iPhone 5 antenna strength weaker than 4S?

Ammo · Nov 15, 2012, 07:54 PM

Has anyone tested their iPhone 5's cellular antenna strength compared to the 4S? My 4S was rock solid inside my parents' house despite being limited to 1 to 2 bars, while my 5 either has 1 bar or No Service. Also, I can't connect to the Wi-Fi in their house when I'm in another level of the house with my 5, while I could with my 4S.

I've also noticed bouts of "No Service" or lower service inside buildings with my 5 that were non-issues with my 4S, so I know it's not a carrier issue.

Anyone else experience this or is this a design flaw in my iPhone 5?

jlake02 · Nov 15, 2012, 07:59 PM

My antenna is almost exactly the same as my 4 and 4S (at least in locations where I have checked).

aristobrat · Nov 15, 2012, 08:09 PM

At my house, my iPhone 5 shows 1-2 bars, where my iPhone 4s showed 4-5 bars.

But my iPhone 5 is showing me the signal of Verizon's LTE network, whereas my iPhone 4s was showing me Verizon's non-LTE network, which is much more robust.

Ammo · Nov 15, 2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aristobrat

At my house, my iPhone 5 shows 1-2 bars, where my iPhone 4s showed 4-5 bars.

But my iPhone 5 is showing me the signal of Verizon's LTE network, whereas my iPhone 4s was showing me Verizon's non-LTE network, which is much more robust.

I'll lose LTE in certain buildings and sometimes I'll lose data completely, which doesn't make sense because AT&T's LTE network in this market runs on a lower frequency for better building coverage than the HSPA network.

aristobrat · Nov 15, 2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammo

I'll lose LTE in certain buildings and sometimes I'll lose data completely, which doesn't make sense because AT&T's LTE network in this market runs on a lower frequency for better building coverage than the HSPA network.

Verizon's LTE network also runs on a lower frequency where I live, but they haven't put LTE antennas on all of their cell sites here yet.

My house is very close to a Verizon non-LTE tower, but the closest Verizon tower with LTE is a few miles further away.

whoathere · Nov 15, 2012, 09:36 PM

This is definitely something I've noticed. Now, typically I get 2 bars LTE in my office, which is fine. But should it switch over to 3G, I will still only have 2 bars and it is dreadful. I always had full 3G service on my 4 from my office. With wifi, it's pretty much the same. I've got a 3 story house with my router on the middle level. My iPhone 5 only gets full bars on wifi if I'm on the middle level, or near either set of stairs. With my iPhone 4, I could even be outside and still get full wifi. Fortunately, LTE is blazing fast and I have UDP so I don't so much care about wifi anymore.

Nov 15, 2012, 07:54 PM	#1
Ammo macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2009	iPhone 5 antenna strength weaker than 4S? Has anyone tested their iPhone 5's cellular antenna strength compared to the 4S? My 4S was rock solid inside my parents' house despite being limited to 1 to 2 bars, while my 5 either has 1 bar or No Service. Also, I can't connect to the Wi-Fi in their house when I'm in another level of the house with my 5, while I could with my 4S. I've also noticed bouts of "No Service" or lower service inside buildings with my 5 that were non-issues with my 4S, so I know it's not a carrier issue. Anyone else experience this or is this a design flaw in my iPhone 5?
	0

Nov 15, 2012, 07:59 PM	#2
jlake02 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: L.A.	My antenna is almost exactly the same as my 4 and 4S (at least in locations where I have checked). __________________ iPhone 5; iPhone 4S; iPad 1,2,3; iPod Touch 4 x2, AppleTV
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Nov 15, 2012, 08:09 PM	#3
aristobrat macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2005	At my house, my iPhone 5 shows 1-2 bars, where my iPhone 4s showed 4-5 bars. But my iPhone 5 is showing me the signal of Verizon's LTE network, whereas my iPhone 4s was showing me Verizon's non-LTE network, which is much more robust.
	0

Nov 15, 2012, 09:36 PM	#6
whoathere macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rockford, IL	This is definitely something I've noticed. Now, typically I get 2 bars LTE in my office, which is fine. But should it switch over to 3G, I will still only have 2 bars and it is dreadful. I always had full 3G service on my 4 from my office. With wifi, it's pretty much the same. I've got a 3 story house with my router on the middle level. My iPhone 5 only gets full bars on wifi if I'm on the middle level, or near either set of stairs. With my iPhone 4, I could even be outside and still get full wifi. Fortunately, LTE is blazing fast and I have UDP so I don't so much care about wifi anymore.
	0