Poll: is your iPhone 4 retina display seeing yellow spots? (update: losing bars in the hand?)
By Ross Miller 
posted June 23rd 2010 7:40PM
posted June 23rd 2010 7:40PM
Update: As a number of readers have pointed out, there seems to be an issue with how many bars are displayed on screen -- perhaps even a correlation to how it's being held in the hand. According to Walt Mossberg's review, Apple has acknowledged the issue as something that has to do with "the way the bars are presented, not the actual ability to make a call," and that a fix is forthcoming. Indeed, as noted in our review, we've had "far, far fewer dropped calls than we experienced on our 3GS." We're not seeing very many videos showing more dropped call, but the bar change is interesting. Still, to be sure, we're adding another poll.
Update 2: Our iPhone 4 purchased in Japan has a pale yellow bar along then entire bottom edge. Picture after the break.
| Yes, in the bottom right corner | |
|---|---|
| Yes, but somewhere else on the screen | |
| Nope, my iPhone 4 screen is fine | |
| Either my FedEx guy isn't so nice or I just remembered I hadn't ordered one anyway |
| Yes, but I don't seem to be dropping any more calls (than usual, at least) | |
|---|---|
| Yes, and I'm dropping more bars than usual | |
| Not seeing any difference in how reception is displayed | |
| ...nope, still don't have an iPhone 4 |
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
@wakeuplan
If it has a pen it failed? Looks like a pen would at least let you use the phone feature of the phone...
@wakeuplan
Apple: "These bumpers come in all sorts of colors and will protect the iPhone from a good signal. And especially will protect the phone itself when you throw it against the wall in frustration."
@wakeuplan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncjcbyAoYkg
kid already broke his iphone 4 though
I'm not normally one to jump on the Engadget-is-biased train, but reading the actual Mossberg article, I don't know how Engadget could have possibly concluded 'According to Walt Mossberg's review, Apple has acknowledged the issue as something that has to do with "the way the bars are presented, not the actual ability to make a call," and that a fix is forthcoming.'
Go ahead and read the review yourself:
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100622/apple-iphone4-review/
He's talking about signal strength in general, not about this specific problem when holding the sides.
Furthermore, this is no mere display issue. Take a look at the Gizmodo article where people are demonstrating on video that the speed drops dramatically with the loss of bars:
http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band
@wakeuplan
All these polls to verify issues. Where were the polls for the EVO issues? Just articles stating the issues as if the majority of users had them. Great job!
@BrianH
LMAO!!! I asked about the antenna in a forum post and wondered what ppl thought of it. It sounded like a good idea, when I read about it....
Guess this is one of those things that "looks good on paper"
@shadowfix or when the apple engineer peed on it.
@wakeuplan
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude... what building was he in?? I swear that was like 0 to 1 bars.... yikes indeed...
@SebizOssim
I believe the iPhone 4 is being unjustly criticized. It seems obvious to me that it was designed for two handed operation. One hand to hold the phone...the other with "free" thumb to stick in any available orifice to counter apparent body to antenna grounding?
@wakeuplan
I don't see why so many people are doubting the legitimacy of this poll...
What I see is that for both polls over 60% of the people said, like me, that they dont have an iphone. This obviously includes most android lovers, like me, that probably don't particularly like the iphone.
The remaining 30-35% must therefore be, obviously with a margin of error that any poll has, iphone owners... Or did they all suddendly stop reading engadget???
@wakeuplan WAIT WAIT WAIT.... Everyone do not fret.... there is a SIMPLE EASY FIX to this antenna issue....
DON'T TOUCH YOUR iPHONE!
@wakeuplan WAIT WAIT WAIT... Please do not fret... there is a SIMPLE EASY FIX to this antenna issue....
DON'T TOUCH YOUR iPHONE!
@ravissimo iFail for hitting submit button twice :(
@BrianH Clearly you're just a hater on here to relish in any bad news you can get from the iPhone 4. The reception/drop bars problem seems to be more of iOS4 problem than an iPhone 4 problem. I never had this problem with my 3GS with the new software, but installed the iOS4 and now having the same issues with my 3GS. However, it's not as drastic as some are making it. For one, unless you wrap your hands and fingers around a large portion of the phone and squeeze hard and consistenlty, you won't even notice the issue. Granted they need to release a software patch, but you haters just need to relax.
@StickyD
Ok that made no sense. How could the 3gs be affected when the antenna us in a different place. It is not a software issue. Nice try with the wishful thinking though. And if there is an issue with yours since adding ios4 it would have to be some other issue. Stop acting like you know.
Not sure there will be an easy fix for this problem but hopefully they get it figured out.
