Apple: iPhone 4 reception problem is a software issue, fix coming in 'a few weeks'
By Thomas Ricker 
posted July 2nd 2010 8:32AM
posted July 2nd 2010 8:32AM
Sure, the odd way Apple calculates bars has been noted before, but what's troubling is that this is the second time Apple has blamed signal strength / reception issues on software and it doesn't fully explain calls dropping and data degradation when the iPhone 4 is held in a very particular (but common) way. It's also worth noting that Apple in no way admits to an antenna design flaw. Read the full press release after the break.Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4
Dear iPhone 4 Users,
The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Apple
Dear iPhone 4 Users,
The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.
To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.
At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?
We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.
To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.
As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.
Thank you for your patience and support.
Apple
@Almo It is a fact there are videos all over the place that show it happening.
@OMJ
They said this problem occurs in all iPhones, so the patch will be for the 3G and 3GS, too. But the problems we've seen have all been with the iPhone 4. Doesn't this seem to prove the issue is with iPhone 4? Can't you just insulate the freaking antenna? Did that never occur to you geniuses?!
@Almo
That is because You my friend ate one of VERY FEW people that live in an area with a strong signal.
@OMJ
I'm not trying to defend apple here, and it is true that there is more attenuation on the iphone 4 than on the 3gs, but still, apple's excuse is not that stupid.
Basically, the iOS4 bar rendering has more sensitivity to the lower end of the spectrum (Logarithmic like function maybe??) and thus, the visual impact of gripping the phone is much worse. When the iPhone 4 is showing 4 bars, it should probably be showing 1 or 2 bars, and when you grip it, it will lower to 0 to 1 bars, thus dropping the call. The only difference is that if you start a call with only one bar, and then you grip the phone, you would not find it that awkward if the call dropped, but you will do in the 5 bar to 0 bar situation.
Maybe, just maybe, people in the internet exaggerate problems... ;)
Just my 2 cents
@OMJ
"Again, it's a FEATURE !"
and please! don't hold it like that cuz it's not stylish...
- s jobs
@OMJ
READ THIS UNBIASED ANALYSIS UNLIKE WHAT ENGADGET GIVES
@tones44
Read what? Why the caps lock?
@Dellibedaboss
I swear I never ate anyone!
@OMJ
It's equivalent of putting that NOS sticker on your riced out Honda Civic.
@OMJ
So what, I can make it drop bars but can drop a call to save my life.
want some real world proof/
here's a speed test screen shot with only one signal bar with "Death Grip:
http://i46.tinypic.com/2pp084l.png
versus normal five bars:
http://i45.tinypic.com/2wcpua0.png
feel free to downrank me or say how much of a fanboy/apologist i am
kthx
@Almo http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/8781302.stm BBC Click - check about 2 minutes into the video, they show the iphone 4 dropping bars.
Oh this is going to go over well... *grabs popcorn*
@untitled *joins with some pepsi*
*slaps WillItBlend*
shame on you!
*sits down and grabs a coke*
@WillItBlend Please silence all...wait just hold your phones...as to not interrupt the infotainment
@untitled
finally someone who shares my sentiments
http://xpute.com/wg/chris/mj-popcorn.gif
@SlaterGS Scoot over!
*joins with 3 delicious pizzas*
@untitled
Please turn your cell phones off so that others may enjoy the show without disruption. For those of you who own iPhone 4's, you may simply continue to hold yours.
@untitled
Apple's PR machine just shot themselves in the foot basically!!
"We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see."
No need for that Apple... we have been able to see bars 1/2/3 just fine on your "more pixels than your eyes can decipher" display. Now first ACKNOWLEDGE the real issue and second, let us know how you plan on fixing it (and no, providing free bumpers cannot be part of the fix). That's all!
Sent by: iPhone 3G user holding out for white iPhone 4 that will hopefully work by the time it's released at the end of July.
Ah. So they're fixing the "nonexistent" signal strength issues by no longer lying about your signal strength. Now those with problems just never show any bars, instead of the illusion of bars. Seems logical to me
@lordbannon Exactly.
@lordbannon They should just change it so that the phone always displays five bars. That way, most people will simply rave at how good the phone works and we can get on with life.
Since "bars" really have no established meaning, anyhow, I wouldn't be surprised if phone manufacturers did this, anyway. Apple pretty much admitted to this sort-of shenanigans.
@lordbannon
Maybe they were using the old iPhone 3G system they rigged to artificially show more bars than it should have and now they have to change it back. ;-)
I also have to disagree. the signal goes away completely and it does not really matter how many bars are showing. no signal is still no signal. Also you do not have to cup it tightly. simply touching it on the seam while the rest of the phone os completely uncovered is sufficient.
