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OnePlus 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10, and iPhone XS Max: Signal Strength Tested

The new modem in the OnePlus 7 and Galaxy S10 is supposed to mean better LTE performance. We compare them to the latest iPhone to see if that's true.

By Sascha Segan
May 14, 2019
Gaming

A smartphone isn't much fun if you can't stay connected. While most people tend to blame their carriers when they get no bars, there are big differences between phones in terms of cellular reception.

Some of that comes down to which frequency bands their modems support, but some of it is just antenna-related black magic.

The OnePlus 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10 both use Qualcomm's X24 modem, but in different ways. The S10 uses all of the modem's features, including 7-carrier aggregation, for theoretical speeds up to 2Gbps. The OnePlus 7 Pro supports 5-carrier aggregation and speeds of up to 1.2Gbps.

OnePlus 7 Pro

(OnePlus 7 Pro)

The iPhone XS Max uses Intel's XMM7560 modem, which may be Apple's last dalliance with Intel modems now that Apple has made up with Qualcomm. The XMM7560 supports 5-carrier aggregation, but only maxes out at 1Gbps because it supports fewer simultaneous 4x4 MIMO carriers.

As we have over previous years, we worked with Cellular Insights to test the OnePlus 7 Pro and Galaxy S10 against the iPhone XS Max and last year's LG V40, which we rated as the best-performing phone last year. We found the advantage for this year's phones comes with weak cellular signals, which is just where you want it.

We tested against older phones on LTE Band 4, and we tested the OnePlus against the Samsung on Band 12. LTE Band 4 is the most widely used 4G band in the US, used by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon alike. Band 12 is a lower frequency used by AT&T and T-Mobile for suburban and rural coverage.

Who Leads? It's Complicated

With a good signal, you can see the phones duking it out, with the LG V40 coming in the lead. The Samsung Galaxy S10, interestingly, has noticeably poorer speeds with a decent to middling signal—worse than the OnePlus 7 Pro, which has the same X24 modem, but also behind last year's V40.

LTE Band 4 2019 Performance

With a poor signal, which is really where you need help, the OnePlus 7 Pro pulls ahead. You don't see the LG V40 line on this chart because it's mostly twinned with the OnePlus 7. You can also see how the iPhone XS Max is noticeably slower than the other phones when things get bad.

OnePlus 7 Pro Low Signal Performance

We've heard rumors that the Galaxy S10 series has trouble with Band 12 performance, so we wanted to check that out. However, we didn't have a Galaxy S10+ available—we had to use a Galaxy S10. On that model, at least, there's no problem with Band 12 performance. Tested against the OnePlus 7 Pro, which has the same X24 modem, the Galaxy S10 did slightly better all around on Band 12.

Band 12 on OnePlus 7 Pro

Rohde & Schwarz, the global leader in test and measurement equipment, provided Cellular Insights with the cutting-edge CMWFlexx solution consisting of two CMW500 Wideband Communication Tester boxes, CMWC Controller, and R&S TS7124 RF shielded box equipped with four Vivaldi antennas for up to 4×4 MIMO, ensuring high reproducibility of near-field OTA MIMO measurements. The study was done independently by Cellular Insights and shared with PCMag.

Join the Band

Smartphones have come a long way in terms of reliable, predictable connectivity over the past few years. If you have an older smartphone, upgrading to one of this year's models brings more than antenna sensitivity—it can result in massively better coverage and capacity.

Take a look at this map—it's where we saw T-Mobile's Band 71 in February. The network has become even broader since then. But if you have any iPhone older than the XR/XS/XS Max, any Galaxy older than the S8 Active, or any OnePlus older than the 6, you don't have Band 71, so you'll have either no coverage or less capacity in a growing number of areas with T-Mobile.

T-Mobile 600Mhz Coverage Map

This rule doesn't just apply to T-Mobile. It has to do with AT&T's Band 14, the "FirstNet" band that is primarily for first responders, but which ordinary folks are allowed to use when the cops don't need it. It has to do with LAA, an in-city technology that Verizon is using in several major cities, such as Chicago, to speed up 4G networks in crowded areas. And it has to do with 4x4 MIMO, which increases speed and range on all the wireless carriers. All of those technologies work only on relatively recent phones.

We're driving around the US right now for our Fastest Mobile Networks tests, where we're seeing how the four major carriers compare in 30 cities and six rural regions. If you want to get the best coverage on your carrier of choice, though, it definitely helps to have a newer phone.

OnePlus 7 Pro Review
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About Sascha Segan

Lead Analyst, Mobile

I'm that 5G guy. I've actually been here for every "G." I've reviewed well over a thousand products during 18 years working full-time at PCMag.com, including every generation of the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S. I also write a weekly newsletter, Fully Mobilized, where I obsess about phones and networks.

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