Do you really hold your phone like that? That looks crazy, hold it normally - not grip it like you're trying to kill someone. Then show us the result.
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iPhone 4S death grip (It's here and real... anyone?)
- Thread starter praetorx
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Hmmm. That's an interesting way to hold your phone. It would be good to see how you would actually use it in a grip like that. You're trying to cover all the gaps. I doubt you would ever hold it this way in practice.
Seems you're one of the only people with the issue..... place an S in the appropriate place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKIcaejkpD4
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Side by side, both iPhone 4 and 4S and using *3001#12345#*.. There was no way I could find to hold my 4S to cause any loss of signal... Obviously not true with my iPhone 4. I'd say it's fixed now.
That link shows that while the 4S is better than the 4, there is still far more attenuation compared to the 3GS, when looking at 'holding naturally' and 'on an open palm' which are the only really relevant figures. And the 4S is still a pretty average performer compared to other smartphones.
I had the antennagate issue with my 4 and I am happy to report that I dont have the issue since getting the 4s, no dropped calls now in the same spots that the 4 used to drop them. I only use a sleeve for my iphone so i was experiencing the issue a lot with my 4 since it has no case when I talk on it.
It's there to indicate that the iPhone is most likely suffering from the death grip effect.
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pffft...
I'm in the UK on O2 - which has in the past been said to have very poor iPhone reception in general! I bought the 4s on release day and hadn't thought about the 'death grip' until seeing this post.
I've now taken the phone out of its case and tried 'Death Grip II ..The Sneakquel' method of holding the phone wrong to the point of contortion!
with my hand and fingers bridging all four antenna gaps I can only get the thing to drop from 4 to 3 bars - and even then it keeps bouncing back up after a few seconds. It won't play ball no matter how hard I squeeze or for how long.
That said: I used to get 5 bars on my iPhone 4 sitting at home, but this 4s only manages 4 bars! I'm not sure though if the signal strength in general has diminished slightly or if they've err ..cough ..raised the bar!
Part No. MD235B/A
I'm in the UK on O2 - which has in the past been said to have very poor iPhone reception in general! I bought the 4s on release day and hadn't thought about the 'death grip' until seeing this post.
I've now taken the phone out of its case and tried 'Death Grip II ..The Sneakquel' method of holding the phone wrong to the point of contortion!
with my hand and fingers bridging all four antenna gaps I can only get the thing to drop from 4 to 3 bars - and even then it keeps bouncing back up after a few seconds. It won't play ball no matter how hard I squeeze or for how long.
That said: I used to get 5 bars on my iPhone 4 sitting at home, but this 4s only manages 4 bars! I'm not sure though if the signal strength in general has diminished slightly or if they've err ..cough ..raised the bar!
Part No. MD235B/A
I can confirm that I am seeing the same problem that you are.
I picked up my new 4S about 2 weeks ago, and I'm also using it on T-Mobile USA, which I believe is the common factor in our problem. I bought my phone factory unlocked from Apple, using the "off-contract" purchasing option mentioned on other threads here. I think at this time, there are very few people using the 4S on T-Mobile, and that's why we haven't heard much about this issue so far.
I can replicate the problem when I press the bottom left corner of the phone into my palm. I can get it to go from 4 bars of service down to No Service in a span of 30 seconds. Generally, it's much easier to get it loose service when I'm in an area with reduced service coverage, like my house. When I'm outside with good signal, I can't get the phone to lose service holding it this way, but it will drop a few bars. When held in my right hand, I can't get it to lose any bars.
I will say that the phone gets great service aside from this specific issue. On my drive home, there was a place where my 3GS would consistently drop service, but my 4S keeps a signal the whole way.
My hope is that this problem is related to the 1900Mhz band T-Mobile uses for celular service here in the US. I'd imagine if enough people have this issue, they could correct it with a firmware update.
I picked up my new 4S about 2 weeks ago, and I'm also using it on T-Mobile USA, which I believe is the common factor in our problem. I bought my phone factory unlocked from Apple, using the "off-contract" purchasing option mentioned on other threads here. I think at this time, there are very few people using the 4S on T-Mobile, and that's why we haven't heard much about this issue so far.
