Consumer Reports 'Can't Recommend' iPhone 4 Due to Signal Issues

[maflynn]

What I'm wondering is why in the world would they give a buy recommendation without first testing the device.

It kind of makes me question the integrity of Consumer reports. How many other devices/appliances have they recommended without really testing them.

 

[txpotato]

Since some (or many?) claim not to have a problem that would seem to point to a manufacturing defect rather than a design flaw.

Apple will release a statement to blame Foxconn that they forgot to add a coat on the antenna.

 

[bawbag]

Maybe Apple has just been looking for a reason to get into the tape/adhesives market...

http://appshopper.com/music/itape

 

[terrywfoster]

My only problem is how slow my iPhone 4 is compared to my old 3GS !

I thought you were serious there for a second. Good one!

 

[Champ1]

I think many people with this problem need to find another solution other than explain; I am sure there are many more customers without the signal problem than with. If you have the signal problem return your new iPhone, get another one to slide your sim card into until Apple fixes it, then buy a new one... OR just buy a new phone all together! They are always looking for more users over on the Android OS

I decided this weekend to go and check out an iphone4 because I really want one. It's amazing and has really solid feeling to it. I couldn't get the reception issues in the store and I live and work in really good coverage.But to be fair I went to Bestbuy to check out the competition. All the top competitors (Evo,Incredible ect..) just looked and felt cheap in comparison Imho. And what is with Bestbuy not turning the units on so you can see what you get like Apple does.BtW the salesman was an Android fan boy big time, he repeated the same crap all the trolls on this forum do. I'll go with the Iphone4 any day of the week over an Android. If I have to hold it different when I'm in bad coverage no big deal.

 

[Iphtashu Fitz]

Since some (or many?) claim not to have a problem that would seem to point to a manufacturing defect rather than a design flaw.

If that's the case then Apple should identify the defective units and issue a selective recall based on serial/lot numbers of those defective units.

 

[Romanesq]

well lucky you...

really? almost instantaneous? You must be in a *really* bad at&t coverage area when that happens....

I can lick my finger and cover that gap and not lose any bars most of the time, sometimes one bar..... maybe I should upload a video of that to youtube

If your phone doesn't work as you state, you should return it for your money back.....

The finger of death is real. I've known it and written posts about this exactly. Consumer Reports is dead on with this.

I had dropped many calls without consciously placing a finger in the "wrong place" and the resulting finger of death dropped call.

And I live in a metropolitan area right by NYC. That means it's an excellent coverage area.

So you want to try again?

- Also I can confirm a standard hard plastic case removed the problem covering up the "exposed" antennas. In addition having adding a Best Skins Ever to the phone and the side moldings over the weekend showed that too was sufficient to stop the "finger of death."

Last on the problems many have had with limited blue tooth range, the BSE combined with the hard plastic case has helped that problem too.

 

[Anuba]

Could anyone enlighten us non-Americans as to the magnitude of this? I don't know anything about this so-called "Consumer Reports" or their reputation/influence. Is it a household name that the general public cares about or is it an obscure fanzine that has a devoted following of 3 housewives and a small dog?

 

[Acros-Krik]

Not every case stops it, might be why he said that. Also he wasn't being an ass by using the scotch tape as its a well known "fix"

Mr Brian Hinson! You bought the iP4 four days ago, no? Why on earth didn't you wait until this issue had been properly addressed/resolved? People like you are the very reason why this issue will NEVER be properly addressed/resolved. Now please...ssshhh! Decide if the issue as is is justification for returning the phone...or live with it. Your decision. End of.

 

[Stephen123]

These stories go round and round. But everyone ignores the actual lab test. Anandtech verified grip related that signal loss on iPhone 4 is greater than on iPhone 3Gs, but by LESS that the improvement in reception overall. So worst case with an iPhone 4 is better than worst case with a 3Gs or most other smart-phones. This is why Apple call it a software issue. The bars are showing too high in certain cases where a 20 decibel loss can break the connection.

So AT&T's network is congested because of iPhone demand, all Apple's phones have been reporting more bars than they should, and iPhone 4 has a grip issue that drops 20 decibels (signal strength not volume) rather than the more usual 10.

If not for the combination of the congested network and the over reporting of signal bars, this would never have been a big issue. Yes, they should avoid this problem in the future, BUT the iPhone 4 still has better worst case reception than many other phones.

 

[cdebnil]

If your phone drops signal...then take it back. You have a defective model and you need to get it back to the apple store for a replacement. Most people do not have this problem. But some do so they need to take theirs back.

I don't get how you can blindly say most people do not have this problem. In fact, if you look at the statistics, the numbers say otherwise according to mykrulls spreadsheet tracking the issue in the when was your iphone manufactured thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/951306/

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...EVtSklEdlhfenU0Rndwa3c&hl=en&authkey=CODk0rYP

I personally believe that Apple sold bad phones on launch day. My week 22 had horrible reception and proximity sensor problems. My week 26 black box replacement has absolutely none. What pissed me off more is that the genius actually didn't want to replace the phone due to the proximity sensor or reception issues. It took the green blob issues for me to finally get a replacement.

 

[derek4484]

Makes sense. I don't recommend the iPhone 4 to others who live in a weak signal area and don't like or are not planning to use a case/bumper either.

