Consumer Reports: iPhone 4 antenna issues are hardware related

By on Jul 12, 2010 at 11:59 AM
mobile July 12, 2010

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Consumer Reports has just published a report on the iPhone 4 that refutes Apple, Inc.’s claim that the iPhone 4 signal issues are a “shocking” software error. Consumer Reports says:

Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4′s signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that “mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength.”

The tests also indicate that AT&T’s network might not be the primary suspect in the iPhone 4′s much-reported signal woes.

The report goes onto say that Consumer Reports can not recommend the iPhone 4 due to the antenna/signal issues that are obviously and apparent. CR adds a little bit of insult to injury by saying, “We did, however, find an affordable solution for suffering iPhone 4 users: Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material. It may not be pretty, but it works.” Ouch. Hit the jump for the video and link to the full report.

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  • Hewie

    Personally, I have never bought an Apple product, much less own one, but I see where persons are going out of their way to discredit Steve Jobs and his products. Sounds like a personally issue. The issue regarding the reception on the Iphone 4, I have tested that out here in Jamaica and there was NO loss of signal, even when the “DEATH GRIP” was applied. WHO THE HELL WOULD SQUEEZE A PHONE SO TIGHT TO MAKE A CALL OR EVEN RECEIVE A CALL.. ? ONLY A MORON!!!

    • MonkeyCheese

      You do realize that “DEATH GRIP” is more a nickname and doesn’t describe how people actually hold their phones?
      Watch the video they apply the “DEATH GRIP” and as you can see they aren’t trying to break the phone in their hands but applying light pressure.

    • Jobs sukk balls

      go smoke your gunja and think that your iphone doesnt have this problem… you must be so high you can even see the bars drop….

      ya mon i can still hear ya….hahah

  • patrick

    sensationalsim works both ways. Your product gets hyped a lot before release and now you get a lot of negative press after release. Seem like something is wrong here. I think it is funny, a little, but my charma says to not get too excited, you are buying the new Droid Thursday so I hope the best for your early iPhone 4 adopters but I haven’t heard of any of these issues for the new Droid, maybe you can return them and get the Droid. There are options, and as far as your apps go. C’mon how many have you paid for really 10-20. And which ones can you not live without?

  • w3apon

    This is not true. Nobody knows how to hold the phone!

    • Evo Don

      That’s the best response I have heard…. Apple should hire you… You have just convinced me to sell my EVO and get an iPhone 4… When I learn how to hold that awesome phone… I will show the world that it is much cooler than an Android……
      lol….. sorry I got a little carried away

    • http://www.absolutefiction.com Rono

      Yes indeed.
      We should expect a tutorial for that.

  • Zach

    I held my dixie cup the wrong way today . .it spilled on me . . . i’m suing

    • UberSapian

      Hehe

  • dc5

    Nice LOL duct tape come on apple recall already. In other news this was posted from my hd2 running android nexus 1 2.1 rom

  • jonathan

    @Frank, I have the antenna issue , but since smartphones are so expensive I always use a case regardless of brand. I can honestly say that with it my iphone4 works great. Yes I can make calls; in fact, I have made hundreds of calls since I got it. The only way I would take it back is if Apple redesigns the antenna and people who bought the original IP4 gets a free replacement. I’ll take a free bumper too, what the heck. Regardless of what haters say, besides the antenna issue it’s a great phone. For the record, I’m not a fanatic apple fan, I don’t own everything apple. I also happen to like Android, just not the rabid fans. Spend a lot time on a windows 7 PC and used Nseries phones before the Iphone3gs.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • Cesar

    Well, I have an iPhone 4 and I havento say hat the data or signal lost when using the Forbidden “Death Grip” isn’t bad at all… I even performed some tests of my own using ookla’s iPhone app… The results are below, along with a description…

    http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/26908169@N03/4787086095/sizes/l/

  • Jobs sukk balls

    HAHHAA stupid iphone fanboys, gotta love your leader jobs huh? hahhahaha

  • MikeD

    Here is a dose of reality. I think this is an issue that is way overblown by Fanboys of other products. Why? well when you step away from all the fanboyism, it amazes me how they are ignoring the fact that even with the antenna issue, Consumer Reports also gave the iPhone a stellar review and it scored 2 points ahead the EVO.

    iPhone 4 (76 out of 100)

    Evo (74 out of 100)

    http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20100712/consumer-reports-by-the-way-the-iphone-4-is-also-the-best-smartphone-on-the-market/

    So if we are taking their bad news about the iPhone seriously. I am curious how are the haters also dealing with the glowing review Consumer Reports gave. Or are we going see Fanboys (irrational people who see no good in anything else but what they want to.)

