iPhone 4 Reception Issues (Updated w/ Official Response)
Published on behalf of Ticklemepinks.
Yes, the iPhone 4 was released yesterday in retail stores across the US and some people are already pointing out issues. Some have already broken the phone due to glass being on both the screen and the back cover or many are saying if held a certain way that you will lose bars (reception).
John Rettinger of tech blog site Technobuffalo.com has shot a video trying to replicate this problems, which he manages to do. Initially when he first did an unboxing video he tried to reproduce the problems to no avail but later due to comments on his youtube channel he was told he wasn't holding it the right way.
During his next youtube video seen HERE you can see once held a particular way you will lose your reception bars at about 1 bar per every 2 seconds, then he makes a call and does the same thing which results in a call drop. That being said, no phone comes without it's bugs/issues, and Apple might have a firmware patch they need to work on in the near future.
According to Engadget, Apple's official response is that you're holding the phone the wrong way or to get a case.
Their official statement:
Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.
I've had issues with some phones getting a worse signal when holding the phone a certain way, but I've hardly ever had it completely lose service. If I take my Nexus One in an area where I have 3-4 bars of At&t service (similar to the YouTube video above), and cup my hand over the bottom of the phone (where the antenna is), I MIGHT lose 1 bar, but I've never gone from a nearly full signal all the way down to nothing. Sure, most people aren't going to hold their phone that way, but it still seems like a major design flaw.
© 2010, mindfrost82. All rights reserved.
It’s not a big deal, I always buy a case for my phones anyways so I don’t get scratches. Now if the screen was coming apart like the EVO, than I would be mad.
The youtube video linked has been “removed by the user.”
@rehtonAesoohC – Thanks, I updated the link so it should work now.
Very interesting… I watched the video, and then shared it with a coworker who has an iPhone 4, and he was able to replicate it also. He said he has dropped several calls, and wasn’t sure why. Now he knows how to hold the phone so it doesn’t lose signal, but I am curious to see if there is an official Apple response to this.
@rehtonAesoohC – There is, Steve says you’re holding the phone the wrong way. It’s a typical “blame the user” Apple response. My hatred for that company grows by the minute.
I am really surprised at the issues with this phone. I don’t use an iphone but I’m not an iphone hater either. Losing signal because of touching the rim of the phone is a big, serious issue. Buying a case may be a workaround but an issue of this size needs resolution, not workarounds. Glass on two side is also a biggie.
What surprised me even more has been Apple’s response to the issue. Essentially they thumbed their noses and said live with it. I like Apple’s products but their response to serious issues (now and in the past) is what keeps me from buying their products.
I like the iphone 4 but after seeing this, followed by Apple’s response is another reason that I would not buy this phone. Too bad, I had been considering it.
R
Updated the article with Apple’s official statement on this issue.
@NIKKG
It was not really a big problem with the evo, and the screen did not come apart, all it was is the bottom left corner lifted a little causing some light to show from the back light, and no issues were caused because of that, and sprint replaces the phone for free if you have that issue. Now apple on the other hand, losing all of your signal due to a way your hold your phone is just a big joke. Find me another phone that does that, i know of some phones that lose about a bar if you hold it a certain way but to go to out of service is another thing.
They suggest that you buy a case? Why don’t they just make the phone ‘inside a case’ then?
@NIKKG – Except Sprint will replace the Evo’s that had the faulty screen, crApples official response it to tell you to deal with it lol.
Apples robbing people like crazy on these new Iphones hahaha
Everyone shouldnt went for an HTC phone AKA Iphone Killer
That is crazy that a 600-700 dollar phone would lose signal by holding it wrong.. ludacris that is! Thank god I got the EVO!!
Keep doing an AWSOME work HTC
A defect is a defect, no matter what that may be. So dropping a call, is less important than a little raised corner of a screen? Also, it’s then, not than. Good day. @NIKKG -
I tried to replicate the exact same conditions in the video in my iphone 4 and so far I didn’t drop any bars. I even squeezed the hell out of it and still no dropped bars and I made a test call and it went through fine. I also never had the yellow screen that some people complained about. So I don’t think it’s the design issue and its probably some people are having defective phones that they should take back to apple to replace.
