As the iPhone 17 series lands in more pockets, the latest Apple devices are finally getting stress tested in the real world and it's not been a smooth launch.
Multiple owners of new iPhone 17 models are reporting cellular connectivity issues regardless of whether the phone came from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or any MVNO service.
Spotted by PhoneArena, several Reddit posts show users saying that calls are getting dropped or the phone is switching between low 4G connectivity and 5G bars without even moving.
Early reports were met with some resistance and commenters suggesting that the phone needed a Day one update believing it to be a software problem. However, as more claims rolled in, it appeared the issue is spread across network carriers and countries.
It's a strange issue given the Pro models utilize a larger antenna, which should in theory lead to better reception. One commenter reported that an Apple Senior Advisor acknowledged the issue with at least one person saying they were able to swap for a new phone.
While a day one update might not solve the problem, it could still be a software issue. One commenter claimed that their connectivity issues were solved by a firmware update in the current iOS 26 developer beta program where a fix appears to have been implemented.
Not the only launch issue
Unfortunately, this issue isn't the only one that appears to be affecting new iPhones.
Another bug appears to be hitting the phone's Wi-Fi cutting out the connection intermittently, espcially when the phone is locked. It's seems particularly bad for CarPlay which uses a Wi-Fi connection to operate. It's worth noting too that this is a problem for the first phones to feature Apple's custom N1 wireless chip.
Apple itself acknowledged a rare camera glitch where small black boxes and white squiggles were being added to some images. However, the company promised a fix is on the way.
Lastly, there's the more visible, if aesthetically annoying, scratchgate where iPhone 17 models in darker hues are already showing visible scratches and marks, especially around the MagSafe connection points on the rear.
Tom's Guide senior phones channel editor John Velasco reported that he's had his iPhone 17 in cosmic orange for just over a week and is already seeing scuff marks. Though, he admits to traveling with the phone in a bag with other smartphones while working on our epic 200-photo face-offs.
Still, it's a good reminder to check out our guides on the best iPhone 17 cases and best iPhone Air cases, though this issue has made us wonder about the durability of the aluminum used in Apple's new iPhone 17 models.
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More from Tom's Guide
- Apple just made it impossible to downgrade from iOS 26 — what you need to know
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- I’ve been using the iPhone 17 for a week — here’s my pros and cons (so far)
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