“The straight lines, smaller dimensions and lack of unnecessary bulk make the 3GS feel like a car from the 90s, unnecessarily curvy,” Klug and Lal Shimpi report. “The styling is now so much more compact. Compared to the iPhone 3GS the 4 is around 5% narrower (but no more difficult to type on) and nearly 25% thinner.”
“There’s been a ton of discussion lately surrounding iPhone 4 cellular reception,” Klug and Lal Shimpi report. “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.”
Klug and Lal Shimpi report, “With my bumper case on, I made it further into dead zones than ever before, and into marginal areas that would always drop calls without any problems at all. It’s amazing really to experience the difference in sensitivity the iPhone 4 brings compared to the 3GS, and issues from holding the phone aside, reception is absolutely definitely improved. I felt like I was going places no iPhone had ever gone before. There’s no doubt in my mind this iPhone gets the best cellular reception yet, even though measured signal is lower than the 3GS.”
Klug and Lal Shimpi report, “The main downside to the iPhone 4 is the obvious lapse in Apple’s engineering judgment. The fact that Apple didn’t have the foresight to coat the stainless steel antenna band with even a fraction of an ounce worth of non-conductive material either tells us that Apple doesn’t care or that it simply doesn’t test thoroughly enough. The latter is a message we’ve seen a few times before with OS X issues, the iPhone 4 simply reinforces it. At the bare minimum Apple should give away its bumper case with every iPhone 4 sold. The best scenario is for Apple to coat the antenna and replace all existing phones with a revised model.The ideal situation is very costly for Apple but it is the right thing to do. Plus it’s not like Apple doesn’t have the resources to take care of its customers.”
Read the full, extremely comprehensive review – highly recommended as usual – here.
MacDailyNews Take: If you’re going to read one iPhone 4 review, this is the one to read. As for the antenna issue, as we’ve been saying ever since this issue arose, “If the iPhone 4 requires a ‘case’ or rubber ‘bumper’ in order to operate properly, then Apple should provide one in every box free of charge.”
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Dale S.” and “Snow Leopard” for the heads up.]
What Apple should have done is made a bumper that has the same look as the metal look. It does cover up the steel look.
Too bad.
damn right, how can something so perfect be so flawed 🙁
gimme mah bumper!
Free bumpers.
Seems fair.
Or they should be $1.00, not $30.
This is pure bull.
A number of us here have an iPhone 4 in a slim frogz slider case and are experiencing no signal loss that effects reception or phone call quality, at all.
When held initially without the case, the signal bars were slightly affected depending on orientation of the phone, but still never dropped a call.
The iPhone4 phone voice quality , volume and reception is far better than the 3GS and heads and shoulders above all others on the market, which I’ve tested extensively.
Most iPhone users that care about taking care of their equipment will ultimately buy their case of choice. Fact. So get a case and stop whining.
Looks and preference of case are very subjective. There’s no accounting for tase.
And to think this was the one time I decided to wait for the next version.
But reception problems or not, I bet it runs Hipstamatic a lot better than my Old & Bustid.
If you don’t like the phone… are you ready for this?… Take the damn thing back and quit complaining about it!
ChrissyOne:
Camera’s great.
When he says thorough review, he really means it. Damn. It took me a while to read the entire article. But worth it.
@ breeze
Do you happen to use Hipstamatic or Best Camera? I’m wondering how much faster they process images.
someone start an online petition to get Apple to give everyone a free bumper. job(s) done.
Now that I have both my iPhone4 dock and bumper band, I can report that the iPhone4 doesn’t fit in the dock with the bumper installed. That may be why Apple doesn’t want to give away the bumpers to everybody. Also, the bumper is a pretty classy product: buttons built into it, appropriate openings for the headset and adapter. It is a lot more than a 29 cent rubber band as you folks keep calling it.
It just hit me…the bumpers are $30? Dude, they only cost a few cents to make. Talk about profit.
I don’t want a stinkin’ silly bandz bumper on my phone. They need a better solution than a 1980s leg warmer look
breeze I have seen your posts for some time and quite frankly you sound like one of those religious freaks who can never admit that Apple can make a mistake…well I have news for you: they did, I bet Steve could sell you turd for 1000$ and you would gladly pay it if it had an Apple logo attached on it..you are pathetic.
The reception issue is a parlor trick. I can reproduce it on our new iPhone 4 and my older 3GS. It’s more obvious and repeatable on the 4. It doesn’t affect the usability of the phone unless you want it to.
They should also give away a free copy of Windows 7 so people don’t have to use the inferior osx.
