“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.]
@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