Detailed Analysis of iPhone 4 Signal Strength Dropoff

[rellik]

OK - I've read the article and the cold facts are that signal attentuation, while holding the phone naturally, is 19.8dB. On the 3GS it is 1.9. Fine. That explains a lot.

Where the author loses me is his claim that the iPhone 4 has much better reception than the Nexius One or 3GS. He offers no facts or metrics to back this up, other than his own opinion based on individual experience.

His reception claims are subjective, his attenuation measurements are not.

 

[Master Chief]

I have developed a new kind of signal indicator, for the iPhone, one that uses three distinct colors – green, orange and red – next to the usual bars. The result is that I can visualize the signal strength on the iPhone, and a lot better by using coloration. Apple however is still undetermined as to if and what they are going to do with it, but it might end up on the junk yard... as usual with so many of my new ideas.

So tell me. What do you think about this idea? Would that help you to interpret the signal strength on different towers?

 

[Anuba]

So, it would seem that Apple's advice is good advice... Don't hold it that way or get a case.

Yeah, and imagine how much badwill they could've avoided if they had included bumpers (of the same color as the phone, white or black) and said "this is the deal. Our new antenna is great but this comes with a price: You mustn't touch it at a particular spot. So it's your call: Use the included bumper or avoid touching the phone there. Note: If you want a bumper in some other more fun color, you can buy extra ones."

Instead they said nothing and hoped that people would pay 30 bucks for a 30 cent silicon blob that fixes the design flaw. I mean seriously, how greedy can they get?

When I open up boxes from other manufacturers I usually find a bunch of nice accessories. My last SonyEricsson smartphone came with a dock and a leather pouch. The original iPhone came with a dock, but starting with the 3G you have to pay extra for that. The iPhone 4 is ludicrously expensive, an unlocked iP4 costs considerably more than most... couldn't they have thrown in that damn bumper?

It's OK when third parties exploit design flaws and shortcomings by selling cases, external batteries etc, or when antivirus software companies charge people to plug up holes in Windows. But it's pretty *********** far from OK when the SAME vendor who designed the flawed product does it.

 

[Alisstar]

Skeptics? Why would they - it totally vindicates their complaints of dropped calls with normal usage.

If anything its 'point match' that Apple should include a bumper with every purchase - if the phone won't operate properly without it to a large number of people anything else is attorney general reporting territory (can't sell something as complete and then have it require another item you must purchase to have it work properly)

My comment was based on the statement that says: "It's amazing really to experience the difference in sensitivity the iPhone 4 brings compared to the 3GS, and issues from holding the phone aside, reception is absolutely definitely improved. I felt like I was going places no iPhone had ever gone before. There's no doubt in my mind this iPhone gets the best cellular reception yet, even though measured signal is lower than the 3GS."

The phone's antenna's is better than the 3GS' and can maintain a call better than the 3GS even though it's showing less bars. That is what I've observed with my phone. I can pick up wifi networks in places my old phone didn't. And I have less dropped calls.

Some may see more dropped calls for X or Y reasons, but I have not experienced this. My phone is consistent with the tests done by this company.

 

[tigress666]

You see using your fingers as a limitation? I see it as a luxury and I'm sure most will agree. You know that you can use a stylus with the iPhone right? Therefore having both options is surely a good thing. I think you're losing the plot.

So, having to make sure you aren't wearing gloves and having to buy a special stylus (wait, people are bitchign that they have to buy a case) isn't a limitation? I guess you don't live somewhere where it gets cold in the winter (let me guess, Florida?) or do stuff like ride a motorcycle. yes, it can be a pain to take off the gloves (it's not something I even have thought to bitch about, I just took it for granted honestly. I'm only pointing it out cause to me it's very similar to Apple telling people they should hold the new phone a certain way or put a case on it).

No, I'm not saying I don't like the screen or even care much about the compromises I am listing. I admit I did at first think it was stupid to be told to just use your fingers (smudges and fingerprints) but the benefits of the technology totally won me over (the screen is very intuitive, having gestures is great). I've learned to live with the smudges and take for granted that I have to have bare hands (and why would I buy a stylus if it means I have to keep track of it. Unlike the PDAs that had the other style touchscreen there is nowhere on the iphone to keep a stylus. My ipaq actually had a pocket you slid the stylus in on hte PDA itself). But what I am saying is there are limits to what you can do with it because, well, it's technology and they haven't come up with something better.

