Ok, Proximity sensor, I've had enough..

[zub3qin]

I have a 32GB week 32 iPhone 4 and I am having proximity sensor issues and it's driving me nuts. I have a genius bar appointment later today, will they replace the phone or am I just wasting my time?

And if they replace it what are the chances I won't have the issue again? Can anyone who got a replacement or something please chime in.

First they will say that you are the first person that has complained about it- they haven't heard of this problem. And they will say it with such a straight face you will be scared that people can lie that easily. I had gone to 3 different genius bar reps in 2 different apple stores, and all 3 said the exact same thing.

Then you will press them and they will say they can't replicate the issue so that there is no issue.

Don't stop here- if you do, there will be a notation in your account that they tested your sensor and it was fine. This will screw you if you try to replace it over the telephone support or in another store.

Force them to replace it- if you are loud enough they will.

Of course, I went through 3 phones and all have prox sensor issues, although I will tell you that in my current week 30 phone, it is 90% improved vs the other earlier phones.

Good luck

 

[Aries326]

My wife has the exact same problem on her phone. We swapped it out for a black box iphone 4 because in addition to the frequent hanging up, her phone was also freezing up, buttons would become unresponsive and she'd have to turn the phone off an on. She also told me about how her phone would call voicemail out of nowhere. I thought she was nuts.

Just a few minutes ago, I was talking to my buddy when all of a sudden, the phone started dialing someone else. Weird... After reading this thread, I'm convinced that I should return this phone. I'll upgrade to 4.02 now and forget the jailbreak. If I still have the same problems, I'm returning this phone and use my 3GS until the iPhone 5 comes out.

 

[jezzym81]

Has anyone considered that it might be down to user rather than phone?

Without wanting to sound like I'm on Apple's side here, I've read a lot of posts about people who's i4's do have the problem, but that their friend's don't. Have we tried personally using our friend's phones that aren't exhibiting this issue?

I notice that depending on where I hold the phone on MY ear, depends on whether the sensor works. So is it actually a universal problem with the sensitivity of the sensor which only affects those with a particular shaped ear, or is it hardware related?

It just seems that people are ruling out software because some phones appear affected and some don't, when actually it's more than likely to do with the sensitivity of the switch overall, and the shape of people's ears. In which case simply adjusting the software to be more sensitive should solve the issue.

Am I just stating the obvious?!

 

[UCF-ENG]

Has anyone considered that it might be down to user rather than phone?

NO... I have owned a 2G and a 3GS and I have NEVER, let me repeat, NEVER had any proximity sensor issues with either of those phones. With my 4 it has been a complete disaster. I already returned and re-bought it once and this one is better (another sign that this is a hardware issue) but it's still pretty terrible.

 

[jasonforisrael]

apple has admitted to it.

why would anyone say "it must be the user"?

 

[macmedal]

I have hardly being using my iPhone as a phone because of this issue, however today I had a conversation which took 5 redials as I kept cutting off the other caller, it is a joke. I have had both a 3G and 3GS with no such issue. I am really considering my options at the moment as to whether I get rid of it.

 

[DrFillster]

I have hardly being using my iPhone as a phone because of this issue, however today I had a conversation which took 5 redials as I kept cutting off the other caller, it is a joke. I have had both a 3G and 3GS with no such issue. I am really considering my options at the moment as to whether I get rid of it.

Turn it back in or sell it. Went back to my 3GS and I'm satisfied. Still check the forum to see when/if it will be fixed so I can buy a new iphone 4.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

NO... I have owned a 2G and a 3GS and I have NEVER, let me repeat, NEVER had any proximity sensor issues with either of those phones. With my 4 it has been a complete disaster. I already returned and re-bought it once and this one is better (another sign that this is a hardware issue) but it's still pretty terrible.

Cut and paste this (well for the 2G part). Not once - ever in (insert # of years since original iPhone launch) have I had an issue with the proximity sensor.

