Consumer Reports has just announced that it “can’t recommend the iPhone 4″ due to the infamous antenna issue. The site’s test engineers have recently confirmed the problem after undertaking an extensive test.
Three separately purchased handsets were connected to a base-station emulator – a device which simulates cell towers – in an impervious isolation chamber. There, Consumer Reports’ test engineers were able to confirm that, when touching the iPhone’s lower-left antenna bridge, the handset’s signal significantly decreases.
Here’s what Consumer Reports said on its site:
“It’s official. Consumer Reports’ engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception. When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can’t recommend the iPhone 4.”
In addition to this, Consumer Reports was also able to find an “affordable solution” for iPhone 4 owners affected by this issue. By covering the antenna bridge with a piece of masking tape, the issue is resolved. A more expensive solution involves purchasing an Apple iPhone Bumper, which would work in the same way.
It’s a shame really, because the iPhone 4 itself did well in the test, with Consumer Reports liking almost every aspect of the phone. Here are some of the great things mentioned in their report:
“The iPhone scored high, in part because it sports the sharpest display and best video camera we’ve seen on any phone, and even outshines its high-scoring predecessors with improved battery life and such new features as a front-facing camera for video chats and a built-in gyroscope that turns the phone into a super-responsive game controller.”
However, until Apple offers a permanent (and free) fix for this issue, Consumer Reports is happy to recommend the iPhone 3GS, but not the iPhone 4.
Wait, the 3GS has antenna problems too, doesn’t it? Let us know your experiences with both models in the comments box below!
Wait, they won’t recommend it when it can be fixed by a tiny piece of masking tape?
Way to throw the baby out with the bath water.
I trust consumer reports, but they made a mistake here. Apple does need to offer a “film” for free or free bumpers, but to go so far as to not recommend a product due to such a small flaw is silly.
It’s a phone and you are supposed to make calls on it. If you can’t make calls on it because of a dumb design flaw, no, it shouldn’t be recommended. Form follows function, you know.
Do you really think this is a small and tiny flaw. This has to be one of the biggest design flaws in the history of any consumer product that matters. Imagine talking to a job interview and you accidentally hold the phone the wrong way and drop the call. I can give you a million scenarios where dropping a call is not a small and tiny flaw. It has happened to me and it will happen to anyone with the iphone 4.
Last week I wanted to buy a brand new Mercedes S 500. I did not buy it in the end, because there were two dust speckles on the hood. Who wants to buy a dirty car?
Of course, there was also the problem with the breaks. But it wasn’t like it was fatal or anything. If you didn’t press the pedal straight on, it wouldn’t stop the car. Some consumer magazine said I shouldn’t buy the car because of that, but that’s just plain silly. It’s easy to avoid. Just hit the break dead center, and it works just fine. I don’t really know what all these people are complaining about. It’s a damned pretty car, really. If you press the break pedal wrong, it’s really your own damned fault.
That’s a very unintelligent answer, you compare a dirty automobile to a product is supposed to work as a phone but doesn’t. Now compare it if the car didn’t have a running engine, would you still buy your Mercedes?
No issues with mine. 3 weeks with no case. No scratches or dropped calls. Better reception in all areas over my 3G. Got my bumper today, and it looks very slick ( I was worried, loved the naked look ). Seems like a fringe issue getting a ridiculous amount of press, masking an amazing product. I wonder what percentage of people will keep a naked phone anyway?
I have the bumper and like the design. No signal issues. But the point being made here is that you shouldn’t have to buy a case, cover with tape or hold the phone differently for it to work properly. Even though the phone looks amazing, sometimes form over function is a poor choice.
In other video some guy showed if you squeeze the iPhone 3GS the exact same thing happens, and it doesn’t happen in other places than US and even in US doesn’t happen for evey body so it seems there are situations that it works now weather we call malfunctioning special situation or properly working as special situation they probably already fixed it and going to put in their new manufactured devices and will be available with new software update.
Probably Apple prefers to fix it quietly and the reason they didn’t offer free bumper is that if they did they were admitting the problem implicity and caused them big legal issue.
The 3G[S] problems are hardly noticeable, I’ve covered the entire phone with my hands and not go down a single bar, the iPhone 4 does have some serious problems though.