All these people bitching about having to hold the antenna wrong I think should realize there are limits to technology. Apple could have instead made the design bigger. They could have had a weaker internal antenna that isn't as sensitive about where you hold it but can't use as weak a signal (otherwords isn't capable of using signal where the iphone 4 can if you hold it right). Or they could have had some really ugly design. OVerall, I like the merits of the iphone (including how small it is) and having to make sure I don't touch a corner is not that big a price to pay imho for all the good the phone has. Shoot, what is more limiting to me is the fragile case. I got a case even though i didn't want to more for fear of dropping the phone than anything else (and yes, I do hold my phone left handed).

 

[daneoni]

Good to know but I just can't stomach dropping another £25 for a piece of rubber intended to patch a design flaw that should never have left a factory.

 

[kevwright]

Please stop referring to it as a leaked support note. It is text typed in a grey box with a blue line on BGR. Even BGR does not claim it is a leaked note. They claim it is info they received from an "Apple Connect". If they have a note lets see it. No need to give their very questionable story any additional legitimacy by claiming facts beyond what even they do.

I can however confirm that at least one line was read out directly to me in a support call on the issue this afternoon, and other chunks of it were also used.

If she was NOT looking at a copy of that, I would be surprised

Kev

 

[Tones2]

Despite what any STATIC measurements shown in ONE PERSON tests, the iPhone 4 is simply the worst phone I've EVER owned of any kind it terms of dropped calls and losing signal. I've owned many HTC phones and every single generation of the iPhone, and I've never had a worse signal than with the iPhone 4. I cannot even get a signal in my house anymore, and I used to get 5 bars with my 3GS. Ridiculous. I get dropped calls outside the house as well, maybe 20% of calls, whereas I don't remember even one on my 3GS. And I'm in a major USA city. Thank the lord that I don't make that many calls and I have a landline. Otherwise, it would be dangerous that I couldn't even make an emergency call if necessary. I hope Apple gets WAY burned for this.

BTW - I AM already using a bumper case.

Tony

 

[acslater017]

Great to have some real analysis. So tired of all the BS.

Yes! Thank you Anandtech and MacRumors for a data-based analysis rather than one person's personal experience or unscientific poll.

If I'm not misinterpreting this, it does seem consistent with the various personal observations floating around. iPhone 4 typically gets better call quality than the 3GS, but is at the same time more sensitive to attenuation. This would explain why some people are reporting solid improvements while others are being driven bananas.

Still, I'm waiting for the white one.

 

[kevwright]

I'm not returning my phone. I am choosing to keep it, i will use the dam bumper which takes away from the great design, defective as it may be.

I will never forget that Apple released a product knowing it had this problem and created a $30.00 product to cover up their problem and virtually made this the way people could secure better reception for their devices.

It is blatant corporate irresponsibility and consumers have a right to be angry and should be cautious going forward with this pack of liars.

I have lost a lot of respect for Steve Jobs, he's a liar and this kind of karma always comes back to haunt you.

Best of luck going forward Steve!

I find it disturbing that this is your genuine held views and yet you are not going to return it?

That is odd I think.

Kev

 

[Digital Dude]

IMHO:
Just like the glossy displays’ that Steve Jobs loves, the new iPhone-4 encasement was deliberately designed not to work (well) without the ‘bumper’ case. All for the simple reason so Apple could sell a device that embodies a modern ultra-thin appearance with a guaranteed accessory buy in.

Again, just my opinion ~

 

[azurehi]

Yeah, and imagine how much badwill they could've avoided if they had included bumpers (of the same color as the phone, white or black) and said "this is the deal. Our new antenna is great but this comes with a price: You mustn't touch it at a particular spot. So it's your call: Use the included bumper or avoid touching the phone there. Note: If you want a bumper in some other more fun color, you can buy extra ones."

Instead they said nothing and hoped that people would pay 30 bucks for a 30 cent silicon blob that fixes the design flaw. I mean seriously, how greedy can they get?

