Yep. That and people not doing any REAL field tests with more careful controls etc. We just have to wait and see what Apple says in their defense. Best case scenario is the signal issues are fixed with an OS update (or even a baseband update), and the yellow screen spots issue is only present in around 0.5% of all devices.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 4 Signal Declines While Being Held? A Longstanding Issue?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yep. That and people not doing any REAL field tests with more careful controls etc. We just have to wait and see what Apple says in their defense. Best case scenario is the signal issues are fixed with an OS update (or even a baseband update), and the yellow screen spots issue is only present in around 0.5% of all devices.
while there are definitely people out there that are really taking it too far, there is no question that this is a prevalent thing (whether it's actually affecting signal quality or not) from what has been seen online. on my 3GS, I had max bars the majority of the time, even when I touched it.
Now, the question is whether or not this is just a software bug. I personally believe it may be a software bug because even when all of my bars disappear, I can still load web pages and stuff just fine. I just wish Apple would come out and say something for the record to prevent any further confusion.
These two explainations make the most sense. If this really is an issue I would expect Apple to release a software update within the next few days to fix the problem.
Wow that is weird my iphone 4 does the same thing. I have it sitting on the table and it has 5 bar then I pick it up and hold it and slowly the bars drop, but like others have said it still makes calls and safari still loads quickly.
The problem is, I can't enjoy something that doesn't work properly. Not only that but I can't replace it because the stores are going to be sold out. How can I possibly exchange this non-working phone, if they don't have any phones to exchange with? It really seems like I am going to be out of a phone for the next month while they get their supplies in check.
The funny thing is that nobody noticed that when Steve Jobs was doing his presentation?? The 3GS opened the page and the iPhone 4 was struggling... on the same network. I suspected right then and there the iPhone 4 had reception issues... now it's confirmed. I guess we'll have to wait for iPhone 5.
I don't have an iPhone 4 but I keep racking my brain trying to figure out how Apple would miss this in field testing. Then I thought of something.
The leaked iPhone 4 was in a "3GS style case". If all the field testers kept them in cases, wouldn't they have not even noticed this problem seeing as their hand would not be actually making contact with the metal?
If thats the case, I guess Apple's secrecy is biting them in the a** now.
The leaked iPhone 4 was in a "3GS style case". If all the field testers kept them in cases, wouldn't they have not even noticed this problem seeing as their hand would not be actually making contact with the metal?
If thats the case, I guess Apple's secrecy is biting them in the a** now.
Apple will exchange the phone no problem, or even give a refund.
As to ATT, forget it, no refunds as far as I know. You are stuck for 2 years.
My phone doesn't have this issue
Tried to reproduce the results in all the videos. . . and I can't.
Tried holding it the same way as in the videos, touching both the side and bottom antenna, etc. No difference in reception, at least in the bar scale.
Perhaps there is a very specific/intense way of holding it to require this? Or perhaps the issue is not as prevalent from one phone to the next?
Either way, it doesn't look like it will be an issue for my phone (32GB).
*Shrug.*
Tried to reproduce the results in all the videos. . . and I can't.
Tried holding it the same way as in the videos, touching both the side and bottom antenna, etc. No difference in reception, at least in the bar scale.
Perhaps there is a very specific/intense way of holding it to require this? Or perhaps the issue is not as prevalent from one phone to the next?
Either way, it doesn't look like it will be an issue for my phone (32GB).
*Shrug.*
I am a Certified Apple Pro / Tech... The 2 iPhone 4's i received today lose the AT&T signal when phone(s) are held in my hand. As soon as i lay them down on the table the signal returns.
Phone itself is awesome without a doubt, but we use the phones for work and disappearing phone signal strength when held in the hand not good...
Your an Apple certified tech and you just joined this site within the last 20 days and this is your first and only post?????? HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Ya, I am thinking this might be a problem with the body's grounding or resonance interference with the stainless steal band acting as the antenna!
