Yes, the iPhone 4 is broken / No, the iPhone 4 is not broken

The controversy over the iPhone 4's antenna issues continues to grow, particularly after Consumer Reports confirmed yesterday that every iPhone 4 suffers from signal attenuation when the phone is held with the lower left corner covered -- a report that we confirmed with results from our own custom signal metering app. At this point, there's no longer any question in our minds that the iPhone 4's antenna can be made to lose signal by holding it "wrong" -- and we definitely think it's more than a little silly that simply holding the phone in your left hand has been nicknamed the "death grip."

That said, however, it's not at all clear what the real-world effects of the antenna issue actually are for most people -- as we've repeatedly said, several iPhone 4s owned by the Engadget staff (including our review unit) have never experienced so much as a single dropped call, while others suffer from signal issues that results in lost calls and unresponsive data in a dramatic way. What's more, at this point Apple's sold well over two million iPhone 4s, and we simply haven't heard the sort of outcry from users that we'd normally hear if a product this high-profile and this popular had a showstopping defect. Honestly, it's puzzling -- we know that the phone has an antenna-related problem, but we're simply not able to say what that issue actually means for everyday users.

So we're doing what we can do: we've collected reports from every member of the Engadget staff who's using the phone, as well as reached out to a variety of tech industry colleagues for their experiences. As you'll see, most of our peers seem to be doing perfectly fine with their iPhone 4s, but the people who are having problems are having maddening issues in an inconsistent way. We'd say it all comes down to the network -- particularly in New York City, where AT&T just completed a major upgrade -- but even that isn't a consistent factor in predicting experience. Ultimately, we just won't know what's really going on until Apple comes clean and addresses this issue (and the growing PR nightmare it's become), but for now we can say with some certainty that not everyone is affected, and those that are seem to be in the minority. Read on for the full report.

Engadget

Joshua Topolsky (Brooklyn): "Having reviewed the phone before the general launch, I've been on high alert about the issues being reported from the start. While there are clearly problems with other people's devices, I can't seem to replicate the experience with the phone I have. I've been using the phone for about a month now without any notable reception or data rate issues -- no matter where I hold the device. In testing for our review (which you can read here) I found the reception to be as good if not better than the previous version, and I had far fewer dropped calls. That hasn't changed in the weeks since the review was posted, and though I can get the signal to show attenuation in Erica Sadun's app if I really squeeze the phone in the left corner, I cannot get it to drop a call or show a notable impact on data up- or downstream. At this point, I cannot even remember the last time I had a dropped call."

I've definitely dropped a number of calls and experienced slow data rates when holding the phone with the antennas bridged. Nilay Patel

Nilay Patel (Chicago): "As seen on the video we posted yesterday, my iPhone 4 exhibits the issue quite readily when I hold it 'wrong' -- I've definitely dropped a number of calls and experienced slow data rates when holding the phone with the antennas bridged. And I'm left-handed with pretty big hands, so unless I'm careful it's a regular problem for me. However, it's not always perfectly consistent, and sometimes I have no problems at all regardless of how I hold the phone."

Chris Ziegler (Chicago): "I use an AT&T 3G MicroCell in my home, and when I'm connected to that, I'm unable to drop a call or observe any drop in bars no matter how hard I grip the antenna gap. When I'm elsewhere in the city, it's a different story -- gripping the phone the 'wrong' way regularly drops me anywhere from three to five (all) bars, occasionally drops a call (or prevents me from making one to begin with) and tends to drop me from 3G to EDGE or GPRS. Then again, I've seen that same behavior happen barely touching the phone at all. Bottom line, it's hard to tell how much of the problem is my grip, and how much is the network just being lame."

I've still yet to drop a call on the thing. Not one. To be fair though, I'm kind of a loser, and nobody calls me. Laura June

Laura June (Brooklyn): "I cannot get the phone to consistently visually drop bars -- in fact, for about the first week, I couldn't even get the technique at all. I have, however, figured out a way to get it to occasionally drop a bar here or there if I hold it just right, and only then in certain places inside my apartment. That said, I've still yet to drop a call on the thing. Not one. To be fair though, I'm kind of a loser, and nobody calls me."

