Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone XS Max Me too - WiFi DL speed very slow on XS Max

donawalt

donawalt

Contributor
Original poster
Sep 10, 2015
1,338
665
(On XS Max) I know another user reported issues with download speeds using the XS Max on WiFi, I have the same issue I think. When I read his post, I tested mine and I was getting 80 Mbps d/l right next to an iPad getting 505 Mbps and an iPhone 8 getting 480 Mbps. So as he suggested, I rebooted - and I got 470 Mbps, so I wasn't worried - still probably doing stuff.

But I noticed this afternoon a picture has been stuck uploading to iCloud for over an hour, in Photos - so on a hunch I tested again, and back to 80 Mbps. When I powered off/on, brought up Photos, the photo had uploaded. But, in Speedtest it is only getting 87 Mbps. I forgot the connection and restarted, and I got 570 Mbps. But then, two more times, with the iPhone not obviously doing anything, it was back down to 80 Mbps. Other times, it is 480 Mbps - 570 Mbps.

I checked, and it is on a 2.4 GHz connection again. I think it slips from 5 to 2.4 periodically, I guess this is a bug?
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
You need to have a different SSID name for 2.4GHz and 5GHZ. Otherwise, the phone will default to 2.4 most of the time, because it can’t see the 5GHZ.
Click to expand...
Depends on the router nowadays. The best router BTW is still Asus RT-AC86U woth both Asus and Merlin firmware has 2.4-5 GHz coexistence. You can change RRSI Wifi level or connection speed when router trigger switch from one band the other. You can also change time period of switch, etc.

I had bad experience with iPhone and Netgear X6. It “stood” longer on 5 Ghz than needed.

Back to the topic : I have defective XS with squeaky body and very poor LTE, but WiFi is faster than my old X has. I was amazed with WiFi quality of the phone.

If I were you, I tty the phone with a different router, if it diesnt work swap it.
 
azhunter said:
Forgot my network, reconnected and my speed doubled. Will see if it lasts. iPhone XS Max.
Click to expand...

I reset network settings, and restarted the network. It came up connected to 5 GHz, but after a minute or two it was back on 2.4 GHz. An iPad, and 2 older iPhones in the house are solid 5 GHz, so it's not that the router doesn't support it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GDMcG and azhunter
donawalt said:
I reset network settings, and restarted the network. It came up connected to 5 GHz, but after a minute or two it was back on 2.4 GHz. An iPad, and 2 older iPhones in the house are solid 5 GHz, so it's not that the router doesn't support it.
Click to expand...
I think - this is you iPhone wifi module. I tried mine and it is 35 feet away fro m the router and it is on 5 GHz
 
I posted a thread about this too. It seems the phone doesn’t stay on the 5Ghz band, even if you’re close to the router. I think they’ll fix this in an update.

In the meantime, if you want faster WiFi, configure your router to have different SSIDs for the 2.4 and 5Ghz bands. Forget the 2.4 and just connect it to the 5.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Olivia23
donawalt said:
(On XS Max) I know another user reported issues with download speeds using the XS Max on WiFi, I have the same issue I think. When I read his post, I tested mine and I was getting 80 Mbps d/l right next to an iPad getting 505 Mbps and an iPhone 8 getting 480 Mbps. So as he suggested, I rebooted - and I got 470 Mbps, so I wasn't worried - still probably doing stuff.

But I noticed this afternoon a picture has been stuck uploading to iCloud for over an hour, in Photos - so on a hunch I tested again, and back to 80 Mbps. When I powered off/on, brought up Photos, the photo had uploaded. But, in Speedtest it is only getting 87 Mbps. I forgot the connection and restarted, and I got 570 Mbps. But then, two more times, with the iPhone not obviously doing anything, it was back down to 80 Mbps. Other times, it is 480 Mbps - 570 Mbps.

I checked, and it is on a 2.4 GHz connection again. I think it slips from 5 to 2.4 periodically, I guess this is a bug?
Click to expand...

This happened on my 7 also. The fix is to connect to the 2.4 and then select “forget this network”. It will now stay on the 5ghz network.
 
I get 392 down and 300 up. I also have fiber to my house, so I might not be the ideal tester. Xs.
 

Attachments

  • 0ECB82E8-665A-4866-B191-908E9AA7E0FF.jpeg
    0ECB82E8-665A-4866-B191-908E9AA7E0FF.jpeg
    102.2 KB · Views: 353
FloridaGary said:
This happened on my 7 also. The fix is to connect to the 2.4 and then select “forget this network”. It will now stay on the 5ghz network.
Click to expand...