If I recall correctly, the right side is the portion dedicated to the cell network chips (Top UMTS or 3G, and bottom GSM or Edge), and since he was holding it with his left hand, he had 4 fingers interfering with that portion of the antenna. Perhaps depending on which hand you hold it with, and therefore which side your 4 fingers are on versus just your thumb, it will cause a problem when on the side of the antenna band that is dedicated to the cell chips. The other left portion is for Bluetooth, WIFI, and GPS.
Any thoughts people? I hope not!
I'm left handed.Attachments
Man, you guys are making a lot out of a well known issue that affects all cell phones. Obviously just because of the redesigned antenna people are more sensitive to such sensationalist journalism, like the crap Gizmodo and Engadget are known for.
Of course! Apple never did a single test with this phone where someone held it in their hand. It all makes sense now!
Thank God!
Finally, we can move on from all this craziness about reception... all cell phones have always done it... get a Bluetooth head set if it's an issue where you are.
You only drop a bar or two if you're moving around, but if that's all the cell available, then you'll get drop outs or dropped calls. What's absolutely hilarious is it's engrained in the common culture that when you can't get any cell, you run around like an idiot looking for better cell, when that alone is working against you.
If you have no bars, set your phone down. What I've had success at in remote places is setting the phone on the roof of a car, near the driver door (so I can stand on the frame)... and actually make the call using speaker. It sucks, but that's life... and it works sometimes when you'd otherwise be running around like an idiot trying to get cell that you can never get.
btw, informed Jason Chen, author of the fallacious junk science Gizmodo article alleging iPhone 4 has a reception problem... yeah, you know the one I'm talking about... I let him know all cell phones exhibit this behavior, always have... and he BANNED me from Gizmodo. ROFL. So if you have a few minutes to wait for Gizmodo's painful page loads, go ahead and register and post your experiences that what he is reporting is... very very old news. We knew this in 1982 (G1 cell phones the size of a car, the good old days).
Kind of kills the whole reason to have a cell phone
Finally, we can move on from all this craziness about reception... all cell phones have always done it... get a Bluetooth head set if it's an issue where you are.
You only drop a bar or two if you're moving around, but if that's all the cell available, then you'll get drop outs or dropped calls. What's absolutely hilarious is it's engrained in the common culture that when you can't get any cell, you run around like an idiot looking for better cell, when that alone is working against you.
If you have no bars, set your phone down. What I've had success at in remote places is setting the phone on the roof of a car, near the driver door (so I can stand on the frame)... and actually make the call using speaker. It sucks, but that's life... and it works sometimes when you'd otherwise be running around like an idiot trying to get cell that you can never get.
btw, informed Jason Chen, author of the fallacious junk science Gizmodo article alleging iPhone 4 has a reception problem... yeah, you know the one I'm talking about... I let him know all cell phones exhibit this behavior, always have... and he BANNED me from Gizmodo. ROFL. So if you have a few minutes to wait for Gizmodo's painful page loads, go ahead and register and post your experiences that what he is reporting is... very very old news. We knew this in 1982 (G1 cell phones the size of a car, the good old days).
My iPhone edge and iPhone 3G do not do this. Either does iPad
If I am holding my brand new iPhone 4 in my hands, over about 15 seconds 4-5 bars will drop to 1-2 bars.
When I put it on the table, after about 15 seconds it climbs back to 4-5 bars.
I will make a video tomorrow. Time for bed now
If I am holding my brand new iPhone 4 in my hands, over about 15 seconds 4-5 bars will drop to 1-2 bars.
When I put it on the table, after about 15 seconds it climbs back to 4-5 bars.
I will make a video tomorrow. Time for bed now
I would assume they will hold back enough stock to be able to do exchanges. It would be bad business if they could not exchange it in a timely fashion.
If that doesn't work it is possible a software fix will come soon. Last if all else fails you might have to go back to your old phone for a little while provided you still have it. I am not sure, but you sounded pretty upset so I am just trying to provide a little encouragement.
No need. We believe you. It's still irrelevant until someone does some controlled tests.
So lets assume this whole touch scenario is true - will something like the Wrapsol prevent it from happening?