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Apple stance on Proximity Sensor?

I had a launch day iPhone 4 that had an occasional proximity sensor problem before 4.1, only to have the problem get much worse after the "fix". I read about seeing the red glow of the proximity sensor in the dark but mine was not visible.

Spokane was lucky enough to finally get an apple store, so I joined about 600+ people and went to the grand opening this past Saturday. I mentioned the problem, got a genius appointment, and walked out 30 minutes later with a new phone.:)

The proximity sensor seems to be fixed and I can see the proximity sensor glow red in the dark.
 
Well I went to my Apple store and got swapped out with no hassle.

However, I was talking on the phone last night and the speakerphone turned on so I'll be making another Genius appt soon. :(
 
I guess I'm just lucky that I don't actually talk on the phone much. I have noticed my phone has this problem, but it's not a huge deal for me.
 
I bought an iPhone 4 on launch day and had problems from the start. So before thirty days was up got a refund for £500 as I was not sure whether a software fix would solve the problem. So I waited patiently for a software update and nothing. I then heard that 4.1 was imminent and went and got a second iPhone 4. This had exactly the same problems but I thought, oh well the update will fix it. So I waited and waited and finally 4.1 was released. I thought this would solve my problems but after a few weeks of usage I am still having problems. Right now I am fed up with this. This is my second phone and have tried all suggestions about resetting and still having the problems. I am outside my 30 days return now however and would rather just get a refund and go elsewhere but can't see this happening. Anyone else been refunded outside the 30 days because of this????

I have had an iPhone since the first one and queued eagerly on launch day for this, but my experiences in the last two months just make me want to walk away.
 
iHeartapple2 said:
I keep seeing this problem reported and I can not replicate it....
Click to expand...
Consider yourself lucky, as it's extremely frustrating. I had the issue on 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, and 4.1 hasn't made it appreciably better. On a call this morning, it first tried to initiate FaceTime, then muted me, then hung up when I tried holding it differently. I've tried holding the phone at just about every conceivable angle/position, pressing it tightly to my face, holding it away from my face, and still have problems with it. I use a bluetooth earpiece most of the time which makes it a non-issue - but it's gotten to the point that I dread taking/making calls with the phone itself because of the frustration.
 
You guys who are still having the proximity sensor problem after the update to 4.1 should just take it to the Apple Store. They will swap it for you. The Genius I spoke to said it was a known issue with a small minority and at the moment, the only solution they can offer is to swap the phone for another.
 
BeyondtheTech said:
In and out after 15 minutes. New iPhone 4 in hand. All they saw were previous notes when I first had issues back with 4.0 and that Genius rep recommended to wait for the software update before replacing. This Genius rep didn't perform any tests - just pulled a fresh one out of a black box and sent me on my merry way.

Replacement came with ol' 4.0.2 firmware, 01.59.00 baseband, model MC318LL, don't ask me about week manufacturing or whatnot, don't know how to get that.

Saved the SHSH blob (just in case), then upgraded to 4.1. Gonna give it some tests tonight and tomorrow to see if the proximity sensor is still an issue with this one.
Click to expand...
Nice to hear there was no hassles with the exchange process. I think i'll be doing the same thing soon.

Any updates?
 
Had a zillion dropped calls and was screaming at Apple. Got the 4.1 update. Issue solved. No dropped calls for two weeks now. Didn't know about the proximity sensor issue until I read about it with the new firmware update. Now I understand why the calls just ended without any warning and with plenty of bars for reception at the same time! Life goes on...
 
This proximity issue is horrid. Any news if Apple will attempt another fix in 4.2?

Every call I make my phone goes into either Facetime, mute, hangs up on whoever I am on the phone with or ends up going into my contact list.

It got worse for me after the 4.1 update.

Funny thing is this was a swapped phone already because the original phone I had got bricked from me trying to update to 4.1 for some reason.
 
slipper said:
Nice to hear there was no hassles with the exchange process. I think i'll be doing the same thing soon.

Any updates?
Click to expand...

Ya, the warranty replacement seemed to work very well, didn't spring up any unwarranted speakerphone or muted calls. However, the replacement I received had a stripped screw on the bottom and was halfway hanging out. I went back to the store two days later to see if they could simply replace it, and I got the raised eyebrow and "well, we wouldn't have given it to you this way" bull----. I told them I had nothing to do with it and I just wanted it fixed.

They came back after 5 minutes and told me they broke the screw head, so they had no choice but to replace it again. After the whole "well, this would be considered cosmetic and normally we wouldn't replace it, but..." disclaimer, I walked out with a shiny "new" replacement.

Two days later, this morning, I put my wife on speakerphone with my face.

*facepalm*
 
i sent my phone in to apple as my closest apple store is 3 hrs away and they said they couldn't find any problems :( i also have some dead pixels but the guy that recorded my information didn't take notice of it. looks like i'll be going to the apple store whenever i have time *sighs*
 
took my 2nd iphone4 in this weekend due to proximity sensor issues. same symptoms as everyone else. the 'genius' actually asked me how i was holding the phone... after a hearty chuckle, he realized how stupid that sounded and replaced the phone without question. so far, no problems with the new one, and i can see the red 'glow' people were commenting on when the proximity sensor is working. my last one didn't glow. hopefully, this will be my last 'new' iphone4. for a little while at least.
 
I'll definitely be doing this as well. Same problems on mine even after the update to 4.1. But it seems to happen to me more often if there's less light in the room. But if this continues after the new swap, it'll be time to move on. I can't have a phone for 1 1/2 years and have this continue to happen.
 
I just returned from getting my 2nd replacement phone for this issue. My original phone was upgraded to 4.1, then I started noticing all sorts of proximity sensor issues (not sure if it was related to the upgrade). I worked with Apple Care to test it out (hard reset, restore as new phone and test for 24 hrs), then got a replacement at a retail store near me. That phone was newer (week 35 vs. week 32 for my original), but was even worse in terms of the prox issue. Every single call, I was pulling up my contacts, putting the call on speakerphone, sometimes dialing one of my contacts while talking.

So I called Apple Care this weekend and told them the new phone was even worse and the lady immediately made a Genius Bar appointment for me. I went in today and the rep did all he could to show me the prox sensor was working as it should (holding his thumb in front of the sensor then taking it off, holding it up to his ear and taking it away). Of course, everything looked fine, so I asked him to restore it as new there in the store. Took about 20 minutes, but once it was done he showed me again how it was working fine. I took it and made one call to my wife with him watching, not 30 seconds into the conversation it turned on the speakerphone.

So he immediately when to the back room and got me another replacement (week 38). I'm upgrading it to 4.1 now (was on 4.0.2) then will restore from backup. Crossing my fingers.

I also deleted the *.ipsw file and forced iTunes to download a fresh copy of 4.1. I'm willing to try anything at this point.
 
if all else fails, you can always download call guard from the appstore.

it was originally free, but now i noticed it's .99

it's a pita to use since you have to activate it once you're on a call, but it will prevent face dials, speakerphone, facetime, etc, and mark all the times your face hit the screen when the proximity sensor wasn't working.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/call-guard/id386251981?mt=8

it's what i used when my original phone had horrible proximity issues.
 
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