form has e sign boxes. the do not appear on the adobe apple devices

Signatures are very confusing because there are different types of signatures and different ways to apply them. It sounds like you want a wet signature (a copy of a handwritten signature), which is what most people mean when they use the word signature.  However, the “Signature” field on a regular PDF form is for applying a digital certificate to a PDF, which is a completely different thing. However, when a PDF is opened on the mobile Acrobat, and some other apps like PDF Expert, the signature field is interpreted as a placeholder for a wet signature.  So different behavior in different contexts. Which is why the “Fill & sign” tool is so helpful, as I think you’ve already found out. It allows you to apply a wet signature without the strangeness of the signature field. 

But that’s just on PDF docs. You mention “requesting a signature”.  If you mean sending the PDF through the Adobe Sign service, then this is yet another thing. The sign service converts the PDF to a proprietary digital format that is presented to users in a browser.  The sign documents use different types of fields. 

The good news is that you can combine both a PDF filled on a tablet and the Adobe sign service into a single workflow, but you have to understand how all these different signing options work in order to put them altogether. You could also go with a pure Adobe Sign form. 

The first part of this process is to define exactly how you want it to work. Step by step. Then create minimal document for testing out the workflow. The key to moving a PDF form into an Adobe Sign form is field naming. The Purpose of each field is literally written into the field name. So the next step is to name the fields on the test doc appropriately.

If by “e sign boxes” you mean AcroForm signature fields, that behavior is to be expected. Signature field signing is not supported in many mobile (phone and tablet) PDF viewers.