Richard Lai (London): "Well, what can I say. My heart died a little when the team asked me to verify this 'feature' on my then-spanking new iPhone 4, not to mention that I was still recovering from our all-nighter on Regent Street. Three weeks onwards, I can still replicate the signal drop in certain areas in London. Of course, there's always the £25 cure for us Brits, but I really can't stand having the bumper rubbing against my pocket every time I withdraw or pocket my iPhone -- it would easily slip in without the case."

Vlad Savov (London): "I've dropped bars and data rate while operating the phone indoors with the appropriate flesh connection established between my iPhone 4's antennae. Irritatingly, I've noticed that you don't even need to bridge the full width of the iPhone: making contact with the literal edge of the handset is sometimes enough, making this form of self-harm almost inevitable. However, stepping outside my bunker-like apartment, I was unable to replicate the problem thanks to the stronger 3G signal available outdoors. I've only ever dropped one call, and it was indoors after intentionally squeezing the glass and steel sandwich to try and produce that outcome. Ultimately, were I to go bumperless, I imagine I'd suffer for it with my 3G web browsing the most, followed by lost calls a distant second. For reference, I've not been able to miss a call while death-gripping the phone and reducing its bar signage to just the last one -- they all come through."

Ross Miller (San Francisco): "When I first got the device, there was no way I could recreate this issue. I tried and tried and, surprising for the city, my signal appeared full and my calls dropped less often (but not entirely). Data speeds were more often than not faster than my previous iPhone 3G -- frankly, I was a bit dumbfounded by my perceived luck.

It's not affecting me day-to-day, but I can most assuredly recreate the problem. 'Inconsistent, troubling' might be the more apt description in my case. Ross Miller

Cut to about a week ago, I was in a new part of town in the back of a bar with apparent full reception, and I decided to give Erica Sadun's signal strength app another go. Bingo. Holding the phone southpaw-style would quickly kill reception, calls would drop, data would drip. So no, it's not affecting me day-to-day, but I can most assuredly recreate the problem. 'Inconsistent, troubling' might be the more apt description in my case."

Myriam Joire (San Francisco): "I own an iPhone 4 delivered by AT&T on launch day. I use it without a case and I do see a reduction in signal strength when I cover the antenna gap at the bottom left corner with my hand. That being said, it's not causing dropped calls or degrading data performance to the point where it affects my use of the device."

Michael Gartenberg (New Jersey): "I've been using iPhone 4 as my main phone since release. I've had no issues with dropped calls or loss of data beyond what I normally get with any other phone. If anything, I get better reception in places that used to be problematic. I have seen my signal go up and down a bit but i can't replicate it or cause it to occur on demand nor does it seem to affect my normal use of the phone."

Ross Rubin (New York City): "Overall, I'd say the iPhone 4's reception has outperformed its predecessor. I've been able to make the signal drop by touching the gap only once in a location where I was getting about 2-3 bars, although I've tried it many times. In general it hasn't seemed to matter how I hold the phone when I'm on calls. I was pleasantly surprised when the iPhone held on to a call as I took a cab through New York's Midtown Tunnel soon after its launch, but in a similar trip the other day it dropped a call three times."

Sam Sheffer (Manalapan, New Jersey): Besides the fact that my first iPhone 4 had overheating issues and was replaced, my new handset works fine -- it's way better that my 3GS, at least, in terms of reception. Yes, I can make the bars drop when I touch the lower left antenna, but I have yet to actually drop a call while holding the phone in 'death grip' position. And I honestly don't mind holding it in a different way to avoid messing with the antenna -- I've simply adjusted the way I hold the phone and the issue's gone away."

Industry notables:

David Pogue, New York Times (New York City): "I've held the phone in the forbidden position maybe 25 times, in different locations, and I've only ever seen the bars drop twice. I think it's heavily dependent on where you are and how the signal strength is. (And once, I saw the bars go UP...)

I agree with the consensus that reception is generally better than on the older iPhones -- even with the Death Grip issue. David Pogue

Overall, though, I agree with the consensus that reception is generally better than on the older iPhones -- even with the Death Grip issue."

Harry McCracken, Technologizer (San Francisco): "My experience has been inconsistent -- when I've intentionally tried to degrade speed by touching the lower left-hand corner I've sometimes seen an impact, and sometimes I haven't. And when I've been out and about making phone calls, I've often been impressed by the phone's audio quality.

But yesterday I was in an area which I know has iffy AT&T reception, and my iPhone 4 was an utter basket case -- until I intentionally held it by the upper right-hand corner. When I did that, it worked perfectly.