Think about it, they sold probably a million phones in a day, if it was that bad, there would be a lot of returns/complaints and probably a recall. I think it’s a slow news day and so these tech news/blog sites are hyping this up to create some drama to get the iphone fanlosers to fight the Android fanlosers. This is how news sites make money, the more drama they push and have people read their junk, the more ad revenue they collect. The only way Gizmodo became famous was to steal the iphone prototype, before that I never heard of them.
I haven’t had any problems with my new phone so I must be holding it right! As for the Appledroid fanboys how’s that’s iPhone killing working out for ya? How many iPhones have been sold already even with the issues reported? How many will continue to sell you guys crack me up. You get all excited over a few issues but it changes nothing. The same way the EVO issues haven’t stopped it from selling. But you defend Appledroid and HTC to the end. Wake up! Nothings gonna stop Apple from making a buck. And please would someone produce this iPhone killer so we can get it over with already I’m sick of hearing all the talk back that s–t up!
Asf
@LuckyLui –
Yeah and Sprint isn’t robbing people by charging you an extra 10 bucks for 4G even though most of the country doesn’t have 4G installed right? Also your 4G is a joke, I’m getting anywhere from 1800-3600k download and 1800 upload on my iphone 4 which is almost the same as Sprints 4G. Anyways, I don’t want to start a flame war.
As for broken glass drop any phone 4 times in a row and somethings gotta give. I dropped my 3G from around 5′ guess what it broke. Not the glass but the touchscreen didn’t register. Dropped the 2g on concrete glass broke. They aren’t unbreakable. The best fix is DON’T DROP YOUR DAM PHONE. Or be willing to buy another one.
The way some of you defend these phones is just beyond me. Some of you get so passionate and are willing to insult others because of their choice of phone? Is anyone on this forum actually behind the production of Apple or Android? Give me a break.
@NIKKG –
Its understandable tho 10 bucks isnt gonna kill me ya kno.. What would kill me tho is trying to make a call n my signal dropping.. Also this isnt new news ppl the other Iphones had similar problems not much w the weirdness ove holding your phone a certain way but deff dropping calls.. AT&T Cant handle the data that the iphones push and thats why all those
calls drop. Apple prob was scared when the FIRST phone w 4g AND HD CAM came out and got a brain fart scrambling around trying to put a phone together that would would have problems like that…Again this is a 600-700 dollar phone were not talking 10 bucks here haha.. So to answer your ? Yes id deff take spending 10 dollars for 4G than goin in n spending 600-700 for a new phone again lol to fix a junk phone thats not worth the money.
@LuckyLui –
Dude, stop being a liar. The prices your making up are full of BS.
Here are the true prices:
Sprint Evo 2 year contract $199 after rebate with 8GB, no contract is 449.
Iphone 4 with 2 year contract 199 with 16GB or 299 with 32GB and to buy it with no contract is 599 for 16GB and 699 for 32GB.
So if you start the new contract, you get twice the memory (16) for the same price as the EVO.
Also, I only had my 3GS for 4 months before getting the iphone 4 32GB for 499. The 3GS I can keep to use as a backup or sell it on ebay for 300-400. ATT was very fair to me by not charging me full price. Also, I get 25% corp discount with ATT and so far I haven’t had 1 dropped call with iphone 4.
I had Sprint using both the TP and TP2 and Sprint sucked big time because service was poor and I had a lot of missed calls. In fact that’s the whole reason I switched to ATT in the first place. I had a SERO account and dropped it because I couldn’t stand Sprints crappy service and ghetto phones before the EVO came out.
Basically your just a hater and want to dog people out. I tried Android on my Nexus One and I liked it. I also like the EVO, I don’t come on hating on people for no reason. If the iphone 4 was bad, I would return it, but so far I really like it and think it’s the best phone on the market right now.
@NIKKG – No disrespect, but if you are so content with Apple and Android, why are you here? There isn’t much on this site to offer a iPhone user at all and Android users have to get most their software from the app market. Why is a predominantly WM site being turned into a general info site? I thought it was about a community effort to make things better on ppc’s. There nothing communal about iPhone’s app store. You get what’s available there and that’s it for the most part, right?
why wouldn’t apple put the ant bar at the top where you won’t be touching it while on the the phone holding it. Of course you’ll touch it if they put it on sides… What a bunch of idiots.