So after quite a few paragraphs about how much better than the 3Gs the iPhone 4 reception is and how the it drops calls less there are still calls for a free bumper. Why? It seems to me based on my personal use and many similar reviews that the phone works as it should, better than before.
@mac
And just how much effect will a petition from a couple hundred or maybe a thousand people out of 1.7 million have? The solution is to have all the pissers & moaners about reception issues INCLUDE THEIR iPHONE4 SERIAL NUMBERS with their complaint, that just might narrow it down to a specific production run. Remember when that was done with the initial 3GS? NO, I didn’t think so!
@ breeze
The problem with a full-on case is that it covers the back of the phone where the illuminated lighted sensor is located, thus negatively impacting the performance of the camera. Apple released the bumper design for a reason.
Now, me personally – I have had 0 issues with my iPhone 4’s signal. So I intend to continue to use it sans case or bumper of any kind, so that the stunning aesthetic of the iPhone 4’s design can stand on it’s own. I do agree with the reviewer however, that it would have made sense for the steel band to have been given a coat of some clear anti-conductive material.
Finally – to those whining about the cost of the bumper – MDN, I’m looking at you – you must first understand that it is not just a ‘glorified rubber band’. There are mechanical pushers that position above the buttons, offering them protection as well, while still supplying a satisfying tactile experience. The price of $29 is right in line with what others charge for their cases as well.
Perhaps you think that since it doesn’t cover the back, it should cost less? This would be true if it offered less protection. However, it offers all the protection the phone needs, while keeping the back open to leave the light sensor exposed. As such, it is a superior ‘case’, and the price point reflects that.
I find it hilarious that so many balk at paying $29 to protect a device they paid $200 – $300 on and will spend another $1,400.00+ on in the next two years on their cellular contracts. At the end of the day, the bumper amounts to between 1-5% of TCO. Not all that bad if you ask me.
I’m taking you on a tangent on this… but ever wondered why the box for the iPad is so deep?
Could it be that Apple had indeed intended to include their Apple case (which could easily fit there) with the iPad?
I suspect they changed their mind at the last moment. I mean, selling an iPad in a box that thick can hardly be called ‘green’, huh? Or is green compliance just another corporate fad?
Any review that starts out with “Straight on it looks like just another iPhone. You get the black face with a shiny trim,” doesn’t score high credibility points. Straight on, the stainless buttons on the side are clearly visible. The iP4 is decidely not a replica of prior phones. Fortunately, Apple pays more attention to that detail than Anandtech.
As for the antenna issue, do we actually have any quantifiable numbers? Some folks who have demonstrated the effect on the net cannot even replicate it. Neither my wife nor I has experienced any signal dropout that is discrenible. We have 6 other owners at my company with no death grip issues. So, how many people actually have the problem, as opposed to are talking about it?
I have owned every iPhone, and a boatload of other phones as well. I discovered that shoving my Nokia up my friend’s ass affected both the reception and bluetooth, as well as our friendship. No surprise. [Especially given Nokia’s comeuppance on their own site.]
The problem–if any–is different from the issue of how Apple handles the PR side of it. That, like the early iPad WiFi issue handling, remains Apple’s Achille’s heel. They handle these PR problems badly.
“”The main downside to the iPhone 4 is the obvious lapse in Apple’s engineering judgment. The fact that Apple didn’t have the foresight to coat the stainless steel antenna band with even a fraction of an ounce worth of non-conductive material either tells us that Apple doesn’t care or that it simply doesn’t test thoroughly enough. The latter is a message we’ve seen a few times before with OS X issues, the iPhone 4 simply reinforces it. “
this statement has NO BASIS in fact. If this was the case ALL IPHONE4 and ALL USERS would be exhibiting the symptoms….and phones would be returned to Apple in droves. That is not the case. even by the lame MDN survey 2 of 3 do not exhibit this lack of “engineering judgement” – this may have NOTHING to do with ENGINEERING — despite of the hysteria, folks on the street have no clue what this is and how extensive it is or not.
Piss on em. The reception is just fine, and if they dont like, go buy a fukin android
Farud:
Is that King Farud, or Farudness sake?
Just like there is no substitute for knowledge or experience, there is no substitute for self measure.
You are a legend in your own mind. Keep in touch with yourself…
Ever read Yertle the Turtle, Farud?
This idiot says the iP4 gets better reception than the 3GS, and then he goes on and says it’s defective.
I don’t see the point of all this squealing and hand waving. The product works great.
@Ting
It’s the exact same thickness as the iPhone 3GS case. It’s at least partially for impact protection.
@breeze
It’s actually “Fraud” with a shitty spell checker.
