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

Lammy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 27, 2013
239
268
I was wondering if there is a general consensus on which iPhone has the best cellular capability (for signal, not speed). Basically which iPhone will work best is low signal areas.
 
I think you need to find which carrier has the best coverage for you. I’ve been on Verizon for a looongg time. In my experience Ive Rarely had issues

In my experience with Verizon, Qualcomm iPhone X and my current iPhone 11 Pro are at a tie but speeds are significantly improved on my 11 Pro. The X had the best signal reliability to date but so far my 11 Pro is showing the same results. There’s one spot I know of that’s the ultimate test but won’t find out until I go there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jakeuten and Lammy
I think you need to find which carrier has the best coverage for you. I’ve been on Verizon for a looongg time. In my experience Ive Rarely had issues
I know the answer to that question. I’m asking which phone has the best low signal performance because some phones with certain modems do not perform the same as other phones.
 
I know the answer to that question. I’m asking which phone has the best low signal performance because some phones with certain modems do not perform the same as other phones.
But as freakonomics just said in his post before yours that the Qualcomm iPhone X and his intel 11 pro are tied in reception and that the pro is faster. So there’s your answer. Tied but overall the new modems in this years iPhones are better
 
That’s only two phones. Apple has released a few more than that in the last couple years.
Yeah I’m not going to get into a run down of every phone. you have your answer. You asked what the best was and we gave it to you. Also, again, you can’t mention reception without the best carrier for your area. End of thread.
 
Yeah I’m not going to get into a run down of every phone. you have your answer. You asked what the best was and we gave it to you. Also, again, you can’t mention reception without the best carrier for your area. End of thread.
You literally haven’t contributed anything relevant to my question about which model iPhone has the best modem for low signal areas. But I appreciate your time.

I don’t need help deciding on a carrier. I use two different carriers, but there are certain places I go where service is very limited (on all 4 major carriers), so having a device that will hold onto a signal longer than another device will benefit me.
 
I was really focused on iPhone 11 Pro Max signal strength (Verizon). Happy to report my SO's iPhone Pro 11 Max has had no issues on Verizon, in fact it's been doing better than the iPhone 6s Plus it replaced. And we are on a hill where reception can be finicky. But the iPhone Pro 11 Max has been great thus far.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Lammy
I know the answer to that question. I’m asking which phone has the best low signal performance because some phones with certain modems do not perform the same as other phones.

I was in Utah last month and in a bad cell area, I had signal on my 11pro more than my buddy with an 11. My wife’s X with the Qualcomm modem worked as well as mine. We are on Verizon, he is on At&t so I think carrier is more important though when it comes to low reception areas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lammy
I was wondering if there is a general consensus on which iPhone has the best cellular capability (for signal, not speed). Basically which iPhone will work best is low signal areas.

I don't know if there's consensus, but I know the last iPhone I had that had good LTE reception on Verizon: it was the iPhone 6S. I haven't had a good cell connection on an iPhone since then - the 7, 8, X, XS and 11 Pro have all been very poor. Among the lot, I wouldn't say that any of them have been better than another. The X, XS and 11 Pro have specifically been essentially identically poor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lammy
My standard 11 on Verizon has the best signal strength out of any iPhone I’ve had (8, 8+, and XR).
 
iPhone 8 and 8 plus has the best antenna design. Couple that with Qualcomm radio chip the cdma model of iPhone 8’s has the best receptions, there was a review article I read awhile ago comparing them and that’s what they found
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lammy
I think the iPhone 4S had the best modem. Very solid reception, even if spotty areas. Then next phone would be the Qualcomm 8/8+.
 
This is a tough question ... as "best modem" can mean nothing without adequate antennas to get the signal. The reverse is true too. You can have antennas that pull in everything, but the modem could be the limiting factor. It really is a balance.

Reception wise, the XS Series and the 11 series are fairly equal. Enough within margins of error. The 11s do have a new modem. That fact however that things are fairly equal one might conclude the antennas are giving what they can regardless of the modem. A cautionary note though is that the 11s can handle more MIMO and hence have the potential to be higher, but this may be more a carrier thing.
 
My 6S+ still has better low signal performance than my wife's latest 10s max. Her original 10s max was terrible, so she took it back to Apple and got a replacement. The replacement worked much better, but still not quite as good as my 6s+. Both of us are on Sprint, which may contribute to the problems.
 
I believe Android phones are better than iPhone’s in low signal area’s.

So if you don’t want to change your carrier, then you will have to go Android.
 
Not necessarily so. For the X, XS and 11 Pro Max I've measured signal strength in field test mode in the same location. The numbers have been essentially identical (and very poor). That's quantitative, not anecdotal.
you are speaking about "poor" without giving any reference.
So anecdotal at best.
[automerge]1574108352[/automerge]
I believe Android phones are better than iPhone’s in low signal area’s.

So if you don’t want to change your carrier, then you will have to go Android.
😂

haters gonna hate...

"Android phones"... there are literally hundreds of models, most of them are garbage.
 
you are speaking about "poor" without giving any reference.
So anecdotal at best.
[automerge]1574108352[/automerge]

😂

haters gonna hate...

"Android phones"... there are literally hundreds of models, most of them are garbage.

If Android phones are garbage, then what are iPhone’s then as they are worse in antenna tests. Samsung > Apple when you look at the numbers in terms of signal strength.

And I got an iPhone 11 Pro Max by the way, so who are you calling a hater? (bad signal is not an issue for me as I got a good carrier)
 
you are speaking about "poor" without giving any reference.
So anecdotal at best.
[automerge]1574108352[/automerge]

😂

haters gonna hate...

"Android phones"... there are literally hundreds of models, most of them are garbage.

Not anecdotal at all - I have the numbers. And they have uniformly been +/- minus 120 to 125dB. I'd probably get a note from the moderators for giving a plain language assessment of that, so I'll just say "really poor."
[automerge]1574117099[/automerge]
I believe Android phones are better than iPhone’s in low signal area’s.

So if you don’t want to change your carrier, then you will have to go Android.

Respectfully disagree. Change the modem. It's not an accident that I've had terrible reception since the iPhone 7 with its Intel modem. Here's hoping we get Qualcomm modems in 2020.
 
I believe Android phones are better than iPhone’s in low signal area’s.

So if you don’t want to change your carrier, then you will have to go Android.
My experience has been the reverse. Friends with Samsung phones on both AT&T and VZW were getting dropped calls while my iphone Pro Max just kept going. Did not test bandwidth or latency just calling as that what matters to me in dead spots as I use it as a business tool.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.