Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way

[Shadez]

Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way

By Joshua Topolsky posted Jun 24th 2010 8:07PM
Breaking News

So, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising. In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are reception issues with the new iPhone -- namely, that if you cover the bottom-left corner of the phone and bridge the gap between the notch there with your naked flesh, you could see some signal degradation.

Yes, you read that right: it's not a software or production issue, simply a matter of the physical location of your hand in regards to the phone's antenna. The company's suggested fix? Move your hand position, or get a case which covers that part of the phone, thus breaking contact. As you can see in the email above which just arrived in our tip box, this is a sentiment which runs pretty high at the company. Here's the official statement:

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.

We know what you're thinking, and we're thinking it too: this sounds crazy. Essentially, Apple is saying that the problem is how you hold your phone, and that the solution is to change that habit, or buy one of their cases. Admittedly, this isn't a problem that exists only for the iPhone 4 -- we've seen reports of the same behavior on previous generations (the 3G and 3GS), and there is a running thread about this problem with the Nexus One.

While it is definitely true that interference is an unavoidable problem, we can't help feeling like this is really a bit of bad design. If the only answer is to move your hand, why didn't Apple just move the antenna position? What we can say without question is that in our testing of the phone, we had improved reception and fewer dropped calls than we experienced with the last generation, and we never noticed this issue. Additionally, when using a bumper we can't recreate the signal loss.

So, now we have an answer... all we're wondering is whether or not the company will start handing out bumpers pro-bono to those who are experiencing problems. It certainly seems like the right thing to do.



Update: To add a little perspective, check out a video from 2008 after the break showing the same issue with the now-ancient iPhone 3G (thanks Inge).



(Thought comments were funny so left in)

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• Some iPhone 4 models see signals drop to 0 when held left-handed, including ours (video)14 hours ago

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Vexorg Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:10PM
Highest Ranked
Remember, you don't adjust the iPhone to fit you, you adjust yourself to fit the iPhone.



H264 Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg
People don't hold phones. -Steve Jobs




Yankees Win Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg unbelievable that jobs tells the customer to hold it a different way. as an apple shareholder, i find that explanation to be not only unsatisfactory, but down right wrong.




andrewwg94 Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg

Oh no he didn't!




Revolutionary Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:14PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg

iPhone fanboys coming in 5, 4, 3 ,2 ,1 .

[Shadez]

Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way

By Joshua Topolsky posted Jun 24th 2010 8:07PM
Breaking News

So, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising. In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are reception issues with the new iPhone -- namely, that if you cover the bottom-left corner of the phone and bridge the gap between the notch there with your naked flesh, you could see some signal degradation.

Yes, you read that right: it's not a software or production issue, simply a matter of the physical location of your hand in regards to the phone's antenna. The company's suggested fix? Move your hand position, or get a case which covers that part of the phone, thus breaking contact. As you can see in the email above which just arrived in our tip box, this is a sentiment which runs pretty high at the company. Here's the official statement:

Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.

We know what you're thinking, and we're thinking it too: this sounds crazy. Essentially, Apple is saying that the problem is how you hold your phone, and that the solution is to change that habit, or buy one of their cases. Admittedly, this isn't a problem that exists only for the iPhone 4 -- we've seen reports of the same behavior on previous generations (the 3G and 3GS), and there is a running thread about this problem with the Nexus One.

While it is definitely true that interference is an unavoidable problem, we can't help feeling like this is really a bit of bad design. If the only answer is to move your hand, why didn't Apple just move the antenna position? What we can say without question is that in our testing of the phone, we had improved reception and fewer dropped calls than we experienced with the last generation, and we never noticed this issue. Additionally, when using a bumper we can't recreate the signal loss.

So, now we have an answer... all we're wondering is whether or not the company will start handing out bumpers pro-bono to those who are experiencing problems. It certainly seems like the right thing to do.





Update: To add a little perspective, check out a video from 2008 after the break showing the same issue with the now-ancient iPhone 3G (thanks Inge).

(Thought comments were funny so left in)

Leave A Comment
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apple, apple iphone 4, AppleIphone4, breaking news, BreakingNews, iphone 4, Iphone4, reception

• Some iPhone 4 models see signals drop to 0 when held left-handed, including ours (video)14 hours ago
• iPhone 4 review2 days ago
• Apple randomly canceling some iPhone pre-orders?5 days ago

From Our Partners

• Double Stevemails on iPhone 4 reception: "Just don’t hold it that way"1 hour, 58 minutes ago
• Can You See Me Now? MIT’s Cheap Eye-Exam Attachment for Cell Phones5 hours ago
• iOS 4 hits the iPhone today - here’s how to get it3 days ago

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Vexorg Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:10PM
Highest Ranked
Remember, you don't adjust the iPhone to fit you, you adjust yourself to fit the iPhone.




H264 Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg
People don't hold phones. -Steve Jobs




Yankees Win Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM

Highest Ranked
@Vexorg unbelievable that jobs tells the customer to hold it a different way. as an apple shareholder, i find that explanation to be not only unsatisfactory, but down right wrong.




andrewwg94 Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:13PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg

Oh no he didn't!




Revolutionary Posted Jun 24th 2010 8:14PM
Highest Ranked
@Vexorg

iPhone fanboys coming in 5, 4, 3 ,2 ,1 .

[cereal killer]

lols all the way around on this one Shadez...

Thanks for the laugh...

[Johnly]

I got stuck in a serious boot loop with clockwork flashed as my recovery tonight....yes, it was angering me, and had to flash sp recovery through RSD...never again Rom Manager, you can take my 4 bucks and grab a burger....your services will no longer be used here...iPhone 4 rocking radio? Now that beats RM for fail IMO...hahah

[pc747]

$40 bumper huh....oh well its all about the money.

[jntdroid]

I've seen threads get off topic, but wow, what in the world does RM have to do with the iphone's reception issues?

[Johnly]

I've seen threads get off topic, but wow, what in the world does RM have to do with the iphone's reception issues?

Thank you for redirecting me, I thought my post addressed the iPhone issue...you know how it is, someone can roll through and take the thread out of context...I just have to defend my POV. I have a grand POV too

[pc747]

maybe the new iphone 4 has been rooted and now is using rom manager..

no serious lets stay on topic. the ops thread was about ios4. Its a thread to bash yje iphone4, all other bashing should be done in another thread.

[jntdroid]

maybe software afterall?

The New iPhone Isn't Broken, iOS 4 Is

edit: ok the last paragraph in that article is flat out wrong as videos have shown calls actually being dropped, not just bars going down...
here's a better article with more vids: http://www.intomobile.com/2010/06/24...-not-hardware/

[Shadez]

....sigh....