Poor wifi performance

[Kerozin]

Recently got Xperia X as replacement for under warranty z3c that had problem with screen separating from body.

As soon as I stared setting it up it was obvious there's something odd with wifi, apps took too long to update, buffering issues on youtube and so on.

So I made few measurements in relatively controlled environment with different equipment and was surprised to find how horrible wifi actually works.

I used wrt54 2.4ghz router with custom firmware for rssi, rate and link quality readout, iperf3 in/out, samsung mega and iphone 5 for comparison.

It works ok when signal is strong but degrades very rapidly as it starts to drop. When signal is still kinda strong "2 bars" transfer rates start spiking/dropping and are in general half of those on other phones. Both inbound and outbound rates are affected. Once signal gets weak other phones still pull 5-6mbit while X goes completely silent. Strange thing is you can't really see anything wrong with RSSI, it's couple of dB off but nothing dramatic, link quality is also inline with other phones however TX/RX rate drops to it's lowest value or is not shown at all. I did try reflashing firmware but it didn't change anything.

Has anyone else noticed something similar? The X I received as replacement is not new but refurbished, maybe this is isolated issue? Don't really know what to do, should have repaired z3c myself but it felt kinda stupid not using warranty for that.

[CameronT]

Hi @Kerozin,

I am sorry to hear about this issue. 

I use the X Performance myself and have not noticed an issue like this with the wifi. Do you notice this problem on any other wifi connections or just your home wifi? 

Also, does your router also support 5GHz? 

[OxyIer]

I've got the same issues with the Xperia X

The phone dropped the wifi when I've got 2 bars...

Worse... sometimes the wifi icons goes away... and back 20/30s after..

I've recovered the phone, tested the safe mode... nothing works for me...

I feel that the firmware have a LOT OF BUGS... but none, even Sony Support be able to tell if a new firmware is available...

Or Nougat can fix that...

I'm really disappointed about this phone... especially when you've got this error on 35 phones with a critical apps 

[Kerozin]

A week ago I returned mine to service center where I got it and today got a notice that phone is fixed.

As per repair sheet they managed to replicate the issue which honestly I didn't expect and phone is now supposedly fixed after reflash and replacement of "flex" whatever that is - probably RF coax cable.

Will run some tests after I pick it up.

[YssaGirl]

Hi there, I am also experiencing such issue. After the Nougat update, suddenly my Xperia X can't detect the Wi-Fi despite my laptop and tablet connected to it. I tried checking it other Wi-Fi connections, or even my pocket Wi-Fi, it can't detect a thing. :((( It's been a week already since I have this issue and it's really a bummer. Have you resolved such issue? Please help me if you did. 

Thank you.

[Kerozin]

I picked up the phone from service center, updated firmware to 7.0 and did some testing again.

So here are the results, iperf3 was used to feed data over moderate distance, signal was in -65dB range, tried with three different phones just to be sure. 

(xperia x on the left, samsung mega on the right)

As you can see nothing has changed. Wifi is still horrible as soon as you leave immediate vicinity of router.

Really don't know what to do next.

[SEGHE]

Well done sony... You have lost clients, as my sister gave up on this brand all together... Samsung is family favourite. I thought I'd give this model a chance and I'm having the same trouble as everyone else in this message board.. Need to sort it out

[YssaGirl]

Thanks for this information. So it's like a software glitch from Sony's. :((( Just WOW. I dunno really what to do but return the phone to them and see if they can fix it or whatever, I've spent a heft amount of cash for this phone and this is what I get. Seriously Sony, Xperia if this is not resolved.

Not a happy Sony User.  

[Veedo]

I believe it's the aluminum backing of phone. Mine gets worse signals for wifi, Bluetooth, and GSM/LTE signal. I've read about it on XDA. Makes sense. It's like putting metal over an antenna. The z3/z5 were better with the glass backing. Motorolas are excellent with plastic or glass backs. Xperia X= constant signal fails. I still deal with it since I like everything else about phone. Volume isn't best either. But it's crisp. And the camera is GREAT! Just learn to use it prop

[YssaGirl]

Oh I see. So it's never going to be fixed for good?  It's just that this only issue is a big pain for me since most of my works constantly deals with online communication. So the gravity of this not being able to use a Wi-Fi connection is not really good for my budget. :(((