iPhone 11 Pro Dual SIM signal bars

[RSmith2023]

Why do the signal bars for both my lines on the phone not match up? Aren’t they both using the same antennas and hitting the same towers? iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

[parker5011]

Why do the signal bars for both my lines on the phone not match up? Aren’t they both using the same antennas and hitting the same towers? iPhone 11 Pro Max

It would only match if it’s the same carrier (Verizon, ATT) if they are different it’ll be dependent on who’s is strongest

 

[RSmith2023]

They ARE both the same carrier. I use the eSIM as a business line but they are both AT&T.

it’s about 50/50 for them to be matched up, but when they aren’t, the eSIM seems to have a stronger signal indicator

 

[teeshot44]

Even with the same carrier, you could still be on different towers. Happens frequently with my iPhone and my wife's. We're both on Verizon, but happen to be almost equidistant from two towers. Speed test and field test mode verify differences. AND, the "bars" are only estimate, not an exact measure which folks keep forgetting.

 

[ecschwarz]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but the data line (top) may also have carrier aggregation (connecting to multiple towers/LTE bands) and I think when that happens, it shows the bars for the weakest signal that's part of CA.

AT&T is also known to mix and match a lot of different LTE bands (2, 4, 5, 12/17, 14, 29, 30, 66), so the chance of being on a different tower or panel can be very likely.