iPhone 4's antenna problem looks worse than it is, but it's still bad

The iPhone 4's antenna issues have sparked off a firestorm of debate as to the root cause -- Apple says holding the phone differently or buying a case are the best answers, while other are going down a more voodoo path -- but our friends at AnandTech have done some more scientific testing of the problem and come up with a few interesting results. Turns out the iPhone 4 actually performs slightly better inside a case than a phone like the Nexus One, which has had similar issues crop up, but it's slightly worse when held in the hand, reporting an average signal drop of 20dB. Here's where it gets a little wacky, though: the signal meter in iOS 4 is logarithmic, so that 20dB drop can either leave you looking steady at five bars or drop you all the way to zero, depending on what the actual signal level in the area is like. Take a look at the chart above and you'll get it: the range of values between one bar and four spans just 23dB, while the range for five bars is 40dB. That means holding the phone in an area with a strong five-bar signal will have no apparent effect -- you can lose 20dB at full signal and still see five bars -- but holding the phone in an area with weaker coverage will easily drop the meter to one bar, since the 20dB signal drop covers almost the entirety of the remaining 23dB scale. Oops.

Of course, that's just the on-screen display, which Apple can and likely will tweak in a future iOS update. The real question is whether the reported signal has anything to do with performance, and Anandtech agrees with our general experience, saying that the iPhone 4's improved signal to noise ratio means it actually does a better job of hanging onto calls and using data when there's low signal than the iPhone 3GS. In their words, "this iPhone gets the best cellular reception yet, even though measured signal is lower than the 3GS." However, there's no getting around the fact that we've definitely dropped a couple calls with the iPhone 4 by holding it the wrong way, and Anandtech says the only real solution to the antenna issue will be for Apple to either subsidize free bumpers or add an insulative coating to the antenna band. We'll see what happens -- we've got a feeling an iOS update is on the way, but we'd definitely love to see Apple pursue a more aggressive solution to this problem.

[Hwoalang Posted Jun 30th 2010 11:58PM]

Tomorrow News~

Apple giving out store credit for iPhone accesories.

I will wait until they install dual antenna

[Bobalatate Posted Jul 1st 2010 12:36AM]

I don't think most people realize this, but signal strength indicators are typically (if not always) logarithmic. The chart in this post simply illustrates that Apple follows the same norm used by other wireless devices -- not just phones, but wifi devices as well.

[John22s Posted Jul 1st 2010 1:41AM]

Can we do a poll, engadget? I've had nothing but better reception with the iPhone 4 over the iPhone 3GS, and no dropped calls vs. Many dropped calls on 3GS. I'm sick of these haters talking out of their asses when they don't even have an iPhone 4.

[kmeisthax Posted Jul 1st 2010 2:09AM]

Why the hell is the scale logarithmic?! decibels are already log-scaled!

[xdeiri Posted Jul 1st 2010 2:51AM]

i just dont understand how a company the size of apple fail to figure this before manufacturing the device? where is the tests the engineers the research and development, its really baffles me.

[guitarfreak58 Posted Jul 1st 2010 3:27AM]

What do you guys think.. is the time nearing to sell the Apple stock or is it still going up end of this year and next?

[strongfist Posted Jul 1st 2010 5:57AM]

Simply amazing. You know I think that Apple is facing all of these issues because they rushed to make the iPhone 4. Android more than likely caused this. However, Steve needs to give an official statement and soon. Until then we can only speculate.

Any how theres this article at http://getyourgadgetsgoing.com/ called "iPhone 4 Is In But The Problems Are Out: Complete Overview"

Check it out for the complete listing of iPhone 4 issues and one that you may yet have heard of but still might be experiencing.

[iandean Posted Jul 1st 2010 9:54AM]

First of all it was last month, not earlier this month, since its the 1st July.

I love my iPhone4 but I've made several test calls and tested several scenarios. Whenever I have a 3G signal and I touch the bottom left corner, the 3G signal disappears and goes down to standard GPRS (not edge) or no data at all. So when holding the phone in a way that all right handed people would (not even most), to do something other than make calls, like texting or browsing the web, the signal goes down to crawling internet speed (GPRS) or often no data at all, unless I have wifi.

If I'm on a call on 3G and I touch the bottom left corner, the 3G signal dies and the call drops. This has happened several times accidentally. Even though Im aware there is a problem, like most people, when your on a call your mind is concentrating on the conversation, not how your holding the phone. Not to mention if you hold the phone in any other way than what feels natural, your more likely to drop it.. and smashed glass galore.

If I'm already on GPRS or Edge, I have no problems at all, the signal does drop's by a few bars, but I have no dropped calls.

This might suggest dropped calls can kinda be fixed with a software update, that is if they can update the software so that it doesn't drop a call when going from 3G to 2G Normal calls. Of course that doesn't solve the issue entirely since i'd still be loosing the faster internet, but its a lot less problematic.

I understand that most phones have a drop in signal if held in a certain way. But no other phone as far as I'm aware drops its call entirely and consistently when doing so, so its unfair for Apple to make this comparison.

I'm in the UK on O2. On launch day all the sales counters had bumpers (or equivalent) and everyone was asked it they wanted to buy one. This is my 4th iPhone and they have NEVER done that before. Apple has also never made a case for its iphone before, and mysteriously it only covers the antenna. These things suggest Apple knew about this before it started selling the phone and the 'Bumper' name appears to be somewhat of a decoy. Unfortunately they probably didn't find out until after mass production, after it had been announced or when it was too far down pre production to turn back.

The plus's of the new iPhone far outweigh the negatives for me, and until there is a fix I'll just turn off 3G, since I'm usually on Wifi anyway. I don't want to buy a case, as I don't see the point in owning something for its beauty, then covering it up in something horrid so you can never truly appreciate it.

This doesn't excuse Apples neglect. Best thing they can do is own up and fix the issue. I can't see them winning a legal case, even with their hot lawyers.

[cruncis Posted Jul 1st 2010 2:12PM]

Let's be clear here. The full degradation of signal only occurred when they held the phone so tightly that it was painful, just as you see people doing in the youtube videos, and was not a way they said they would ever hold the phone. So please, let's just toss the high number out, because it's completely unrealistic. You really need to read the whole article. The phone performs better then any past iPhone. I.e. this issue is ridiculously overblown, even entirely misleading. If you want an iPhone, the iPhone 4 is the best one yet. If you don't want an iPhone regardless, would you please just shut up already? Thanks.

[The Missing Link Posted Jul 2nd 2010 10:28AM]

BUMPERS SHOULD BE FREE!!! WTF