IP4 was not used any differently and had proximity issues galore.

Also - it was not in a case.

For poops and giggles - the more that I think about it - most of the problems occurred while in bright lighting conditions. (outdoors or in a brightly lit room) It never happened (that I can recall) when I was indoors.

 

[Aries326]

So, I took the iPhone 4 to the bathroom with me, shut the lights and made a phone call. Sure enough, the screen was continually blinking on and off as I held the phone to my ear. I used my wife's iPhone 4 with 4.02 and my iPhone 4 with 4.01 and jailbroken. I got the same results.

I went into the settings and reset the network settings on both phones. Sure enough, it fixed the problem! Now, with the iPhone 4 up to my ear, the screen stays turned off and the screen doesn't respond to touches.

The problem is independent of which system 4.01 or 4.02 and independent of being jailbroken or not. The common denominator in all this is that we both restored our iPhones 4 from back ups instead of setting up as new phones. I can't remember where I read about the fix but it works.

 

[falconman515]

I went into the settings and reset the network settings on both phones

Hundreds of people that I have seen in these threads have done this and it doesn't fix it, most have reported that it seems better at first but has always returned.

 

[applekiwipeach]

My cheek randomly dialed someone and initiated facetime while talking to another. This is driving me nuts. I'm just gonna leave a msg in this thread whenever there's a problem, so that it gets bumped up enough.
I'm enraged.

 

[bmwhd]

Wow - I just don't know about this folks - I opened a defect on this with Apple dev support a couple of weeks ago solely to provide additional data points. I assumed they'd immediately close it as a dup of a known problem...

As of 8/18 - still engaging me in dialog trying to reproduce the issue and looking for crash logs

 

[Peterg2]

Wow - I just don't know about this folks - I opened a defect on this with Apple dev support a couple of weeks ago solely to provide additional data points. I assumed they'd immediately close it as a dup of a known problem...

As of 8/18 - still engaging me in dialog trying to reproduce the issue and looking for crash logs

This attitude drives me nuts in so many areas of tech support. Far, far too often one's problems are greeted with "You are the first person we know who has this problem..."

 

[themagicman00]

I am having this proximity sensor problems, went to Short Hills mall apple store and was told to wait until the software update. The genius didn't even look at my phone, he stated the update should come out within days.
This is driving me crazy, should I go back and press the genious on getting a replacement, this is a 2 day old phone!

 

[pilotkid]

I am having this proximity sensor problems, went to Short Hills mall apple store and was told to wait until the software update. The genius didn't even look at my phone, he stated the update should come out within days.
This is driving me crazy, should I go back and press the genious on getting a replacement, this is a 2 day old phone!

I'm in the same boat as you. However I don't think a replacement phone will be any different. I have a feeling that it is a software problem. IMO I would just wait tell the next software update comes out. Thats what I'm doing...

 

[Worf]

I am having this proximity sensor problems, went to Short Hills mall apple store and was told to wait until the software update. The genius didn't even look at my phone, he stated the update should come out within days.
This is driving me crazy, should I go back and press the genious on getting a replacement, this is a 2 day old phone!

To everyone and their grandmas complaining about the proximity sensor problem:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ate_proximity_sensor_fix_gamecenter_more.html

Proximity sensor

While not documented by Apple, experience with the iOS 4.1 beta has shown that the proximity sensor on the iPhone 4 is far more reliable. Since the device launched in June, users have reported that the handset's touchscreen will sometimes turn on in the midst of a call, resulting in accidental button presses that can end a call or place someone on hold.

At a press conference in July, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs confirmed that his company was aware of the problem and working on a fix. But the first two minor updates to iOS 4, in the form of 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, did not address the problem.
r

 

[PKPUNCH]

proximity sensor issue here too! seriously this has been the worst iPhone launch ever!!!! Apple WAS known for quality product but the iP4 launch is just ridiculous. I returned my phone because I can't use it for what its intended for. It's ridiculous that I have to talk to everyone on SPEAKERPHONE!!! I haven't had real antenna issues but geez proximity.. and oh yeah.. wheres the mysterious white iPHONE!! HAHAHA dumb!

