signal reception.

During testing, PCMag was unable to find "any issues in the hardware" that would explain negative experiences, suggesting problems people are experiencing can perhaps be fixed through a future software update.

Article Link: iPhone XS Proves Faster Than iPhone X but Slower than Galaxy Note 9 in LTE Speed Test

 

[1050792]

Perhaps next year Apple...

 

[bpeeps]

I can already read the iPhone forum headlines about this Qualcomm/Intel discrepancy now. Here we go again.

 

[richard371]

Can’t win them all. Did win the best screen though.

 

[Freida]

I hope there will be more things like this. We need competition and we need it more and more. Right now everyone is following what Apple does. It would be nice to have a shake up so Apple would try harder and overall the market would benefit.

 

[osx86]

Where is the comparison with the Qualcomm version of the iPhone X?

 

[yes3sir]

The difference is too minimal to be reflected in real world use but still the Note won fair and square.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

How about processor performance?

 

[Baymowe335]

Looks like the iPhones and Note both performed well. The real world difference would likely be negligible in terms of speed.

 

[RedGala]

Surprised its not worse given what seem to be software issues with connectivity right now (thought I'm pretty sure that was mainly with connecting to the higher frequency bands). Perhaps a software update will dramatically change things.

 

[billybobthornton]

"I knew I forgot something about this new iPhone"

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Difference so minimal you won't notice it at all in the real world. In fact, it's so small that you're likely to have enough impact in the real world that it could easily be the other way around with a Note 9 outside of a strict test environment.

 

[groadyho]

I've been saying my S9+ is faster than anyone of my families X. Doesn't matter using LTE or just moving among screens and apps.

 

[acorntoy]

I got 5Mb with 5 bars of LTE with the XS Max in the bay the other day on Verizon.

Average 3Mb with 4 bars of LTE in a more rural area, and 7Mb with 5 bars in an extremely rural area.
Friends who have t-mobile always have lower bars but much faster service.


I would happy if Verizon could just give me the 20Mb average again I use to see with the iPhone 5 before they let the network go to crap. 5 bars means nothing if its completely clogged.
[doublepost=1538432856][/doublepost]

I've been saying my S9+ is faster than anyone of my families X. Doesn't matter using LTE or just moving among screens and apps. Apple is lagdroid of the future. Bwahaha

Setting- Accessibility- Reduce motion
You can get rid of Apple's time consuming animations, and it just looks better.

 

[TVreporter]

I want to know what Canadian carrier they’re getting those rates because I’m sure not getting it with Telus.

 

[341328]

That sucks.

 

[M5RahuL]

I, for one, am seeing very similar speeds ( Speedtest - Okla app ) between the Note 9 and XS, on both Wifi and LTE (TMobile) here in Denver, CO.

 

[The Cappy]

How about processor performance?

Which in MY book is what 'speed' means. LTE download speed is not a factor at all to me. All my large-file downloading happens over wifi.

 

[carlos916]

sounds about right..

 

[The Cappy]

I've been saying my S9+ is faster than anyone of my families X. Doesn't matter using LTE or just moving among screens and apps.

You are conflating one type of speed for another. LTE is the only thing your S9 does faster than an XS/max. Or are you comparing a new Samsung against a year-old Apple?

 

[Apple_Robert]

The sooner Apple can issue a iOS update to correct the signal problems many are having, the faster this forum can get back to complaining about other things.

As far as my usage goes, the iPhone XS Max is a winner.

 

[DNichter]

Yup, this is what I have been seeing. Went from about 12 mbps on my X regularly to about 24 on my Max. I’m happy with it.

 

[redman042]

Greeaaat... that means the stupid Samsung "Ingenious" ads are going to continue.

 

[ruka.snow]

Never felt 4g faster or slower on different phones. The bigger difference has always been where I am with the thing and if there is something causing interference like an old building.

 

[max.ine]

God, I really wish Apple’s pricing was a bit more reasonable. With the profit margin on the internals I feel like I’m paying half my price ($1500+) just for the OS.