Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

Edward Ferrell wrote:
I have a question for everybody that reads this forum regardless of whether you have the problem or not. Please help us and answer this even IF YOU DO NOT have the proximity problem!!! Does ANYBODY have an "iPhone 4" that has a proximity sensor that activates further away than 3/4 to 1 3/4 of an inch away from the phone? The 3GS and previous models seemed to have an activate range of about 2 inches away. Please let us know.

The reason that I am asking is that if NOBODY has a phone that has a better range than the average of 1 inch then it won't matter how many times I go to exchange my phone because it won't be fixed until they update the software or firmware or in worst case do a recall.

I would like to try and find out if this problem is only on some iPhone 4s or if it is all of them and only some of us that use the phone on our ear are having the problem and others are not because of bluetooth headsets etc. and the problem would not affect those users.

Very good point Edward! Fwiw, I'm having the problem, and the screen activates less than an inch away, as far as I can tell, and without a case of any kind btw. I doubt this is an iOS4 problem (as a previous poster suggested) as my 3G is fine with that OS.

I'll be very interested to read whether ANY respondents have a screen which activates much further away. Please let us know if you do. TIA.

Regards,

Richard.

Is it possible that this is an iOS4 problem? I have an iPhone G and after upgrading to iOS4 my phone has started auto dialing numbers when I put it in my pocket. Even when the phone app was not the last app I ran before I put it in my pocket. I usually hit the home button before putting the phone away. Now I have started hitting the sleep button.

cahaba wrote:
Is it possible that this is an iOS4 problem? I have an iPhone G and after upgrading to iOS4 my phone has started auto dialing numbers when I put it in my pocket. Even when the phone app was not the last app I ran before I put it in my pocket. I usually hit the home button before putting the phone away. Now I have started hitting the sleep button.

Cahaba, Hi. we're discussing a problem with the proximity sensor here, so unless you are putting your phone in your pocket during active calls, yours is likely a different problem. (But I could be wrong 🙂 ).

Regards,

Richard.

Same here: 1 iPhone 4 16GB delivered on June24 th - UK

Proxmity sensor is awful, keeps not realising my face is against the phone, then my cheek brushes it and mute/hold/end call, happening a lot now, friends get really annoyed 😟

Also experience the signal loss by holding the left hand-side. I've also found a few more bugs.

When unlocking the home screen with icons can randomly freeze, when dropping items into folders it can freeze the screen too.

AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL - wish i never ever upgraded from my 3GS 😟

This may sound a little counter intuitive, but I found the problem nearly goes away if I put the iPhone in the cheap Griffin case I bought at BestBuy. The rubber edge that extends up slightly above the screen seems to help seal the sensor off from light somewhat when held to my ear. I haven't "face dialed" once today with the case on it. Every call yesterday without it resulted in a random onscreen button presses. I'm expecting the Apple Bumper to arrive today and I'll see how it performs with it. This has got to be addressed soon!

I did one last reset and placed a call

Sensor is working. Wow, just wow.

Message was edited by: MethodicJon

I just want to register the fact that I'm having the same problem.

MethodicJon wrote:
I did one last reset and placed a call

Sensor is working. Wow, just wow.

Message was edited by: MethodicJon

Hi Methodicjon,

The detector appears to be an IR transceiver. It can be visualised using a digital camera or camcorder screen, as their detectors extend into the IR range. On my 3G (and on 3GSs I surmise) it is slightly above and a few millimetres to the left of the ear-slot. On the iPhone 4 it is just above the ear-slot and very slightly to the left of centre. I'd post a picture of it if I knew how to

Hope that helps,

Richard.

(EDIT: Of course this post was in response to your original question which you edited out. I've left it just in case it's of use to anyone else).

Message was edited by: Flyperson

Why are people posting on other websites and blogs that all these issues are BS and are being reported by Apple/iPhone Haters, or by the same 20 people over and over again? Before purchasing the "iPod 4" I loved the iPhone and everything it had to offer, now not so much. How could this sensor thing slip past everyone at Apple? We're they to busy testing the face time feature that they forgot to mash their cheeks up against the screen to see what happens? Or was this proximity glitch done on purpose to promote face-time? smh! ...few things are more embarrasing then having phone sex with your Girlfriend and accidently calling a co-worker on 3-way. Sorry Mom, Sorry God.

I'm greatly desirous to own a "visiphone" iPhone 4, so I'm looking into how it is working before taking the leap. (The program wouldn't let me use a four letter word starting with "l" for desire...)

I have to ask, why aren't you using a bluetooth headset with the iPhone 4? Wouldn't that solve the problem?

I don't believe in having to use a cell phone without one, any more, and all I have is a Samsung flip phone.

Message was edited by: ArtemisMe

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Message was edited by: MethodicJon

I also am having major issues with my proximity sensor. I called apple support and the guy I talked to suggested that I was using the phone incorrectly. I informed him that I have owned every generation iPhone and never had a problem until this one. He suggested that maybe it didn't fit on my ear properly to which I told him I have a normally shaped ear and head and that it wasn't a user error or defective face. I asked him if they moved the proximity sensor on 4 and he replied that he had never even seen the new iPhone. How can someone working for Apple in iPhone tech support never have actually seen one. Until now, I've never been disappointed with Apple. Very worried about this issue, I will NOT be seen walking around with a bluetooth in my ear because apple screwed up.

Message was edited by: brookefowler

I just called Apple on this problem. The guy told me this is going to need to be repaired. So he made me an appointment at the genius bar tomorrow. Think ill be able to get a free bumper out of it for the reception issue as well?

I am also having the same problem with my iPhone 4, 32GB. At first I noticed it if I tried to hold the phone between my shoulder and my ear, something I don't do regularly, but never had any problems with, with my old 3G. Now, I'm noticing it happening even more and more as I hold the phone perfectly normally against my ear. I've hung up on people, put it on speaker phone, muted it, accidentally tried to FaceTalk them, and repeatedly annoyed me and the other person by dialing random numbers as I talk with them.

PLEASE, Apple, address this quickly with a software update. You've got the accelerometers, the gyroscope, and the IR proximity sensor. Between the lot of them, you should be able to tell pretty conclusively whether I've got the phone next to my ear or not.

Incidentally, fellow sufferers, the best work around is to hit the on/off switch at the top briefly to lock the screen. Then you'll have to swipe the bottom of the screen to unlock it again, and that's a motion that your face and ear are unlikely to make.

Add another one to the list. Cheek presses mute, put on speakerphone or hang up. In the dark I can see the phone light up against my cheek and it does it more frequently when I am moving, bending.