How are we suppose to just ‘hold it a different way’? there are limited ways to hold a phone And obviosly there is a natural way that the majority of people hold a phone. I’m glad there is a lawsuit against apple. Steve Jobbs replies to an email: “just don’t hold it that way”. Like WTF? Apple has obviosly screwed up and if there not gonna give ‘free’ bumpers that can easily fix the issue, then they deserved to be sued. They just want an extra $30 off us I believe…
I still have the 3G and I can’t reproduce the antenna flaw. So to the person who said it’s silly for CR to not reccomend the phone: remember…it’s a PHONE. When it disconnects because your finger or face is in the way then that is a FLAW!
I don’t doubt that some people may be having issues, but I think this is way overblown. Both mine & my GF’s phones work fine.
Mike — you’d be feeling a different way if your phone was defective like some others are. How about swapping phones with one of those with antenna issues???
I had my InvisibleShield installed 10 minutes after I purchased my iPhone 4, just as I did with my iPhone 3GS, and my iPhone 3G before that. I’ve had no reception problems, and my phone is protected from scratches.
As much as I love my i4 there is no denying reception sucks vs. my 3GS. In places where my 3GS got moderate to poor reception I am now dropping calls. I never dropped a call in these same location using the 3GS. It’s sad that Apple isn’t jumping on this and the camera
issue faster and us choosing to be so denial oriented. Apple users tend to be some of the smartest tech people around. Believing they can make up crap like hold it this way or that or that their algorithm is off is essentially saying we’re all dumb.
Christoph and Mark….that HAS to be the same user. Comparing 2 specs of dust on a car to a faulty antenna that drops calls is just idiotic. It’s a phone. If this were any other cell phone maker other than apple you guys would be ragging ALL over it.
I believe Mark’s comment was an attempt at sarcasm. He is not me. I am no fanboy. I jailbreak, consider switching to Android, but didn’t want to lose my apps.
I have an iPhone 4 with a bumper.
I’ve tried reproducing the signal flaw without the case and have had a hard time doing it depending on my signal strength.
Does it happen? Sure. Does Apple need to offer a simple ‘film’ fix, yes.
If they shipped the phones with the film would it ever have been a design flaw?
Was it reproduceable in a white glove lab? Cleaner hands minimize the issue.
The reception is actually far superior to my 3G and my friends 3GS. My 3G would lose reception when it sat snuggly in my palm.
This issue is way overblown because Apple hasn’t addressed the obvious issue, but just like a car with a known flaw not serious enough for a recall, the manufacturer should fix future models (this case a film) and offer the fix to existing customers experiencing the problem.
A better analogy would be if Consumer Reports didn’t recommend a great car because the car wouldn’t drive in Normal Fuel Mode, but only in Eco mode, unless you put a piece of tape over the Eco button, then it worked great.
I’m not a fan of some of the ways Apple goes about things, but this firestorm of an issue has been hilariously overblown.
How many people don’t put a $300 phone in a case anyway? Some, and for those I say, get a case or a tiny piece of tape.
That upsets you? Return the phone and buy a different one.
Sheesh.
Disregard my comment about Christoph and Mark…
@LSUfaninTIGAHland
I completely agree with you, they are all the same.
Just to add, comparing a spec of dust on a mercedes to a faulty antenna on the iPhone is undoubtably one of the most moronic analogies that I have ever come across. The main function of a car is to take a person from one point to another, while the main function of a phone is to make calls. If because of a faulty antenna a person is unable to make a call then it’s lost it’s purpose, same goes for the car. If because of a hardware fault a person is unable to drive said car then it’s lost it’s purpose.
A few specs of dust is not a part of the design nor is it a hardware fault.. sarcasm fail. And in the extremely unlikely event that you were being serious, you sir are an idiot.
I don’t see the issue here. I would presume that everyone is going to use a case of some sort to protect the phone anyway.
As with anything. Somebody will always complain. You can’t please everyone. But here’s an idea, why not put the antenna on top of the device? That would make to much sence. As far as service goes. I’ve got crappy service but I also live in a mountain region. So that’s expected.