Over the last few days, numerous reports have popped up regarding a serious problem with the Apple iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max not charging via the Lightning port, when the phones are plugged into the charger while asleep. The problem isn’t affecting every single iPhone Xs or Xs Max, but it appears a large number of devices are having charging issues via the Lightning port in one way, shape, or form – some work properly, some only charge when awake, some don’t charge at all without a reset.
The problem appears to be related to the Lightning port detection algorithm not functioning properly when the device is asleep, which can most likely be addressed with a software update, but there is a chance it’s a hardware bug that may require a fix or replacement. We’ll have to wait and hear from Apple before drawing any conclusion.
In addition to the Lightning port charging issues, however, users are also reporting poor Wi-Fi and Cellular signals, and as a result, poor call quality and lower data speeds. I initially caught wind of the issue via post on Facebook made by a colleague in the tech industry, but it seems that users across the web are reporting the same thing.
There are apparently two potential issues at play. Some users have swapped SIMs between an iPhone 8, iPhone X, and the new iPhone Xs and Xs Max, and found that LTE speeds – from the exact same location and testing via the same servers – are typically lower on the Xs and Xs Max. In addition, it appears that Apple’s new devices have a proclivity for connecting to 2.4GHz wireless networks, even when 5GHz networks are available. And when they do connect, the connection quality is lower and less reliable. Some users have even reported that the iPhone Xs and Xs Max will drop their Wi-Fi connection when other Apple devices in the same area remain connected.
Apple’s new iPhones not only have new Intel modems, but different RF amplifiers, and a new antenna configuration as well. All of these things, along with the huge influx of new devices that usually hit after an iPhone launch, could cause weirdness on the cellular networks for a while until traffic normalizes. The Wi-Fi issues are another matter though.
Apple hasn’t addressed potential wireless connectivity issues yet either. Considering that the issues are not affecting every user, however, and that some users seem able to occasionally remedy the problem by resetting the wireless radio, a software fix seems likely. We’ll just have to wait and see.
