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Study Finds iPhone XS Max Users Experience More Than Twice as Fast LTE Speeds as iPhone 5s Users on Average
iPhone XS Max users experience more than two times faster real-world LTE data speeds as iPhone 5s users on average in the United States, according to OpenSignal, although there are caveats to consider.
OpenSignal says it measured speeds on hundreds of thousands of iPhones across the United States from October 26, 2018 to January 24, 2019 and found that iPhone XS Max users experienced an average LTE download speed of 21.7 Mbps compared to just 10.2 Mbps for iPhone 5s users.
iPhone XS users saw an average LTE download speed of 17.6 Mbps, while iPhone 6 through iPhone 8 Plus users posted average LTE download speeds of between 15.6 Mbps and 17.1 Mbps, as measured by OpenSignal.
OpenSignal attributes the faster data speeds on newer iPhones to improved modems and antenna designs in those devices, such as 4x4 MIMO support in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max compared to 2x2 MIMO on older iPhones, but the results are also likely influenced by socioeconomic factors.
Someone who is still using an iPhone 5s in 2019 could be a price-conscious consumer who is unable to justify the cost of upgrading to a newer iPhone, for example, while relying on a discount carrier with inferior wireless coverage or capped data speeds compared to major carriers such as Verizon and AT&T.
That said, while the results may be somewhat skewed, a newer iPhone should be able to achieve faster data speeds than an older iPhone, assuming it's connected to a cellular tower with the latest LTE equipment.
OpenSignal says it measured speeds on hundreds of thousands of iPhones across the United States from October 26, 2018 to January 24, 2019 and found that iPhone XS Max users experienced an average LTE download speed of 21.7 Mbps compared to just 10.2 Mbps for iPhone 5s users.
iPhone XS users saw an average LTE download speed of 17.6 Mbps, while iPhone 6 through iPhone 8 Plus users posted average LTE download speeds of between 15.6 Mbps and 17.1 Mbps, as measured by OpenSignal.
OpenSignal attributes the faster data speeds on newer iPhones to improved modems and antenna designs in those devices, such as 4x4 MIMO support in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max compared to 2x2 MIMO on older iPhones, but the results are also likely influenced by socioeconomic factors.
Someone who is still using an iPhone 5s in 2019 could be a price-conscious consumer who is unable to justify the cost of upgrading to a newer iPhone, for example, while relying on a discount carrier with inferior wireless coverage or capped data speeds compared to major carriers such as Verizon and AT&T.
That said, while the results may be somewhat skewed, a newer iPhone should be able to achieve faster data speeds than an older iPhone, assuming it's connected to a cellular tower with the latest LTE equipment.
Related Roundup: iPhone XS
Tags: LTE, OpenSignal
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Top Rated Comments
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8 months ago
Must be a slow news day. This has to be the dumbest headline I’ve ever read.
Lol seriously....New phone with newer tech is faster than old phone with older tech!! Who knew?!
8 months ago
Must be a slow news day. This has to be the dumbest headline I’ve ever read.
Not at all.
For anyone hanging on to old retired technologies, stories like this help identify clear advantages to buying a new device.
8 months ago
Not at all.
For anyone hanging on to old retired technologies, stories like this help identify clear advantages to buying a new device.
"iPhone XS Max has way better camera then iPhone 4s."
8 months ago
Study Finds iPhone XS Max Users Experience More Than Five Times the Handset Prices as iPhone 5s Users on Average
8 months ago
Wait... people are out there still using an iPhone 5s?
Yup.
On a real, live iPhone 5S as we speak, LTE just tested:
12.99 download speed.
I'll live.
8 months ago
I don’t think wirless speed should be the primary concern. It should be latency and reliability.
Even the top average speed here doesn’t come close to the initial theoretical speed for LTE which was 100mbps back in 2011.
Even the top average speed here doesn’t come close to the initial theoretical speed for LTE which was 100mbps back in 2011.
8 months ago
Must be a slow news day. This has to be the dumbest headline I’ve ever read.
I wouldn't say it's dumb, but it might be better to compare the SE as there's only a two year difference between it and the XS Max (instead of the five between the Max and 5S).Especially when you consider the SE does almost as poorly as the 5S.
8 months ago
Why headline the XS Max is twice as fast as a 5s? Wouldn't it be more significant to compare against a current phone?
It's almost like saying your car goes three times fast as riding a horse. MR must be really hard up for articles. In all fairness however, Apple hasn't really done much lately.
It's almost like saying your car goes three times fast as riding a horse. MR must be really hard up for articles. In all fairness however, Apple hasn't really done much lately.
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