@lordbannon It seems Apple has been covering AT&T's ass for some time now.
@lordbannon @sherifftruman (I feel like Robin Hood)
You guys took the words right out of my mouth. All they seem to be doing is exposing the man behind the curtain. How stupid do they think we are??
@zakany
They should make it so the first bar takes up the whole meter then you will always have full reception problem solved! *patent pending*
@HouseofG
"How stupid do they think we are??"
Pretty damn stupid. I see Apple fans towing this line already. "See! It's just an illusion that you're losing signal and dropping calls!"
No Apple has NOT been covering AT&T ass, my Nexus One on AT&T network has much stronger and clearer voice reception than my iPhone 4.
In fact, my iPhone 3GS beats the iPhone 4 - all from the same physical location - and all three phones on AT&T's network - yes - I have 3 lines.
Geez - if ever a post read like an April Fool's joke...
@repelsteeltjie
It's an "Apple's Fools Joke"!!!
@repelsteeltjie
It's typical of apple. It takes it customers for ignorant fools who apparently will believe whatever mumbo jumbo they'll throw their way.
They say the 3G and 3GS have the same issue. It's weird. The 3GS doesn't drop calls anywhich way it's held. How is the no. of bars shown solving this issue ?
@stealthcrawler29 You might want to read this: http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2
"From my day of testing, I’ve determined that the iPhone 4 performs much better than the 3GS in situations where signal is very low, at -113 dBm (1 bar). Previously, dropping this low all but guaranteed that calls would drop, fail to be placed, and data would no longer be transacted at all. I can honestly say that I’ve never held onto so many calls and data simultaneously on 1 bar at -113 dBm as I have with the iPhone 4, so it’s readily apparent that the new baseband hardware is much more sensitive compared to what was in the 3GS. The difference is that reception is massively better on the iPhone 4 in actual use."
@Dusse
Well Dusse...according to Apple that article is horseshit seeing as they are now saying one bar in their erroneous calculations would actually be no signal at all.
So which is it? Have they overestimated or underestimated? Is one bar actually more or less? This guy is indicating he's finding it's more...Apple are saying it's less.
Someone is talking out of their ass.
@Tes
Well, the external design of the antenna coupled with updated TX/RX hardware probably DOES work better than previous designs.
It obviously just has one major flaw, you can't touch it. This isn't anything new to antennas, dunno why the goons at Apple thought it wouldn't be a good idea.
This is why just about every consumer antenna is covered in a dielectric or buried inside the device, these days.
If the author of the article were testing on a bench, taking measurements and not actually holding the phone/touching the antenna, I could see those results being fairly accurate.
@Shovel Man
Good point well made...I concede to your wisdom.
@Dusse
Seems like the only iPhone 4s without the antenna problem were the Review units. Josh didn't have the problem...still doesn't have it. Now you tell me, anandtech didn't have the problem too.
Problem is, in the REAL world, with actual production line units, the problem is quite widespread.
so they are 'fixing' the problem.............just making sure everyone get a false reception reading on their phone...........wow, what a cover-up.
Oh I don't think so Apple....
@Threlly
iOS 4.0.0.0.0.1
So we are not going to fix the issue, but we will show you more bars so you feel better.
@CT The opposite... they are going to show less.
@CT
actually they're showing you less bars, so you feel worse before you even touch it. They are making he lower bars taller though.....
@CT
More accurately, they will not fix the issue and instead show you LESS bars so you think you didn't have any signal there in the first place, lol. The press release claims they compute too many bars right now. I never saw this type of thing coming from Apple...for shame Steve.
@CT No, they're showing fewer bars.
@weirdFishes You never know. What I think - Apple probably doing what CT says as oppose to what it said; Showing more bars and tricking people into think that their phone is ok until they make a call.
That doesn't change the fact that when you pick it up in a certain way it loses bars ...
@arkweld
Attenuation occurs on every phone in varying degrees. Read Anandtech's review. It's more severe on the iPhone 4 because of its antenna design, which is an engineering flaw, but the issue was overly exaggerated because of the logarithmic signal bar display.
@jmaine That doesn't change the fact that holding it kills the signal. What they are doing is trying to decrease the visual effect so it doesn't look like a drastic change when you touch it. That's really just playing with peoples minds. I hope they are ready for this backfire because now people will complain that they don't reception even without holding it. They should look at the Incredible launch when the reception was fine but the bar display was mistakenly low and people swore they didn't have a signal even though they never dropped calls.
Told you the new firmware will show 5 bars even when touching the untouchable!
@Marko - There, ifixedit!