My conclusion: The antenna design helps in many situations, but it can be a major real-world problem if you're in an area with iffy AT&T reception and aren't careful about how you hold the phone." (Make sure you check out Harry's full post on the his issues at Technologizer, as well)

John Paczkowski, All Things Digital (Marin County, California): "Though I've tried, I can't reproduce the 'death grip' on the iPhone 4 I'm using. That said, I do see some attenuation when holding it from the bottom. I haven't noticed an increase in dropped calls."

I'm able to make the signal drop (via the bar display) on my iPhone 4, but I can't get a call to drop. Jacqui Cheng

Jacqui Cheng, Ars Technica (Chicago): "I'm able to make the signal drop (via the bar display) on my iPhone 4, but I can't get a call to drop. Calls seem totally fine, and I haven't had any problems at all when using the phone as a phone. When I can get the bars to drop, I can get them to go down to almost nothing."

Chris Foresman, Ars Technica (Chicago): "I haven't had any issue with my iPhone 4 with respect to reception -- it's as good or better in my westside apartment as it was with my 3G."

John Gruber, Daring Fireball (Philadelphia): "At home in Philly, I've had nothing but good reception, no matter how I hold the phone. Data performance is better than on a 3GS right next to it, even while holding the 4 with my skin bridging the infamous gap.

I've either got lucky skin or a lucky iPhone 4, I think. John Gruber

I spent the last few days on a vacation in Vegas, and coverage here has been spottier, varying wildly even between different areas of our hotel. The phone often shows only 2 or 3 bars, but everything still works. Data has been slow -- especially latency, but it didn't seem any different on my wife's 3GS. A few times when I've only had two or three bars, I've tried the 'finger on the spot' test to see what happens. Sometimes it dropped down to a single bar within 30 seconds. Sometimes nothing happened at all. One time it went up from 3 bars to 5 bars while I had my finger on the spot, and when I took my finger off, it went back down to 3 bars. But even out here with meager coverage, I haven't been able to make data stop working just by 'holding it wrong'.

I've either got lucky skin or a lucky iPhone 4, I think."

Anand Shimpi, Anandtech (Raleigh, North Carolina): "I can make the signal drop, but that's not because I'm some sort of superhero - anyone can make the signal drop on their iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, Nexus One, etc... The iPhone 4 simply drops "more of its signal" than other phones, depending on how you hold it, because of the location and design of the antenna.

So to summarize, yes I can make the signal drop and it has led to dropped calls or trouble continuing the call. It's particularly bad in my office if I hold the phone "incorrectly" while texting or using the phone in portrait mode for something else. Luckily I'm on WiFi when I'm using it like that so it's normally not as big of an issue.

Ultimately it is a real problem with the iPhone 4 and will impact those who have borderline AT&T network coverage more than those who have great coverage. When Apple pushes this new fix forward it's really going to show people whether they have good signal or bad signal where they live (hopefully)." (Make sure you check out Anandtech's full report on the signal issue, as well.)

I have regularly dropped calls and watched data grind to a halt when I am in an area with poor AT&T signal, but when the signal is fairly decent I have no problems at all. Dieter Bohn

Dieter Bohn, PreCentral (Miami): "I have regularly dropped calls and watched data grind to a halt when I am in an area with poor AT&T signal, but when the signal is fairly decent I have no problems at all. I'm using the bumper now and it's completely solved my problems, but I'm not fond of it."

Noah Kravitz, PhoneDog (Oakland): "Yes to dropped calls. On par or probably fewer than with 3GS, but I know for sure there have been quite a few 4-to-4 drops recently. Have definitely noticed a few left-hand drops, but haven't yet been able to correlate for sure. Also because some of the drops have been of the Proximity Sensor bug variety."

Eric Zeman, PhoneScoop (Rockaway, New Jersey): "Even with just one bar during a death grip, I was able to successfully make calls, send emails, and browse the web. I use a case. With the case on, there's no change in signal performance whatsoever."

Lance Ulanoff, PC Mag (New York City): "Like others in this survey, I've been carrying around an iPhone 4 for nearly a month. In my other pocket is a BlackBerry Bold 9000. Both are on AT&T. A network we found to be the fastest for mobile broadband in the nation. It's also the least consistent. So my crummy connectivity experience on the iPhone 4 is virtually mirrored on the BlackBerry Bold-a device which has consistently dropped calls for me in my home town from the moment I got it. The point is, as a pure voice phone the iPhone 4 is not the best device on the market.