When I open up boxes from other manufacturers I usually find a bunch of nice accessories. My last SonyEricsson smartphone came with a dock and a leather pouch. The original iPhone came with a dock, but starting with the 3G you have to pay extra for that. The iPhone 4 is ludicrously expensive, an unlocked iP4 costs considerably more than most... couldn't they have thrown in that damn bumper?

It's OK when third parties exploit design flaws and shortcomings by selling cases, external batteries etc, or when antivirus software companies charge people to plug up holes in Windows. But it's pretty *********** far from OK when the SAME vendor who designed the flawed product does it.

Well Said!!

 

[BobVB]

MMy phone is consistent with the tests done by this company.

So is mine, massive signal degradation when held naturally to the point of losing calls. And now we have numbers to show that is exactly what would be expected with a design that allows this to a vastly greater extent than its former model.

 

[citrate]

So, having to make sure you aren't wearing gloves and having to buy a special stylus (wait, people are bitchign that they have to buy a case) isn't a limitation? I guess you don't live somewhere where it gets cold in the winter (let me guess, Florida?) or do stuff like ride a motorcycle. yes, it can be a pain to take off the gloves (it's not something I even have thought to bitch about, I just took it for granted honestly. I'm only pointing it out cause to me it's very similar to Apple telling people they should hold the new phone a certain way or put a case on it).

No, I'm not saying I don't like the screen or even care much about the compromises I am listing. I admit I did at first think it was stupid to be told to just use your fingers (smudges and fingerprints) but the benefits of the technology totally won me over (the screen is very intuitive, having gestures is great). I've learned to live with the smudges and take for granted that I have to have bare hands (and why would I buy a stylus if it means I have to keep track of it. Unlike the PDAs that had the other style touchscreen there is nowhere on the iphone to keep a stylus. My ipaq actually had a pocket you slid the stylus in on hte PDA itself). But what I am saying is there are limits to what you can do with it because, well, it's technology and they haven't come up with something better.

All these people bitching about having to hold the antenna wrong I think should realize there are limits to technology. Apple could have instead made the design bigger. They could have had a weaker internal antenna that isn't as sensitive about where you hold it but can't use as weak a signal (otherwords isn't capable of using signal where the iphone 4 can if you hold it right). Or they could have had some really ugly design. OVerall, I like the merits of the iphone (including how small it is) and having to make sure I don't touch a corner is not that big a price to pay imho for all the good the phone has. Shoot, what is more limiting to me is the fragile case. I got a case even though i didn't want to more for fear of dropping the phone than anything else (and yes, I do hold my phone left handed).

10/10 for effort but you're still talking out of your butt. The reception defect isn't a limitation, it is a flaw. Had Apple known about it they would have fixed it. It's already been said that the impovement can exist without the defect by using some coating. The talk about gloves and styluses is just pointless.

 

[Anuba]

So, having to make sure you aren't wearing gloves and having to buy a special stylus (wait, people are bitchign that they have to buy a case) isn't a limitation?

Your comparison isn't getting any less weird with further elaboration.

Wearing gloves is a terrible idea for anything designed for delicate maneuvers. You can't type on a regular keyboard with gloves on. You can't play piano with gloves on. You can dial numbers or write text messages on regular cellphones with physical buttons if you're wearing gloves. You can barely take peanuts out of a bag and put them in your mouth with gloves on. This is not evidence of any design flaws in these products. The only flawed design involved is the brain of the moron who won't take off his damn gloves when doing any of this. Even if the iPhone *did* work with gloves, I'd still take off my gloves to operate it even if I was at the North Pole, because the virtual keyboard doesn't like it much when I press 9 keys simultaneously in a feeble attempt to hit one of them.

 

[KnightWRX]

Your comparison isn't getting any less weird with further elaboration.

Wearing gloves is a terrible idea for anything designed for delicate maneuvers. You can't type on a regular keyboard with gloves on. You can't play piano with gloves on. You can dial numbers or write text messages on regular cellphones with physical buttons if you're wearing gloves. You can barely take peanuts out of a bag and put them in your mouth with gloves on. This is not evidence of any design flaws in these products. The only flawed design involved is the brain of the moron who won't take off his damn gloves when doing any of this. Even if the iPhone *did* work with gloves, I'd still take off my gloves to operate it even if I was at the North Pole, because the virtual keyboard doesn't like it much when I press 9 keys simultaneously in a feeble attempt to hit one of them.