@Mike G. –
Using your logic, than all the Android folks should leave also since those aren’t really PPC’s. In fact even the new WinMo7 doesn’t belong here since its more like an iphone than a true PPC.
If the only people who came here only were PPC users, this site would shut down because their aren’t many of those WinMo dinosaurs left anymore.
@NIKKG – Okay, fanboy. Give it a rest. We get it. You love Apple and if the phone doesn’t get reception when you hold it, well like everyone hold a phone. Sure you can pretend you have the only phone that works great while you hold the antenna, but you’re only fooling yourself. Another side effect of the antenna placement is a higher Specific Absorbtion Rate.
Heck, if any other phone required a propriety plug, for it to sync with a crappy application, or had no replaceable battery, it would be torn to shreds, but it’s okay for Apple because you’re a fanboy and should be at macforums with your buddies instead of harassing PPC and android users. Now to wait for iphone 5 to see if they finally get it right.
@NIKKG – And as can be proven by the traffic in WinMo threads here, it is evident that WinMo thrives here. Also please learn the difference between “there and their” or “than and then.”
HTC phones running winmo 6.5 are still ahead of apple (IMHO). I have an old HTC Diamond that runs winmo 6.5 and android. How many apple folks can run 2 completely different operating systems on the same phone??
I dont really have a problem with Apple, just Mr. Jobs and all the snobby buy anything apple shits out fans. I have no doubt that the new Iphone is probably pretty nice. But the one thing apple lacks is total user customization. No custom roms? You get what apple gives you, and your satisfied.
It’s like buying a Ferrari with the governor set to 100mph? Pointless!
I hate crApple, I hate the iPhone. I’m not going to waste my time explaining why to an ifan because they’ll believe whatever steve jobs tells them to believe anyway. crApple sux, but if you wanna drink steve’s magical kool aid and use your phone the way he wants you to use it then go ahead. Now Nemeses and NIKKG can call me crazy for not jumping on their “revolutionary” isheep wagon before they go sacrifice a goat to their crApple altars.
@dgree1
I do believe the iPhone first gen and 3G both will dual boot Apple os and Android.
@breakmyfootoff
Lost cause like I’ve told you for the fourth time now ” I’ve used all different phones by different makers and different operating systems”. I just like the iPhone more right now I will talk up HTC/Android combo to anyone that’s not on AT&T but looking for that iPhone like experience. Just told a co worker that’s looking for a BB replacement for his wife i suggested the incredible. Unlike many people here I have no problem with Android. But many of you guys take being a fan to a whole new level.
Just give it to Apple they raised the phone bar and without that Android wouldn’t be here. Apple has out lasted Microsofts assualt and Google will be no difftent. To kill the iPhone you have to kill the brand recognition. Question for you which single Android phone has out sold the iPhone.
Hmmm, am I the only one that thinks if the case solves the issue Apple should be giving them out for free? I thought the phones design was super sexy even when Steve showed the vid of the antenna I was like, wow, super cool design, now I think it’s retarded lol.
@Nemeses – If Android had only one phone being sold it would have out sold the Iphone by far, but that’s not the case, Android users have CHOICE… Nexus One, Motodroid, Droid Incredible and so many more to choose from, so if you want to make a statement like that you’ll have to add all the Android phones sold then run those numbers again.
@Nemeses – Doesnt matter what you’ve had in the past, you’re a crApple nut hugger now. Like eldrego stated above, there’s a lot of choices when it comes to Android and WM handsets, so no one phone is going to be the big seller. Android is closing the gap on crApple’s lead daily, and it’s only a matter of time before they pass them. With the iTurd you have to have the same thing everyone else has, and you have to use it the way steve jobs wants you to use it, With the other mobile OSs there are a myriad of handsets to fit each persons specific needs. It wont be one single phone that overtakes the iturd, it will be an army of droids, each with it’s own niche market, that will eventually overtake the iturd. If you’ll pay attention you’ll notice that I’m not an Android fanboy, or WM or any other brand name for that matter. I’m just anti crApple.
lol @ the Apple haters. I used to be the same way. I recently bought an Ipod Touch 32Gb and I must say, it is an amazing piece of hardware. The only thing missing is a phone function
I have a Verizon Touch Pro 2 running WM 6.5 MR2 and it is an absolute joke. The phone is slow, clunky, and the user interface is terrible. Programs crash and it locks up regularly requiring reboots. Compare that with my Ipod Touch which has about 2 months of uptime right now and is running like a champ.