This would only work if you had separate networks for each band. Most people don’t. I’m having the same issue as the OP with it favoring the 2.4 band even after connecting to the 5.
 
My 8 Plus is consistently beating the Max in wifi speeds in my house. Erasing network settings has narrowed it a little but the 8 Plus is still ahead by a lot.

This combined with the piss yellow screen has diminished all enthusiasm I had for the Max.
 
I’m having the same problems. On my x it will hold the 5ghz connection compared to the XS max which likes to hold on to the 2.4ghz connection. I’m using google WIFI. All my nodes are connected wired. I know it’s not my wifi and it’s related to the xs max. It seems as if it prefers the stronger signal over throughput. My x performs better. I can check through the google wifi app and it takes forever for the xs max to pick the 5ghz connection.
 
Fredo C said:
My 8 Plus is consistently beating the Max in wifi speeds in my house. Erasing network settings has narrowed it a little but the 8 Plus is still ahead by a lot.

This combined with the piss yellow screen has diminished all enthusiasm I had for the Max.
Click to expand...

I have an Airport network and I see our iPhone 6s and iPad mini connecting at a much higher rate (700 MB/s and higher) compared to my XSM that when it connects to the 5 band is more in the 400-500 MB/s range.
 
Definitely seeing it lock to 2.4 when given the chance. I’m sure they will fix it in a software update soon.
 
There may be an issue and an update coming, but for me it might be fixed - I didn't just do a reset through the menu of my access points, I powered the one closest to my desk off and on last night late. My XS Max then stayed on the 5 GHz all night, and still is on it, even walking through the house to all 3 floors! I have run 3 speed tests this morning, and it's getting 540/41 and it has not been kicked to the 2.4 GHz band. So fingers crossed this stay that way!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Apple_Robert
FloridaGary said:
Are you using a mesh network?
Click to expand...

No. Two Airport Extremes with an Ethernet backhaul. One on first floor, one on second floor. Been setup and working fine for years, and still working fine with other devices.

I hard rebooted my phone downstairs last night. Saw it connected to the router down stairs on the 5 GHz band. Speeds were good. Sat there for a while and eventually it stayed on the downstairs router but switch over to the 2.4 GHz band. Didn’t do anything to the phone and just came upstairs at bedtime. Phone connected to upstairs router on the 2.4 GHz band. Use the phone for a little while while browsing these forms then locked the screen and started using my iPad. Picked up my phone after about 10 minutes and it had found its way back to the 5 GHz band on the upstairs router. Went to bed woke up this morning phone still on the 5 GHz band on the upstairs router.

I still have yet to see the XSM connect above 586 MB/s via the Airport utility. My iPad mini connects around 866 MB/s and stays there.
 
netnothing said:
No. Two Airport Extremes with an Ethernet backhaul. One on first floor, one on second floor. Been setup and working fine for years, and still working fine with other devices.

I hard rebooted my phone downstairs last night. Saw it connected to the router down stairs on the 5 GHz band. Speeds were good. Sat there for a while and eventually it stayed on the downstairs router but switch over to the 2.4 GHz band. Didn’t do anything to the phone and just came upstairs at bedtime. Phone connected to upstairs router on the 2.4 GHz band. Use the phone for a little while while browsing these forms then locked the screen and started using my iPad. Picked up my phone after about 10 minutes and it had found its way back to the 5 GHz band on the upstairs router. Went to bed woke up this morning phone still on the 5 GHz band on the upstairs router.

I still have yet to see the XSM connect above 586 MB/s via the Airport utility. My iPad mini connects around 866 MB/s and stays there.
Click to expand...
About a month or so ago, there was a Airport Utility update. Don't remember the focus but, did you install? May not be related at all but, just trying to think of possibilities.
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
About a month or so ago, there was a Airport Utility update. Don't remember the focus but, did you install? May not be related at all but, just trying to think of possibilities.
Click to expand...

Yes that’s installed. I tend to not think it’s related to any particular Wi-Fi set up as there are people on these forms reporting issue that don’t just have Airport routers. But who knows right?

If ALL my other devices weren’t working perfectly I think it was my own network. But every other device in the house including my old iPhone 8 plus is working as it has been all along connecting to the 5 GHz network and staying there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back