Problem is, everywhere is a weak signal area on AT&T's network!

 

[Streethawk]

Duct tape will fix anything.

But seriously, who wants to buy a phone that you cant use...AS A PHONE!

Can't use? Stop being so melodramatic, even if the issue affects you really badly you clearly CAN use it as a phone by avoiding touching one area, rightly or wrongly.

 

[GQB]

-- an easy thing, especially for lefties --

So I'm supposed to take a critique seriously that doesn't understand that most 'lefties' hold a phone in their right hand (to facilitate writing with the left) just as most righties hold it in their left?

I am SO tired of this silliness.
- move your finger a centimeter, or
- get a case (which you should have anyway), or
- take it back.

such sound and fury.

 

[aaaaaaron]

I just found Apple's new iPhone4 ad, should be on the website shortly

 

[fsck-y dingo]

While I'm enjoying my iPhone 4 this is great to read. Most people on this forum already knew what Consumer Reports stated. The great thing is they're a largely followed nation-wide organization.

Apple should have a tougher time covering up their hardware design faults with BS software updates.

 

[Anthony T]

Apple needs to release a newly-designed iPhone 4 or even a new phone all together, and give mega discounts to everyone who purchased an iPhone 4.

 

[Ochyandkaren]

bahahaha guess apple's plan to fool us with their lovely letter didnt work and now they look even more stupid in public

i like their products but their ignorant behavior is starting to piss me off

I though it was USA only.
Yes, in situations like this Apple should really look humble addressing things, they are too proud, and rush nothing.

 

[2005CTS]

I decided this weekend to go and check out an iphone4 because I really want one. It's amazing and has really solid feeling to it. I couldn't get the reception issues in the store and I live and work in really good coverage.But to be fair I went to Bestbuy to check out the competition. All the top competitors (Evo,Incredible ect..) just looked and felt cheap in comparison Imho. And what is with Bestbuy not turning the units on so you can see what you get like Apple does.BtW the salesman was an Android fan boy big time, he repeated the same crap all the trolls on this forum do. I'll go with the Iphone4 any day of the week over an Android. If I have to hold it different when I'm in bad coverage no big deal.

But you shouldn't have to. You may not like the "feel" of the Android phones...but at least you can hold them anyway you want.

I will agree that the iPhone4 form factor is the best on the market...but at what cost? Apple screwed this up. They simply released a phone with a major design flaw. Apple and its die hard fans should acknowledge that.

What they need to do is announce that a hardware fix is in the works, and that for those that are not satisfied with the pending software fix - a full refund will be offered, or a credit towards the updated hardware due this fall.

 

[boriscolombia]

funny how many people still don't believe there is an issue, I live in an area with great reception but I can never hold the phone while talking because I will loose signal and then drop the call, I put tape on it and that helped the problem but I still loose signal when I grab it. I understand that there are lucky people out there that don't have this issue but please don't act like SJ trying pretending there is no problems when there is clearly one. (if not tell that to my iphone4) and one more thing stop calling us early adopters, this isn't iphone 1 is 4, apple already had 3 generations before to come up with a working phone and its not our fault they managed to mess it up.

 

[douglasf13]

Not every case stops it, might be why he said that. Also he wasn't being an ass by using the scotch tape as its a well known "fix"

I wonder how much our own "body chemistry" has to do with it? Scotch tape didn't work for me, but a Case-mate "Barely There" case did the trick and only shows a slight data transmission loss when I grip the phone tightly with my palm over the area of concern.

 

[Anuba]

really? almost instantaneous? You must be in a *really* bad at&t coverage area when that happens....

AT&T, AT&T, AT&T... when MR posted a poll about this, pretty much the same percentage of users reported this issue in Japan, Germany, France and the UK. They're not on AT&T. Europe has great coverage in general (in part due to much higher population density) and in Japan I'm guessing you have to be 500 feet underground to lose signal.

 

[mdatwood]

Apple will release a statement to blame Foxconn that they forgot to add a coat on the antenna.

Actually I believe something along those lines is what will happen. Think, you need to make 1M+ of something in a short amount of time. You were supposed to dip this part in a coating for 10 seconds, but if you cut that to 5 seconds you can get closer to your production goals. In the short amount of time to manufacture something, seconds can add up quickly in the aggregate.

 

[-aggie-]

What I'm wondering is why in the world would they give a buy recommendation without first testing the device.

It kind of makes me question the integrity of Consumer reports. How many other devices/appliances have they recommended without really testing them.

Yeah, looks like a pure facepalm for them.

 

[rhanley]

Man, this thread is going fast!!

Having CR on board is good, but I assure you people on this board will continue to blast the people experiencing these issues as stubborn complainers that are exaggerating the problem.

This issue has gotten more and more annoying for me. I'll be talking on the phone and the person I'm talking to would interrupt me, and I realized my phone was touching the 'sweet spot' and my voice drops immediately when I touch it so they don't hear me talking... I can still hear the other person for several seconds, but then they start breaking up and if I don't move my finger quick enough, it drops the call.

Unfortunately, I'll be returning my phone but I'm glad that maybe something will be done in the near future and I can repurchase this. I already sold my iphone 3G, so I'll be buying a cheap phone as I'd hate to re-up my 2 year commitment by buying a 3GS.