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IPhone 4 - Weak Signal compared with 3G

Hello,
I was a happy 3G user. My 3G phone ALWAYS had between 4 and 5 bars of sign strength in my living room. I got the iPhone4 today and I have been very unhappy with it. Aside of the dropped calls, my iPhone4 is only getting ONE bar of signal strength, and in case you are wondering: No, I am not using any case at all.

I am extremely concern because I ordered the "Bumper" and if my phone is not getting a good signal without it, then I think the bumper will make things worst.

Does anyone has noticed a decrease in their signal strength ?

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Jun 23, 2010 7:19 PM

Reply
63 replies

Jun 23, 2010 7:38 PM in response to C4RLOCO

I have gotten my iPhone 4 today and have finished activating it an hour ago. I am VERY disappointed by the weak signal, too. My 3G had 5 bars where iP4 gets maybe 3-4, and it CONSTANTLY drops down to one or none. This is NOT the experience I was looking forward to and I'm seriously considering calling support and giving them an earful on this, if the problem persists. Second thing is, off topic, I can NOT activate the FaceTime for the love of it. No way! WAY TO GO, APPLE!

Jun 23, 2010 7:44 PM in response to Slobodan Tabakovich

Update: I just finished calling Apple Tech Support. They guy said that numerous users had been reporting this very same issue. I was told to "Reset Network" settings. After doing the reset I get the same behavior.

Don't they test this things first? Isn't important to test the internal antennas with AT&T? I am extremely concern if this is a design flaw since I don't know what to do because I already sold my iPhone 3G =( .... Instead of a iPhone4, I have in my hand a Overpriced IPOD!

Please APPLE, if you bother to read this topic let us know that you are investigating this issue.

Jun 23, 2010 7:47 PM in response to doobias123

@doobias123: How do you know that is a display issue rather than an internal antenna malfunction? Did you come across an official statement from Apple?

On top of this, LOTS of users (including myself) had been experiencing dropped calls (I know that you can expect this from AT&T) however, compared with my 3GS the dropped calls are 3x

Mar 31, 2015 1:11 PM in response to C4RLOCO

You have thirty (30) days in which to return the iPhone 4. If problem persists, do that, go back to your previous phone, and wait until Apple / AT&T get their act together.

Jun 23, 2010 8:12 PM in response to doobias123

Thanks doobias123.

The following situation described by Walt Mossberg, The Wall Street Journal represents my problem in every word.

"On at least six occasions during my tests, the new iPhone was either reporting ā€œno serviceā€ or searching for a network while the old one, held in my other hand, was showing at least a couple of bars. Neither Apple nor AT&T could explain this. The iPhone 4 quickly recovered in these situations, showing service after a few seconds, but it was still troubling.."

I guess we just need to swallow it and wait until Apple releases an statement about this. I am hoping this is a software bug and not a flaw in the design.... Since the software could be easily updated.

Jun 23, 2010 9:21 PM in response to C4RLOCO

ABC's Nightline had a segment about the new iPhone 4 tonight. They were commenting about dropped calls. My AT&T coverage is so poor, my GF can't even get a signal in my home on her iPhone 3G! User uploaded file Iv'e never even had a dropped call on my iPhone (running on T-Mobile's network) around here. User uploaded file Apple need to get out of bed with AT&T and give us other network options!

User uploaded file

User uploaded file
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Jun 23, 2010 9:43 PM in response to C4RLOCO

Ok, here is an update.

I think this is a hardware issue. If you don't touch the bottom of the phone, you're fine. But as soon as you connect the left side with the bottom, that's when reception starts to drop.

I don't think any software update might resolve this problem. It is a plain flaw in the design. Looks like the iPhone testers were all left-handed... Bummer!

Jun 23, 2010 9:49 PM in response to C4RLOCO

I have a 3gs and my partner just got a 4 and I can duplicate the issue as far as holding the phone and lowering signal. Here is what I have come acrossed: Even thought the 4 barely had one bar and the 3gs had full, The call was crystal clear. No issues call was for about 5 minutes and the 4 just stayed at the lowest bar. I have to agree that it may not be populating on screen correctly. Lets hope this is a easy fix.

Jun 23, 2010 10:44 PM in response to C4RLOCO

I live in Northern CT, and after activating my iPhone4 - I placed 4 calls and all were dropped within a minute. I had a iPhone3G, and NEVER had a dropped call in my house for the 2 years I owned it. I get 3 bars in my house, and I get 3 bars on the iPhone 4 ... UNTIL I PICK IT UP. Then it goes to "Searching..." within 5 seconds. Once I put it down, it takes 15 seconds to go back to 3 bars.

I searched the web and found this article with videos that describe my exact dilemma:
http://gizmodo.com/5570100/the-iphone-4-review-by-you

This is a DESIGN FLAW!

At least Apple should have included a bumper IN THE BOX!

Mar 31, 2015 1:11 PM in response to kitzy

kitzy wrote:
This is a DESIGN FLAW! At least Apple should have included a bumper IN THE BOX!

Sounds to me like more of a quality control problem during the manufacturing process of early releases than a design flaw. Either that, or there's a glitch in the communications setup between Apple and AT&T, most likely), some switch that didn't get thrown or an algorithm that's not being implemented properly.

As to the free bumper: I agree. Free is good.

IPhone 4 - Weak Signal compared with 3G

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