I tried a HTC Incredible the other day and it was much faster, snappier, and responsive than this TP2, but the user interface was still pretty meh. The iphone OS is just heads and shoulders above everything out right now.
@crazed_z06 – lol@ the crApple sheep that allow a company to tell them what content or programs they are allowed to use on a device they buy.
Yes, I understand people’s dislike of the appstore, but it actually is pretty seamless. It’s not that big of deal. You guys really shouldnt knock it before you try it. I’ve been using Windows Mobile for several years now.. back to the days of the MPX-200.. After one day of using iOS, I was sold. The only reason I dont have a iphone now is ATT doesnt work in my house. The TP2 is so horrible, that Im actually considering paying 530 bucks out of pocket to get an Incredible.
Remember the EVO screen can be replaced if the screen starts to come out but your antenna in the Iphone 4 wont be remember that Apple fanboys
Also it cost me 59.99 + 10.00 = 69.99 to have any EVO
How much is that great iphone plan gonna run ya. Just remember apple fans, you just got picturemail on the iphone a couple of years ago. And now you cant even do video calling without wifi. COME ON
@eldrego – THANK YOU THANK YOU
@saibot – very well said
The Iphone OS bores the hell out of me… I mean it is just four pages of icons… Android can be made to imulate it almost perfectly… but it gives you the option to add widgets, shortcuts…etc. I have had my share of winmo phones, started with the touch, then the diamond, then touch pro, then the pro2… and yes, soft reset was needed way too often. I am now rocking an EVO, and imho there is no better user interface than HTC sense on top of android… hands down.
Have to chime in here because this fan boy crap is getting out of hand. It is a FACT that the design for the new iphone is FLAWED. Read the article. I own an ipod touch and a touch diamond and what I found is that the ipod touch runs smoothly with no crashes or freezes while my diamond occasionally does require a reset now and then. Know what else I found? The ipod touch is nothing but icandy. Beautiful screen and fast and blah blah, but beyond that it cant due even a quarter of what my old diamond does. I’m tired of having to explain myself to incredibly blind iphone users that have no idea their phone is not the greatest phone ever created and the fact that you fanboys are jumping up and defending the new “pretty screened app launcher (which you have to buy from the app store lol) that drops calls from holding it in your left hand” is just further proof. You throw yourselves under the bus.
@NIKKG –
i think you should use some brains when saying that this site would shut down if they concentrated only on winmo. microsoft is on its way again on trouncing apple with winmo sales. winmo sales numbers are 3.7 million first quarter this yes, putting them on pace for an average of 18 million. apple has sold 50 million iphones in 3 years averaging less than 17 mil a year..
also numbers show android owns 28% of the market while iphone has dropped to 21%
research makes you a little less stupid.
NICE!! I reported this in the regular news forums, and it gets scrapped, and posted on the front page without any credit
Way to go guys!
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1839998#post1839998
Theres my original post.
@NIKKG –
Wow i guess you need some math skills ok so you said the iphone 16gb costs $599 off contract, while the evo 8gb costs $449 off contract, and that is a $150 difference. Now out of that $150 take out $110 and buy a 32GB micro SD card( which you cant do on and iphone), and guess what you now have more memory then the iphone, and you get to keep that $40 you save on the evo with 32gb mirco sd card.
I don’t get what’s the point of this discussion?
What’s important is that we have a choice. I stopped by apple store yesterday and checked out iphone 4. It’s not bad of a phone. Finally it has a nice high resolution screen. Though I would never buy it as I hate itunes and lack of customization. The menu is idiot proof and as consequence is very boring. I don’t like their touch screen as you can not use fingernails. I don’t understand why this phone is so popular and why anyone would want to sign up a 2 year contract with AT@T just to get this phone. But who am I to judge those people?