    If Apple fixes the issue, which I’m sure any company would do.

    What are numerous people in this thread that thought CR was clowning Apple going to say?

    Can people around here just grow up a little. Just a little. The iPhone 4 is not a POS. Oh and the Evo is not a POS. Each have had issues and both can be resolved.

    I know people who have Evo and iPhone 4 and they have problems. But I also know People with the iPhone 4 and Evo, and have no issues. This is just spinning out of control for sensationalism and Apple’s poor damage control personnel.

    • dario

      The “don’t buy recommendation” is big. It doesn’t matter if CR gave it a good rating or not. It found a serious flaw and because of that flaw it is telling users to avoid the product. How is that blowing things out of proportion? They did this with the Lexus earlier in the year. They loved the car but found a serious flaw that forced a ‘don’t buy recommendation’. Toyota took that very seriously. It will be interesting to see how Apple reacts.

      And you are overlooking a basic fact from their findings – it is hardware based not software. We knew this already of course but it is good to see an official and respected organization say this for the fanboys to take notice.

      An Apple fix is either going to take the form of a recall or a revision to the hardware. I serious doubt they will recall the phone so now you have 3+ million defective phones in the wilds. Nice.

    • MonkeyCheese

      MikeD this might be getting overblown by the fanboys but it doesn’t change the fact that this is a problem for some people out there. Not being able to make a call is different to the Evo’s screen problem because one of the problem hinders the phone useless for a moment. For Steve Jobs to say “Oh they’re holding it wrong.” just adds fuel to the fire.

      Yes Mike both phones are great and they both have their problems.

    • mezmryz03

      @MikeD…It’s not necessarily the antenna problem that is the main issue, it’s the complete mishandling of that issue that has put Apple in this situation. If they had gotten in front of this and directed the news a little better, they could have actually gained customer support. Instead they were surprised, dismissive, and even a little arrogant. Will this destroy them? No. Is there phone high-quality? Of course. Remember the word fan is short for fanatic, and your going to get a lot of nonsense on the internet. Chill out, and enjoy the show.

  • PAPINYC

    Those 2 extra points the iPhone 4 received from CR were for Duct Tape color coordination.

  • Nun ya

    It’s amazing how most are so quick to point out the antenna flaw, but leave out that the iPhone 4 in the same article is said to be the best smartphone ever made.

    I am one of the rare ones that actually owns the iPhone 4 and the only issues I have is with the proximity sensor. I use a case but I use a case on every smartphone I have ever owned. My brother was with me out in the boonies with his 3GS and couldn’t make a call but my phone could so when you so use a case it actually has a better antenna than the previous models.

    I will agree 100% that apple needs to address these serious issues or even do a complete recall as some don’t like to use cases, but if you can suffer through the torement of using a case you will have the best smartphone consumer reports has ever tested.

  • Chip Bruchez

    piece of duct tape? hahah why not an attractive minimal case?

  • adamsrice

    what about the armstrong bracelet bumper.

  • http://www.redstore-rmt.com ff11 rmt

    就弗朗索瓦而非

  • Jake

    All I have to say is, score another one for duck tape. A solution to many of life’s problems.

  • abe

    apple iphone 4 in Uk, Japan, and other european countries has no problems with the reception and the service is good. only in USa with ATT is the problem.

  • http://www.freecarsolution.com Lewis

    Amazing. It seemed like only a few weeks back these folks used to be at each others throats and he was mocking Sarah Palin. Now they are sneaking around right behind her mothers back and get engaged and inform her via the magazine. Seems like she has quite a few mommy issues perhaps?

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