WiFi strength, range, and throughput

[XDA_RealLifeReview]

Rate this thread to express how you think the ZTE Axon 7's Wifi performs. A higher rating indicates that it has excellent range, throughput, and signal strength. Like when you're taking a dump in the bedroom upstairs, do your videos have to buffer or do they come through without interruption?

Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

 

[t1328]

Both the Wifi, and cell signals are weaker than the Nexus 6P and the Samsung S7 Edge by a fair margin. With the Wifi, this is most notable when you're on a level of a house other than the level of the router. The Wifi cuts out periodically, and its signal strength is about 1/3rd of the other two phones in the same location.

It's cell signal on T-Mobile is also significantly weaker than the signal with the same sim card in the same location on the 6P and S7 Edge. Difference is -114db (Axon) vs. -101db (Nexus).

 

[benjmiester]

Both the Wifi, and cell signals are weaker than the Nexus 6P and the Samsung S7 Edge by a fair margin. With the Wifi, this is most notable when you're on a level of a house other than the level of the router. The Wifi cuts out periodically, and its signal strength is about 1/3rd of the other two phones in the same location.

It's cell signal on T-Mobile is also significantly weaker than the signal with the same sim card in the same location on the 6P and S7 Edge. Difference is -114db (Axon) vs. -101db (Nexus).

Well crap, I'm planning on buying one of these on tmobile and I live in an already mediocre signal area. I get about -122 to at best -106 at home though I just use wifi. Have you noticed any real world issues with the speed? Is -114 the best it gets in a max signal area?

 

[techboydino]

I am on Tmobile as well which makes this disappointing. A few of the other issues noted didn't really sway me but this could be a dealbreaker for me. As I have a S7 and am happy with it, short of small(ish) display, I cannot deal with poor signal on either cell or WiFi where as now it's pretty fantastic. I have 2 weeks to decide as Newegg still claims to be shipping the gray model then. Thanks for sharing.

 

[runderekrun]

Ahhhhhhhh. I still haven't received my phone but between this and camera issues I'm feeling very concerned about my purchase.

 

[Yaya444]

Axon 7 has weak Wi-Fi performance. 5ghz
fluctuates like a bouncing ball. Really hope it's not a bad antenna design with this phone.

Anyone else tested wifi ?

The guy from the zte webinar didn't even know it's AC capable phone. This doesn't inspire confidence.

 

[bkakus]

My WiFi was running around 60mb on a 100mb link.

PLUS, I am only 3 feet from the router, nothing in between them.

 

[robstunner]

Yep, same here. In the same places I used to get no service with 2014 devices (like the s4 era stuff) I get no service with the Axon 7. Most of my previous devices (s7e, n6p, 5x, n6, blah blah blah) all retained at least a weak signal in those areas. Wifi seems actually better than my S7 Edge Exynos though.

 

[Yaya444]

My WiFi was running around 60mb on a 100mb link.

PLUS, I am only 3 feet from the router, nothing in between them.

That's good but not much of a test for a Wi-Fi device.
You need to move at least 20 feet from the router.
All devices get good Wi-Fi performance if your a few feet from the router.

I have tested 50 dollar phones that get better Wi-Fi performance than this $400 phone.

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 PM ----------

Yep, same here. In the same places I used to get no service with 2014 devices (like the s4 era stuff) I get no service with the Axon 7. Most of my previous devices (s7e, n6p, 5x, n6, blah blah blah) all retained at least a weak signal in those areas. Wifi seems actually better than my S7 Edge Exynos though.

Actually I'm testing this phone in the same area as several older and newer devices with no dead spots.
The axon 7 is quite weak by comparison. No other device tested fluctuates signal strength when holding device still.
Very strange occurrence.

Could be a bad antenna design or maybe a few bad units. Hope it's a firmware fix!

 

[obladi64]

It sounds badly. Radio volume can be pop up in the software but to tell true it does not help too much in practice without a good antenna. Also battery drain will be increased dramatically. It is hard to imagine such software bug which causes weak signal strength in both wifi and LTE signal cases. So it could be antenna issue most likely and if antenna design is bad that's it. Move on!

It would be good to read opposite experiences which can keep the hope.

 

[Yaya444]

It must be the lower end QCA6164. Max I can connect with axon 7 is 433Mbps. That is if I stand 1 to 3 feet from the router. More of a problem is the poor weak signal as you move away from router. Then connection is down to 190Mbps after 10 feet to 20 feet.
Must be a bad antenna system in this phone.