I can replicate the problem when I press the bottom left corner of the phone into my palm. I can get it to go from 4 bars of service down to No Service in a span of 30 seconds. Generally, it's much easier to get it loose service when I'm in an area with reduced service coverage, like my house. When I'm outside with good signal, I can't get the phone to lose service holding it this way, but it will drop a few bars. When held in my right hand, I can't get it to lose any bars.
I will say that the phone gets great service aside from this specific issue. On my drive home, there was a place where my 3GS would consistently drop service, but my 4S keeps a signal the whole way.
My hope is that this problem is related to the 1900Mhz band T-Mobile uses for celular service here in the US. I'd imagine if enough people have this issue, they could correct it with a firmware update.
I dropped at least 2-3 calls a day on my AT&T 3GS.
I have dropped ZERO on my Sprint 4S.
So it seems that when you use the phone on a network that it wasn't designed to use and grip the snot out of it, the signal drops a bit. Hmmm....
Considering there are far fewer supported frequencies on T-Mobile, this isn't that surprising. If you used the phone on, say, a supported network I think you'd find no issue. It's not a design flaw when you are using it on a network outside the design criteria. I know my 4S has no problems at all. Heck, even on the 4, I could only get it to drop 1 bar, and even that would be a non-issue.
Considering there are far fewer supported frequencies on T-Mobile, this isn't that surprising. If you used the phone on, say, a supported network I think you'd find no issue. It's not a design flaw when you are using it on a network outside the design criteria. I know my 4S has no problems at all. Heck, even on the 4, I could only get it to drop 1 bar, and even that would be a non-issue.
iPhone on an unsupported network. Need we say more? Different bands, no 3G.
I have had 0 issues with the new phone and signal drop. I can hold it every which way and no issues. Change your "dramatic" thread title to something more appropriate like "iPhone on T-Mobile - Signal not the best"
I have had 0 issues with the new phone and signal drop. I can hold it every which way and no issues. Change your "dramatic" thread title to something more appropriate like "iPhone on T-Mobile - Signal not the best"
You are doing something wrong or are you talking about a 1 bar drop?
I have the same problem with all of my phones when i go up to my apartment using an elevator, except i have no signal, i think i will now complain to or sue samsung,nokia,apple,htc and our elevator company as it doesn't state on it that it prevents mobile phones from working correctly...
sorry for the rant but its better than creating a new thread.
I have the same problem with all of my phones when i go up to my apartment using an elevator, except i have no signal, i think i will now complain to or sue samsung,nokia,apple,htc and our elevator company as it doesn't state on it that it prevents mobile phones from working correctly...
sorry for the rant but its better than creating a new thread.
Eh? It's a quad-band phone designed to work on four different frequency bands worldwide. Any network the phone can connect to, it's designed to connect to, and it's supposed to work. There is no such thing as a supported network.
I can confirm that I also see the dramatic signal loss to full signal back and forth. I am also using an iPhone 4S unlocked on T-mobile in the U.S. I believe that is definitely a common thread for those who experience this.
In addition, I see some other weird things. For example, occasionally, the "T-Mobile" in the upper left will change to some numbers like "311-530" or to something else like "USANCW". When I go into Settings/Carrier, then turn off "Automatic", I usually will see these other phantom carriers in addition to T-Mobile and AT&T.
In addition, I see some other weird things. For example, occasionally, the "T-Mobile" in the upper left will change to some numbers like "311-530" or to something else like "USANCW". When I go into Settings/Carrier, then turn off "Automatic", I usually will see these other phantom carriers in addition to T-Mobile and AT&T.
Actually, there is no death grip problem with the 4S.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4971/apple-iphone-4s-review-att-verizon/2
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4971/apple-iphone-4s-review-att-verizon/2
No problem on mine.
Too be honest I'm very surprised at how much better/longer my 4S holds onto a 3G signal in areas where the iPhone 4 wouldn't have picked the 3G signal up. I also find that the 4S picks up a stronger signal in the same location to what my iPhone 4 used to.