@BrianH
Just based on the typical amount of Fandroid astroturfing and anti-Apple rage on this comments board, yes, I think far more than 50% are lying when they say they're seeing problems with the iPhone 4. Most of the people claiming to be having problems have likely never even touched an iPhone 4. That's not hyperbole, that's real-life observation.
BTW, no problems with screen or reception with my iPhone 4, which I actually have in my possession.
@coolkams03
I don't understand what the big deal is ?? Apple simply made features to reflect both the feelings and state of the carrier they choose for the iphone4;
Instead of always being dropped by ATT you can do it yourself, talk about the ultimate user experience. And some people would rather be pissed on then use ATT's network so........... What's the big deal ? Am I missing something ?
uh.oh.
@coolkams03 either that or: ruh, roh
@coolkams03
Maybe Steve Jobs really does pee in every iPhone...
@coolkams03
Apple's new numbers :
1.000.000 iPhones sold.
700.000 replaced due screen issues.
@barac
the rest replaced for reception issues
Lemon Pie. yummmm.
Wait. What are we talking about?
@DefPoet I think it was Def Jam we were talking about..
@gargle
:p
It's the only pic that has my name in on the entire internet
Wow, so much for quality products.
@ArcticWolf Don't you see? This is a "retina display", and in his old age, Steve's retinas are starting to get little yellow spots on them. Hence, he included these to give iPhone users a greater appreciation for their youth.
@Brad Hubbard Before the joke goes any further: one outward sign of liver failure is when the whites of your eyes turn yellow. Just FYI.
@ArcticWolf
Well, at least it's cheap.
...oh, wait....
@ArcticWolf
Whoops --- screen problems AND reception problems. Wow
http://briefmobile.com/iphone-4-plagued-with-issues-on-launch
I may hold off on this phone.
@kpenning
but, but... but it's got the new Retina Display and Super Chassis Antennae!!! And everyone here at Engadget knows that only non-Apple products ever suffer from defects.
:)
that is all.
@kpenning
@ArcticWolf
Whoops --- screen problems AND reception problems. Wow
http://briefmobile.com/iphone-4-plagued-with-issues-on-launch
I may hold off on this phone
------------------------------------------
NO NO. BUY IT. A reliable source (Apple fanboy) told me these are features.
Yellow = Quattron technology. OH MY !!!
Disconnection = It all part of the "touch". Touch to disconnect.
SEE. Now BUY !!
@ArcticWolf
i just tried this at an Apple store with 3 different iPhone4s. i showed this to one of the Genius at the store an he tried it out with another one. they all showed the same result. the reception bars drop from full to 1 bar while hand handled. the Genius then tried to see whether the WiFi was effected but that didn't seem to be the case.
am having doubts about getting this now. i think i'll wait for the second patch.
This is just the beginning of the early adopter hurt... it's bound to happen folks. Don't get to choked up over it.
@EddieN
Dont you just hate it when they find flaws in your brand spanking new flawless phone? Plus theres this. Its also losing signal when handheld
http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band
BTW Im an EVO owner :)
@jr2cool
It shows.
@jr2cool I wonder if that is due to some kind of bridging of the antennae or some kind of software issue. Interesting to see more on this ... if the reception is really lost (ie are calls possible) or just the indication of reception levels.
@EddieN Early adopter? IPHONE 4. FOUR. FOURTH GENERATION.
@Matt08642 True but this is the first time there's really been a big design change. Growing pains are expected. Nothing (even the magical iPhone) is perfect right out the gate.
@Matt08642
It's still the first rev of this product; I think that's what he meant.
@Matt08642
4th gen or not its still a new product on it first production run. Like he says it happens. Toyota was on their 20th Corolla/Camry etc.
@EddieN
retina displays are a bag of eye-hurt (or is that iHurt?)
@esp
Problem is, we humans are mostly made of water. Water blocks a ton of EM transmissions, which is why radio control isn't possible with deep sea robots. Covering an antenna with your had would dampen its ability to receive a signal.
@Mike10010100 But most of the antennae were still exposed and not blocked which made me wonder about the bridge caused by the hand between the two different antenna ... I am sure we will see some more scientific tests done in the coming days.
@EddieN
I seem to recall a bunch of fanboys claiming that apple doesn't release new phones that have issues since they do extensive testing. Three major issues, and it isn't even official release day.
@jr2cool
you better hold on yo your screen, it might fall off=)
@Zif
You remember correctly. This is delicious.
@esp I think it's going to be really hard to tell just because AT&T has the long history of call dropping.
my droid isn't. Hehehe
@kevin52094
don't be a douche