@crazed_z06 – Lmao Iphone OS being heads and shoulders above everything else? What part? And Android interface even WM interface > Iphone interface any day. Customization is king!
@tpaxadpom – Well said.
@eldrego –
Yea, the WM Interface is great.. that must explain why so many windows mobile apps are being developed and why so many people a buying new windows mobile handsets.. oh wait..
@NIKKG – You know what is sad, that u are completely wrong. Sprint has a premier data package plan of $10 extra so you can have UNLIMITED 3G and 4G, nomally you are only allowed 5 GBs of 3G and that goes for ALL networks. And guess what else you are completely fooled about AT&T not robbing you either by not allowing for unlimited data at all. They charge you $25 per month for 2 GB, then charge $10 extra per GB after that?!?! That is ridiculous. Sprint plans are so much cheaper is unbelievable. And guess what? The EVO has a hotspot built in, so iPhone can’t tether either. Hahaha, loser
@crazed_z06 – Because everyone wants the latest thing, obviously you’re just trolling. You still haven’t made any solid statements.
Figured I would give my two cents.
As far as Apple goes, when they first came out with the iPhone, it was revolutionary. New experience, catchy technology, excellent eye-candy and lots of potential with the apps that were developed. Then the next iphone came out… same thing… different shell… then the next iphone… updated hardware, different shell, but essentially the same as the first. No real enhancements, aside from more eye-candy. Now the newest iPhone is out and of course… new shell, but now with a couple tech tweaks and some setbacks. The technology is still dated, and some necessary features (true multitasking, flash integration, customization, (another carrier), etc) are still omitted, but the device is still a GOOD device… if it wasnt, there wouldnt be a debate here. Apple set the standard since the first iPhone.
Android on the other hand is fresh on the scene (relatively speaking) and is evolving rapidly. Always new enhancements, removable/upgradable components like batteries/memory/ and a universal pc/mac sync, and it has those features that are missing from the iphone and has great hardware to support those features… and its open source… new level of potential. Android has its quirks… but dont act like the iPhone didnt/doesnt. No phone is perfect and no phone is going to reign supreme among everyone. Also, like many are saying, android is not on a sole piece of hardware. Its on multiple devices that may appeal to a wide array of personal tastes. Which makes Android… GREAT. Excellent>Great>Good…
As far as sales go… its the name. Apple has been around for decades so naturally its going to have a known name.
Android has been around for years… but people still think its a toy robot or something. Google has been around for more than a decade, but people still think its a supernatural being… like an oracle… just ask George W Bush.
With that said looking at sales numbers is moot for Apple fans as that just shows a bad sign for their maker… Apple = 30+ years= millions of iphones sold; Android= <5years= Pretty damn close to the amount that Apple sold.
Apple could rule the market if they listened to the community instead of having a "Royalty" complex.
With that said… Im not a self-proclaimed fan of any device/os… I just prefer android over apple… ANY day.
@breakmyfootoff
A nutt hugger? Again with the name calling you infant. I’m a mutt hugger but your the homo shacked up with a bunch of cocks several nights a week (fireman). I’m sure you guys follow the don’t ask don’t tell rule. Nutt hugger that’s funny coming from a cock eater! Go spout your D—S—-r off to someone else. You hose holding prick!
Do not judge iPhone users, for they know not what they lack. In fact, they are sufferers of Stockholm Syndrome.
I would be REALLY upset with ANY phone that had the call drop issue just because of how I decide is the most comfortable way to hold it. Especially if I was told “too bad, hold it differently”. That would be the same as having a dialer where the “3″ and “6″ button suddenly decided to swap operations, and to then have the company that made the device tell me “Just hit 3 when you want to dial a 6″. WTF?
I have used both an iPhone, and an Android device (so I’m not a hater) and they both were too limited for me. But out of those two, Android was better equipped out of the box.
But in all reality, show me anything that one of them can do that is both practical and useful, and my WinMo device can do it. Not to mention, I love to customize my device, and that’s a very short road if you aren’t running Windows Mobile.