Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Antennagate 2018: "You're getting my findings wrong"

Two weeks ago, I dug into the FCC OET authorization filing documents for the iPhone XS and XS Max the afternoon that they were made public, and I started to review and extract data on the certified lab tested RF performance of both forthcoming handsets.  This is something that I have done for dozens of devices over the last decade.  Some of the 2018 iPhone RF measurements struck me as comparably and unexpectedly low, worthy of some graphical and contextual analysis that might be of interest to a few hundred readers.  I did not expect another so called antennagate to emerge, nor for tens of thousands of average viewers to take note of what is a fairly technical topic.  And because my work (1, 2) has drawn an audience well outside its intended scope, I feel a need to editorialize a bit.

Correlation does not equal causation.  My goal long has been to present findings, raise questions, and posit possible explanations/solutions.  My goal has not been to assert that iPhone XS and XS Max low gain antenna designs are the exclusive or even partial causes of all the wireless signal ills that some new users are experiencing.  The correlation exists, but the cause(s) remain(s) undetermined.

Unfortunately -- though I do not think nefariously -- some forum posters and media outlets have run with my findings, questions, and explanations/solutions to form distorted or at least simplified conclusions that say something to the effect of the new 4x4 MIMO antenna array is to blame, the Intel baseband modem is not to blame, the Intel baseband is indirectly responsible due to design compromises that would not have been made for a Qualcomm baseband, etc.

In the interest of clarity, let us find some solid bedrock on which to stand.

What can be said definitively is the iPhone XS and XS Max exhibit lab tested RF performance for antenna gain and radiated power output (EIRP) that almost invariably measures lower than the same metrics on 2017 iPhone variants and other recent, comparable handsets.  A visual recap...



Additionally -- as I already have stated -- the Intel baseband categorically is not the source for conducted power output, radiated power output, or antenna gain.
...Apple's decision to forgo Qualcomm this year and source all cellular modems from Intel is not responsible for the RF power output limitations in the new iPhone models.  The cellular baseband modem is separate from and well upstream of the amplifiers that generate the conducted power and antennas that generate the radiated power being measured in lab testing.
Those two findings are demonstrable facts.

To follow up the latter of the two facts, I posted this on Twitter last night, though if you have been following just my blog pieces, you may have missed it.

The two 2017 iPhone X variants -- with Qualcomm baseband and with Intel baseband -- perform almost identically in RF testing submitted in their FCC authorization filings.  And I do mean almost identically, right down to the decimal place -- this speaks well to Apple's precision tolerances in design and manufacturing.  The lone deviations between the two variants are on bands 41 and 66, and only band 41 presents a difference worth discussing.  The maximum antenna gains across all bands are exactly the same for both Qualcomm and Intel variants, but for unknown reasons, the Qualcomm variant puts out 50 mW greater conducted power on band 41, hence also 50 mW greater EIRP on band 41.  That is absolutely it for the raw RF output differences.  Any other cellular performance differences likely can be attributed to the Qualcomm baseband versus the Intel baseband.  That controversy is well known.

2017 iPhone X with Qualcomm MDM9655 Snapdragon X16 LTE baseband:


2017 iPhone X with Intel XMM 7480 baseband:


So, a takeaway here is that Apple designed and manufactured the two 2017 iPhone X variants effectively the same -- just plopped a Qualcomm modem in one, an Intel modem in the other.  Now, definitely not a fact but informed conjecture, Apple ostensibly would have done likewise this year if there had been a Qualcomm variant.  In other words, a hypothetical iPhone XS or XS Max with Qualcomm baseband probably would have followed precedent with the same antenna array, thus the same radiated power levels as that of the current Intel model.  Take that for what you will.

To return to my soapbox for a time, many end users posting their experiences with signal bars and speed tests are not helping, actually are muddying the waters further.  Regarding signal bars and speed tests this is what I previously wrote:
...signal bars are just a coarse approximation of signal availability/quality and can be calibrated to almost any arbitrary standard. 
Comparing speed tests also is not very useful for gauging weak signal performance.  Unless a speed test fails or produces very slow speeds due to exceedingly marginal signal conditions, devices with 4x4 MIMO reception -- such as iPhone XS and XS Max -- likely will exhibit higher download speed test results under most good to normal signal conditions.
To expand on the above advisement, iPhone XS and XS Max possess capabilities -- aforementioned 4x4 MIMO reception, additional low band (bands 14 and 71), LAA (band 46), and downlink carrier aggregation combinations -- that are not available on previous iPhone models.  Some may argue that those are RF improvements, but again, they are capabilities or features that are not at parity with those of iPhone predecessors.

Greater signal bars, for example, could reflect signal strength on a new low band, thus presenting the illusion that the new phone has better reception than the old phone.  In actuality, the new phone might have worse reception than the old phone if both were on the same band.  The new low band could be thought of as a band aid -- pun intended -- that masks some of the RF deficiencies of the new phone.

Much the same, a faster speed test on a new phone, for example, could be the result of additional MIMO spatial channels or carrier aggregation SCCs that are not possible on the old phone.  Meanwhile, the old phone with measurably superior RF performance might provide faster speeds on a per spatial channel or per carrier basis.

That said, I get it.  To those who want to try to assure themselves that their new iPhones can meet their everyday needs and do not care whether that is accomplished through raw RF strength or new network capabilities, fine, okay.  Check signal bars and run speed tests.  Just understand that signal bars and speed tests -- absent thorough additional documentation from Field Test -- are not replacements for objective measurements. 