My experience with the device remains as it ever was. I've been entranced with it from day one. I make calls and, when I have a good signal, I stay connected. I've literally never had a dropped call. Yes, I can recreate the 'death grip,' but only when I'm holding the phone away from my head -- and not making a call. That said, I probably do more texting, email, photo and video than I do actual calling on this phone. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what the 1.7 million other iPhone 4 owners also do. I'm not saying there's no fire near this smoke, but I'm still convinced that if this were a deal-breaking problem, Apple stores around the world would be filled with people trying to return their iPhone 4's. That isn't happening, is it?"

Ryan Block, gdgt (San Francisco): "I'll preface my experiences by confessing that in a bizarre and quite unexpected turn of events, for the first time in many years AT&T has apparently begun adding new cell sites to my fair city (starting right around the time of the iPhone 4's launch). So it's been an occasional challenge to determine whether changes in performance and reliability are due to the new phone.

The issue undermines your confidence in the device, leading to a kind of idle paranoia that at any moment a call may drop if I'm not holding the phone just the right way. Ryan Block

But what I can say for sure is that I've been able to reliably and easily replicate the death grip, especially in areas where coverage isn't fantastic (which, around these parts is still much of the city). The death grip seems to have less effect (or no effect) in areas with solid coverage, but I'd say one of the worst aspects is how the issue undermines your confidence in the device, leading to a kind of idle paranoia that at any moment a call may drop or an email won't go through if I'm not holding the phone in just the right way."

Mark Spoonauer, Laptop (New York City): "I've experienced a few dropped calls on the iPhone 4 thus far (mostly in the Lincoln tunnel and at the Jersey Shore) but as we said in our review the reception has improved overall for both voice and data. Then again, I don't hold the phone with my left hand much. To test the severity of the 'death grip' issue we ran Speedtest.net while in our office while holding the device in our left hand and with the iPhone 4 sitting on a desk. With the death grip we averaged 225.9 Kbps downloads and 17.1 Kbps uploads over 10 tests. And just sitting on a desk we averaged 634.9 Kbps down and 49 Kbps down. Not good."

[wtfapple Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:46PM]

Apple got to do something about it. I already lost all my respect for this marketing machine. I laugh at people who still buy icrap. My iPhone went already back two days after I received it and I'm glad I did it. Not only is Apple milking the masses Android is pretty much in every respect (besides gaming) way better.

[longcat Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:35PM]

@wtfapple Tell me how to select text/copy/paste in an Exchange/IMAP email I'm reading using the packaged Android Mail client.

[Dickybell Posted Jul 13th 2010 11:09PM]

@wtfapple You have got to be kidding! I tried the Sprint EVO 4G between my 3Gs and i4. Android is total crap! I loved the phone itself, but Android destroyed whatever potential the phone seemed to have. I blame the battery issues on Android too. After having it totally reboot on an important call, I was done. I personally haven't had a problem with my i4. I know the problem exists, but I haven't dropped a call, run out of battery, or had the damn thing reboot on me.

[bufbarnaby Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:47PM]

Apple is in the War Room weighing the cost of a recall VS bumper cases VS paying out money in lawsuits without admitting wrong VS denying everything and hoping the stock doesn`t continue to slide.

[ertyu Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:47PM]

Could this be frequency related? The effects on the antenna and transceiver would obviously be different for different frequencies, so does the AT&T network frequency have an affect on the results, i.e. 1900 vs 850MHz.

[Deloren Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:48PM]

That is Apple's Antennagate ... :D

[enaybee Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:49PM]

I have an iphone 4 and yes i have the signal drop, drop calls, incinsistent 3g problems. Its not that i live in a bad coverage area. Where i used to get solid consistent signals on my old iphone 3g i get spotty 3g coverage on my iphone 4 and dropped signals/calls with death grip. I walked into a AT&t store today and asked if i could return my iphone 4 and be able to get back on my old contract with my iphone 3g. Rep told me yes you can within 30 days. I inquired if alot of people are coming into complain about the same issue and he told me that they had sold 1000's of phone and only 10 or 15 people so far have walked in to complain about this issue.