Most important part of a mobile device is connectivity. This phone is clearly weaker LTE and Wi-Fi than other phones.

Not everything that shines is gold

 

[tele_jas]

In my daily use, I don't notice any difference in wifi strength or speed vs my Nexus 6P or my Moto X Pure. In my back room, I still get as good or better speeds on speedtest.net using the app to test. I know this doesn't rate the db, but I notice no real difference.

It also stays connected about 70 yards up the street, about on par with my last few phones.

 

[Yaya444]

In my daily use, I don't notice any difference in wifi strength or speed vs my Nexus 6P or my Moto X Pure. In my back room, I still get as good or better speeds on speedtest.net using the app to test. I know this doesn't rate the db, but I notice no real difference.

It also stays connected about 70 yards up the street, about on par with my last few phones.

Do you mind telling what type of router you're Using? Qualcomm chipset routers work best with
This phone. Mine is a Netgear r7000 and it's not using Qualcomm chipset.

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:58 PM ----------

In my daily use, I don't notice any difference in wifi strength or speed vs my Nexus 6P or my Moto X Pure. In my back room, I still get as good or better speeds on speedtest.net using the app to test. I know this doesn't rate the db, but I notice no real difference.

It also stays connected about 70 yards up the street, about on par with my last few phones.

Do you mind telling what type of router you're Using? Qualcomm chipset routers work best with
This phone. Mine is a Netgear r7000 and it's not using Qualcomm chipset.

 

[tele_jas]

do you mind telling what type of router you're using? Qualcomm chipset routers work best with
this phone. Mine is a netgear r7000 and it's not using qualcomm chipset.

---------- post added at 03:58 pm ---------- previous post was at 03:58 pm ----------


do you mind telling what type of router you're using? Qualcomm chipset routers work best with
this phone. Mine is a netgear r7000 and it's not using qualcomm chipset.

Netgear r6250

 

[runderekrun]

In my daily use, I don't notice any difference in wifi strength or speed vs my Nexus 6P or my Moto X Pure. In my back room, I still get as good or better speeds on speedtest.net using the app to test. I know this doesn't rate the db, but I notice no real difference.

It also stays connected about 70 yards up the street, about on par with my last few phones.

How is your LTE reception/speed versus 6P?

 

[tele_jas]

How is your LTE reception/speed versus 6P?

Once again, I don't have actual db numbers, but my "bars" show lower but my connection is just as good and fast, or even slightly better in certain areas.

At my work, I had 4-5 bars of LTE on my 6P.... On the Axon 7, I have 2-3. But, the LTE speeds on the Axon 7 are on par to what the 6P was, and actually slightly better.

At home, I had 1-2 bars on my 6P - It's the same on the Axon 7, but when I go to the back of the house I would drop signal on almost all phones (except my Moto X Pure), but the Axon 7 will still let me carry on a conversation and not cut out.

So, I don't know what the actual numbers are, but I know I get signal where I didn't before and it's typically on par with, or better than my 6P.

 

[runderekrun]

Once again, I don't have actual db numbers, but my "bars" show lower but my connection is just as good and fast, or even slightly better in certain areas.

At my work, I had 4-5 bars of LTE on my 6P.... On the Axon 7, I have 2-3. But, the LTE speeds on the Axon 7 are on par to what the 6P was, and actually slightly better.

At home, I had 1-2 bars on my 6P - It's the same on the Axon 7, but when I go to the back of the house I would drop signal on almost all phones (except my Moto X Pure), but the Axon 7 will still let me carry on a conversation and not cut out.

So, I don't know what the actual numbers are, but I know I get signal where I didn't before and it's typically on par with, or better than my 6P.

Thank you.

Other accounts on the ZTE forums are saying that is substantially worse than 6P or even the mediocre Oneplus One. This gives me hope at least.

 

[matthewpreiss92]

WiFi is longer range on my 2.4ghz axon 7 vs my g3.

Haven't tested the data connection thoroughly enough to OPIN on that.

 

[taijo]

What is a recommended test for wifi and LTE data speeds? - speedtest.net app?

 

[Yaya444]

What is a recommended test for wifi and LTE data speeds? - speedtest.net app?

That is a good app for the wan but, what about a lan testing app. Anybody know of an Android app for wifi testing the local area network?