Despite the iPhone’s dominance, it isn’t perfect, and the 17 is seeing one serious problem.
The iPhone 17 launch has been a bit of a mixed bag so far, with Apple’s latest smartphones leaving some users salty despite being well received by reviewers. the iPhone 17 Pro is Apple off its leash as a camera and performance powerhouse. But then came the issues. First, there was scratch-gate, where users complained that the mostly aluminum chassis of the new phones were easily damaged, though Apple dismissed that as nothing more than some MagSafe charging stands rubbing off on the phones. Now, though, there’s a new problem dogging these top-tier handsets.
According to some users, iPhone 17 models are plagued by cellular connectivity issues. The issues appear to persist across carriers, meaning customers on AT&T fare no better than those on Verizon or other networks. iPhone owners are seeing dropped calls, missed or unsent messages, and difficulty getting a signal even in areas where other phones get solid coverage. Wi-Fi seems affected, too, with some users reporting connection drops immediately after unlocking.
The problem is reportedly so widespread that Apple’s support representatives are acknowledging it in conversations with affected users. That’s more concerning than it sounds, since the company has been reluctant to confirm issues as widespread. In one case, a user was offered a return. But the cause of the issue is unclear. Apple adopted an upgraded antenna system for the iPhone 17 lineup, along with a brand new first-party wireless networking chip.