 

[Manzana]

I almost flung my iphone across a parking lot today. the proximity sensor issue kept muting my call, driving me crazy. It seems to happen more often when I call people with Verizon phones, anyone else notice this?

 

[terraphantm]

I almost flung my iphone across a parking lot today. the proximity sensor issue kept muting my call, driving me crazy. It seems to happen more often when I call people with Verizon phones, anyone else notice this?

placebo/coincidence. The iPhone doesn't know who the provider is for the person on the other end. There's no way the other end being on VZW would effect the hardware or even software on your end.

 

[Zappp]

Everyone with the proximity sensor issue, can you please let your friends (at least 5) try your iphone 4? Cuz someone from apple forum wrote these:

My iP4 presently appears to be working perfectly. But I've 'tested' maybe 20 handsets or so to see if I can find one with a Proximity Sensor fault. No luck so far. That's telling me it's more to do with the user than the handset. I believe all the handsets are the same. They are all 'faulty' to people who have the Proximity Sensor issue, and they are all working perfectly to the majority of us.

I'm not saying there is no fault. I am saying there is a design issue in that Apple did not take everyone's usage method into cnsideration when they 'tested' the handset. But the user appears to be the deciding factor in whether or not any handset has a proximity sensor issue. If that's the case, Michael is right. There is no software fix. Maybe a user override option at best.

 

[Aries326]

To all of you with sensor problems, try this out:

http://www.notebooks.com/2010/07/10...ximity-sensor-problems-no-more-cheek-dialing/

This is the fix I used on my iPhone 4 and my wife's iPhone 4. It works like a charm.

 

[macmedal]

Everyone with the proximity sensor issue, can you please let your friends (at least 5) try your iphone 4? Cuz someone from apple forum wrote these:

My iP4 presently appears to be working perfectly. But I've 'tested' maybe 20 handsets or so to see if I can find one with a Proximity Sensor fault. No luck so far. That's telling me it's more to do with the user than the handset. I believe all the handsets are the same. They are all 'faulty' to people who have the Proximity Sensor issue, and they are all working perfectly to the majority of us.

I'm not saying there is no fault. I am saying there is a design issue in that Apple did not take everyone's usage method into cnsideration when they 'tested' the handset. But the user appears to be the deciding factor in whether or not any handset has a proximity sensor issue. If that's the case, Michael is right. There is no software fix. Maybe a user override option at best.

I don't buy this I have had an iPhone 3G and 3GS which I have been using for over two years with no such issue whatsoever. Yes I accept they have repositioned the sensor to allow for the front facing camera, but my iPhone 4 is almost unusable and I have to use it on speaker phone to make phone calls. I have tried lots of methods of holding it to prevent the problem none of which work. My 30 days are up on Saturday and I have decided to return the phone. I will get one in the future if/when the fix happens. Really not happy, wish I had never sold my 3GS.

 

[ideal.dreams]

I agree. Unless I'm literally digging the phone into the side of my face, the proximity sensor isn't triggered, and the screen lights up.

This issue is allegedly going to be fixed in 4.1, but we'll see...

 

[WhatAmI]

Dunno if this has been mentioned but in Steve Jobs infamous AntennaGate show he did mention that they were looking in to the proximity problem etc etc - I don't think he would have mentioned it the way he did w/o being 100% sure that this was a simple code fix.

 

[duffer]

Dunno if this has been mentioned but in Steve Jobs infamous AntennaGate show he did mention that they were looking in to the proximity problem etc etc - I don't think he would have mentioned it the way he did w/o being 100% sure that this was a simple code fix.

If it was a simple code fix, why don't we have it yet?