Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls

The Reset All did not work for me either. What did work was Restore (as new device). I then did a Restore (from backup) to recover much of my old configuration - and it still worked (it's been 3+ days now without the problem). I upgraded from a 3GS to an iPhone 4.

Marcus, this forum is for people who are having a problem with the proximity sensor, not for people to brag about how their phone is working fine. This is a hardware issue. Resetting, restoring and or adding/removing a case is NOT a solution. If you had any friends that cared to talk to you for longer then 10 minutes you would recognize your phone is busted too. I'm getting tired of people on this forum posting their phone is fine, then a few days later posting "me too" or "add me to the list". Everyone posting those BS solutions I mentioned above are keeping this issue of the radar, and helping Apple to take the stance that it's a simple fix and that the rest of us who are still complaining simply haven't done “the fix” yet. If you call Apple about the issue they tell you to "reset the settings" this “fix” was originally recommended by a user who thought he found a solution, but later retracted it and said he was still having a problem. It's sad that Apple is getting their own tech support from users attempting to troubleshoot their phones. The problem occurs completely sporadically, but more often then not, you have to spend at least 10 minutes with the phone against your face for the sensor to go on the fritz. I just made a short 4 minute phone call and had no problems, but that in no way indicates to me that my phone is fine. I'm VERY angry that Apple has refused to publically acknowledge the issue and now when you call Apple Customer Service they say "really? This is the first I herd of it". That kind of response is simply more coaching by the Apple Big Wigs to keep this issue from blowing up like the reception problem. The more phones Apple sends out to be sold, is the more phones they’re going to have to recall when someone with an actual voice in the media acknowledges this disaster. The iPhone 4 is a complete failure, and I can't wait to hand mine to back to Apple tomorrow, and request a normal size SIM card so I can go back to my perfectly functioning 3G iPhone. Never again will I be a guinea pig/beta tester for any company. I learned my lesson, have any of you?

Message was edited by: thisaintaken

Really?? So only people who want to whine and moan and cry should come to this forum? This forum is for people who want to talk about their products and learn from other's. To say this is just for problems is very shortsighted, to say the least.

And you say "Disaster??" Really? The Gulf Oil spill is a diaster. Accidents, where people lose their lives is a disaster. Cell phone signal strength or proximity sensor issues are not disasters.

If the proximity sensor issue seems to go away in some instances after restoring the phone as a new device initially and then restoring it from a backup later, that seems to point to it being a software issue and not a hardware issue.

There's no question that iOS 4 has issues. Not related to this thread, but I'm also having issues with e-mail such that every day or two, the mail app on the phone shows that I have a couple of unread e-mails dated 12/31/1969 or 12/31/2000 with no subject, an unknown sender, and the body of the message contains no data. That's obviously a bug (which is also mentioned in other threads on this site and around the web.)

Additionally, I have to say that if it turns out that we're not all crazy and the proximity sensor is a problem, Apple's reputation of creating hardware that "just plain works" is pretty heavily tarnished. Between this and the antenna issue, Steve Jobs needs to jump off the "isn't that brilliant?" train and hop on the "yes, we screwed up--we're human--but we're working on fixing it ASAP." That simple change in the message that Steve and the rest of the Apple team are conveying would fully restore my faith in Apple and their new products.

I called Apple Tech Support, the woman told me it is a hardware issue and that Apple will replace the phone. Because the tech support center does not have any replacement phones yet, they setup a time at my local Apple Store to replace my phone.

having the same problem..why apple is doing this to us?
this is not done..iphone 3gs was the most stable phone...

Please fix this Apple! It is driving me nuts and making an otherwise happy customer angry.

This issue is driving me nuts !

Every phone call I make I'm getting this issue. !

I've had to use a headset.. but this just isn't acceptable for a phone !

Count me in as someone having the same problem.

Got the phone last Wednesday. Kept having dropped calls but noticed I didn't hear the dropped call chime.

Then I was on a call and suddenly speaker phone was enabled.

That's when I figured out the problem was my ear hitting the buttons.

I've owned all 3 previous iPhones and never had this problem.

Well said rbrylawski. I was not boasting how well my iPhone 4 worked. I have been saying that my problem was caused when I used my old 3GS case. This caused the sensor to act strangely. I don't or can't recreate the reception problem by holding it out of the case either. Overall I am happy with the phone. I had been offered a new replacement, but for just in case I get a faulty one, I will keep the one I have. I will agree with most people on the forum, that Apple should act quickly to sort any issues out.

...well excuse me Mr. Rbrylawski, I guess I should've used the words "this specific thread" rather than "this forum". My initial comment was directed at Mr. Marcus for his NUMEROUS comments about his well working phone. The thread is titled "issue with Proximity Sensor during calls", if you do a search I'm sure there are other threads more appropriate for his happy comments.

You are correct however, yes the Gulf oil spill is indeed a "disaster", however if you're fimiliar with the words definition you would know that it means 'an event resulting in great misfortune', usually one that's irremediable (in case that word is new to you too, it means 'impossible to correct or fix'). I would say this being a hardware issue and not fixable via an update or at home trouble-shooting, it would definitely fall under that definition. I'm certain any of the engineers who worked on designing this phone, after discovering the problem thought to themselves 'omg this is a disaster".

...by the way, an accident where someone loses a life is commonly refered to as a "tragedy". ...jus sayin, but thanks for your imput.

Count me among the troubled x2. I've already received a replacement phone and it also has the problem. Nearly every call gets affected. Boy I hope they can fix this.

thisaintaken: it remains to be seen whether this is a hardware or software problem. It may well be a hardware issue (my iP4 doesn't have the problem), so if it is, Apple will likely replace effected phones. There was a post earlier that contained a full review (very scientific) which demonstrated (from what I actually understood) that the phone get's better reception (hands down) than the previous model, even though bars disappear when held at the antenna points. If that's true, then there's likely a software patch that will alter the perception of dropped signal. Now, the proximity issue? I don't have a clue and again, I don't have the problem.

I meant no offense to you. I know people are angry over this......Peace!

Thisaintaken. Thank you for your reply, but I thought the forum was for all iPhone users whether they work correctly or not. I think you should get an Android phone and see how you get on with their forums if they have one. I was not bragging how well my phone worked, I was stating that I caused my own problem by using the old 3GS case. As I said before, the reception problem had not presented itself to me yet.