The comparison is bad. Gloves simply don't allow the conductivity needed for capacitative touchscreens to work. No ifs ands ors buts about it (disclaimer, I know about the special gloves for these screens). The antenna on the iPhone 4 however is not a limitation of antenna technology, simply a bad engineering choice in choosing the area they did to position it.

 

[hackum]

OK - I've read the article and the cold facts are that signal attentuation, while holding the phone naturally, is 19.8dB. On the 3GS it is 1.9. Fine. That explains a lot.

Where the author loses me is his claim that the iPhone 4 has much better reception than the Nexius One or 3GS. He offers no facts or metrics to back this up, other than his own opinion based on individual experience.

His reception claims are subjective, his attenuation measurements are not.

I wondered the same thing.

 

[hackum]

I find it disturbing that this is your genuine held views and yet you are not going to return it?

That is odd I think.

Kev

Looks like not only the phone has issues.

 

[JAT]

Or it could be the Flux Capacitor!

Maybe it is not getting enough 1.21 JigaWatts?! What the hell is a JigaWatt?

Actually, that was gigawatts, pronounced jiga. And a gigawatt is 1000000 watts. If that movie had been made in 2005, they probably would've pronounced it giga, just like gigabyte, since people are now much more familiar with the prefix.

 

[spiritlevel]

I'm not returning my phone. I am choosing to keep it, i will use the dam bumper which takes away from the great design, defective as it may be.

I will never forget that Apple released a product knowing it had this problem and created a $30.00 product to cover up their problem and virtually made this the way people could secure better reception for their devices.

It is blatant corporate irresponsibility and consumers have a right to be angry and should be cautious going forward with this pack of liars.

I have lost a lot of respect for Steve Jobs, he's a liar and this kind of karma always comes back to haunt you.

Best of luck going forward Steve!

I pretty much feel the same way. The horrible fact is I would still rather have this phone with it's glaring flaw, than a different phone.

Getting a different phone would cause me a load of new problems. All my other gear is Apple gear (so syncing would be more of an issue). I have a Mobile Me account. I have invested a significant amount in iPhone apps (satnav for example)...that money would be wasted.

But if they don't give me a free bumper, I'm going to stand outside the Apple Store and scare away customers until they do.

 

[Anuba]

The antenna on the iPhone 4 however is not a limitation of antenna technology, simply a bad engineering choice in choosing the area they did to position it.

I know, that's why I'm puzzled by this strange comparison between the antenna design and the touchscreen design.

 

[KnightWRX]

I know, that's why I'm puzzled by this strange comparison between the antenna design and the touchscreen design.

You shouldn't be, some people are doing damage control for Apple. It's funny how some people feel the need to do such a thing in the absence of Apple doing it themselves.

You're not drawing a salary, stop making yourself look dumb by drawing far fetched analogies that simply don't work.

 

[ramuman]

Actually, that was gigawatts, pronounced jiga. And a gigawatt is 1000000 watts.
...

No it's not. I would suggest tapping the '0' a few more times.

 

[Ori]

Despite what any STATIC measurements shown in ONE PERSON tests, the iPhone 4 is simply the worst phone I've EVER owned of any kind it terms of dropped calls and losing signal. I've owned many HTC phones and every single generation of the iPhone, and I've never had a worse signal than with the iPhone 4. I cannot even get a signal in my house anymore, and I used to get 5 bars with my 3GS. Ridiculous. I get dropped calls outside the house as well, maybe 20% of calls, whereas I don't remember even one on my 3GS. And I'm in a major USA city. Thank the lord that I don't make that many calls and I have a landline. Otherwise, it would be dangerous that I couldn't even make an emergency call if necessary. I hope Apple gets WAY burned for this.

BTW - I AM already using a bumper case.

Tony

Sounds like a duff sim or duff Iphone.....try replacing both?

 

[BobVB]

Duct tape works!

I'm giving Apple a week to make this right before I return it. Until then I've found duct tape on the edges works to cover the design flaw. When they ask I'll just say you have to McGyver the iPhone 4 to get it to work.