Source: FCC OET

71 comments:

  1. So in your professional opinion. Do you think there is a reception problem for LTE and\or wifi? If so, would you guess its a software or hardware issue that can be fixed so that the XS is superior in reception to the X?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not professional opinion, just experienced viewpoint.

      My intent in writing my initial article was not to presage a tumultuous launch for iPhone XS and XS Max users. I honestly did not expect that. Rather, my collected data suggested that both new iPhone models might not be able to match the same extent of cellular coverage that previous iPhone models have offered. And that was all.

      Now that many users are reporting numerous, varied cellular and Wi-Fi networking issues, I do believe that the Intel baseband and/or iOS firmware is at least partly responsible for those user issues. While any antenna shortcomings are impervious to a software patch, the Intel baseband and iOS firmware likely will improve with updates. How much improvement remains to be seen.

      AJ

      Delete
  2. Some believe the comparative equivalent of Intwl vs QCOM performance was prescribed by AAPL - That they purposely handicapped the QCOM modem so user experiences wouldn't vary. That INTC didn't support the extra band you notes as delivering higher power would perhaps illustrate an oversight to that adjustment and explain the observed difference

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  3. Thanks for the article. What about the other models that are being sold in other countries like iPhone XS Model A2097 and iPhone XS Max Model A2101? Do their antennas show the same behaviour too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The international variants iPhone XS A2097 (BCG-E3232A) and iPhone XS Max A2101 (BCG-E3234A) are identical to the equivalent US variants in their lab tested RF characteristics (e.g. antenna gain, EIRP) for all of the LTE bands that I included in my analysis. Test measurements for international bands (e.g. band 1, 3, 20, etc.) are not required and generally are not submitted in FCC authorization filings.

      AJ

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

      Delete
    3. It is very amazing information regarding the iphone. I really enjoyed reading this informative information. share more post like this. It is very benefical information for everyone. thanks for sharing this. you're looking for best quality leather jacket like Casino royale tuxedo </a made from good and high quality material with best fashionable design. you can take it on traditional affairs and events too.

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  4. Can you provide similar charts for comparison with Samsung S9 or similar phone with 4x4 antena design? This is the first year Apple is using this design, it would be more interesting to compare to a different company... rather then older, different design.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See my other recent FCC OET device authorization filing analysis articles. I already created a Samsung Galaxy S9 EIRP graph.

      https://www.wiwavelength.com/2018/09/pixel-3-xl-projects-out-to-be-mid-band.html

      AJ

      Delete
  5. I've returning my iPhone 10S Max tomorrow, the antenna signal is way worse than my iPhone 8 Plus. This is unacceptable from todays standards. Who the hell is testing this crap, someone who can't see? I am very upset with the latest iPhone so much so that I'm thinking of jumping ship for the first time and going to the Galaxy Note. iPhone 10S MAX is a waste of money!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I planned to buy a new iPhone Xs to replace my 6s. After reading many reports about the network problem. I choose to wait for Apple's reply.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here man... Tomorrow is the day when I have to collect mine, but reading all this news... I think I'll resign. Eh...

      Delete
  7. The biggest issue with my Xs Max is the 5GHz WiFi. It's the worse 5Ghz device I've ever seen reception wise. Are these tests only applicable to cellular, or is WiFi using the same antennas?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello, has anyone taken into account that the stainless steel chassis is the antenna and is a poorer conductor of electricity. The iPhone 8 and I think xr have aluminum chassis, and both have stronger signals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. iPhone X has stainless and was fine for me.

      Delete
  9. So, you don't think in your opinion that this esim or second sim option that is new to iphones can in some way be affecting the signal with carriers? When both sims are activated would we see the same results with both carriers, bad reception or could just one be affected or vice versa since the phone is using all antennas for both sims...

    YOU said a firmware would help, how much do you think it would help? i have noticed on ATT with XS Max that in low signal places its no signal places instead of just low, which i think is exactly what you are speaking to.... So this isn't some little bug they can squash, this is pretty big for a lot of us. Your insight is greatly appreciated....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So no on the 2 sims thought?

      Delete
    2. iPhone XS/Max eSIM functionality is not active until a future firmware update, thus is irrelevant to any current network connectivity issues that users are experiencing.

      AJ

      Delete
  10. The Guardian in the UK just came out with their iPhone XS review and made the observation that it seems to be negatively affected by network congestion more than other phones; they were having issues in crowded places like trains. Do you suppose the phone is trying to draw too fast for the likes of network prioritization or something like that? Any general comments? (the link is here

    https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/04/apple-iphone-xs-review-battery-life-camera-design-performance
    )

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am unsure what you mean by "the phone trying to draw too fast for the likes of network prioritization."

    What The Guardian is describing -- network drops to 3G and slow data rates -- may not be related at all to network congestion but to weaker antenna and/or baseband modem performance, though those shortcomings could result in poorer congested condition performance, too.

    Other than that, The Guardian report is not detailed enough to deduce any specific problems. The cellular criticisms just sound similar to those that many other iPhone XS/Max users have been lodging.

    AJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Are the iPhone 8 antenna results similar to the plus, also how does the iPhone 7+ Compare to the iPhone 8+ not including band 66 since the 7+ is lacking. Thanks!

      Delete
  12. Since I updated to 12.1 beta 2 my second sim is now active. But was just throwing out thoughts. So with 2 carriers the antenna problems will affect both the same or would a Verizon carrier be more affected than a ATT one? Only saying that cause I hear more Verizon people are having problems.

    My modem firmware is also updated 1.01.20-1 along with my ATT 33.5.3. Was this the firmware you mentioned that might help? I am just now using it so will know more about it later today...

    ReplyDelete
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