This is very surprising. You read this problem on the internet /news but nobody is actually thinking about complaining aboit it in person to an ATnT or Apple rep. Why? I dont know.
I am seriously thinking about going back to my actual contract and it ends i will switch over to an android device on a different carrier.

[stabbytheicepic Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:52PM]

@enaybee most people don't care about the problems, they will deal with them as long as they have their iphones, and the status that it carrys with it.

[someToast Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:07PM]

@enaybee "This is very surprising. You read this problem on the internet /news but nobody is actually thinking about complaining aboit it in person to an ATnT or Apple rep. Why? I dont know."

Maybe not all of those people are experiencing the problem.

[MrBigStuff Posted Jul 14th 2010 1:50AM]

@enaybee

Call dropping is an advanced iPhone 4 feature. It limits wasted bandwidth on the carrier network. Sort of like a vehicle speed limiter.

[Greg7388 Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:49PM]

Placebo effect.

There is no real issue, but people want there to be something wrong.

[Andurilan Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:56PM]

@Greg7388
hey greg, these people are all having these problems because they want something to be wrong with there iPhone 4:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=iPhone+4+drops&aq=f
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03PQyWp0mWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ixIHyEPO5g
and many more people are just bringing it on themselves.
Keep your iHead in the iSand.

[Greg7388 Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:58PM]

@Andurilan Yup. No issues with the people I've talked to, even after placing their finger in the dreaded left corner. I'll be getting mine by the end of the month, and I'll test it myself then.

[Andurilan Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:06PM]

@Greg7388
OK, Lets try this again.
Go the the youtube channel. Watch the numerous videos of people showing this issue. Apple has released a bumper for this very issue. They've gone out of their way to divert the issue (software fix that was supposed to be fixed, wasnt fixed), Emails belittling customers from Jobs, and as far as CR removing their reccomendation for the phone. Go read the Anandtech tests.

Now let me see if I understand your point. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SOMETHING THAT IS PERFECT?
Yeah this all really a matter of mind over the laws of physics. /s
People claiming this isnt a demonstrable issue sound like the Windows fanbois who claimed they havent had a BSOD or virus since XP SP2.

[Greg7388 Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:08PM]

@Andurilan Polls have shown that most people aren't having the issue.

[mphayvanh Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:50PM]

It's not a dealbreaker because most people with iPhones are programmed to put a screen protector and a case. BUT, if you want to get out of your AT&T contract, you can use this issue to not pay the EFT fee. I'm getting a Sammy Fascinate when it comes out. VZW might not be the fastest, but I'll get data coverage almost everywhere.

[substance90 Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:52PM]

What showstopping effect are you searching for exactly? That`s Apple! We`re talking about an iPHONE here! Even if iPhone 5GUltraS comes with black and white screen it will still be a hit and nobody will complain about it.
Thanks, but no thanks, I`m staying with my 3Gs until Apple fixes the antenna and adds some more upgrade-worthy updates than higher resolution. Oh, and I`m never getting a new one if they keep the oleophobic coating on the back side! What do I need an extra stengthened glass for when it still shows wear in another way...
Anyway, sorry for the mixed post, I know I totally lost focus here but I had some stuff I wanted to say for a long time now.

[Wiizer Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:52PM]

@Nilay Patel

"we simply haven't heard the sort of outcry from users that we'd normally hear if a product this high-profile and this popular had a showstopping defect."

What do you want them to do? Apple's been very clear that they believe that there isn't an issue happening at all.

So, if the issue is happening to some of the phones, it's better than the issue effecting ALL of the phones?

This is the RRoD of Apple products!

[Bozster Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:52PM]

I'll just say this.. this is the first device that i know that came out with a design flaw that is proven to cause issues, to be downplayed as insignificant or evaluated based on "how much dropped calls and issues you will have in real life with it".

I just know that if this phone was from any other manufacturer, it would be recalled immediately. Only with Apple device, even though we know that it has a serious flaw that is proven to cause issues, is evaluated whether or not that flaw is causing you major problems in real life based on your usage.

It's really hilarious and sad at the same time. The amount of justification Apple gets as a company is unbelievable.

And yeah, you won't here all 2 million people complaining because majority of people are right handed so they might hold the phone in the right hand, or I would say most of those 2 million phones are bought by super fanboys anyways that will defend it until they croak.

[someToast Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:11PM]

@Bozster

I'm right-handed but hold the phone in my left to keep my dominant hand free. I thought most people worked that way.