You keep doing what you’re doing. If your comments indicate an upcoming $1000 turd purchase, I’ll be in line right behind you.
I agree with the idea of giving away the bumper simply because charging 29 bucks for the thing is nuts.
i guess i dont have that antenna problem because i bought a case when i bought my phone, like i always have.
how stupid is it to buy a phone and not buy a protector. I have seen so many broken phones and screens in the last 3 years, and i say to them, “DUMB ASS!!” why didnt you get a cover?
so all you whiners, shut up and quit always looking for free shit.
You too MDN.
@breeze
“…The problem with a full-on case is that it covers the back of the phone where the illuminated lighted sensor is located, thus negatively impacting the performance of the camera…”
There’s a sensor on the front to adjust screen brightness.
There’s a back illuminated sensor behind the lens which
captures the picture.
I have no idea what you are babbling about.
daugav369pils:
Mistake dude that’s not my quote it’s Willie G’s…
Wow, I’m choking on my cereal. Did I just read an MDN slight against Apple? Wow. I have major respect for you guys now. First you get rid of the pop ups and now this.
It makes your reviews and criticisms seem a lot more worthy.
Apple Bumpers are way to big a profit center for Apple to consider giving them away. I’m sticking with a Purple Speck PixelSkin for my White iPhone 4 for only $25. Less money than an Apple Bumper with way better protection.
farud is hilarious. probably true though.
I’m left handed and dont have any issues with reception – I’m wondering if it’s a dominant hand thing?
I bought one of those iFrogz green shells and it works great.
The Zabb Shield I wish I could keep clean all the time.
What’s Hipstamatic? I’ll check it out.
ChissyOne:
Hipstamatic has submitted an iOS4 compatible version to the App Store so, though it works (albeit quirky in lowlight/flash situations) it seems very slightly faster with full processing turned on on iPhone4.
Best camera effects are much faster on the iPhone4 vs and iPhone3GS with OS v3.1.3
PixelSkin for iPhone 4 has a triangular hole on the back to allow the light to work with the camera. I also will apply the Maximum Zagg Invincible Invisible Shield to all sides of my WHITE iPhone 4 before placing it in my Purple PixelSkin.
Apparantly Apple hates powerbook users. Iphone 4 won’t activate, sync with Mac OS X Tiger. Although it will do just fine for Windoze XP (!!!) users. So now I have to buy a new mac just so that my iPhone will work with it.
Nice payback for loyal customers, Apple!!!
Some people like cases and some don’t. It should not be a requirement for the phone to operate as it should.
Would you buy a laptop if it will only work as intended if you cover it in a case, making it both bulkier and uglier? A tv?
Would you buy a brand new $20000 car that would only work without problems if you bought a $2000 add-on?
I don’t want a case. A skin protects from scratches and the phone is durable enough to withstand a few odd drops. My 3G is still fine after many drops and I’m glad I don’t need a case for it
Apple should not, and will not get away with this
Willie G:
“The problem with a full-on case is that it covers the back of the phone where the illuminated lighted sensor is located, thus negatively impacting the performance of the camera”
———————————-
I’ve taken multiple identical shots with and without flash on an iPhone 4:
“naked”- no cover on back vs. “sheathed”- frogz case covering back and I see no difference between the results…
C1:
Hipstamatic has submitted an iOS4 compatible version to the App Store so, though current version works (albeit quirky in lowlight/flash situations) it seems very slightly faster with full processing turned on on iPhone4.
Best camera effects are much faster on the iPhone4 vs and iPhone3GS with OS v3.1.3
this might interest you too:
http://boingboing.net/2010/06/22/iphone-4-photography.html
Are people that dumb that they fall apart when a product that maximizes radio reception may be prone to signal loss during limited situations that can all be mitigated by several free and easy solutions?
If your 1Phone 4 has this issue (The vast majority don’t):
1. Grip the phone slightly different.
2. Use a bumper, rubber band, etc.
If you DON’T have an iPhone 4:
1. Shut up.
The antenna works as intended. It works better than an internal antenna. You want fast, you got it! Just learn hot to handle it.
MEES:
Yes, apparently people are that dumb and it seems to be contagious.
I’m buying an iPhone 4, and I think I can handle the phone without a case just fine. The whining all over the net is so ridiculous.
@breeze
My mistake. Many apologies!
Did any of you critics accusing Apple of (whatever) actually look at what’s inside the new iPhone? They designed a special glass for it; not bought, DESIGNED. The team of people Apple has working up there are Star Trek engineering grade. If any of you critics would think a minute, look at that phone and then think…would that team have thought to check the antenna gain and performance? And think to check it while holding the phone?
