Reader Kevin Wright was moved to pen this post in response to the stream of iPhone 4 posts over the past few days.
In the key paragraph, Kevin points out that his iPhone 4 is absolutely fine:
OK, so to the point of this, the Signal Issue. I have been using the iPhone 4 for all of 18 days now, and can tell you without doubt that it is better than the 3GS, and about the same as a Nexus One for signal holding. You only have to look at the chap above who keeps changing his mind to see how confusing this whole thing is, and the main thing to remember is that the whole issue is so hard to pin down, even from the same location, on different days, you may be on a different tower, you may be on the same tower with a lot more traffic, and a whole slew of other factors.
Who else is having a fine time with their iPhone 4?
Ewan I've already started mentally putting together a MIR post about this.
Love my iPhone 4. The antenna thing is such a non-issue. If I consciously try, I can get it to lose a couple bars, but I use a nice Speck case anyway. This is the best phone I've ever owned. Period.
I look forward to reading it, Michael… I think it would be useful to get some balance on the site!
I've had no issues with my iPhone 4, and given the opportunity, I'd get it again. I've got it in a minimalist case—the iFrogz “Lean”—but I had to work to induce reception issues on it “naked”. Both reception and sound quality are, indeed, better than the 3Gs.
Look: it's a $700 phone made out of glass. You don't want to keep it in a case?
I’ve experimented with the “death grip” and, yes, you can see the signal drop if you really try hard, but I find you have to hold in such an unnatural way to see that impact that it really isn’t a day-to-day problem at all. As others have commented it’s a non issue for your typical normob.
There are four or five colleagues sat around me that all have an iPhone 4 too and each one of them is entirely satisfied with their new phone. In fact, the standard reply when asked about it is “this is the best phone I’ve ever had”.
This is the first iPhone I’ve owned after 7 years faithful to Nokia and all I keep saying to myself is why the hell didn’t I buy one earlier? I think I partially held off because I refused to give in to the hype, but it eventually got to the point where I could wait no longer. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my E71 (best Nokia I’ve ever owned), but it’s a million miles away from iPhone 4. A million miles. Others can get closer, but I see no real challenge out there right now based on my instore research at Voda, O2, T-Mo etc.
I've finally got my iPhone 4 yesterday and it is really a great device. It is almost unbelievable fast and the screen is just incredible. I did not have any reception issues yet. If I hold it really tight with my full hand around the bottom it drops one to three bars. However, the position isn't really comfortable and even then I have in most cases still two bars left.
I think that despite the fact that in testing this problem is self evident, it does not seem to be an issue. In a poll of the eleven people I know with an iPhone 4 when asked none had had this issue. Apparently all of them had ordered some sort of “slim” type case for the phone when it was announced how much of it was made from glass, and all of them were getting pretty fed up about being asked about this as well. Could we all be making to much of a big thing about this? Or are iPhone owners going on the defensive? I did sort of wonder about the last question too…
What are the best aspects of the iPhone for you, Thomas, after using the Nokia?
This iPhone 4 signal issue is just tech-media hype as usual. Its a non-issue – my iPhone 4 is rock solid with better reception than my old 3GS and the battery is way better too.
I really am quite bored with all the american tech blogs harping on about signal issues and AT&T and recalls – they don't even think about the outside world.
I'm sure Apple realise this will all blow over and we can move onto something more important to worry about 🙂
I’ve never had a signal issue in the week I’ve had my iPhone 4 now, haven’t really tried to reproduce it, but not been able to with everyday use, do use a case though.
As my previous phone was a iPhone 2G this is obviously a big upgrade with a noticeable speed increase so I’m very happy with it!
Still not had a single issue with mine, I have at least 10+ friends who all say the same. Starting to get a little annoyed with all the over hyped media reports. Haters are so quick to jump on the Apple bashing bandwagon without even doing the slightest bit of actual scientific research. Personally I think the signal issue could be more down to generally weaker US cell signal.
One question I have to ask is would this be such of an issue if the little black line was hidden inside the iPhone case? My guess is no way. Most phones I have ever used vary signal strength as to how you hold them. Who hasn't shuffled a phone round their head or moved about to improved signal!
Don't get my wrong I'm not a total fan boy and should the iPhone 4 have underperformed I would be jumping up and down after a fix.
Mini rant over 😉
Well, if you believed everything you read, then I would not have upgraded my iPhone 3 to the iPhone 4 that I got delivered yesterday.
I am a leftie, so naturally hold my mobile phone in the exact place where it is meant to kill the signal!
So far absolutely no complaints, in fact, I am completely happy with it. It is faster and the battery life is much better. I have also changed providers, gone from o2 to Orange and what a difference that has made too, a constant 3g signal, compared to o2's no signal!! I am one happy iPhone 4 owner.
Mine works fine too, I can make it loose signal, but it doesnt effect me, and call quality is fantastic. I moved from O2 to Vodafone.