[darksharpie Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:59PM]

@Bozster Yes, it's really "hilarious and sad" that people who don't have issues, don't care to complain ;) That makes perfect sense!

[MrPinkBlackrose Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:52PM]

iSheep...thats creative. Seems lots of people like to use that...kinda funny how they all huddle together on Apple post and shit all over them...kinda like...sheep.

[Godfail Posted Jul 14th 2010 3:13PM]

@MrPinkBlackrose Nah, they're a ravenous and cool pack of wolves!!

[mtecomputers Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:54PM]

I'm in Chicago too and in the city the AT&T signal sucks i know people who have android nexus 1 etc and their signal drops the same way when you hold the the nexus 1 the same way. But when i am out in the Chicago burbs i have no problem. AT&T needs to put a giant antenna on their building downtown. All and all the iPhone is great and so is nexus 1 for that matter. Until all cell phone signals get a major boost in some areas its going to suck for some.

" Nilay Patel (Chicago): "As seen on the video we posted yesterday, my iPhone 4 exhibits the issue quite readily when I hold it 'wrong' -- I've definitely dropped a number of calls and experienced slow data rates when holding the phone with the antennas bridged. And I'm left-handed with pretty big hands, so unless I'm careful it's a regular problem for me. However, it's not always perfectly consistent, and sometimes I have no problems at all regardless of how I hold the phone."

[Duke Posted Jul 13th 2010 7:19PM]

@mtecomputers
It's frustrating, but I've had calls dropped right in front of that building. Bars just vanish and I can't be much closer to their operation than in front of the building with that giant logo painted on it.

[Recapitulation Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:54PM]

Dear Engadget, Since I am a lefty and hold my phone in my left hand for all of my calls, why not just send me over one of your phones to truely test the discrimination that Apple has towards using the left hand?

[malimal Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:55PM]

hold up, hold up...you haven't heard the outcry, engadget?

Then what the hell constitutes an outcry? Does it not included being on every news report, every blog, every newspaper?

yeah people my not be returning their phones in drones, but I can tell you after talking to a lot of people thinking about upgrading, they are very hesitant.

[normanb20 Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:00PM]

@malimal
In droves.... the drones don't return them in droves

[malimal Posted Jul 13th 2010 7:15PM]

@normanb20 No way.... Really? Duh. Typo.

[NoobsRUs Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:55PM]

Here's a novel suggestion. Wait for Apple to fix the problem with a new firmware. The problem will be fixed.

[lakersin2025 Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:55PM]

I just got mine yesterday and I love coming from a 3G. I don't think I would have known about the issue if I hadn't read about it. I did go from 5-0 bars doing the death grip but the only dropped call I had was during face time but my buddy said his router was mazes downloading a movie.

[lakersin2025 Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:04PM]

@lakersin2025 * router was maxed

[cjo268 Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:56PM]

I can make my iPhone 4 lose signal with my case off and holding it the "wrong" way. But I have never had a call drop, I have had my data feel like it was 1995 but once I put the case on it, it was fine. I planed on putting a case on it anyway since I don't want to have to pay to fix the glass either side of it.

[Duke Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:57PM]

In all fairness, AT&T signals vanish around Chicago and drop calls quite a bit for me, even when I was using the first iPhone. We have a bad network here.

[jawman Posted Jul 14th 2010 1:57PM]

@Duke
It's not so much the network, it's the phone dude. Why do you think Apple "accidentally" miscalculated the signal strength formula? So when you drop calls you can blame it on AT&T's network. All these years they were fooling everyone. Carry a BlackBerry with you and compare the two and you'll see what I mean. Now AT&T surely doesn't have the best network, but it is all too often a scapegoat for the iPhone's poor antenna design quality.

[r9870rr Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:57PM]

Nilay, why do you continue to write these willfully ignorant "articles"?

Every iPhone, until there is an anti-conductive coating added or a design change, will show an attenuation of approximately 20dB when held in a normal position where the antennas are bridged. Upwards of 25dB if held in a "death grip".

Of course some users will never see any dropped calls/data if their home and work environments give them strong signals. You can attenuate until you're blue in the face and it won't matter if you're getting an -80dB signal from the tower the whole time. How difficult is this to understand? Does the issue need to be diagramed for you? You seem to lack a fundamental understanding of the issue and attribute it to some unseen invisible force.

