Independent consultancy tests iPhone4 antenna performance with surprising results

[peterdevries]

An independent technology consultancy firm has posted their own test results of the iPhone4 antenna performance and compared it with handsets of other manufacturers. It confirms that the Death Grip is unique to the iPhone4.

This is the conclusion:

The iPhone antenna performance is comparable with the performance of the other mobiles when handled or hands-free, though at the lower end of the range.

All the mobiles suffer attenuation when handled. The so called “death grip” gives a substantial further drop in performance for the iPhone to the point where we could not quantify it using the same test method.

Putting a rubber band around the iPhone, similar to but not the same as Apple’s plastic bumper, gave a significant improvement in performance.

The entire report can be found here

And a slightly cheesy (english humor ) youtube movie here

 

[Statusnone88]

Welcome to a month ago.

Sorry to be a douche but seriously this is not news anymore. It's a problem, were dealing with it, end of story.

 

[peterdevries]

Welcome to a month ago.

Sorry to be a douche but seriously this is not news anymore. It's a problem, were dealing with it, end of story.

There hasn't been any independent confirmation by any party that has the technical means to test it properly and scientifically. In addition, it actually subtly differs from Apple's own statements, so I think it is news.

 

[Russiaone]

I just wanted to reply with my own personal findings...

I had both an iPhone 3G and 3GS... with both phones service would drop completely when a train entered a subway station...

You already know where I'm going with this...

Now, whenever I enter an underground portal my phone sustains a 3 bar signal pretty much the whole time... Tell me that isn't amazing... And I don't care about wearing a case, because I ALWAYS wore a case with the others. Re-sale value is a big thing with me... Besides, I like taking care of my stuff. OK, I've gone on a tangent. I'm done.

 

[illutionz]

There hasn't been any independent confirmation by any party that has the technical means to test it properly and scientifically. In addition, it actually subtly differs from Apple's own statements, so I think it is news.

Actually Anandtech previously ran a test

 

[weespeed]

Welcome to a month ago.

Sorry to be a douche but seriously this is not news anymore. It's a problem, were dealing with it, end of story.

It's not a problem according to Steve Jobs and many of the apple fanboys.

 

[Statusnone88]

There hasn't been any independent confirmation by any party that has the technical means to test it properly and scientifically. In addition, it actually subtly differs from Apple's own statements, so I think it is news.

You can run as many "scientific tests" as you want. Yields the same results.

 

[Statusnone88]

It's not a problem according to Steve Jobs and many of the apple fanboys.

I love Apple as much as the hardcore fanboy, but it's the isheep that are the ones believing anything El Jobso puts out.

 

[peterdevries]

whenever I enter an underground portal

Whoa! Don't you know that underground portals are really dangerous? The stresses that are being put on the time and space fabric can be so big that you could tear up this entire dimension. In addition the electromagnetic interference in underground portals is so big that it most definitely will scramble your mobile signal. It's the same thing that happens in the Bermuda Triangle. Well, almost the same but without the UFO's.


Sorry... I just couldn't resist.

 

[peterdevries]

You can run as many "scientific tests" as you want. Yields the same results.

I love Apple as much as the hardcore fanboy, but it's the isheep that are the ones believing anything El Jobso puts out.

Isn't it for exactly those reasons a good idea that some independent proper testing of this problem occurs by professionals? I'm a scientist and more prepared to believe a well established consultancy with a good track record than Apple (the producer) or a few youtube video's by teens with a Flip Mino.

 

[Statusnone88]

Isn't it for exactly those reasons a good idea that some independent proper testing of this problem occurs by professionals? I'm a scientist and more prepared to believe a well established consultancy with a good track record than Apple (the producer) or a few youtube video's by teens with a Flip Mino.

I was just saying the whole situation is like beating a dead horse at this point. Most of us acknowledge there's an issue, but the pros far outweigh the cons of the phone so we just deal with it.

 

[Fernandez21]

I agree. While I appreciate the study, it's pretty much what everyone has stated except for apple and most of us know the deal. The isheep will never get it no matter how many test you show them, they only listen to what jobs tells them. It's sad really.

 

[weespeed]

I love Apple as much as the hardcore fanboy, but it's the isheep that are the ones believing anything El Jobso puts out.

I totally agree with you. I have many apple products and will call it how I see it and not how apple wants me to see it.

 

[UCLAKoolman]

It's not a problem according to Steve Jobs and many of the apple fanboys.

This is the only apple product I own and this isn't a problem for me. Maybe it's because I don't deathgrip my phone when I'm using it like any normal person would

 

[weespeed]

This is the only apple product I own and this isn't a problem for me. Maybe it's because I don't deathgrip my phone when I'm using it like any normal person would

Why does 'death grip' always comes up? You don't need to 'death grip' it to drop a call. That's a fact. Steve and apple can say or call it whatever. It's a fact that it happens.

Happens to me but i've never complained, but I'm not blind and will not accept what Steve jobs tells me. Like I said I call it how I see it.

And why is it 'like any normal person' grip because your phone doesn't drop a call? All of a sudden after the iPhone 4 there's a wrong way or a normal way to hold a phone? What happened to just holding a damn phone?