Consumer reports has un-recommended the iPhone 4

I've had the i4 since June 23rd (yes one of the 1-day early crowd) and when someone notices that I am carrying or using my i4 in public all they ask, "is that the new iPhone?", I say, "yes" and they respond with, "does it really have all the problems everyone is talking about in the news?" I've never had to stand and defend a cell phone, especially an iPhone. I could not recommend the 3Gs to enough people and always got oohs and aahhs about it. With Apple's pretty much silent response to issue it's getting a lot worse. The most silly part is the lame "bars display software algorithm whoopsie." Come on, give me a break. Even true fanbois can't deny this stinks of 6-feet up a bulls butt.

Here is the original report on consumer reports' front page,

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/07/apple-iphone-4-antenna-issu e-iphone4-problems-dropped-calls-lab-test-confirmed-problem-issues-signal-streng th-att-network-gsm.html

they confirm the antenna problem in an RF isolated room with 3 different phones purchased from 3 different stores.

In my real life tests I have yet to drop a call and I get 3G coverage where there was none on my 3GS. In short in real ife- not a lab setting hid phone rocks -for me.

I have read about dropping bars and I can duplicate that- but in REAL LIFE can anyone say that there is a real reception issue?

There are threads galore about battery issues and fixes and more importantly actual real life results. I have yet to read anyone who has posted saying their reception is worse on ip4 vs 3GS.

i was ready to trade up to the 4g model, but now I'll wait for apple to get their story sorted out,
first it was the way you hold it, then the bars were calculated wrong, and now 3rd party confirmation that there is a problem. I don't want to be looked into a 2 year contract with a questionable piece of hardware.

My iPhone 4 works flawlessly. It is in a case, as it would have been anyway. I can replicate the reduced bars (with no case on it), but no dropped calls. I'm very happy with my iPhone 4.

Now do a real life test with Speedtest app to observe the correlation between the signal drop and connection speed in terms of kbps.

I experience that in Apple store in Modesto.

Faulty486 wrote:
My iPhone 4 works flawlessly. It is in a case, as it would have been anyway. I can replicate the reduced bars (with no case on it), but no dropped calls. I'm very happy with my iPhone 4.

My problem is with data speeds. Even with a bumper the speeds decline DRASTICALLY.

I purchased the iPhone through Best Buy (pre-order) and received it the day it launched, I returned the phone 3 days later because of the reception issue. I think the phone itself is awesome however I absolutely could not use the phone from my house (iPhone 3G works perfectly) without it dropping every call I made or received. Yes, I was aware of the antenna issue and avoided touching the lower-left side of the phone but that made no difference, it would just drop every call.

With my iPhone 4 I didn't need to wait 3-4 weeks for Consumer Reports to tell me the phone was flawed, I could tell every time I tried to use it. I'm appalled that Steve Jobs and Apple have tried denying this problem for so long, they seriously screwed up here and now they need to man up and fix all the defective phones that went out to the public. Unless they admit and fix this problem I will never purchase another Apple product, there are to many good companies out there making other phones/computers that stand by their product, Unlike Apple.

I have had an iPhone 4 since it was released and have had no issues with dropped calls or call quality, same as with every other iPhone model I have owned in the past. Personally, I believe the underlying cause is due to people being in areas that have a poor signal to begin with. Luckily, where I live, AT&T is pretty good.

Kuzaak29 wrote:
Unlike Apple.

I agree. It is not very Apple-like to turn a deaf ear to consumers of a FLAGSHIP product.

sad

Sarticle didnt come out and say it but this is a hardware prob then right? That cant be fixed with a software update?

If this is the case, Im returning this crap

I've been able to repeat the issue sometimes, meaning sometimes if I hold down on the lower-left I can see the bars drop. It clearly happens, repeatedly, in some locations. However, I'm not having any issues with calls or data, best I can tell. I'm not technical, just a user. The actual usage seems the same or better.

I'd prefer the issue wasn't there, but not seeing any impact, I struggle to see what the big deal is. I think I had as many or more dropped calls with the 3GS. And overall, in terms of usability, the 4 is a dream - the app switching, performance, etc. And the hardware design is just visually unparalleled.

Anyway, bummer Apple let this out. Would cost a mint I'm sure to do a mod/recall, but then they've got $45 billion burning a whole in their pocket...:-). A customer goodwill initiative would be a wise investment.

Dan Slocum wrote:

Faulty486 wrote:
My iPhone 4 works flawlessly. It is in a case, as it would have been anyway. I can replicate the reduced bars (with no case on it), but no dropped calls. I'm very happy with my iPhone 4.

My problem is with data speeds. Even with a bumper the speeds decline DRASTICALLY.

Me too! I have yet to reproduce the instance where my signal bars drop when I cover the black strip with my finger, but me data speed tests are epic failures! Consistently, my download speed drops by about 50%, and my upload speed drops to 10%! Scary!!!

This phone flies on wifi compared to my 3G (I hate to say it, but she might be coming back to life soon)!

I bought the iPhone 4 on launch day and experienced improved call performance here in the New York City area. I even get a strong signal at Kennedy Airport -- never did before.

As for the signal bars issue, I can recreate the effect, but only intermittently. But even then (with bars down to 0) my calls still connect. I did recently buy a bumper case, but this was after reading how tech writer Andy Ihnatko dropped his iPhone and broke the glass back. (With the bumper on the signal bar effect does not occur.)

My advice? If you live in a moderately decent signal area, you will see improved performance. This, plus the great new features make the iPhone 4 an A+ upgrade.

However, if you have poor AT&T service where you live, this phone will likely not improve things for you, and the signal bars issue will only increase your frustration.

LorangeJuice wrote:

Dan Slocum wrote:

Faulty486 wrote:
My iPhone 4 works flawlessly. It is in a case, as it would have been anyway. I can replicate the reduced bars (with no case on it), but no dropped calls. I'm very happy with my iPhone 4.

My problem is with data speeds. Even with a bumper the speeds decline DRASTICALLY.

Me too! I have yet to reproduce the instance where my signal bars drop when I cover the black strip with my finger, but me data speed tests are epic failures! Consistently, my download speed drops by about 50%, and my upload speed drops to 10%! Scary!!!

This phone flies on wifi compared to my 3G (I hate to say it, but she might be coming back to life soon)!

Exactly. Apple must fix. MUST fix. This is the flagship product. This is the golden egg for Apple.