Hell you even covered this back when Anandtech showed the antenna problem 2 weeks ago,

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/iphone-4s-antenna-problem-looks-worse-than-it-is-but-its-stil/

and then again yesterday with the Consumer Reports post (which even tested multiple iPhones in an RF isolation chamber).

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/consumer-reports-confirms-iphone-4-antenna-problems-and-so-do/

Yet still the engineering physics involved seem to fly over your head. It is not arbitrary, it is a measured, 20dB attenuation. For people in strong signal areas, this is not much of an issue, if at all.

For the rest of users who do not constantly have access to a minimum of -93 dB everywhere they use the phone, it IS an issue. It's cut and dry, plain and simple.

[Nilay Patel Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:02PM]

@r9870rr I think you should look at the list of other editors who sent us data points very carefully and reconsider whether or not I've talked to Anand and seen that Anandtech piece.

[Sockdog Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:06PM]

@r9870rr

Sad but they seem to be working to directly marginalise even legitimate claims to tested issues. I'm counting the days before there is a post labelling people who do have issues as crackpots, anti-apple and typical internet hysterics.

[audrywienerdog Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:18PM]

@r9870rr Wow, you are obviously passionate about engadget, it's contributing writers and commenting. If you're doing that much research and siting to "prove a point" then your problem isn't OTHER peoples problems with the iPhone 4, it's that you have nothing better to do with your time other then reading every iPhone article, only to post a lengthy comment that the writer will not read because you're so moronic that the word is an understatement to how moronic you are and to all the other people who ironically repeat them selfs like the idiotic (but funny) YouTube video that's gone viral about the "bear" or what have you is looking for an iPhone. You guys remind me of those stupid females from those "_____ of love" shows.

[dantheman9 Posted Jul 13th 2010 8:11PM]

@audrywienerdog R9870rr, along with many other readers of Engadget, are staying informed of this issue by reading articles on the site. The actual research is already being done for us. He is simply proving his argument using the data provided. You are clearly the moron by posting such a baseless comment filled with numerous grammatical errors.

[TheTrendaholic Posted Jul 13th 2010 8:30PM]

@r9870rr Great point my man, don't let the blind Apple sheep distort your message like they do with seemingly every other message pointing out clear and concise information. I'm surprised you weren't nuked like me and others for trying to spread some sensibility here.

@Nilay Patel why are you nuking the truth and reshuffling threads? Still waiting for the answer...

[droom Posted Jul 13th 2010 10:08PM]

@Nilay Patel
Whosh, yet again it flies over your head.

He is arguing that despite the fact that you clearly HAVE talked to these people(why he linked the article), you still refuse to acknowledge that this is a clear-cut issue. You are clouding the issue like the little iSheep PR hounds you are, but you forget your reader base is a bunch of nerds and we are smart enough to see through the obvious facade. Have you ever wondered why every comment pointing out your bias gets upranked? I mean, at this point its plainly insulting to argue against your just as clear-cut Apple bias.

[His Shadow Posted Jul 15th 2010 2:16PM]

@Sockdog Which is funny, because this issue is a classic example of typical internet hysterics.

[Sepirioth Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:59PM]

reception is fine for me, Exchange is STILL a problem though. even after that so called "time out fix" from apple

[MJFlash Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:59PM]

The title was actually better than the body of the article - its exactly correct. Yes, the iPhone's antenna is unquestionably better than its predecessors. It's also correct that holding the phone the "wrong way" will significantly deteriorate the signal strength on both transmit and receive. In my experience, it is also true that getting a "bumper" case will yield an overall stronger signal strength than other smartphones. That, I can certainly live with!

[bjpatty23 Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:36PM]

@MJFlash But apple refuses to give us one. Did u read the article where it only costs 94 cents to make the bumper case. Apple can't give iPhone 4 users 96 cent.

[Jack Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:41PM]

@bjpatty23

The cost is irrelevant. Name any product from any company, and it cost much less to make it than what they're selling it for. It's called Capitalism, welcome to America.

[Taza Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:00PM]

Why don't you just hold it in your right hand like a normal person.

[Psyclotr0n Posted Jul 13th 2010 7:03PM]

@Taza
because i'm right handed and have always held the phone in my left hand. fortunately, we live in a democracy and El Jobso is not a despotic dictator (beyond his corporation at least).

[wildspin Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:00PM]

So far this is only another drama to me because Rogers said that I have to wait another 13 months to be fully eligible for the next smartphone hardware upgrade. :-)