This disclosure relates to performing cell measurements in unlicensed frequency bands and/or in channels with interference. According to some embodiments, a wireless user equipment (UE) device may define a reference symbol vector for a cell. Each respective element of the reference symbol vector may correspond to a respective subcarrier of the cell that carries a respective reference symbol. The UE may perform channel estimation at each respective element of the reference symbol vector. The UE may estimate the cell strength of the cell by cross-correlating channel estimates of different elements of the reference symbol vector.