Of course they freaking checked it. They designed the antenna! I have no doubt there was some kind of decision made to produce it as it is, with the expectation that most everyone gets a case anyways. So they obviously chose to keep the antenna as sensitive as possible to give it the best performance most of the time instead of pre-loading and covering it with some kind of material and reducing the performance 100% of the time.
The design team that can produce something like the iPhone 4, is a helluva lot smarter than any journalist, analyst, pundit, critic. The phone is the way it is because they made an intelligent, educated decision to have it this way. Not because they’re stupid and don’t pay attention to detail or forget to do things like check the antenna gain when you hold it.
They’re not “getting away” with anything. They’ve given us the first generation of the Star Trek communicator. Along with the first generation Star Trek data pad. There’s obviously a few planet-siders that aren’t quite ready to “boldly” go forward without yelling for the waaambulance because they don’t understand what they’re holding in their hand or the future it’s pointing towards.
Rock on ‘doc e’.
My iPhone is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a tricorder.
I hold it like a tricorder, read it it like a tricorder and keep it with me on every away mission like I would a tricorder.
I can’t wait to get a PADD so I can sit at my desk and work like Picard.
Yeah I know, pathetic isn’t it.
dress up your article all you want with impressive data, charts and words, until you apply your methodology to an iphone sample size of a lot greater than 1, this is just fancy BS (and akin to describing the pimple on your butt) and you have no clue what this is, what is causing this or how extensive it is….let alone what the solution set is
…as a start…I want to get a person “it never happens to” to get in a room with a person “it always happens to” and have then exchange phones…and tell me what happens…and do your measurements…and then add two more folks, etc
I don’t want Apple *giving* away anything (and my share $) until they have done that analysis – which I am *absolutely* sure they are doing as fast as they can. Fix it right the first time if there is fix needed to be done.
in the meantime….return it, buy a case or don’t hold it that way
It’s apparent that many people commenting here have not read the article, as you would understand why this issue affects some people and not others. Let me try and put it in a nutshell.
Covering the antenna gap with your hand reduces the signal strength by over 20db. (A 20db loss means you have only 1/100th of the signal you started with.) If you have a strong signal to begin with and reduce that by 20db you still have enough of a signal for the phone to work just fine, so people in strong signal areas won’t experience this issue. If you’re in a medium to weak signal area (like me at home) and cover the gap, a 20db loss can mean all the difference between working and not working.
I have 3 iPhone 4s, and have owned the 3G and 3GS before that. I could hold the iP3 like I’ve always held a cell phone and they worked just fine at home. Holding the iP4 the same way and I lose connection to the cell network EVERY time. I hold it the same way Steve Jobs holds his, like this:
http://iphonehold.tumblr.com/
So, can anyone look at me with a straight face and say it’s not a problem?
I’ll probably have to resort to using a case, but I don’t WANT a case. I’ve used a few before and quickly found that it is not my preference. It didn’t come with a case and I don’t want a case.
Wingsy:
So return it and pass, because you just don’t want a phone that’s in a case and because you insist on holding a different form, shape and sized phone with superior specs, performance and breakthrough technology features the exact same way you held your now aging previous phone. This regardless of whether or not that helps a minor anomaly…
Isn’t that cutting your nose to spite your face ?
Get over it and start enjoying iPhone 4, or return it for a full refund within the 14 (30?) days you have to do so.
how @wingsy has 3 iphone4 …while the rest of us couldn’t get any
when he returns it, I will get in line for his
Apple knows the phone has problems but will insist that users are simply “holding it wrong,” document suggests. AppleCare representatives are being given a strong company line to deliver to unhappy iPhone 4 owners who complain about reception issues.
Employees are told to say that the device’s reception performance “is the best we have ever shipped” and that its critical antenna flaws are “a fact of life in the wireless world.” They are told not to perform service on iPhones with these problems and instead to give customers a PR-driven recitative instead.
In a nutshell, Apple knows the phone has problems but will insist that users are simply “holding it wrong.” People stupid enough to wait in line for a new iPhone and then find out that it doesn’t work as promises are getting what they deserve as Apple continues to feel that they can do no wrong
“replace all existing phones with a revised model”
ROFL…
They can’t be serious… It would cost hundreds of millons of dollars. It’s nothing wrong with the current iPhone. And for most people in most situations it won’t be a problem.
This whole thing is overblown and all the Media Whores crank out article after article to get hits.
I got an iPod Touch 2G and my wifi signal dropps allot when I hold my hands infront the black rubber. I DEMAND that Apple replace my unit!